Chevrolet Division of General Motors Company

 

The year was 1963 and General Motors Company was very excited about the Corvette’s sale figures over the last couple of years. Chevrolet had to build a legendary muscle car to keep the hype up and they came up with the Chevrolet Corvette C2.

The first Corvette, which was now called the C1 and was built from 1953 to 1963, rightly had the reputation of a "boulevard cruiser". It had the appearance of a sports car, but suffered from hideous handling due to the large-scale production parts used. 

All the stops were therefore pulled out for the Vette and the experience gained with motorsport was used to build a "real" sports car out of the Corvette, with extraordinary success! Chevrolet ended up building a strong gem of a car from 1963 to 1967 to succeed the C1.

 

Production

Chevrolet Division of General Motors Company

 

Although vehicles with tubular space frames had already been used successfully in racing, they were still not ready to be mass-produced. Therefore, the basic principles of the first Corvette, front-engine, rear-wheel drive, polyester body, and especially the box frame, were retained for production reasons. 

 

In favor of better weight distribution, the wheelbase of the new Corvette was shortened by 4 inches, which means that 52% of the weight fell on the rear axle, depending on the engine. The length was now 175 inches, compared to the predecessor, the vehicle was 2 inches lower and 4 inches shorter. 

With a 70-inch width, the StingRay was a wide vehicle for the 1960s, but it was still undercut, for example, by the 300 SL of the time. Today, when almost every mid-size car is 71 inches wide, the dimensions of the second Corvette seem almost compact. At around 3086 lbs, the Corvette wasn't particularly light, despite the plastic body. The visibility in the cabriolet was praised, while the lack of rear visibility was criticized in the coupe. 

Bill Mitchell had done a great job working with the engineers, including Zora Arkus-Duntov, to build a gorgeously dressed vehicle that cut a fine figure as both coupe and convertible. The name Sting Ray was borrowed from an experimental vehicle that tested at the Daytona track in March 1962. A special design element was the split rear window, which was dropped in later years in favor of better visibility.

 

Technology

Chevrolet Division of General Motors Company

 

While the first Corvette tried to tame sports car drivers with a rigid rear axle, the 1963 Corvette already had independent rear axles. Suspension, steering, and clutch ratio were all adjustable also in Corvette C2. 

 

The top model of the product line was equipped with fuel injection, therefore the 5.3-liter motor was able to bring 360 horsepower to the game. For various reasons, the Corvette designers opted for drum brakes again for the first StingRay, although they operated at high temperatures. However, from 1965 onwards, Chevrolet could no longer avoid using disc brakes.

The second Corvette was continuously further developed, an important milestone here was certainly the installation of the larger "Big Block" engine, which now drew up to 425 hp from 7 liters displacement. The injection system of the top version gave way to the exclusive use of four-barrel Holley carburetors, modesty in terms of fuel consumption could not be expected there, also considering the impressive torque of 469 ft lbs.

The engine of the Chevrolet Corvette C2 is a piece of art and is able to bring noticeable acceleration almost from idle. The wonderful American eight-cylinder sound that escapes from the two exhaust pipes makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end. The concert can be influenced almost at will with your foot and never seems obtrusive. You will be asked by passers-by to rev it up.

 

Sales

Chevrolet Division of General Motors Company

 

The market rewarded Corvette’s newfound exceptional performance and bought like crazy. On November 29, 1962, the Automobil Revue wrote that there were waiting lists in the USA, as well as abroad. And, contrary to the experience of General Motors, there were no more discounts for America: "Anyone who goes to a dealer and tries to get a Sting Ray or a Studebaker Avanti at a discount is sure to get a laugh."

In the five-year production period, around 117,000 Sting Rays were sold, which was almost twice as many as the predecessor managed in 10 years. However, the successor C3 then brought it to 543,000 copies in around 15 years. 

The vehicles of the second Corvette generation are almost 50 years old today. Accordingly, one could also expect a primal driving experience but will be pleasantly surprised. A well-maintained second generation Corvette is very pleasant to drive , the transmission shifts accurately and with reasonable effort, even the clutch does not require superhuman effort, the steering is direct and feels good.

The large quantities and the widespread use of mass-produced components make servicing and maintenance comparatively easy and inexpensive today. There is hardly anything that cannot be ordered via "mail-order" and the prices are moderate compared to Italian or English exotics. Insurance and fuel costs can get expensive, however, and the gas station attendant may soon be the Corvette driver's best friend.

 

Protecting a Chevrolet Corvette C2

 

Chevrolet went into a partnership with an established cover company in recent years, and they are called the Coverking. They are the best when it comes to the protection of any Chevrolet. They work closely with Chevrolet to produce the best protection your Chevrolet needs. 

A 50 year old Chevrolet Corvette C2 is a sizeable investment and needs the best protection available. Like almost all classics, it is an exquisite and fragile vehicle and it’s easy to damage them if you are not careful. 

Older cars are not meant to be kept outside but if you don’t have an interior space available, you must get a StormProof Car Cover from Coverking. If you do have an indoor garage for it, you should still be careful about the dust and corrosion. In this case, Autobody Armor Car Cover from Coverking is your best bet. 

You should also invest in the protection of interior when it comes to classics. The C2’s delicate interior could be well protected with SpartanShield Custom Seat Cover. However, if you care about the elegance of your Corvette’s interior, you should think about Specialized Diamond Stitched Custom Seat Cover. 


The Chevrolet Corvette C2 comes with a beautiful and intricate dash so we must urge you to use a Molded Carpet Dash Cover to protect it from the sun and other outside elements. You should also check out the Designer Velour Dash Covers, they provide a great way for you to show your character.

 

Resources

 

Coverking Links

 

Tankut Basar

Tankut Basar is an ARA (American Rally Assoc.) Racing Driver and an FIA Bronze Category License Holder. His passion for driving began with karting like most racers. He started racing internationally at the age of 22. Tankut loves everything car-related and will keep enjoying the drive until the end.

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