Stingray -vs- Shark

[r1_addict]

We call our Corvettes "sharks" becouse of the Mako Shark concept car right, however, they are reffered to as Stingrays.

Sting Ray
Any one of numerous rays of the family Dasyatid[ae], syn. Trygonid[ae], having one or more large sharp barbed dorsal spines, on the whiplike tail, capable of inflicting severe wounds. Some species reach a large size, and some, esp., on the American Pacific coast, are very destructive to oysters.

Shark
Any of numerous chiefly marine carnivorous fishes of the class Chondrichthyes (subclass Elasmobranchii), which are sometimes large and voracious and have a streamlined torpedolike body, five to seven gill openings on each side of the head, a large oil-filled liver, a cartilaginous skeleton, and tough skin covered with small toothlike scales.

Not even close...whats up with that???

 

[Willis76]

Shark
Any of numerous chiefly marine carnivorous fishes of the class Chondrichthyes (subclass Elasmobranchii), which are sometimes large and voracious and have a streamlined torpedolike body, five to seven gill openings on each side of the head, a large oil-filled liver, a cartilaginous skeleton, and tough skin covered with small toothlike scales.

I have seen a few people who fit that "Shark" description driving Corvettes, but I'm not sure if that's what everyone is referring to?

:booty

 

[78SilvAnniv]

I think the shark description fits the C3 bodystyle best. Perhaps stingray was a marketing ploy, like naming other sportscars after impressive animals.
Heidi

 

[70 LS1]

Don't forget that the Sting Ray/ Stingray name is a carryover from the C2 body-style.

 

[matchframe]

The gills on stingrays and some sharks are very similar to the side vents of the 65-69 Vettes. The front fenders of the C3 look like stingrays as they swim. Those are the only things I could think of that had any similarities. Just a guess!

Bill

 

[resto75]

I'm sure the stingray came from the flat shape of the mid year hood and gill type slits. The shark came from the shape of the c3 and carried over the gill slits.

I'm just glad the weren't called the Chevrolet Flounder

 

[matchframe]

Or Mullet!

 

[FlyingFinn]

It's interesting to remember that a "corvette" itself means:

"A fast, lightly armed warship, smaller than a destroyer, often armed for antisubmarine operations."

So Corvette, Stingray, Shark... All are maritime related.

 

[Ganey]

Bill Mitchell was into big game fishing.
63-67 coupes have stringray roof design.
65 BB has stingray on hood.
68-77 has the stingray "wings" in the roof design.

The story is that the Mako Shark II was supposed to be painted like a fish Bill Mitchell had mounted. After it was painted Bill Mitchell compared it & found the paint job lacking lacking in the match. Repainted & still found the paint job lacking in the match. The 3rd time they also painted the fish to match the car.

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.

 

[76L82]

As my foot almost came to rest on the back of a "real" Stingray in the ocean...my eyes suddenly fired the synapses and my brain said "hey cool, the back of that stingray looks like that 64 red Vette I saw the other night when I was cruising"...God, it's great to be a gearhead!!!

From above, the 63-67's look like the ocean going animal...