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 4,444 miles on the odometer
that are the ticks clocked since this stunning car was restored,
but cannot be confirmed as actual due to the title reading mileage
exempt. This car sports a convertible soft top, a manual
transmission, over 900 photos of the restoration, and a rebuilt
327ci 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. Riverside
Red 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. 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 15-inch gold
stripe 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 that one
must truly search for to see.
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 black ball topped shift lever 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. Ultra clean red carpet floods all the floors and
is protected by black ribbed rubber 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 rebuilt 327ci V8 which is not original to the
car, but specs out as a 365hp L76 version from 1964. It is fed by a
4-barrel Holley carburetor and on the back is a circa 1964/65
Muncie M20 4-speed manual transmission. A CAM stamped 3.36
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 are noted.
Undercarriage
Near perfect straight rust-free black steel makes up the frame and
has obviously been well cared for over the years. The fiberglass
flooring has been left natural and looks just stunning against the
black. 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 an upgrade to power
front disc brakes noted and power drums in the rear all 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 save for the radio not putting out a broadcast and
we returned from our early Fall drive with smiles on our faces.
While Classic Auto Mall represents that these functions were
working at the time of our test drive, we cannot guarantee these
functions will be working at the time of your purchase.
A great example from 1963 in Sting Ray form, she's a fun driver,
and can be used as such, but with the quality of work she's also
ready toshow, it is nice enough and preserved enough to do so with
respect. A great color combo and an all-season driver with the
convertible soft top and 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!
30867S107556
3-1963
08-Corvette
67-Convertible
S-St. Louis, MO Assy Plant
107556-Sequential Unit Number
TRIM TAG
E4-4th Week January Build
STYLE 63 867-1963 Corvette Convertible
BODY 3541-St. Louis Body #
TRIM 490D-Red Vinyl
PAINT 923A-Riverside Red
Classic Auto Mall is home to more than 1,000 classic and
collectible vehicles for sale via consignment in a climate
controlled 336,000-square foot showroom (that's more than 8
acres!). The largest single location consignment dealer of classic
and collectible vehicles in the country is located in Morgantown,
Pennsylvania, just 1-hour west of Philadelphia off Exit 298 of the
I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. For more information visit
www.classicautomall.com or call us at (888) 227-0914. Contact us
anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.
There is no guarantee of mileage. A $299 Dealer Administrative fee
is not included in the advertised ...for more information please
contact the seller.
