Chevrolet Corvette Stingray (C2): America's Answer, Fully Realised
America's sports car had already existed for a decade by this point. This generation is where it finally found a shape genuinely worthy of the ambition behind it.
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The Generation That Defined the Shape
Earlier Corvettes had established the idea of an American sports car. This generation is the one most enthusiasts point to when asked which Corvette actually nailed the execution.
Generations at a Glance
| Version | Years | Engine | Gearbox | Body | 0–60mph | Top Speed | Price New (US) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corvette Sting Ray (327 small-block) | 1963–1967 | 5.4L (327ci) V8, up to 375bhp (fuel-injected) | 4-speed manual, 2-speed automatic optional | Coupe, Convertible | approx. 5.5–6.1s | approx. 140mph | approx. $4,300–4,400 |
| Corvette Sting Ray L88 (427 big-block) | 1967 | 7.0L (427ci) V8, 430bhp (officially rated; substantially higher actual) | 4-speed manual | Coupe, Convertible | approx. 5.0s | approx. 150mph+ | not reliably documented |
A Mako Shark-Inspired Shape, One Year Only
Produced from 1963 to 1967, the C2 introduced independent rear suspension for the first time in the model's history, a genuine handling improvement over the live-axle setup of the original generation. Styled under GM design vice-president Bill Mitchell's direction with input from Larry Shinoda, its dramatically sculpted body drew inspiration from a Mitchell-commissioned Mako Shark concept car — Mitchell's own stated goal was "a complete breakaway from what we've seen around here in the past." Its distinctive split rear window, used only on the 1963 model year across 10,594 coupes before being discontinued for improved visibility, has since become the single most sought-after and instantly recognisable detail in the entire Corvette lineage.
Why the Split-Window Is the One Every Collector Wants
Chevrolet built exactly 10,594 split-window coupes before switching to a conventional one-piece rear window for 1964 — a genuinely tiny number by any production-car standard, and the specific reason this single model year commands such outsized attention among collectors decades later. The very last split-window car off the line, chassis #10,594, has itself become a documented piece of history: a numbers-matching example with the desirable 4:11 Posi-traction rear gear, Muncie four-speed and solid-lifter 340-horsepower engine has been offered publicly for well over $400,000, reflecting both its position as literally the final example built and its rare factory options.
From Fuel Injection to the Fearsome L88
A range of increasingly powerful V8 engines, including high-performance fuel-injected variants producing up to 375bhp, gave the C2 credible performance to match its dramatic styling throughout its five-year run. The rarest and most extreme version, the 1967-only L88 with its 7.0-litre big-block V8, was officially rated at just 430bhp — a figure widely understood at the time to be deliberately conservative, with genuine output substantially higher, since Chevrolet wanted to discourage casual buyers and insurance scrutiny from a car built almost exclusively for racing.
How Much Does a Corvette Stingray C2 Cost Today?
Well-preserved examples, particularly the rare 1963 split-window coupe and high-performance fuel-injected or L88 variants, command strong prices among American classic car collectors, with values reflecting both the generation's design reputation and its historical significance within the broader Corvette story. Ordinary small-block coupes and convertibles from 1964-1967 remain considerably more attainable than the split-window or L88 halo cars, offering genuine C2 ownership — independent rear suspension, that Mitchell-Shinoda styling — without chasing the most extreme values in the range.
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Sources: GM Heritage Center, Wikipedia.