1963 Chevrolet Corvette "Sting Ray" Coupe 🇮🇹

The 1963 Corvette Sting Ray didn’t just appear in dealer showrooms, it burst onto the automotive scene. Gone were the soft, rounded innocence of Design Vice-President Harley Earl’s 1950s Corvette. In its place stood one guided by his successor, Bill Mitchell, looking as if it was sculpted by wind, speed, and testosterone. While utterly original, Mitchell admitted he was heavily influenced by the 1952-53 Alfa Romeo 1900 C52 “Disco Volante”.

The Sting Ray’s split rear window and fake hood vents proved polarizing, impractical and utterly perfect. It’s something that only Mitchell would've attempted, his design ability being equal parts ego and artistry. It’s the Corvette’s first total reengineering and redesign, and the first time it’s offered as a Coupe as well as a Convertible, although it would lack a trunk lid until its next makeover in 1968.

Under the hood resided Chevrolet’s 327-cubic inch V8, ranging from a modest 250 horsepower all the way up to the snarling 360-horsepower fuel-injected version. Performance is similarly varied, with 0-60 mph times of 9.1 to 5.8 seconds depending on engine tune and whether the car had a 4-speed manual transmission or 2-speed Powerglide automatic. Power brakes, power steering, power windows and air-conditioning were all  optional. A fully-independent suspension was standard.

This was Zora Arkus-Duntov’s Corvette vision. Chevrolet’s Director of High Performance proved that a real American sports car needed more than chrome and cowhide. The ultimate proof of how serious the new Corvette was could be found in Regular Production Option Z06, which increased the size of the front anti-roll bar, while adding larger shock absorbers, a vacuum brake booster, a dual master cylinder and power drum brakes. For the first time, America wasn't chasing European sports cars. It was  leading them.

The split-window only lasted one year and then it was gone. But icons don’t need longevity, and that is what the 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray has become – a magnificent cultural icon.