The first Corvette was designed by Harley Earl and introduced for the
1953 model year. America's first sports car was named by Myron Scott after the Corvette ship of the same name, and has been produced in six generations in convertible, t-top coupé, targa coupe, and hardtop coupe body styles.
The Corvette C2 was designed by Larry Shinoda under the styling direction of Bill Mitchell, and produced between 1963 and 1967. It was 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) V-8). 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 Litre) 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 $145. The 327-370HP Fuelie option cost $500. Few people could justify spending $355 more, for 55 hp less. When less than a thousand 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.
