I Don’t Like This Car, I Love It!
The first time I saw this car, I was in love! As a kid, with an extensive collection of die cast model cars, the Corvette Sting Ray C2 stands out for me. In spite of the Lamborghini, Bertone Carabo, Lotus Europa, E-Type Jaguar etc., the Sting Ray is my favorite. Maybe it is American, and for me then, the US is a magical land of everything cool. The look and stance of this beauty still blows me away. They seem to have done everything right with it. So, let’s check out the Corvette Sting Ray. Notice I say Sting Ray, not Stingray – there’s a reason for that.
Corvette, Corvette Sting Ray, and Corvette Stingray – The Difference.
Deciphering Chevy Corvette, Corvette Sting Ray, and Corvette Stingray. The popular phrase “A Sting Ray is ALWAYS a Corvette, but all Corvettes are not Sting Rays” clears this confusion. Meaning?
The car is originally just the “Corvette,” but in 1963, the “Sting Ray” badge is added due to its resemblance to that fish. This stuck around until 1967, with the 1968 model year returning to just Corvette. But with the 1969 model year, the Sting Ray label returns, spelled as “Stingray.” So, from 1969 through 1976, it is again the Chevy Corvette Stingray. Hopefully this clears up things a bit. And it is the Sting Ray, that is my personal favorite.
Birth of the Chevy Corvette
The concept of the Corvette is a result GM head designer Harley J. Earl‘s visionary outlook. Harley’s successes go back to the 1927 Cadillac LaSalle, and is responsible for many of GM’s cutting-edge designs. After the war, Harley is impressed with the relatively smaller sports cars American GIs are bringing back from Europe. So, he goes to work on an American equivalent with the Jaguar XK120 for inspiration.
Ever the innovator, he looks into using fiberglass for his next design after seeing the Alembic 1 prototype. By 1951, Harley Earl, goes to work on his car – the Opel Sports Car. To rejuvenate GM’s Chevrolet division, this project is handed to them.
The First Corvette Prototype
The first Corvette prototype is unveiled in January 1953, and following GM’s convention, called the EX-122. To keep with Chevrolet naming convention, the name has to start with “C.” After a list of submitted names, “Corvette,” suggested by Campbell-Ewald’s Myron Scott is selected. Two reasons it is likely accepted:
1. A nod to the fast, manoeuvrable Corvette class warship, with the War having recently ended, and
2. Campbell-Ewald was Chevrolet’s advertising agency at the time.
The bigwigs are still nervous about the fiberglass body. But they are convinced soon enough with trend-setting potential, and using parts from other models keeps cost down.
Variations of the Corvette
While the new Corvette brings the excitement back to Chevrolet, other various designs are also developed. These are referred to as the Corvette Quartet: The Convertible, Hardtop, Corvette Corvair, and the Corvette Nomad.
The first two designs Convertible/Hardtop are the only ones going forward. And so, the convertible goes on sale, with the hardtop available in 1956. This is known as the C1 Corvette, and it spans, with evolving variations, from 1953-1962.
Corvette C1 (1953-1962)
The first year, Corvettes are only available in White, and a straight 6-Cylinder engine, with Blue, Black, and Red available in 1954. A V8 is offered in 1955.
While overall, the Corvette C1 remains the same, it goes through many design updates. By 1956 the taillights have changed from the pointed to a swept design. Also, the side is more streamlined, hinting the future of the Corvette look. By 1958, it has acquired double headlights. The overall look has the subtle appearance of the next generation Corvette.
With the establishment of the Corvette as America’s sports car, GM has a template to work with for years. New experimental designs are continuously developed over the next decade which we’ll look at another time. These exciting designs result in the first major update resulting in the Corvette C2.
Corvette C2 (1963-1967) – My Favorite
Continuously updated prototypes of the C1, results in the birth of a new look Corvette. These updates include Ed Cole’s Q-Corvette meant to revamp the overall mechanics of Chevy cars introducing new ideas. The other is Zora Ankus-Duntov’s racing Corvette SS, meant for the European racing circuit (and tackling the Shelby Cobra). In reality, this evolution to the C2 has multiple, complex stories. But at the end of the day, it was a combination of Peter Brock, Larry Shinoda and Tony Lapine designs that decide the C2 design.
Also, with the Corvette C2, with the “Sting Ray” badge is born – heralding the era of my all-time favorite Corvette.
For me, the lines, the sleek profile, major mechanical, and power upgrade, while still retaining the outline of a two-door roadster is pure classic!
Influences on the Evolution of The C2
The evolution of the Corvette C2 actually starts in the late 50s, and is inspired by the designs prevalent in Europe. GM’s Director of Styling, Bill Mitchell, who felt a car has to “move you to want to look at it again, and again” is especially inspired by the rare 1955 Alfa Romeo 3500 Disco Volante.
He takes those European looks, and challenges his team to come out with their vision for the new C2 on similar lines. Meanwhile, the XP-700 is also available as a blueprint, and provides a good reference point on how the new design would go in terms of overall lines and dimensions. The “split” rear window in the XP-700 is adopted to the Sting Ray insistence of Bill Mitchell.
1958 XP-700 Concept
Various other concepts are also floating around this time, each with their own stories. These include:
Selection of the C2 (Sting Ray) Design
After years of complex deliberation, the design forwarded by Peter Brock is selected for the new C2. His sketch, done in 1957, is followed up and put into production in 1963. Due to its similarity in overall lines to the fish, the C2 Corvette is called the “Sting Ray.”
There were two types of the Corvette: The Corvette Convertible, and the Corvette Sport Coupe. The latter is likely the most sought after by collectors for its iconic split rear-window. For some strange reason, I’m partial to the convertible look with a hardtop on.
The body is still primarily fiberglass, but it has more steel to increase rigidity. To offset this increase in weight, thinner fiberglass is used. With improved technology, thinner does not necessarily mean weaker.
Notable Sting Ray C2 Design Features
External
The coupe’s rear split window is only used in 1963, and is replaced next year by solid glass. as it restricted rear visibility. The C2 sees the return of hidden headlamps on American cars last seen on the ’42 DeSoto. Faux vents, and the logo of a checkered flag and combination fleur-de-lis/Chevy bowtie (also on the fuel cap), adorn the hood. The hood logo disappears in 1967. Initially the ’63 has four taillights, sans backup lights, later replaced by six lights. Backup lights are introduced in ’66, and moved above the license plate in 1967.
The first C2s have aluminum knockoff wheels with a central spinner. Outlawed by 1967, it’s replaced by starburst style hub caps to hide the lug nuts. The ‘65 C2 has fender fins for better cooling, chrome trim disappears by 1967, making it the most “refined” C2.
Internal
The C2 Sting Ray’s inside design and ergonomics are as memorable as its external looks. Symmetric dashboard cowls, ergonomic controls, dials indicating its sporting roots are the signature style of the C2 Sting Ray. Unique waterfall style center console, with a vertically placed radio add to the unique dashboard. Optional headrests are offered well before they become mandatory.
This Sting Ray is also one of the first cars to have a collapsible steering wheel. In 1966, the under-dash pull handbrake was replaced by the center located pull up version. Just looking into the interior of the Corvette C2 invites you to driven it to its limits!
Engine Specs
While I’m more of an aesthetics guy, no look at the Corvette is enough without a look into what ticked under the hood. So, for all you enthusiasts, here’s a quick summary of what growls under the C2 Sting Ray’s hood. (Click the table to enlarge)
The 1965 model year ses all-round disc brakes on the C2. It is also this year, that the external side pipes are available, although they have already been seen on display versions earlier. I’m going to stop right here, because if we go into further details, we would need another post.
And so, the C2 Sting Ray Becomes a Legend
For me, it’s the second generation C2 that creates the legend of the Corvette Sting Ray. Major upgrades are made in 1968 for the C3, dropping the Sting Ray badge – which returns as the Stingray in 1969 on a completely new look Corvette.
One thing of note: the C2 has been modified and customized so much, you’ll be hard-pressed to see one truly reflective of a specific model year.
This is my brief homage, but the history of the Corvette C2 is more complex and multifaceted. Why the Corvette, and why the C2? This particular Corvette just has that “je ne sais quoi” that is beyond explanation for me. Proof of how loved the C2 is how one sold for over $3 Million a few years back!
We’ll revisit the other Corvettes another time.
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More Info on the Corvette C2
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