Chevrolet Corvette C2
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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 365 hp (272 kW) hitting 375 hp (280 kW) in 1964.
Four-wheel disc brakes were introduced in 1965, as was a "big-block" engine option (the 396 in³ (6.5 L) V8). Side exhaust pipes appeared on the 1965 Stingray and persisted through 1969. Chevrolet would up the ante in 1966 with the introduction of an even larger 427 in³ (7 L) version, creating what would be one of the most collectible Corvettes ever. 1967 saw a L88 version of the 427 introduced which was rated at 430 hp (321 kW), but 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 in auction today. From 1967-1969, the 1282 cfm Holley triple two-barrel carbuetor, or Tri-Power, was available on the 427. The 1967 Corvette originally was going to be the first of the C3 generation; however, due to delays the C3 had to be put off until 1968. Other early options available on the C2 included AM-FM radio (mid 1963), air conditioning (1963), telescopic wheel (1965), head rests, presumably to prevent whiplash (1966).
The 1965 introduction of the 425HP 396 c.i. big block was ultimately the harbinger of doom for the Rochester Fuel injection system. The 396 425HP option cost $292.70. The 327-375HP Fuelie option cost $538.00. Few people could justify spending $245 more, for 50 hp less. When only 771 fuelie cars were built in 1965, Chevy stopped the program. It was indeed short sighted. Chevy was way ahead of its time and had they continued every car that says Lucas or Bosch Fuel injection now, may have said Rochester. As of this writing GM does not make any carburated cars.
In 2004, Sports Car International named the Stingray 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, of which Mitchell owned one and enjoyed driving it frequently. Bill Mitchell also sponsored a car known as the "Mitchell Sting Ray" 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 was a mako shark that Mitchell caught while deep-sea fishing.
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[edit] Grand Sport
In 1962 Corvette chief engineer Zora Arkus-Duntov came up with a lightweight version of the C2. Concerned about Ford and what they were doing with the Shelby Cobra, GM planned 100 Grand Sport Corvettes. The plans never came about and only five were built. They were driven by historic drivers such as Roger Penske, A. J. Foyt, Jim Hall, and Dick Guldstrand among others. The Grand Sports, however, had many issues; the aero package made for a very frightful driving experience to say the least. Delmo Johnson said 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 only driver to drive the Grand Sport to victory. He won a Sports Car Club of America race at Watkins Glen. Today all five that were ever built survives, car 001-005, all held by private owners. They are among the most coveted and valuable Corvettes ever built.
[edit] CERV II
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] Production notes
| Year | Production | Base Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | 21,513 | $4,037 | New body style; only year of split-window coupe; convertible more expensive than coupe |
| 1964 | 22,229 | $4,037 | Single-window coupe; no more hood louvers |
| 1965 | 23,562 | $4,106 | 396 in³ Big-Block V8 added; last year of fuel injection until 1985; first side exhaust |
| 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 be most sought-after Corvette ever |
| Total | 117,964 |
1963 split-window coupe |
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
[edit] External links
- Corvette history - 1963-1967
- 1963 Corvette - C2 Corvette history and technical development
| Chevrolet Corvette timeline | [edit] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
