Sylvie Willis
The 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray is an iconic car that launched the second generation of America's Sports Car. With a sleek and aerodynamic design, it offered a range of performance options, including fuel injection engines. The 360-horsepower L84 engine with Rochester Ramjet mechanical fuel injection was the top choice, providing exhilarating acceleration and performance that rivalled European sports cars. Only 2,610 cars left the factory in 1963 with this advanced powerplant, making them highly desirable for collectors. The Sting Ray's combination of style, power, and handling solidified its place in automotive history, with its fuel-injected models being especially sought-after.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year | 1963 |
| Model | Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray |
| Body Style | Coupe |
| Engine | 327-cubic-inch, 360-hp, Rochester fuel-injected V8 |
| Transmission | 4-speed manual |
| Rear Axle | 3.70:1 Positraction |
| Wheel Rims | 6" |
| Hubcaps | Kelsey-Hayes knock-off style |
| Radio | AM/FM |
| Interior | Saddle Tan metallic over Saddle leather |
| Chassis | Shorter wheelbase ladder frame |
| Suspension | Four-wheel independent |
| Brakes | Sintered-iron heavy-duty with dual-circuit master cylinder |
| Fuel Tank | 36-gallon |
| Extras | Clock, heater, power windows |
| Restoration | Frame-off, cost-no-object |
| Current Condition | Clean, tidy, and in very correct condition |
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What You'll Learn
The 1963 Corvette Sting Ray
Under the hood, the 1963 Corvette Sting Ray was a powerhouse. The standard engine was a 250-hp, 327-cubic-inch V8, with optional variants producing 300 hp, 340 hp, and 360 hp. The most powerful engine was the Rochester fuel-injected engine, producing 360 hp and offering superior performance. The car was available with either a 3-Speed Synchro-Mesh or a close-ratio 4-speed manual transmission.
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The car's design and features
The 1963 Corvette Sting Ray Fuel-Injected Coupe was a significant departure from previous generations, boasting a bold new design and advanced features that solidified its reputation as a classic American sports car.
The car's exterior stood out with its graceful body panels, compound-curved side windows, and sleek, aerodynamic lines. The retractable headlamps could rotate out of sight, blending seamlessly into the hood line. The doors extended upward into the roof, enhancing the ease of entry and exit. The subtle contour of the smoothly molded rear deck, the gleaming aluminium grille, and the sweeping hood-length wind split further added to the car's visual appeal.
Under the hood, the 1963 Corvette Sting Ray Fuel-Injected Coupe was a powerhouse. It was equipped with a 327-cubic-inch, 360-horsepower V8 engine, paired with a close-ratio four-speed manual transmission and a Positraction rear axle with 3.70 gears. This setup delivered impressive performance, with a 0-60 mph acceleration in under six seconds and a top speed of 130 mph.
The car's handling was also noteworthy, thanks to its independent rear suspension and 49/51 percent front-to-rear weight distribution, providing an inherent amount of oversteer that made cornering a breeze. The signature split rear window, while adding to the car's distinctive look, was noted to hamper rear visibility.
The interior of the 1963 Corvette Sting Ray Fuel-Injected Coupe offered a mix of comfort and functionality. It featured contoured bucket seats, available with leather upholstery, and a telescopic steering wheel adjustment. The instrumentation was large and visible, and the car was equipped with a heating and ventilation system capable of handling the North American climate extremes. Additionally, power windows and a rare AM/FM radio were available as options.
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Performance and handling
The 1963 Corvette Sting Ray was a significant departure from the first-generation Corvettes in terms of handling and performance. It was powered by a 327-cubic-inch, 360-hp, Rochester fuel-injected V8 engine, mated to a close-ratio four-speed manual transmission and a Positraction rear end with 3.70 gears. This setup provided impressive acceleration, with the car capable of going from 0 to 60 mph in 5.8 seconds and reaching a top speed of 130 mph.
The new independent rear suspension system contributed to the car's improved handling characteristics, addressing the tendency of the previous model's rear wheels to spin freely on acceleration and the rear end to come sliding during hard cornering. The 1963 Corvette's traction was so good that it required a wind-up to 4500 rpm before inducing off-the-line wheelspin, and even then, the wheelspin was minimal.
The car's braking system was also noteworthy, featuring sintered-iron linings that were "practically impossible to fade," according to Technical Editor Jim Wright. The special performance equipment package, available only on the Sports Coupe with the Fuel Injection engine, included heavy-duty power-type brakes with finned drums, built-in fans, vented backing plates, and front brake air scoops.
The 1963 Corvette Sting Ray's handling and performance were recognised by Car Life, which awarded it the "Award for Engineering Excellence." The car's combination of power, handling, and design placed it at the top rank of sports cars, competing with or even exceeding the offerings of the best European sports cars at the time.
The Corvette Sting Ray's performance and handling extended beyond just the mechanical aspects of the car. The interior was designed with the driver in mind, featuring an adjustable steering wheel, comfortable seats, and improved instrumentation placement. The exterior design emphasised aerodynamic efficiency, with graceful body panels, compound-curved side windows, and retractable headlamps that blended into the hood line.
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The engine and its specifications
The 1963 Corvette Sting Ray Fuel-Injected Coupe was a significant release for Chevrolet, offering a range of performance and comfort features that placed it among the best sports cars in the world.
Under the hood, the 1963 Corvette Sting Ray Fuel-Injected Coupe is powered by a 327-cubic-inch, 360-horsepower, Rochester fuel-injected V8 engine. This engine, which made its debut in 1962, delivered an impressive 352 lb-ft of torque and was paired with a close-ratio four-speed manual transmission and a Positraction rear end with 3.70 gears. The result was a car that could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 5.8 seconds and reach a top speed of 130 mph, with a theoretical top speed of 140-142 mph.
The engine in the 1963 Corvette Sting Ray Fuel-Injected Coupe featured a number of advanced specifications for its time. All engines came with an independent mechanism for each valve, a temperature-controlled fan, a precision-machined forged steel crankshaft, premium aluminium main bearings, a full-pressure lubrication system, a full-flow oil filter, and an automatic choke. The electrical system operated at 12 volts, and the car featured an all-aluminium cross-flow radiator and positive closed-type crankcase ventilation.
The 1963 Corvette Sting Ray Fuel-Injected Coupe also offered a special performance equipment package, which included power-type heavy-duty brakes with finned drums, built-in fans, vented backing plates, and front brake air scoops. This package also added a dual-circuit brake master cylinder, a heavy-duty stabilizer bar, a 36-gallon fuel tank, heavy-duty front and rear springs and shock absorbers, and cast aluminium wheels with 6-inch rims and knock-off hubs.
The 1963 Corvette Sting Ray Fuel-Injected Coupe's engine and performance specifications contributed to its reputation as a high-performance sports car, offering a combination of power, handling, and advanced technology that made it a standout in its era.
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$42.79 $46.11
The car's market demand and sales
The 1963 Corvette Sting Ray was in high demand, with Motor Trend magazine reporting in 1963 that the Corvette was "in such demand that the factory has had to put on a second shift and still can't begin to supply cars fast enough". This was reflected in the car's sales, with almost 18,000 of the total 21,513 Sting Rays that left St. Louis in 1963 featuring the 4-speed Muncie manual gearbox.
The 1963 Corvette Sting Ray was an improvement on its predecessors in terms of styling and performance. Its graceful body panels and compound-curved side windows emphasised its aerodynamic design, while its power-operated retractable headlamps and doors that extended into the roof added to its convenience and comfort. The coupe's signature split-window, however, was criticised for hampering visibility. Despite this, the car was lauded for its handling and overall performance, including its sheer power output.
The 1963 Corvette Sting Ray offered a range of factory options, reflecting the market's demand for raw performance in sports cars. However, only a small percentage of buyers opted for power brakes (15%) and power steering (12%). Air conditioning, leather upholstery, and alloy wheels were also available but were ordered by a limited number of buyers.
The 1963 Corvette Sting Ray's base price was $4,393.75, with additional options pushing the price up to $5,321.70. Despite some quality control concerns, the car was well-received, with Car Life awarding it the "Award for Engineering Excellence". A 1963 327/360 Fuel-Injected Coupe sold for $121,900 at an auction in 2010, reflecting its continued value and desirability.
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Frequently asked questions
3,516 1963 Corvettes were ordered in Sebring Silver.
The 1963 Corvette Fuel-Injected Car has 360 horsepower.
The 1963 Corvette Fuel-Injected Car can go from 0 to 60 in under six seconds and has a top speed of 130 mph.
