The 1963 Corvette Sting Ray is one of the most iconic cars in history
The ’63 Corvette category of our blog offers great reading material on the 1963 Chevrolet Corvette that includes spec, photos, videos, brochures, auction results, and much more.
A must-read before buying a C2 Corvette. Read this overview of the C2 generation Corvettes to see what changes were made during that five-year span. Click here to learn more about the C2 Corvette History.
In 1963, the Chevrolet Corvette was designed to be more aerodynamic and powerful than previous versions. For the first time, a coupe body was now available with a center split on the coupe’s rear glass creating what is known as the “split window.” The new design also had newfound handling power and was a somewhat lighter Corvette, so acceleration improved despite unchanged horsepower.
The 1963 Sting Ray Split Window surely got lots of appreciation from Corvette fans all over the world. Why? It was an inspiration for the second-generation Corvette, which many regards as the best-looking one ever.
How many 1963 Corvettes were made?
For the 1963 model year, 21,513 units would be built. In the 1962 model year, 14,531 units were built. This was an increase of 6,982 units from the record-setting 1962 version.
What were the available 1963 Corvette Engines? How many 1963 fuel-injected Corvettes were built?
For the 1962 model year, 327-cubic inch engines carried over to the 1963 models with only minor modifications that did not change the declared output. There were three engines to choose from for the Chevrolet Corvette in 1963: a mild, carbureted 250 or 300 hp or the top-of-the-line fuel-injected, 360-hp L84. There were 2,610 L84s sold for an additional cost of $430.40.
1963 Corvette 327/360 Z06 "Gulf One” Heads to Auction We are looking on the Vette Vues Magazine blog at the 1963 Corvette ZO6 Gulf One with the 327/360 engine that is heading to the Mecum Kissimmee 2022 auction. (LOT F157) UPDATE: The 1963 Corvette ZO6 Gulf One bid to $2,400,000 - The Bid Goes On This 1963 Corvette ZO6 Gulf One with the 327/360 engine is the most successful production racing Corvette of the C2 Era. It is going up for auction in the John Justo Collection at the Mecum Kissimmee Auction on January 6-16, 2022. LOT F157 estimated worth is $3,000,000 - $3,500,000. This extraordinary Sting Ray’s historical significance cannot be overstated. This 1963 Gulf One remains the most highly original of all the original racing Z06 Sting Rays.…
The inaugural Barrett-Jackson Houston Auction, held at the NRG Center, starts September 16, 2021, and runs through the 18th. We are going to look today at a stunning 1963 Resto-Mod that is going across the block at No Reserve! Lot #733 1963 CHEVROLET CORVETTE SPLIT-WINDOW CUSTOM COUPE Photo Credit: Barrett-Jackson UPDATE: Sold for $396,000.00. The inaugural Barrett-Jackson Houston Auction, held at the NRG Center, starts September 16, 2021, and runs through the 18th. As of this post, there are thirty awesome Corvettes registered for the Houston auction. Today we are looking at Lot #733; a 1963 Corvette Split-Window Resto-Mod was completed in March 2021 by Jeff Hayes Customs. It has the classic look of the mid-year Split-Window but with the technology of a newer chassis and new fuel-injected LS engine.…
Today on Vette Vues blog we are looking at the life of designer Larry Shinoda as well as a collection of video interviews with him. Lawrence Kiyoshi (Larry) Shinoda (March 25, 1930 – November 13, 1997) was a legendary American automotive designer who was best known for his work on the Chevrolet Corvette and Ford Mustang. Larry Shinoda was a designer who worked for General Motors Styling from 1956 to 1968. Perhaps his most was his working on the final design for the 1963 split-window Sting Ray. He Shinoda was born on March 25, 1930, in Los Angeles, California. He grew up in Southern California and his artistic talents showed up while he was still in grade school. Shinoda and his family were required to live in an internment camp by…
Today on the Vette Vues Magazine blog we are looking at part 1 of a two-part article that appeared in May and June 2020 issues of Vette Vues. It covers the history of the 1963 Corvette ZO6 and one that is owned by Dave Matlock. The cover of the May 2020 issue is Dave's 1963 ZO6 big tank Corvette on display at the Corvette Chevy Expo in Galveston Island Texas. Dave Matlock's 1963 Z06 Tanker Sting Ray: Born to Be A Race Car and a Collector Car! Article by K. Scott Teeters Image Credit: G.M. Archives 1963 Corvette ZO6 Tanker Engine 1963 Corvette ZO6 Tanker Ever since the introduction of the 2001 Z06, there's been an increased emphasis on the structure of the Corvette. The C5 Corvette was arguably the…
The C2 Corvette History The C2 Chevrolet Corvette spans from 1963 to 1967. Here’s an overview of the second generation of Corvettes built during this time. We are looking at the C2 Corvette's history. The changes that were made during the five-year span. The C2 Corvette ran from 1963 to 1967. Here’s an overview of the second generation of Corvettes built during this time. The muscle car is integral in the American story, from the Beach Boys’ giddy-up 409 to Bruce Springsteen’s ’69 Chevy with a 396. However, none capture the collective imagination of all the great muscle cars like the Chevrolet Corvette. Though the Corvette debuted in 1953, it was the introduction of the second-generation Corvette, the C2, that solidified its place at the top of the muscle car market. What…
Barrett-Jackson Online Only Auction Sets World Records, Helps NASCAR Team Owner Richard Childress Raise $425,000 for COVID-19 Relief SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – May 20, 2020 – Barrett-Jackson, The World's Greatest Collector Car Auctions, set two world collector car auction records and raised $425,000 for charity during its successful Online Only May 2020 Auction. During the online auction, which closed on May 17, Barrett-Jackson offered a limited selection of carefully curated vehicles and automobilia that brought in more than $3.79 million, including an amazing $425,000 for charity with the help of NASCAR team owner Richard Childress. Barrett-Jackson set two world auction records for collector cars, including a 2010 Dodge Challenger Drag Pak Race Car (Lot #100) that sold for $61,600, and a 1984 Dodge Daytona Turbo (Lot #217), which closed bidding at…
Legendary Zora Arkus Duntov handpicked top Corvette racers to test drive the all-new 1963 ZO6 Corvette Stingray. He chose Dave MacDonald and Dick Thompson. On June 29 through July 1, 1962, Zora held a three-day media event. This historic test was used in a GM promotional video titled Biography of a Sports Car and was distributed around the globe as part of GM's '63 sales campaign. First Four 1963 ZO6s Given to Racers Two months later GM presented the first four 1963 Z06 Corvettes off the line to renowned Corvette racers Dave MacDonald, Bob Bondurant, Doug Hooper & Jerry Grant - it was decided MacDonald would receive VIN#684, the very first. All four Stingrays would debut at Riverside International Raceway on Oct 13, 1962. Also debuting that day was Carroll…
Our 1963 Corvette feature is owned by Rollie Walriven. Rollie took delivery of his brand new, Daytona Blue 63 Corvette Coupe in November 1962. We’ve all heard and perhaps have lived this story: Young man buys a Corvette, has a blast with the car, falls in love, marries, it’s time for a house, and the Vette is out’a here! “Life” often gets in the way of Corvettes. This is not one of those stories - no, just the opposite. Rollie Walriven took delivery of his brand new, Daytona Blue 1963 Corvette Coupe in November 1962 When Rollie Walriven took delivery of his brand new, Daytona Blue 1963 Corvette Coupe in November 1962, he was already a serious car guy. He had owned a daily driver 1959 4-speed Corvette with a…
This promotional film for the Chevrolet Super Sports includes footage and features of the Nova, Chevelle and Impala SS models as well as the Corvette Sting Ray. https://youtu.be/5NV69a3rumU This promotional film for the Chevrolet Super Sports includes footage and features of the Nova, Chevelle and Impala SS models as well as the Corvette Sting Ray. 1963 Chevrolet Super Sport Magazine Advertisement including Corvette On the Vette Vues blog, we take a look at the life of designer Larry Shinoda as well as a collection of video interviews with him. Check it out. We have another video you might enjoy of the 1963 ZO6 Corvette test. Legendary Zora Arkus Duntov handpicked top Corvette racers to test drive the all-new 1963 ZO6 Corvette Stingray. He chose Dave MacDonald and Dick Thompson. We…
1963 Black Corvette by Bobby Alloway 1963 Black Corvette by Bobby Alloway. This car is actually Bobby Alloway’s personal car. Text and Photos By: Wayne Ellwood 1963 Black Corvette by Bobby Alloway, Blount (Louisville, TN). This car is actually Bobby Alloway’s personal car. It looks a lot like a project that was completed for a customer about 5-6 years ago. This time, Bobby built a car for himself, and he did introduce some new ideas. The color scheme changed from black with a red stinger to black with a blue stinger. Apparently, in researching the colors, Bobby also found that this color combination also drew the highest auction bid for a Corvette, to date. Interestingly, the blue interior and stinger are color correct for a 1967 Corvette, when four were…
