A superb and rare photo of the very new 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray C2 musclecar, photographed
for the publicity campaign of the model
year 1963 ; the year the new
C2 Corvette Sting Ray model was introduced!
The Chevrolet Corvette Sting
Ray is famous for its style, rarity and off course heritage!
The Chevrolet Corvette is a sports
car that has been manufactured by Chevrolet since 1953. While the style of a
car may be just as important to some as to how well the car runs, it was not
until 1927, when General Motors hired designer Harley Earl, that automotive
styling and design became important to American automobile manufacturers. What Henry Ford did for
automobile manufacturing principles, Harley Earl
did for car design. Taking its name from the corvette, a small, maneuverable
fighting frigate (the credit for the naming goes to Myron Scott),
the first Corvettes were virtually handbuilt in Flint,
Michigan in Chevrolet's Customer
Delivery Center,
now an academic building at Kettering
University. The outer
body was made out of then-revolutionary fiberglass, selected in part because of
steel quotas left over from the war. Underneath the new body material were
standard Chevrolet components, including the "Blue Flame" inline
six-cylinder truck engine, two-speed Powerglide automatic transmission, and
drum brakes from Chevrolet's regular car line. Though the engine's output was
increased somewhat, thanks to a triple-carburetor intake exclusive to the
Corvette, performance of the car was decidedly lackluster. Compared to the
British and Italian sports cars of the day, the Corvette was underpowered,
required a great deal of effort as well as clear roadway to bring to a stop,
and even lacked a "proper" manual transmission. Up until that time,
the Chevrolet division was GM's entry-level marque, known for excellent but no-nonsense
cars. Nowhere was that more evident than in the Corvette. A Paxton supercharger
became available in 1954 as a dealer-installed option, greatly improving the
Corvette's straight-line performance, but sales continued to decline. GM was
seriously considering shelving the project, leaving the Corvette to be little
more than a footnote in automotive history, and would have done so if not for
two important events. The first was the introduction in 1955 of Chevrolet's
first V8 engine (a 265 in³ {4.3 L}) since 1919, and the second was the
influence of a Soviet émigré in GM's engineering department, Zora Arkus-Duntov.
Arkus-Duntov simply took the new V8 and backed it with a three-speed manual
transmission. That modification, probably the single most important in the car's
history[citation needed], helped turn the Corvette from a two-seat curiosity
into a genuine performer. It also earned Arkus-Duntov the rather inaccurate
nickname "Father of the Corvette." Another key factor in the
Corvette's survival was Ford's introduction, in 1955, of the two-seat
Thunderbird, which was billed as a "personal luxury car", not a
sports car. Even so, the Ford-Chevrolet rivalry in those days demanded that GM
not appear to back down from the challenge. The "T-Bird" was changed
to a four-seater in 1958. There have been six generations of the Corvette so
far, sometimes referred to as C1 through C6.
The first generation Corvette, the Chevrolet Corvette C1 , was
introduced late in the 1953 model year and ended in 1962. These cars are often
referred to as the "solid-axle" models since the independent rear
suspension did not debut until the 1963 Sting Ray. 300 hand-built polo white
Corvettes were produced for the 1953 model year, making it the rarest and one
of the most sought after of all Corvettes. The 1955 model saw the introduction
of the 265 cu in (4.34 L) V8 engine offered as an option,
however the first seven off the production line featured the standard
"Blue Flame" Inline-6.
A new body was introduced for the 1956 model featuring a
new "face" and side coves; the taillight fins were gone. An optional
fuel injection system was made available in the middle of the 1957 model year.
It was one of the first mass-produced engines in history to reach 1 bhp
(0.75 kW) per cubic inch and Chevrolet's advertising agency used a
"one hp per cubic inch" slogan for advertising the 283 bhp
(211 kW) 283 cu in (4.64 L) Small-Block engine. Other
options included power windows (1956), hydraulically operated power convertible
top (1956), four speed manual transmission (late 1957), and heavy duty brakes
and suspension (1957). The 1958 Corvette received a body and interior
freshening including quad headlights, bumper exiting exhaust tips, and a new
steering wheel and dashboard, with all gauges mounted directly in front of the
driver. Exclusive to the 1958 model were hood louvers and twin trunk spars. The
1959-60 model years had few changes except a decreased amount of body chrome
and increased horsepower engine offerings. For 1961, a complete redesign
was made to the rear of the car; a "boat tail" with four round
lights. The light treatment would continue for all following model year
Corvettes. In 1962, the Chevrolet 283 cu in (4.64 L) small block
was enlarged to 327 cu in (5.36 L) and produced a maximum of
340 bhp (250 kW) making it the fastest of the C1 generation. 1962 was
the last year for the wrap around windshield, solid rear axle, and
convertible-only body style. The trunk lid and exposed headlights did not
reappear for many decades.
The second generation of the Corvette, the Chevrolet Corvette C2 (SEE PHOTO!)
, was designed by Larry Shinoda with major inspiration from a previous concept
design called the "Q Corvette" by Peter Brock and Chuck Pohlmann
under the styling direction of Bill Mitchell. The design had several
inspirations. The first was the contemporary Jaguar E-Type, one of which Bill Mitchell
owned and enjoyed driving frequently. Mitchell
also sponsored a car known as the "Mitchell Sting Ray" in 1959
because Chevrolet no longer participated in factory racing. This vehicle had
the largest impact on the styling of this generation, although it had no top
and did not give away what the coupe would look like. The third inspiration was
a Mako Shark Mitchell had caught while deep-sea fishing. Production started for
the 1963 model year and ended in 1967. Introducing a new name, "Sting
Ray", the 1963 model was the first year for a Corvette coupe and it
featured a distinctive split rear window treatment. The Sting Ray featured
hidden headlamps, non-functional hood vents, and an independent rear
suspension. Duntov never liked the split rear window because it blocked rear
vision, but Mitchell thought it to be
a key part of the entire design. Maximum power for 1963 was 360 bhp
(270 kW) and was raised to 375 bhp (280 kW) in 1964. Options
included electronic ignition, the breakerless magnetic pulse-triggered
Delcotronic first offered on some 1963 Pontiac models. On 1964 models the
decorative hood vents were eliminated and Duntov got his way with the split
rear window changed to a full width window. Four-wheel disc brakes were
introduced in 1965, as was a "big block" engine option, the
396 cu in (6.49 L) V8. Side exhaust pipes were also optional in
1965 and continued through 1967. The introduction of the 425 bhp
(317 kW) 396 cu in (6.49 L) big block in 1965 spelled the
beginning of the end for the Rochester
fuel injection system. The 396 cu in (6.49 L) option cost
US$292.70 while the fuel injected 327 cu in (5.36 L) engine cost
US$538.00. Few people could justify spending US$245.00 more for 50 bhp
(37 kW) less, even if the FI cars offered optional bigger brakes not
available on carbureted models. With only 771 fuel-injected cars built in 1965,
Chevrolet discontinued the option the following year. Chevrolet would up the
ante in 1966 with the introduction of an even larger 427 cu in
(7.00 L) Big Block version, creating what would be one of the most
collectible Corvettes ever. Other options available on the C2 included the
Wonderbar auto-tuning AM radio, AM-FM radio (mid 1963), air conditioning (late
1963), a telescopic steering wheel (1965) and headrests (1966). 1967 was the
final year for the C2 generation. It featured restyled fender vents, less
ornamentation and the first use of all four taillights in red; back-up lamps were
now rectangular, centrally located. (The all-four red taillight treatment
continued on the first C3 in 1968 only and returned on the first C4 in 1984,
continuing on all Corvettes since). 1967 had the first L88 engine option which
was rated at 430 bhp (320 kW), but unofficial estimates place the
actual output at 560 bhp (420 kW) or more. Only twenty such engines
were installed at the factory. From 1967 (to 1969), the Holley
triple two-barrel carburetor, or Tri-Power, was available on the 427 L89 (a
US$368 option, on top of the cost for the high-performance 427). Despite these
changes, sales slipped over 15%, to 22,940 (8,504 coupes, off close to 15%, and
14,436 convertibles, down nearly 19%). Corvette chief engineer Zora Arkus-Duntov
came up with a lightweight version of the C2 in 1962. Concerned about Ford and
what they were doing with the Shelby
Cobra, GM planned 100 Grand Sport
Corvettes but only five were built. They were driven by historic drivers such
as Roger Penske,
A. J.
Foyt, Jim Hall, and Dick
Guldstrand among others. Today the
cars 001-005 are all held by private owners, and are among the most coveted and
valuable Corvettes ever built. The C3 was originally intended to be introduced
for the 1967 model year; however, quality issues delayed its introduction until
the following year.
This is a very nice and very rare non period photo that reflects
a wonderful era of Chevrolet ‘s and Corvette ‘s automotive history in a
wonderful way. This is your rare chance
to own this photo, therefore it is printed in a nice large format
of ca. 8" x 12" (ca. 20 x 30 cm).
It makes it perfectly suitable for framing.
Shipping costs will only be $ 7.00 regardless of how many photos you
buy. For 5 or more photos, shipping is free!
(Note: A. Herl, Inc. does not appear on
photo, for ebay purposes only)
No copyright
expressed or implied. Sold as collectable item only. We are clearing out our
archives that we have gathered from various sources.
All items always sent well
protected in PVC clear files and board backed
envelopes.
We have
photographs that came from professional collections and/or were bought from the
original photographer or press studio! They are all of professional and
excellent quality.
After many decades
of professionally collecting photographs and posters we are clearing out our
archives. They make the perfect gift and are perfectly suited for framing. They
will look gorgeous unframed and will be a true asset nicely framed with a
border. They are a gorgeous and great asset in every home, workshop, workplace,
restaurant, bar or club!
First come -
first served. And you can always contact us for your requests. Please ask any
questions before the auction ends.