Chevrolet Corvette C2

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Corvette C2 Manufacturer General Motors Production 1963–1967 Predecessor Chevrolet Corvette C1 Successor Chevrolet Corvette C3 Class Sports car Body style(s) 2-door coupé 2-door convertible Related Corvette Stingray (Concept car) Corvette Mako Shark (Concept car)

Base model Production 1963–1967 Engine(s) 327 in³ Small-Block V8

Fuel injection Production 1963–1965 Engine(s) 327 in³ Small-Block FI V8

Big block Production 1965–1967 Engine(s) 396 in³ Big-Block V8 427 in³ Big-Block V8

For an outline of all the Chevrolet Corvette generations see

Main article: Chevrolet Corvette

The Chevrolet Corvette C2 is a sports car designed by Larry Shinoda under the styling direction of Bill Mitchell, and produced between 1963 and 1967. It is the second generation or mid-year Chevrolet Corvette built and marketed by Chevrolet.

1963 would see the introduction of the new Corvette Sting Ray coupé with its distinctive split rear window and fake hood vents as well as an independent rear suspension. The split rear window was discontinued in 1964 due to safety concerns. Because they made the design too busy, the hood vents were also cut. Power for 1963 was at 360 hp (272 kW) hitting 375 hp (280 kW) in 1964.

Four-wheel disc brakes were introduced in 1965, as well as a "Big Block" engine option: the 396 in³ (6.5 L) V8. Side exhaust pipes appeared on the 1965 Sting Ray. Chevrolet would up the ante in 1966 with the introduction of an even larger 427 in³ (7 L) version of the "Big Block," creating what would be one of the most collectible Corvettes ever. 1967 saw an L88 version of the 427 introduced, which was rated at 430 hp (321 kW), although unofficial estimates place the actual output at 550 hp (410 kW) or more. Only twenty such engines were placed in the 1967 Corvette, and the cars can fetch US$600,000 or more at auction today. From 1967-1969, the 1282 cfm Holley triple two-barrel carburetor, or Tri-Power, was available on the 427. The 1967 model was originally intended to debut the C3 generation Corvette, however due to delays, the C3 had to be put off until 1968; as such, the C2 carried over for an additional model year. Other early options available on the C2 included AM-FM radio (mid 1963), air conditioning (1963), leather upholstery (1963), telescopic wheel (1965), head rests, presumably to prevent whiplash (1966).

The 1965 introduction of the 425 hp 396 c.i. "Big Block" was ultimately the harbinger of doom for the Rochester fuel injection system. The 396/425 hp option cost $292.70 whereas the 327/375 hp "fuelie" option cost $538.00; few people could find a way to justify spending $245 more and receiving 50 hp (37 kW) less. When only 771 "fuelie" cars were built in 1965, Chevy discontinued the program in what some believe was a display of short-sightedness. Chevy was way ahead of its time in offering a fuel-injected sports car, and had they continued the option, every car that now touts Lucas or Bosch fuel injection may have instead been using Rochester. Indeed, as of this writing GM does not offer any carbureted vehicles.

In 2004, Sports Car International named the Sting Ray number five on the list of Top Sports Cars of the 1960s.

The design of this generation had several inspirations. The first was the contemporary Jaguar E-Type, one of which Mitchell owned and enjoyed driving frequently. Bill Mitchell also sponsored a car known as the "Mitchell Stingray" 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 didn't give away what the coupe would look like. The third inspiration came from nature: a mako shark that Mitchell caught while deep-sea fishing.

Contents 1 Grand Sport 2 CERV II 3 Rondine (1963) 4 Production notes 5 Engines 6 See also 7 References 8 External links

[edit] Grand Sport

In 1962 Corvette chief engineer Zora Arkus-Duntov initiated a program to produce a lightweight version based on a prototype that mirrored the new 1963 Corvette.^[1] Concerned about Ford and what they were doing with the Shelby Cobra, Duntov's program included plans to build 125 Grand Sport Corvettes to make them eligible for international Grand Touring races. After the GM executives learned of the secret project, the program was stopped, and only five cars were built. All five cars have survived and are in private collections. They are among the most coveted and valuable Corvettes ever built, not because of what they accomplished, but because of what "might have been."

The cars were driven by famed contemporary race drivers such as Roger Penske, A.J. Foyt, Jim Hall, and Dick Guldstrand among others. The Grand Sports, however, were never fully developed; poor aerodynamics caused high speed handling problems that were alleviated by a number of modifications but never completely solved. Delmo Johnson claimed that it was "the only car I ever drove that would lift the front wheels off the ground in all four gears." Dick Thompson was the first driver to win a race in the Grand Sport 004. He won a 1963 Sports Car Club of America race at Watkins Glen on August 24, 1963. ^[2]

The Corvette Grand Sports were raced with several different engines, but the most serious factory engine actually used was a 377 cubic inch displacement, all-aluminum, small block with four Weber side-draft carburetors, rated 550 hp (410 kW) at 6400 rpm. Body panels were made of thinner fiberglass to reduce weight and the frame was constructed of amazingly light steel tubes.

[edit] CERV II

Main article: Chevrolet Corvette CERV

Zora Arkus-Duntov began work on the CERV II in 1963, which was completed in 1964. This vehicle and CERV I were later donated to Briggs Cunningham Museum, in Costa Mesa, California.

[edit] Rondine (1963)

Based on the 1963 Corvette C2 chassis, the Corvette 'Rondine' (Ron-di-nay) concept car was built for the 1963 Paris Auto Show, designed by Tom Tjaarda of Pininfarina.[1][2]

Sold at Barrett-Jackson 2008 for $1,600,000.00

[edit] Production notes

Year	Production	Base Price	Notes
1963	21,513	$4,037	New coupé body style introduced (only year for split rear window); convertible more expensive than coupé
1964	22,229	$4,037	Rear window of coupé changed to single pane; hood louvers deleted
1965	23,562	$4,106	396 in³ Big-Block V8 added; last year of fuel injection until 1985; side-discharge exhaust introduced
1966	27,720	$4,084	Big-Block is now 427 in³ and comes with unique bulging hood
1967	22,940	$4,240	Five-louver fenders are unique; Big-Block hood bulge redesigned as a scoop; Tri-power 427 would become most sought-after Corvette ever
Total	117,964

1963 split-window coupe	1964 Chevrolet Corvette	Chevrolet Corvette	1965 single-window coupe
1966 427 — note the unique hood bulge and three-slit fenders	1967 427 — note the scoop-type hood and five-slit fenders	1967 L71 "Tri-power" engine

[edit] Engines

Engine	Year	Power
327 in³ Small-Block V8	1963–1965	250 hp (186 kW)
	1963–1967	300 hp (224 kW)
	1963	340 hp (254 kW)
	1965–1967	350 hp (254 kW)
	1964–1965	365 hp (272 kW)
327 in³ Small-Block FI V8	1963	360 hp (268 kW)
	1964–1965	375 hp (280 kW)
396 in³ Big-Block V8	1965	425 hp (317 kW)
427 in³ Big-Block V8	1966–1967	390 hp (291 kW)
	1966	425 hp (317 kW)
427 in³ Big-Block Tri-Power V8	1967	400 hp (298 kW)
	1967	435 hp (324 kW)

[edit] See also

• Chevrolet Corvette
• Corvette Mako Shark (Concept car)
• Corvette Stingray (Concept car)

[edit] References

Notes

Bibliography

[edit] External links

• 1963 Corvette - C2 Corvette history and technical development

v • d • e Chevrolet Corvette timeline, 1953–present
Type	1950s							1960s										1970s										1980s										1990s										2000s
	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
Coupe											C2					C3																															C5
Hatchback																														3		C4													C5								C6
Convertible	C1										C2					C3																		C4												C5							C6
Performance					FI						L84		BB			Big block																						ZR-1						4					Z06					Z06			ZR1
Motorsports: Grand Sport • GTP • C5-R • C6.R