1963 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible

The 1963 Corvette’s design and development process was lengthy, rooted in early design sketches penned in 1957 by Peter Brock, who joined GM as the corporate giant’s youngest designer at age 19. Thankfully, Brock’s futuristic renderings were selected for further development, rather than the highly embellished designs favored by Harley Earl, who retired as head of GM’s styling studios in 1958 and named Bill Mitchell his handpicked successor for the influential post.

 

Drawing from the aesthetic perfection of sea creatures, Larry Shinoda designed the predatory-appearing Mako Shark show car of 1961, clearly foreshadowing the upcoming Corvette Sting Ray, which was guided and refined to production readiness by Shinoda, along with fellow designers Chuck Pohlmann and Tony Lapine. The object of automotive desire and an outstanding performer consistent with its racy looks, the 1963 Corvette Sting Ray sold in record numbers with a daring new “Split Window” body style and a gorgeous Convertible.

 

This 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible is the earliest known C2 Corvette Sting Ray in existence.