1964 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster Racer

The name of the Chevrolet Corvette was by Public Relations department Myron Scott, who suggested it be named after the small maneuverable warship. The first model was a convertible introduced in 1953 at the GM Motorama as a concept and was followed ten years later (in 1963) by the second generation, in coupe and convertible styles. Originally manufactured in Flint, Michigan, as well as St. Louis, Missouri, the Corvette has been manufactured since 1981 in Bowling Green, Kentucky.

The second generation Corvette (C2) 'Sting Ray' continued with fiberglass body panels but on a shortened platform. Production began in 1963 and continued to 1967. It introduced a new name, the 'Sting Ray' and was the first year for a Corvette coupe and the distinctive tapering rear deck. It wore a design by Larry Shinoda with design inspiration from a few previously built cars including a concept car called the 'Q Corvette,' which had been created by Chuck Pohlmann and Peter Brock under the styling direction of Bill Mitchell. Another styling influencer was the late-1950s car known as the 'Mitchell Sting Ray' which Mitchell had sponsored because Chevy no longer participated in factory racing. Mitchell had also been inspired by a Mako Shark he had caught while deep-sea finishing. Only the 1963 model year had the split rear window, which Corvette chief engineer Zora Arkus-Duntov never liked due to its limited visibility.

The Sting Ray had non-function hood vents, an independent rear suspension, and hidden headlamps. The independent rear suspension vastly improved handling over its solid axle predecessor. It rested on a new ladder-type chassis created by Zora Arkus-Duntov. Under the direct influence of three of the General Motors titans, Mitchell, Shinoda, and Arkus-Duntov, the Corvette was properly prepared and done right, before it entered production. Enterprising road racers like Dick Guldstrand, Bob Bondurant, Allen Grant and Davy MacDonald had them on the track before they appeared in show rooms. By the mid-1960s, 327-powered Corvettes were regular national winners in the Sports Car Club of America's B-Production class.

The most powerful engine offered in the 1963 produced 360 horsepower, and rose to 375 bhp a year later. Four-wheel disc brakes were introduced in 1965, along with a 'big block' 396 cubic-inch V8 engine option. Side exhaust pipes also became available as optional equipment, and would be offered through 1967. The Z06 competition option package was a rare selection, which added bigger, multi-segment lined brakes with finned drums, and stiffer suspension, and many other mechanical improvements. In 1963, only a few hundred coupes and a single convertible were factory-equipped in this configuration for 1963.

The 396 cubic-inch engine offered 425 horsepower and signaled the end of the Rochester fuel injection system. It cost $292.70 while the fuel injected 327 cubic-inch engine cost twice as much, at $538.00. This meant for $245 more than the 395 CID engine, the buyer got 50 horsepower less, but it did offer over 20 mpg on the highway and did better at delivering fuel during high G-loading in corners at racing speeds. 771 examples of the fuel-injected cars were built in 1965, prompting Chevrolet to discontinue the option at the end of 1965 production.

An even larger 427 cubic-inch Big Block engine was offered for 1966. 1967 had the first L88 engine option which officially offered 430 horsepower, but was more realistically rated at 560 horsepower. Only twenty engines were installed in the Corvette for 1967. Another new option was the Holley triple two-barrel carburetor (or Tri-Power) 427 L89.

by Daniel Vaughan | Feb 2020