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- #21
7
7NT1VETTE
Guest
I like the heavier looking '58 better than the '57 it just looks more agressive.
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- #22
J
JBWeaver
Guest
Chevrolet turned a cool sports car '57', Into a big fat T-Bird. Just the fact, that the Bird out sold the Vette caused the evolution. Just be glad there aren't any giant fins rising from the quarter panels, with a array of tail lights resembling a craft from a Buck Roger's movie.
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- #23
J
jsimpson
Guest
no doubt, you're right, JB!
adGaney
Well-known member
STINGRAY
Some Corvette history is helpful to ID a Stingray.
In 63, the new smaller body & chassis w/ I.R.S. was called a Sting Ray. When the body was redone in 68 at first called Sting Ray & then used Stingray emblems in 69. Emblems are for identification & some can not identify w/o the emblem. Seems some place far more importance on emblems than the factory ever did. The factory wanted to change the new car so that it could be identified as new at the time. Stingray is not an option or emblem, some are unmarked.
Chassis essentially same from 63-77, body essentially same 68-77 & interior essentially same from 68-77.
There can be no question that 68-77 are Stingrays.
Can be debated on 78-82. Note that the 78- rear glass is reminiscent of the 63-67 coupe.
Some Corvette history is helpful to ID a Stingray.
In 63, the new smaller body & chassis w/ I.R.S. was called a Sting Ray. When the body was redone in 68 at first called Sting Ray & then used Stingray emblems in 69. Emblems are for identification & some can not identify w/o the emblem. Seems some place far more importance on emblems than the factory ever did. The factory wanted to change the new car so that it could be identified as new at the time. Stingray is not an option or emblem, some are unmarked.
Chassis essentially same from 63-77, body essentially same 68-77 & interior essentially same from 68-77.
There can be no question that 68-77 are Stingrays.
Can be debated on 78-82. Note that the 78- rear glass is reminiscent of the 63-67 coupe.
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- #26
R
Robin7TFour
Guest
sting ray
the 77 sting ray was the last year for the car to come with the badging and refence to the name. it has been alluded that when bill mitchell (head of the sting ray design) died the top brass did away with the name.
mitchell,actually drove a prototype sting ray as his personal car on fair weather days.
the 77 sting ray was the last year for the car to come with the badging and refence to the name. it has been alluded that when bill mitchell (head of the sting ray design) died the top brass did away with the name.
mitchell,actually drove a prototype sting ray as his personal car on fair weather days.
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- #28
R
Robin7TFour
Guest
thank you satllion.i stand corrected. i need to spell-check better
No problem. I meant that all in fun. 
- Thread starter
- #30
J
jsimpson
Guest
As far as I'm concerned, 63-67 is Stingray, 68-82 is Shark. There is no similarity whatsoever between the 63-67 body and the 68-82 body.
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- #32
J
jsimpson
Guest
Even GM considered it the Manta Ray. they should have named it the Manta Ray and there would be no arguments. Then, logically, they would have named the 84-96 the school lunch fish.
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- #33
V
vettte_wings
Guest
1969 Corvette Stingray:
The 1969 Corvette was unique in many ways. Since this is the second year for the new body style the spelling for Sting Ray has changed to one word, the name presumes from previous years. Note 1968 was not called Stingray. New door handles are squeezed down to open the doors. The doors are also longer in dimension. First year for ignition key to be relocated to steering column with locking mechanism feature. Base engine increases in displacement from 327 Cubic Inches to 350 Cubic Inches. This is the last year for availability of the Big Block engine 427 Cubic Inches. The last year for the 427 L-88,and Tripower carburetors. First year and only year for all aluminum 427 Engine ZL-1. There are only two ZL-1 engines that were factory installed with supporting documentation. Estimates are in excess of 600+ Horsepower for ZL-1.
Production Figures
Coupe: 22,129
Convertible: 16,633
1976 Corvette Stingray:
This was the last model year for the Stingray. Corvette for 1976 was no longer available in convertible body style. Coupe was available with the removable roof panels (T-tops). The Big Block 454 Cubic Inch engine was no longer available, as of model year 1974. There were two versions of the 350 Cubic Inch Small Block V-8. The base engine was code L-48 rated at 180 horsepower. Optional V-8 350 Engine was code name L-82 rated at 210 horsepower.
Other changes include the use of "New Freedom" Battery, a maintenance free car battery requiring no water. New sport steering wheel was the same as used in Chevrolet Vega's. Aluminum wheels YJ8 option code included 4 wheels, and 1 steel rim for the spare tire. Vents on the rear deck which was part of the Astro Ventilation system were discontinued. An engineering change was a partial steel underbelly in the front section to enhance rigidity, and keep the cockpit cooler. This was also due to heat that was generated from the engines designed to run hotter. Hotter running engines was essential to increase efficiency and offset emissions related power loss.
Production Figures
Coupe: 46,558
Total: 46,558
Sting Ray: The original Sting Ray Prototype was produced in 1958. Sting Ray production started with the Model Year in 1963, available for the first time in both Coupe and Convertible body styles. The last year for this body style is 1967.
Stingray: This is the second series in the Stingray body. 1968 Model Year was an all new body. This Model featured removable roof panels, also known as T-Tops. The name Stingray resumed again for the 1969 Model Year through 1976.
The 1969 Corvette was unique in many ways. Since this is the second year for the new body style the spelling for Sting Ray has changed to one word, the name presumes from previous years. Note 1968 was not called Stingray. New door handles are squeezed down to open the doors. The doors are also longer in dimension. First year for ignition key to be relocated to steering column with locking mechanism feature. Base engine increases in displacement from 327 Cubic Inches to 350 Cubic Inches. This is the last year for availability of the Big Block engine 427 Cubic Inches. The last year for the 427 L-88,and Tripower carburetors. First year and only year for all aluminum 427 Engine ZL-1. There are only two ZL-1 engines that were factory installed with supporting documentation. Estimates are in excess of 600+ Horsepower for ZL-1.
Production Figures
Coupe: 22,129
Convertible: 16,633
1976 Corvette Stingray:
This was the last model year for the Stingray. Corvette for 1976 was no longer available in convertible body style. Coupe was available with the removable roof panels (T-tops). The Big Block 454 Cubic Inch engine was no longer available, as of model year 1974. There were two versions of the 350 Cubic Inch Small Block V-8. The base engine was code L-48 rated at 180 horsepower. Optional V-8 350 Engine was code name L-82 rated at 210 horsepower.
Other changes include the use of "New Freedom" Battery, a maintenance free car battery requiring no water. New sport steering wheel was the same as used in Chevrolet Vega's. Aluminum wheels YJ8 option code included 4 wheels, and 1 steel rim for the spare tire. Vents on the rear deck which was part of the Astro Ventilation system were discontinued. An engineering change was a partial steel underbelly in the front section to enhance rigidity, and keep the cockpit cooler. This was also due to heat that was generated from the engines designed to run hotter. Hotter running engines was essential to increase efficiency and offset emissions related power loss.
Production Figures
Coupe: 46,558
Total: 46,558
Sting Ray: The original Sting Ray Prototype was produced in 1958. Sting Ray production started with the Model Year in 1963, available for the first time in both Coupe and Convertible body styles. The last year for this body style is 1967.
Stingray: This is the second series in the Stingray body. 1968 Model Year was an all new body. This Model featured removable roof panels, also known as T-Tops. The name Stingray resumed again for the 1969 Model Year through 1976.
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