C2

Corvette C2
1963 to 1967

1963: Restyled along lines laid down by design boss Bill Mitchell’s 1959 race car and re-engineered to be the first Corvette that Duntov wouldn’t be ashamed to drive in Europe, the Sting Ray arrives for ’63 with hidden headlamps the famed “split-window” fastback that lasts for only one model year. It is smaller, has an independent rear suspension with a single transverse leaf spring, and offers electronic ignition. 10,994 coupes and 10,919 convertibles were built. The Z06 Special Performance Equipment option is introduced on the 1963 Sting Ray (199 built), and the Corvette Grand Sport program builds five lightweight, race-ready cars, all sold to racing privateers. This was a race ready factory package which included a heavy duty braking system, a suspension system twice as stiff as standard, a 36.5 gallon gas tank, a 360 horse power, 327 cubic inch fuel injected engine, an M21 “Rock Crusher” close ratio 4 speed transmission, positraction, and cast aluminum knock off wheels. One prototype 1963 four seat, two door coupe was made, but because of its strange proportions it was never put into production and eventually accidentally destroyed by GM.

1964: There were 8,304 coupes and 13,925 convertibles built. The 1964 corvette was similar to the 1963 Corvette except the rear glass was one piece and only the hood panel recesses remained.

1965: The big block V-8 arrives in the form of Chevy’s 396-cubic-inch “L78” engine. Four-wheel disc brakes become standard, and fuel injection disappears until 1982’s throttle-body injection. There were 8,186 coupes and 15,376 convertibles built. This was the last year for fuel injection in Corvettes until 1982. This was the first and only year for the Mark IV “porcupine head” 396 cubic inch 425 horse power engine. 4 wheel disc brakes were introduced as standard equipment for the first time and a power antenna was standard equipment. There were 3 redesigned functional vertical louvers behind each front wheel to cool the engine compartment.

1966: There were 9,958 Coupes, 17,762 Convertibles produced, side roof vents were completely deleted. The big block grows to 427 cubes. Originally listed at 450 horsepower in Chevy literature, numbers for the solid lifter beast were revised to 425 after introduction. This is solely an administrative decision, and no changes to the engine were made. Backup lamps and Holley carbs (previously available only on certain models) were made standard.

1967: The C2’s swan song, the 1967 model introduces the legendary L88 cast-iron big-block engine. GM rates it at 430 hp, but it routinely tops 500 hp in independent testing. Aluminum cylinder heads became an option for the L71 engine, and a dual-master-cylinder braking system becomes standard. There were 8,504 coupes and 14,436 convertibles built. The functional side fender vents were changed to 5 vertical slots. The parking brake handle was re-located from under the instrument panel to between the seats where it remains today. The “Bubble Hood” for the 427 cubic inch engine was redesigned.