Vehicle Description
1963 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible
The 1963 Sting Ray production car's lineage can be traced to two
separate GM projects: the Q-Corvette, and Bill Mitchell's racing
Sting Ray. The Q-Corvette exercise of 1957 envisioned a smaller,
more advanced Corvette as a coupe-only model, boasting a rear
transaxle, independent rear suspension, and four-wheel disc brakes,
with the rear brakes mounted inboard. Exterior styling was
purposeful, with peaked fenders, a long nose, and a short, bobbed
tail. Meanwhile, Zora Arkus-Duntov and other GM engineers had
become fascinated with mid and rear-engine designs. Duntov explored
the mid/rear-engine layout with the lightweight, open-wheel,
single-seat CERV I concept of 1959. A rear-engined Corvette was
briefly considered during 1958-60, progressing as far as a
full-scale mock-up designed around the Corvair's entire
rear-mounted power package, including its air-cooled flat-six, as
an alternative to the Corvette's usual water-cooled V8. By the fall
of 1959, elements of the Q-Corvette and the Sting Ray Special racer
would be incorporated into experimental project XP-720, which was
the design program that led directly to the production 1963
Corvette Sting Ray. The XP-720 sought to deliver improved passenger
accommodation, more luggage space, and superior ride and handling
over previous Corvettes.
From Zora Arkus-Duntov's mind to your eyes, we offer up this first
year C2 1963 Stingray Roadster showing 59,546 miles on the odometer
that are believed to be original, but cannot be confirmed as such
due to the title reading mileage exempt. This car comes with a body
matching hardtop, and convertible soft top, a manual transmission,
and the numbers matching L76 V8. With the roadster design it leaves
the pointed fastback behind, (literally), and offers up a bit of a
classy look with its thin V shaped front and rear lines, and the
split bumpers with hidden headlights. "When the Sting Ray bites..."
oh wait...!
Exterior
Duntov was in his radical mode when he designed this car.
Fiberglass molded to an art form of rolling sculpture with its thin
V shaped hidden headlight split bumper front end, and thin V rear
complete with the dual round inset tail lights, and more split
bumpers below. The Sting Ray began to come into its own during
these C2 years. This car comes with a white canvas convertible top
with clear plastic window. It moves up and down with ease and hides
itself right behind the passenger compartment. An additional
fiberglass hardtop, painted in body matching Ermine White and a
glass rear window can be put on for all season driving. Up front
the "solar panel" vented stinger style hood is flanked by the
hidden headlights. This works its way back to the passenger
compartment which is framed up front with a curved windshield for
that panoramic field of view. Ribbed stainless steel moldings are
on the rockers to fill the gap between the front and rear 14-inch
white wall tires complete with the rarely seen factory Corvette
wheel covers. For the convertible top, no tonneau cover is
necessary due to the hinged flip up panel just before the
pseudo-trunk that houses the entire folded down canvas top.
Overall, the paint finish shows well but does present a few very
minor imperfections including chips and slight sanding scratches of
the paint.
Interior
For the interior beautifully aged all original red vinyl low back
buckets are flanking a center armrest which becomes a chrome edged
center console. This houses the chrome ball topped shift lever as
well as the power window toggles and then climbs straight up to
house a side mounted factory AM/FM radio, various knobs and pulls
and large chrome bezel black faced clock. Both sides split
gracefully to their respective corners of the dash, but first take
an opportunity to form 2 graceful cowls, one for the glovebox, and
the other for the gauge cluster. Both have a black faux leather
textured vinyl background which is very clean, with the glovebox
having a silver door highlighted by a crack free red paddedtopper.
The original red rimmed steering wheel with tri machined metal
inserts and a center crossed flag badge fronts the dash. Factory
original red carpet floods all the floors and shows with light
soiling as do the carpeted floor mats. Door panels make use of tuck
and roll red vinyl on top of the panels, and after jumping across a
delineating chrome strip, the ribbed vinyl changes to smooth
material. Nice chromed knobs handles and vents are embedded within
the door panels. Just a hint of red carpet is on the bottom of each
pristine door.
Drivetrain
Under the hood is a 327ci V8 which is numbers matching and specs
out as a 340hp L76 version. It is fed by a 4-barrel Carter
carburetor and on the back is a Borg Warner T10 4-speed manual
transmission. A 3.08 Positraction rear axle handled therear tire
turning duties. Correct ribbed aluminum Corvette script valve
covers are on along with a chrome lidded air cleaner and the
correct L76 aluminum intake manifold.
Undercarriage
Very gracefully aged straight rust-free black steel makes up the
undercarriage and has obviously been well cared for over the years.
Exhaust piping is quickly routed away from the engine to either
side and routes rearward to the back of the car passing through
stock replacement mufflers and ending with chrome tips through the
rear valance. Independent coil spring front suspension and
transverse leaf springs on the rear with 4-wheel drum brakes are
noted sitting within this excellent environment.
Drive-Ability
A quick starter and smooth idle. Pressing the accelerator made this
car come to life and on the test track it showed us nice
acceleration, good handling and smooth shifting with an easy
clutch. There were no faults or frowns to speak of during our time
behind the wheel and we returned from our early Fall drive with
smiles on our faces.
A great example from 1963 in Sting Ray form, she's a fun driver,
and can be used as such, or even to show, it is nice enough and
preserved enough to do so with respect. A great color combo and an
all-season driver with the convertible, and hardtop. A classy
sculpted profile sports car made in America and definitely iconic
in its reputation and looks for this year. Thanks Mr. Duntov, and
careful on that "stinger", it will put your eye out as they
say!
30867S110260
3-1963
08-Corvette
67-Convertible
S-St. Louis, MO Assy Plant
110260-Sequential Unit Number
TRIM TAG
G2-2nd Week March
STYLE 63 867-1963 Corvette Convertible
BODY 4368-St. Louis Body #
TRIM 490M-Red Vinyl
PAINT 926A-Ermine White
Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special
interest automobile showroom, featuring over 850 vehicles for sale
with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle
barn find collection is on display. This vehicle is located in our
showroom in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, conveniently located just
1-hour west of Philadelphia on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The
website is www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888)
227-0914. Please contact us anytime for more information or to come
see the vehicle in person.