Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray C2 (Split Window)
Year:
1963
Manufacturer:
Chevrolet Division of General Motors, Detroit, Michigan, USA
Number Produced:
10,000
Specifications:
327 cu inch (5,360cc) V8 engine
340 Horsepower
Top speed 190 km/h (118 mph)
Description:
The second-generation Corvette, known as the Sting Ray, debuted in 1963 with an all-new design influenced by the Q-Corvette project and Bill Mitchell’s racing Sting Ray. Beneath its fiberglass body panels lay a stronger steel frame and a newly developed independent rear suspension, giving the car greater rigidity, sharper handling, and a more refined ride.
The 1963 model featured a fastback body with a long hood and a distinctive raised wind split running the length of the roof. At the rear, a vertical bar divided the back window into two halves, giving rise to the now-iconic nickname “split window.” While the design was admired for its dramatic style, it also restricted rear visibility and was dropped after just one year. This makes the 1963 model unique, and one of the most sought-after Corvettes ever built.
Other innovations included hidden headlamps, bucket seats, and a cockpit-style dashboard, all of which added to its futuristic appeal. The Sting Ray’s combination of bold styling and advanced engineering firmly established Corvette as America’s sports car.
Kindly Donated by Peter Osborne, Nova Scotia, Canada
