Second generation · C2 "Sting Ray" · 1963–1967

1963Chevrolet Corvette

The Sting Ray — introduced the nameplate, the first Corvette coupe, and independent rear suspension. The 1963 coupe's one-year-only split rear window makes it the most iconic Corvette body.

Second generation · C2 "Sting Ray"

Photo: Mustang Joe / Wikimedia Commons — CC0 1.0. Cropped to 16:9.

Quick facts

Engines: 1offered327 cu in V8 (250–360 hp range)
Production: 21,513units

Body stylesCoupe · Convertible

The 1963 model year

Overview

The 1963 Corvette Sting Ray was a complete redesign: the first Corvette coupe, the first with fully independent rear suspension, and the only year of the famous split rear window. Rear-visibility complaints meant the split window was dropped for 1964, making the 1963 coupe a one-year-only icon.

Specifications

Engines: 327 cu in V8 (250–360 hp range)
Transmissions: 2-speed Powerglide automatic, 3-speed manual, 4-speed manual
Body styles: Coupe, Convertible
Production: 21,513

Year over year

What changed

First-ever Corvette coupe, with the one-year-only split rear window.
Introduced the 'Sting Ray' name and independent rear suspension.
Chevrolet's June 14, 1963 price schedule lists the Z06 Special Performance Package with dual-circuit power brakes, special metallic linings and heavy-duty shocks and springs. It requires separately ordered Positraction, a four-speed manual and the 360-hp fuel-injected engine. The N03 large tank is a separate coupe-only option on this sheet, not universal Z06 equipment.

Worth knowing

Notable

The split-window coupe is among the most coveted Corvettes ever built.

Living with it

Reliability & ownership notes

Split-window 1963 coupes are top-tier collectibles; originality and documentation are everything.

Maintenance & service parts

Keep your 1963 Corvette on the road

Start with the service interval, then match the engine or exact version you own. Order links appear only when a catalog-backed part number is available, and every listing still needs a fitment check.

Service topics: 10
Scheduled topics: 8
Applicability stated: 10
Exact references: 1

Before ordering Identify your engine, options and build date. Part numbers and sizes can change within one model year. Shopping links appear only for catalog-backed references; still verify the listing against your vehicle before ordering.

Air-cleaner element — replaceView intervals, applicability and sources
Air-cleaner element — replace
Sourced interval available
The table groups 1963–67 Corvettes and specifies the paper element.
Applies to: 1963 · United States
Published interval: 12,000 mi
Source: Chilton — 1963–1984 Corvette Repair & Tune-Up Guide, 1963–67 maintenance matrix · General Information and Maintenance, maintenance-interval matrix, printed page 34 · checked 2026-08-05
PCV valve — replaceView intervals, applicability and sources
PCV valve — replace
Sourced interval available
Applies to: 1963 · United States
Published interval: 12,000 mi / 12 months · Whichever occurs first.
Source: Chilton — 1963–1984 Corvette Repair & Tune-Up Guide, 1963–67 maintenance matrix · General Information and Maintenance, maintenance-interval matrix, printed page 34 · checked 2026-08-05
Engine oil and filter — serviceView intervals, applicability and sources
Engine oil and filter — service
Sourced interval available
Applies to: 1963 · United States
Source: Chilton — 1963–1984 Corvette Repair & Tune-Up Guide, 1963–67 maintenance matrix · General Information and Maintenance, maintenance-interval matrix, printed page 34 · checked 2026-08-05
Engine oil — change
Applies to: 1963 · United States
Published interval: 6,000 mi / 4 months · Whichever occurs first.
Source: Chilton — 1963–1984 Corvette Repair & Tune-Up Guide, 1963–67 maintenance matrix · General Information and Maintenance, maintenance-interval matrix, printed page 34 · checked 2026-08-05
Engine oil filter — replace
At every engine-oil change.
Applies to: 1963 · United States
Source: Chilton — 1963–1984 Corvette Repair & Tune-Up Guide, 1963–67 maintenance matrix · General Information and Maintenance, maintenance-interval matrix, printed page 34 · checked 2026-08-05
Fuel filter — replaceView intervals, applicability and sources
Fuel filter — replace
Sourced interval available
Applies to: 1963 · United States
Published interval: 12,000 mi
Source: Chilton — 1963–1984 Corvette Repair & Tune-Up Guide, 1963–67 maintenance matrix · General Information and Maintenance, maintenance-interval matrix, printed page 34 · checked 2026-08-05
Transmission fluid and lubricant — serviceView intervals, applicability and sources
Transmission fluid and lubricant — service
Sourced interval available
Applies to: 1963 · United States
Source: Chilton — 1963–1984 Corvette Repair & Tune-Up Guide, 1963–67 maintenance matrix · General Information and Maintenance, maintenance-interval matrix, printed page 34 · checked 2026-08-05
Powerglide — check fluid level
Applies to: 1963 · Powerglide automatic · United States
Published interval: 6,000 mi
Source: Chilton — 1963–1984 Corvette Repair & Tune-Up Guide, 1963–67 maintenance matrix · General Information and Maintenance, maintenance-interval matrix, printed page 34 · checked 2026-08-05
Powerglide — replace fluid
Applies to: 1963 · Powerglide automatic · United States
Published interval: 24,000 mi
Source: Chilton — 1963–1984 Corvette Repair & Tune-Up Guide, 1963–67 maintenance matrix · General Information and Maintenance, maintenance-interval matrix, printed page 34 · checked 2026-08-05
Manual transmission — check lubricant and add as necessary
Applies to: 1963 · Manual · United States
Published interval: 6,000 mi
Source: Chilton — 1963–1984 Corvette Repair & Tune-Up Guide, 1963–67 maintenance matrix · General Information and Maintenance, maintenance-interval matrix, printed page 34 · checked 2026-08-05
Battery — serviceView intervals, applicability and sources
Battery — service
Sourced interval available
Applies to: 1963 · United States
Source: Chilton — 1963–1984 Corvette Repair & Tune-Up Guide, 1963–67 maintenance matrix · General Information and Maintenance, maintenance-interval matrix, printed page 34 · checked 2026-08-05
Terminal felt washers — lubricate
Applies to: 1963 · United States
Published interval: 6,000 mi
Source: Chilton — 1963–1984 Corvette Repair & Tune-Up Guide, 1963–67 maintenance matrix · General Information and Maintenance, maintenance-interval matrix, printed page 34 · checked 2026-08-05
Terminals — clean
Applies to: 1963 · United States
Published interval: 6,000 mi
Source: Chilton — 1963–1984 Corvette Repair & Tune-Up Guide, 1963–67 maintenance matrix · General Information and Maintenance, maintenance-interval matrix, printed page 34 · checked 2026-08-05
Electrolyte level — check
Twice monthly.
Applies to: 1963 · United States
Source: Chilton — 1963–1984 Corvette Repair & Tune-Up Guide, 1963–67 maintenance matrix · General Information and Maintenance, maintenance-interval matrix, printed page 34 · checked 2026-08-05
Coolant level — checkView intervals, applicability and sources
Coolant level — check
Fitment must be confirmed
At each fuel stop.
Applies to: 1963 · United States
Source: Chilton — 1963–1984 Corvette Repair & Tune-Up Guide, 1963–67 maintenance matrix · General Information and Maintenance, maintenance-interval matrix, printed page 34 · checked 2026-08-05
Front wheel bearings — lubricateView intervals, applicability and sources
Front wheel bearings — lubricate
Sourced interval available
Applies to: 1963 · United States
Published interval: 24,000 mi
Source: Chilton — 1963–1984 Corvette Repair & Tune-Up Guide, 1963–67 maintenance matrix · General Information and Maintenance, maintenance-interval matrix, printed page 34 · checked 2026-08-05
Chassis lubrication points — lubricateView intervals, applicability and sources
Chassis lubrication points — lubricate
Sourced interval available
The guide's 1963–74 Corvette lubrication diagram specifies this cadence.
Applies to: 1963 · United States
Published interval: 6,000 mi
Source: Chilton — 1963–1984 Corvette Repair & Tune-Up Guide, 1963–67 maintenance matrix · General Information and Maintenance, 1963–74 lubrication diagram, printed page 40 · checked 2026-08-05
Engine oil filter — catalog fitmentView intervals, applicability and sources
Engine oil filter — catalog fitment
Exact reference available
Manufacturer-catalog fitment only; no service interval is inferred.
Baldwin P18 cataloged fitment
This manufacturer application record establishes replacement-filter fitment only; it does not alter Chevrolet's service interval.
Applies to: 1963 · United States · Baldwin catalogs P18 for the 1963 Corvette 327-cu-in carbureted and fuel-injected V8; confirm the installed engine and filter before ordering.
Source: Parker/Baldwin Filters — 2025 Automotive Applications catalog · PDF page 784, Chevrolet 1963 Corvette 327-cu-in carbureted and fuel-injected V8 row — Lube — P18 · checked 2026-08-31
Verified ordering references
Validated equivalentBaldwin P18
Qty. 1 · Engine lubricating-oil filter · catalog-listed
Cataloged for the 1963 Corvette 327-cu-in carbureted and fuel-injected V8; confirm the installed engine and filter dimensions.
Catalog: Parker/Baldwin Filters — 2025 Automotive Applications catalog · PDF page 784, Chevrolet 1963 Corvette 327-cu-in carbureted and fuel-injected V8 row — Lube — P18 · checked 2026-08-31
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Collect

Bring this model year home

Find a scale model using the exact year, make, and model—not a generic generation search.

Famous variants this year

Sources

Other Second generation years

Explore the C2 "Sting Ray" generation →All Second generation · C2 "Sting Ray" years →

Documented lineup

Find your exact 1963 Corvette

Start with a family, body style, or engine. Every card opens the facts and maintenance information for that factory version.

20factory configurations

Exact factory pairings documentedHow this lineup was verified

These source-backed records identify published body, engine, and transmission combinations. Exact pairings do not by themselves assert that every factory option or special edition is represented.

Browse 20 documented records — use the filters above to narrow the list

Sport coupe

Corvette Sting Ray 250 hp Sport coupe — 3-speed manual

Body: Sport coupe
Engine: 327 cu in V8 (250 hp)
Gearbox: 3-speed manual
Built: Regular production

Overview

Specifications

What changed

Notable

Reliability & ownership notes

Keep your 1963 Corvette on the road

Bring this model year home

Sources

Corvette Sting Ray 250 hp Sport coupe — 3-speed manual

Corvette Sting Ray 250 hp Sport coupe — 4-speed manual

Corvette Sting Ray 250 hp Sport coupe — 2-speed Powerglide automatic

Corvette Sting Ray 250 hp Convertible — 3-speed manual

Corvette Sting Ray 250 hp Convertible — 4-speed manual

Corvette Sting Ray 250 hp Convertible — 2-speed Powerglide automatic

Corvette Sting Ray L75 Sport coupe — 3-speed manual

Corvette Sting Ray L75 Sport coupe — 4-speed manual

Corvette Sting Ray L75 Sport coupe — 2-speed Powerglide automatic

Corvette Sting Ray L75 Convertible — 3-speed manual

Corvette Sting Ray L75 Convertible — 4-speed manual

Corvette Sting Ray L75 Convertible — 2-speed Powerglide automatic

Corvette Sting Ray L76 Sport coupe — 3-speed manual

Corvette Sting Ray L76 Sport coupe — 4-speed manual

Corvette Sting Ray L76 Convertible — 3-speed manual

Corvette Sting Ray L76 Convertible — 4-speed manual

Corvette Sting Ray L84 Sport coupe — 3-speed manual

Corvette Sting Ray L84 Sport coupe — 4-speed manual

Corvette Sting Ray L84 Convertible — 3-speed manual

Corvette Sting Ray L84 Convertible — 4-speed manual