1963 Chevrolet Corvette
Second generation · C2 "Sting Ray" 1963–1967
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.
Photo: Mustang Joe / Wikimedia Commons — CC0 1.0 . Cropped to 16:9.
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)
- 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.
Living with it
Reliability & ownership notes
- Split-window 1963 coupes are top-tier collectibles; originality and documentation are everything.
Worth knowing
Notable
- The split-window coupe is among the most coveted Corvettes ever built.
Famous variants this year
Sources
Other Second generation years
Explore the C2 "Sting Ray" generation → All Second generation · C2 "Sting Ray" years →