Zora Arkus-Duntov, one of the most famous classic Corvette designers, wanted to take the Corvette even further. He thought that since so many other carmakers designed a model for racing, the company needed to step up and offer a ‘Vette that was strictly designed for Corvette racing. The Sting Ray made an excellent candidate for this idea because it was already a performance car, so all they had to do was make some improvements to it that would turn it into a racing machine. The 327 engine was the go-to engine, with an added fuel injection system for more stable response times. It had better brakes, a bigger brake booster, a stiffer suspension, a larger anti-sway bar, brakes designed to stay cool, and a larger gas tank to maximize the number of laps that the race-ready car could travel without having to fuel up.

FAQ

Q: What is the difference between a Corvette and a Sting Ray?

The only difference between the two is the name. The Sting Ray is a common term used by designers to add appeal for consumers because it makes the car sound different. The name began back with the second generation Corvette when one of the design plans was named the Sting Ray Special.

Q: What years were the second-generation Corvettes produced?

The design ideas for the second-generation Corvette began back in the early 1960s. They were put into production in 1962 for the 1963 model year. The 2nd gen cars gave way to the 3rd gen in 1967, so the Corvette’s second-generation spanned between 1963 and 1967.

Q: How much is a split-window Corvette worth?

To find the value of any classic muscle car, one must go back through some of the most current auction sales. In this case, the split-window Corvettes in 1963 have gone from $50k all the way up to $150k, so it is safe to say that the average sales price would be right around $100k.

Q: What was the biggest production engine in the 2nd generation Sting Ray?

The biggest engine available in the second-generation Corvettes was the big block 427. A couple of versions could be opted for with this V8. The 425 or 435 horsepower engine, with the L88 version being strictly designed for racing applications