Corvette Stingray 1963-1967 Collector's Originality Guide

BODY AND EXTERNAL TRIM

It is well documented that the new Sting Ray was designed initially as a coupe and that there was some reluctance among the design team to develop a convertible version of their fabulous new design. Stylists love pure forms and the Aero Coupe was perfection itself.

As we have seen, the car was based on Mitchell's Sting Ray Racer, an open car, but the concept has been sculpted so that the teardrop form that developed behind the curving windshield complemented the original taut curves of the main body.

The aggressive and uncompromising twin back windows emphasized the double curvature of the roof, imagery borrowed from military aircraft of the time, and the sparkling gas lid with its twin crossed flags left no doubt that, from the rear, this shape was a Corvette advancing into the distance.


INTERIOR

Trading in his 1960 model, the typical new Corvette buyer who kept each model for three years would immediately have been struck by the spacious interior of the Sting Ray.

He could not have been more than 6ft 2in to have driven a straight-axle for three years, and now he was sitting in a car with larger doors for better access and side windows he could see out of without bending, and with his feet lower for a more relaxed driving position.

The seat was now height-adjustable with a wrench, but a little smaller and narrower. The door armrests also looked familiar, as they were unchanged from the previous two years of Corvette production. The door panels looked like they were built to last for years, whereas those on his previous Corvette were already falling off.

COLORS

• Code 900: Tuxedo Black (Qty. 1190). Interior: Black, Beige, Bright Blue, Green, Red, Saddle, Silver, White/Blue.



• Code 972: Ermine White (Qty. 2120). Interior: Black, Beige, Bright Blue, Green, Red, Saddle, Silver, White/Blue.



• Code 974: Rally Red (Qty. 3366). Interior: Black, Red.



• Code 976: Nassau Blue (Qty. 6100). Interior: Black, Beige, Bright Blue, White/Blue.



• Code 978: Laguna Blue (Qty. 2054). Interior: Black, Beige, Bright Blue.



• Code 980: Trophy Blue (Qty. 1463). Interior: Black, Beige, Bright Blue.



• Code 982: Mosport Green (Qty. 2311). Interior: Black, Green.



• Code 984: Sunfire Yellow (Qty. 2339). Interior: Black.



• Code 986: Silver Pearl (Qty. 2967). Interior: Black, Silver.



• Code 988: Milano Maroon (Qty. 3799). Interior: Black, Saddle.

Silver seats were combined with a black dash and gray carpet. White seats with a blue dash and carpet. All steel wheels were black. Convertible top choice was Black, White or Beige.


ENGINES

As explained at the start of this chapter, three small-block motors were removed for the 1966 model year, and the familiar 3782870 engine block, which had powered all small-block Corvettes since the 327 had replaced the 283 for 1962, was now history too. A block with a new number, 3858174, was now used, but it was almost identical to its predecessor.

• Introduction
• Corvette Basics

• Body and External Trim
• Chassis
• Interior
• Instruments and Controls, Engines
• Cooling System
• Electrics
• Transmissions
• Wheels and Tires
• Suspension and Steering
• Options
• Brakes



• Restoration
• Bibliography