Chevrolet Corvette C2 |
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Wikipedia: Chevrolet Corvette (C2) Subtopics XP-755 Mako Shark, 1963, 1965, 1967 Page Sections History Reference Desk Photographs Video Model Kits & Die Cast Cars |
History
The following section is an excerpt from Wikipedia's Chevrolet Corvette page on 29 March 2016, text available via the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
The second generation (C2) Corvette, which introduced Sting Ray to the model, continued with fiberglass body panels, and overall, was smaller than the first generation. The C2 was later referred to as mid-years. The car was designed by Larry Shinoda with major inspiration from a previous concept design called the "Q Corvette," which was created by Peter Brock and Chuck Pohlmann under the styling direction of Bill Mitchell. Earlier, Mitchell had sponsored a car known as the "Mitchell Sting Ray" in 1959 because Chevrolet no longer participated in factory racing. This vehicle had the largest impact on the styling of this generation, although it had no top and did not give away what the final version of the C2 would look like. The third inspiration was a Mako Shark Mitchell had caught while deep-sea fishing.
Production started for the 1963 model year and ended in 1967. Introducing a new name, "Sting Ray", the 1963 model was the first year for a Corvette coupé and it featured a distinctive tapering rear deck (a feature that later reappeared on the 1971 "Boattail" Buick Riviera) with, for 1963 only, a split rear window. The Sting Ray featured hidden headlamps, non-functional hood vents, and an independent rear suspension. Corvette chief engineer Zora Arkus-Duntov never liked the split rear window because it blocked rear vision, but Mitchell thought it to be a key part of the entire design. Maximum power for 1963 was 360 bhp (270 kW) and was raised to 375 bhp (280 kW) in 1964. Options included electronic ignition, the breakerless magnetic pulse-triggered Delcotronic first offered on some 1963 Pontiac models. On 1964 models the decorative hood vents were eliminated and Duntov, the Corvette's chief engineer, got his way with the split rear window changed to a full width window.
Four-wheel disc brakes were introduced in 1965, as was a "big block" engine option: the 396 cu in (6.49 L) V8. Side exhaust pipes were also optionally available in 1965, and continued to be offered through 1967. The introduction of the 425 bhp (317 kW) 396 cu in (6.49 L) big block in 1965 spelled the beginning of the end for the Rochester fuel injection system. The 396 cu in (6.49 L) option cost US$292.70 while the fuel injected 327 cu in (5.36 L) engine cost US$538.00. Few people could justify spending US$245.00 more for 50 bhp (37 kW) less, even though FI could deliver over 20 mpg on the highway and would keep delivering fuel despite high G-loading in corners taken at racing speeds. Another rare '63 and '64 option was the Z06 competition package, which offered stiffer suspension, bigger, multi-segment lined brakes with finned drums and more, only a couple hundred coupes and ONE convertible were factory-equipped this way in 1963. With only 771 fuel-injected cars built in 1965, Chevrolet discontinued the option at the end of the '65 production, having introduced a less-expensive big block 396 engine rated at 425 hp in the middle of the production year and selling over 2,000 in just a few months. For 1966, Chevrolet introduced an even larger 427 cu in (7.00 L) Big Block version. Other options available on the C2 included the Wonderbar auto-tuning AM radio, AM-FM radio (mid-1963), air conditioning (late-1963), a telescopic steering wheel (1965), and headrests (1966). The Sting Ray's independent rear suspension was successfully adapted for the new-for-1965 Chevrolet Corvair, which solved the quirky handling problems of that unique rear-engine compact.
1967 was the final year for the C2 generation. The 1967 model featured restyled fender vents, less ornamentation, and back-up lamps which were on the inboard in 1966 were now rectangular and centrally located. The first use of all four taillights in red started in 1961 and was continued thru the C-2 line-up except for the 1966. The 1967 and subsequent models continuing on all Corvettes since. 1967 had the first L88 engine option which was rated at 430 bhp (320 kW), but unofficial estimates place the actual output at 560 bhp (420 kW) or more. Only twenty such engines were installed at the factory. From 1967 (to 1969), the Holley triple two-barrel carburetor, or Tri-Power, was available on the 427 L89 (a $368 option, on top of the cost for the high-performance 427). Despite these changes, sales slipped over 15%, to 22,940 (8,504 coupes, off close to 15%, and 14,436 convertibles, down nearly 19%).
Duntov came up with a lightweight version of the C2 in 1962. Concerned about Ford and what they were doing with the Shelby Cobra, GM planned to manufacture 100 Grand Sport Corvettes, but only five were actually built. They were driven by historic drivers such as Roger Penske, A. J. Foyt, Jim Hall, and Dick Guldstrand among others. Today the five cars (001-005) are all held by private owners, and are among the most coveted and valuable Corvettes ever built. 002 is exhibited in the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum and is in running condition.
Reference Desk
The Crittenden Automotive Library's "Reference Desk" is a collection of materials that cannot be shared due to copyright restrictions. Information from these resources, however, can be shared. Go to the Reference Desk page for more information.
| Type | Title |
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1993  Book | Catalog of Corvette ID Numbers 1953-93by Cars & Parts Magazine; Motorbooks |
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1964 Photo by Joe Mabel Kla-Ha-Ya Days Snohomish, Washington View photo - 823KB Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with no Invariant Sections, no Front-Cover Texts, and no Back-Cover Texts. A copy of the license is included in the section entitled "GNU Free Documentation License". |
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1964 Photo by Joe Mabel Kla-Ha-Ya Days Snohomish, Washington View photo - 797KB Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with no Invariant Sections, no Front-Cover Texts, and no Back-Cover Texts. A copy of the license is included in the section entitled "GNU Free Documentation License". |
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1964 Photo by Rich Daswick Free State Corvette Club Weekend, October 14-15, 2006 View photo - 1,745KB |
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Modified 1964 Photo by Stephen Foskett 2006 Loudonville Ohio classic car show View photo - 141KB Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with no Invariant Sections, no Front-Cover Texts, and no Back-Cover Texts. A copy of the license is included in the section entitled "GNU Free Documentation License". |
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Modified 1964 Photo by Stephen Foskett 2006 Loudonville Ohio classic car show View photo - 118KB Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with no Invariant Sections, no Front-Cover Texts, and no Back-Cover Texts. A copy of the license is included in the section entitled "GNU Free Documentation License". |
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Modified 1964 Photo by Stephen Foskett 2006 Loudonville Ohio classic car show View photo - 120KB Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with no Invariant Sections, no Front-Cover Texts, and no Back-Cover Texts. A copy of the license is included in the section entitled "GNU Free Documentation License". |
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1966 Photo by Stephen Foskett 2006 Bay State Antique Automobile Club Show View photo - 127KB Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with no Invariant Sections, no Front-Cover Texts, and no Back-Cover Texts. A copy of the license is included in the section entitled "GNU Free Documentation License". |
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1966 Photo ©2015 Bill Crittenden 2015 Cruisin' Spring Car Show View photo of 1966 Chevrolet Corvette - 2.9MB |
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1966 Photo ©2015 Bill Crittenden 2015 Cruisin' Spring Car Show View photo of 1966 Chevrolet Corvette - 3.1MB |
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1966 L36 427 Engine Photo by Stephen Foskett 2006 Bay State Antique Automobile Club Show View photo - 98KB Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with no Invariant Sections, no Front-Cover Texts, and no Back-Cover Texts. A copy of the license is included in the section entitled "GNU Free Documentation License". |
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1966 Photo ©2012 Bill Crittenden Lake Zurich Cruise Night: August 7, 2012 View photo of 1966 Chevrolet Corvette - 3.6MB |
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1966 Photo ©2012 Bill Crittenden Lake Zurich Cruise Night: August 7, 2012 View photo of 1966 Chevrolet Corvette - 4.4MB |
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1966 Photo ©2012 Bill Crittenden Lake Zurich Cruise Night: August 7, 2012 View photo of 1966 Chevrolet Corvette - 3.6MB |
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1966 Photo ©2012 Bill Crittenden Lake Zurich Cruise Night: August 7, 2012 View photo of 1966 Chevrolet Corvette - 4.0MB |
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1966 2004 Zippo United States Vintage Grand Prix Driven by Bill Morrison Photo by Nathan Bittinger View photo - 262KB  This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 License. |
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1966 Driven by Brandon Ryder Photo ©2009 Bill Crittenden 2009 Meadowdale, Motorsports & Memories September 19, 2009 View photo - 4,723KB |
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1966 Driven by Brandon Ryder Photo ©2009 Bill Crittenden 2009 Meadowdale, Motorsports & Memories September 19, 2009 View photo - 4,306KB |
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1966 Driven by Brandon Ryder Photo ©2009 Bill Crittenden 2009 Meadowdale, Motorsports & Memories September 19, 2009 View photo - 3,344KB |
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Photo courtesy www.cepolina.com
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Photo courtesy www.cepolina.com
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Photo courtesy www.cepolina.com
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Hayden Chevrolet Photo ©2009 Bill Crittenden 2009 Cedarville Model Car Contest and Swap Meet March 8, 2009 View photo - 3,273KB |
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Hayden Chevrolet Photo ©2009 Bill Crittenden 2009 Cedarville Model Car Contest and Swap Meet March 8, 2009 View photo - 3,135KB |
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Hayden Chevrolet Photo ©2009 Bill Crittenden 2009 Cedarville Model Car Contest and Swap Meet March 8, 2009 View photo - 3,276KB |
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Photo ©2016 Bill Crittenden Woodstock Cruise Night: 2 August 2016 View photo of Chevrolet Corvette C2 - 2.2MB |
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Photo ©2016 Bill Crittenden Woodstock Cruise Night: 2 August 2016 View photo of Chevrolet Corvette C2 - 2.0MB |
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Photo ©2016 Bill Crittenden Woodstock Cruise Night: 2 August 2016 View photo of Chevrolet Corvette C2 - 1.9MB |
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Photo ©2016 Bill Crittenden Woodstock Cruise Night: 2 August 2016 View photo of Chevrolet Corvette C2 - 1.2MB |
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Resto Mod by D&M Corvette Video & photos ©2010 Bill Crittenden 2010 Muscle Car & Corvette Nationals November 21, 2010 View video of a Resto Mod Chevrolet Corvette by D&M Corvette - 4,683KB View photo of a Resto Mod Chevrolet Corvette by D&M Corvette - 847KB View photo of a Resto Mod Chevrolet Corvette by D&M Corvette - 3,758KB |
| Type | Brand | Item # | Series | Name | Scale | Paint | Notes |
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| Model Kit | Revell | 85-2333 | Austin Powers Corvette Convertible | 1:25 | American flag design, with Felicity Shagwell Figure | ||
| Model Kit | Revell | 85-2863 | '66 Penske Racing Corvette | 1:25 | #9 Sunoco |
