Inspired by an experimental "dream car" of the late 1950s, the 1963 Corvette Sting Ray was a machine that pointed towards the future of automotive design and engineering while building on its illustrious past. Sleek and aggressively beautiful, the Sting Ray offered power, smart looks and unbridled excitement, as well as a number of firsts for Corvette-innovations that would define the classic sports car for years to come. The body was almost totally redesigned from previous models.
The most notable of these stylistic touches was the split-window on the rear of the fast-back coupe. Over 10,000 of these models were produced in 1963 and, when combined with the 10,919 convertibles that year, the Sting Ray provided Corvette a healthy 10th anniversary year. In fact, 1963 was the first year that Corvette offered two body styles - a coupe and a convertible. The Sting Ray also featured a long-sloping back - the fastback design which had been popular 30 years earlier and had a lasting influence on automotive design. Yet, the Sting Ray's appeal was not just in its innovative design. A 327 cubic inch 250 horsepower V-8 engine was standard while a head-turning 327 cubic inch 360 horsepower fuel-injected engine was available for $430.40 more. The 1963 Sting Ray is truly one of the classic Corvettes - a beautiful machine that embodied the Corvette legend!
SPECIFICATIONS:
Engine: 327 cubic inch ohv V-8 standard
Engine options: L75 V-8 327 cubic inch 300 horsepower with four barrel carburetor ($53.80); L76 V-8 327 cubic inch 340 horsepower with four barrel carburetor ($107.60); L84 V8 327 cubic inch 360 horsepower with fuel-injection (($430.40).
Transmission: Three-speed manual floor-shift (standard)
Options: Automatic transmission ($199.10); four-speed manual transmission floor-shift ($188); RPO Z06 Special performance package ($1,818): metallic power brakes, heavy-duty shocks, stabilizers, knock-off aluminum wheels, positraction rear axle, four-speed manual gear box, 360 horsepower fuel-injection V-8.
Base price: $4,257
Estimated value: $42,000 (excellent condition)
|
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)