1963 Corvette Sport Coupe VIN: 30837S115551 Total Production: 21,513 (10,594 Coupes) Manufactured at St. Louis: May 1963 Exterior Color: Code 936 Ermine White Interior Trim: Code 898 Saddle Leather (1,114 produced - $80.70) Engine: RPO L76 327/340 Horsepower V8 (6,978 produced - $107.60) Engine Suffix Code: RE Carburetion: Carter Aluminum Four-Barrel Model 3461S Transmission: RPO M20 C.R. 4-Speed Manual (9,529 produced - $188.30) Differential: RPO G81 Positraction Axle (17,554 produced - $43.05) Additional Regular Production Options (RPO): • P48 Quick Take-Off Aluminum Wheels (owner added - $322.80) • P92 6.70-15 Whitewall Tires (19,383 produced - $35.55) • U69 AM-FM Pushbutton Radio (9,178 produced - $174.35) MSRP: $4,252.00 Base, plus $952.35 in options - $5,204.35 Total Mileage: 88,948 Purchased From: Barrett-Jackson Auction; Scottsdale, Arizona

1963 STING RAY SPLIT-WINDOW COUPE

In the autumn of 1962 the popular western series “Bonanza” entered its fourth season on the NBC Television Network. Set at the fictional thousand-acre Ponderosa Ranch in the High-Sierras near Virginia City, Nevada, Ben Cartwright (played by Lorne Greene) and his three sons (played by Michael Landon, Dan Blocker and Pernell Roberts) could be seen weekly on Sunday night in this action-packed drama defending their ranch, helping distressed neighbors, and aiding the good of the community. Watched over the airwaves by millions of viewers, Bonanza premiered in 1959 as the first regularly scheduled hour-long TV program broadcast in “living” color, complete with NBC’s familiar animated peacock. The network’s parent company RCA was hopeful Bonanza’s popularity would sell new color television sets. Unlike today, black & white sets were then the norm, satellite & cable TV broadcasting to homes didn’t exist, and the now-familiar remote control was something of a novelty.

Bonanza’s major sponsor was Chevrolet… and GM’s advertising agency Campbell-Ewald displayed brilliance by buying airtime for an entire new September ’62 Bonanza episode (plus pre-airing promotion), to launch the complete 1963 lineup of Chevrolet automobiles, then arriving undercover at dealerships. Rather than air a batch of normal 60-second spot ads, they filmed young Bonanza star Michael Landon (driving a ’63 Corvair Monza Spyder convertible) as he narrated a series of extended color commercial segments strategically added during the program, but not interfering with the show’s storyline. The complete array of 1963 Chevrolet passenger cars, in vivid color, was highlighted by Landon during the show, including such favorites as the full-size luxury Impala with its “Jet-Smooth” ride, the practical Chevy II Nova series for the value-minded, and the sporty compact, rear-engine Corvair Monza. But Landon saved the best for last… the car everybody was anticipating… the all-new 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray convertible and stunning new coupe models were unveiled as millions watched across the country. Everyone, including black & white viewers, was glued to the picture tube during the show, creating an overnight sensation.

As Chevrolet Chief Engineer Harry F. Barr described it, “Our new Corvette, in either of two body styles this year, features new design for those persons who will be satisfied with nothing short of a high-performance sports car.”  The new Sting Ray wasn’t only breathtaking to see, its total chassis redesign was equally impressive.

Chevrolet’s Engineering Product Information Department extolled the virtues of the new 1963 Corvette this way… “Aerodynamically clean and in the Gran Tourismo style, the new 2-passenger Corvette Sting Ray Sport Coupe features wrap-over doors and compound curved side windows and backlite. The sloping roofline is unbroken through elimination of a rear deck lid, and the fuel filler is concealed beneath the rear emblem. In the rear view, the roofline tapers back, to blend out just forward of the body rear panel peak line. Both coupe and convertible retain the Corvette image despite the completely new advanced styling concept. Fast lines of the longer, lower hood are preserved with the addition of retractable headlamps and new straight windshield pillars complement overall vehicle styling.”

“Driving the vehicle for the first time becomes a revelation to the experienced and novice alike. Astounding, an accolade not normally used in the automotive engineer’s technical vocabulary, is an apt description of the vehicle’s excellent driving characteristics. Maneuverability and complete vehicle control are matched to power team performance potential. These attributes are the result of a completely new Corvette chassis with the headlining feature of full independent suspension at all four wheels. New driveline, suspension, steering, brake, and frame designs combine to give roadability that fulfills expectations of the engine power and new purposeful styling.”

“Within the fundamental meaning of a ‘sports car’, major emphasis has been placed on maneuverability and control. Specifically, a lower center of gravity, improved roll axis, very favorable weight distribution, reduced unsprung weight, nearly neutral steer characteristics and elimination of rear wheel tramp and torque steer are some of the benefits of the totally new chassis design.” Chevrolet was rightly proud of the Sting Ray, and it should be noted the basic 1963 Corvette chassis design would see continued usage through 1982.

Engines were unchanged from 1962, being two “street” versions (250 & 300 horsepower), and two high-performance (340 & 360) power plants, all based on the 327 cubic-inch displacement block. But redesigned air cleaners, increased capacity oil pans, extensive use of chrome plating in the engine bay, optional power brakes & power steering, compact Delcotron electrical unit, completely redesigned exhaust, larger 20-gallon fuel tank, and redesigned fuel injection unit were new for 1963. Even air conditioning became available during the year with the two “street” engines, but only 274 Corvettes were so equipped. Transmission usage also carried over from the previous model, but during 1963 the optional four-speed manual component changed from a Warner Gear Division T-10 to a Muncie produced unit.

For high-performance racing applications, Chevrolet designed a special, extra cost, chassis “package”… “Designated as Special Performance Equipment RPO Z06, for use with the fuel injection engine, 4-speed transmission and Positraction rear axle, the option consists of heavy-duty brake and suspension designs and a large 36-gallon fuel tank. Completely different from the base vehicle, heavy-duty brakes feature finned drums, removable air scoops, special metallic linings, and self-adjusters. A vacuum powered, dual circuit master cylinder provides separate hydraulic lines to the front and rear wheels. In contrast to the standard Corvette, the self-adjusting mechanism operates when necessary, during forward braking.” Initially available in just the coupe model (at a whopping $1,818.45), the 36-gallon gas tank and knock-off wheels were quickly eliminated (dropping the price to $1,293.35), and just 199 Z06 models were built.

To meet ever-increasing Corvette demand, additional square footage to the St. Louis assembly plant was in place for building the 1963. That proved to be a wise move as total production topped 1962’s figure by more than one-third.

 

“This was the first and only model where Chevy offered the Corvette Sting Ray coupe with the distinctive rear backlite wind split styling; hence the term ‘split window coupe.’ The body and chassis were completely redesigned and hidden headlights were introduced - while a great styling gimmick, the retractable headlights added to the car’s aerodynamic design in wind tunnel testing.”

“The 1963 also provided a Corvette ‘first’ for air conditioning, leather seat upholstery, and an AM-FM radio. Even though the offered ‘knock-off’ wheels probably didn’t happen, my example displays them because that’s the way I like it. And notice the rare Saddle leather seats. This 327/340-horse coupe runs and drives great. Over forty years later, it still turns heads wherever I take it. I bet you wish you had one!”

...Dave Ressler

 

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