The Chevrolet Corvette C2 is a sports car produced by Chevrolet between 1963 and 1967 regarded as the second generation of the marque.
Overview
1963 would see the introduction of a new Larry Shinoda designed Sting Ray coupé with a distinctive split rear window and faux hood vents.
Inspiration was drawn from several sources: the contemporary Jaguar E-Type, one of which Shinoda's boss Bill Mitchell owned and enjoyed driving frequently; the radical "Mitchell Stingray" Mitchell designed in 1959 because Chevrolet no longer participated in factory racing; and a mako shark that Mitchell caught while deep-sea fishing.
The split rear window was discontinued in 1964 due to safety concerns, as were the hood vents. Early options available on the C2 included AM-FM radio (mid 1963), air conditioning (1963), leather upholstery (1963), telescopic wheel (1965), head rests (1966).
New to the 1963 Corvette was independent rear suspension. All 1963 and 1964 cars had 327cid engines, which made 250hp standard, with optional variants that made 300hp, 340hp and 360hp in 1963, and 300hp, 365hp, and 375hp in 1964. The most powerful engine was the fuel injected 327cid V8, which made 360 hp (272 kW), a figured that was raised to 375 hp (280 kW) in 1964.
1965 marked the introduction of the 425 hp Big Block 396 in3 (6.5 L) V8. Ultimately, this spelled the end for the Rochester fuel injection system, as the carbureted 396/425 hp option cost $292.70 to the fuel injected 327/375 hp's $538.00. Few buyers could justify $245 more for 50 hp (37 kW) less. When only 771 fuel injected cars were built in 1965, Chevrolet discontinued the option. It would be 18 years until it returned.
Four-wheel disc brakes were also introduced in 1965, and side exhaust pipes appeared as an option.
In 1966 Chevrolet would up the power ante with the introduction of an even larger 427 in3 (7 L), 430 hp (321 kW V8, creating what would be one of the most collectible Corvettes ever, the L88.
The 1967 model was originally intended to debut the C3 generation Corvette, however due to engineering delays and possibly to avoid internal competition with the new Camaro, the C3 was pushed back a year. The 427 was available with 1282 ft3/min (605 L/s) Holley triple two-barrel carburetor, or Tri-Power. Only twenty L88s were made.
In 2004, Sports Car International named the Sting Ray number five on the list of Top Sports Cars of the 1960s.
Grand Sport
1963 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport raced by Bob Bondurant
In 1962 Corvette chief engineer Zora Arkus-Duntov initiated a program to produce a lightweight version based on a prototype that mirrored the new 1963 Corvette. Concerned about Ford and what they were doing with the Shelby Cobra, Duntov's program included plans to build 125 Grand Sport Corvettes to make them eligible for international Grand Touring races. After the GM executives learned of the secret project, the program was stopped, and only five cars were built. All five cars have survived and are in private collections. They are among the most coveted and valuable Corvettes ever built, not because of what they accomplished, but because of what might have been.
The cars were driven by famed contemporary race drivers such as Roger Penske, A.J. Foyt, Jim Hall, and Dick Guldstrand among others. The Grand Sports, however, were never fully developed; poor aerodynamics caused high speed handling problems that were alleviated by a number of modifications but never completely solved. Dick Thompson was the first driver to win a race in the Grand Sport 004. He won a 1963 Sports Car Club of America race at Watkins Glen on August 24, 1963.
The Corvette Grand Sports were raced with several different engines, but the most serious factory engine actually used was a 377 cubic inch displacement, all-aluminum, small block with four Weber side-draft carburetors, rated 550 hp (410 kW) at 6400 rpm. Body panels were made of thinner fiberglass to reduce weight and the frame was constructed of amazingly light steel tubes.
Rondine (1963)
Based on the 1963 Corvette C2 chassis, the Corvette 'Rondine' (Ron-di-nay) concept car was built for the 1963 Paris Auto Show, designed by Tom Tjaarda of Pininfarina.
Sold at Barrett-Jackson 2008 for $1,600,000.00
Last "Cars" Post on Wordpress:
Title: Porsche Carrera GT tuned by Konigseder Date: Fri, 25 Sep 2009 14:58:00 +0000 Author: Safirutza
This Porsche Carrera GT has a new body kit released by Konigseder featuring alloy wheels, a new front and rear bumper and side skirts to give the car a more aggressive look, extra air vents, a larger air diffuser and a large fixed rear wing.
It has the factory 5.7 litre V10 engine that produces 612 hp and 590 Nm of torque.
More on: http://safirutza.com/2009/09/25/porsche-carrera-gt-tuned-by-konigseder/
