Dwayne 76

Hi, I was wondering what year the "Sting ray" was introduced, as well as the last, and the same for the "Stingray"

TIA

:cheers:

Shark Racer

"Sting Ray"=63-67, "Stingray"=68-82, though if you want to be truly technical, the cars badged as "Stingray" were 69-76.
-Steve

Dwayne 76

Thanks a bunch :yesnod: :yesnod: :yesnod:

:cheers:

Tom73

Sting Ray (two words) was first used on production cars in 63. Chevy used that name through the 68 model year (even though the 68 did not have any badges but in ads and lit it was refered to as a Sting Ray). Then Stingray (one word) showed up in 69 and was used on the cars until 76.

tom...

Corz

ok I'll bite, why use the name stingray ? I was always interested in that question.. was it for marketing? or what..

Ganey

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 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. Not an option, 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.

:cool:

KingRat

Bill Mitchell (VP of design at GM at the time) named the Corvette "Stingray" after the 1959 Stingray racer he and Dr. Dick Thompson campaigned with some success in SCCA racing in the late 50's and early 60's. The '63 Corvette styling was based heavily on that car. In an interview with stylist Larry Shinoda, Larry stated that he didn't know how the word became "Sting Ray." Also, the Big Brass at GM never liked Mitchell's fish names but it goes to show how a few talented individuals could get their way back then.

Corz

thanks for the info.. good to know stuff.. that goes in my useless facts part of my brain.. hehe j/k

Ganey

All C2 & C3 owners should know something about what Stingray means.

:cool:

Corz

well i wasnt really big into the C2/C3 cars till i bought my 69.. i kinda only learned about the solid axle cars that i grew up around.. but i did know that it had something to do with Bill Mitchell fishing and catching shark that was blueish silver.. thus getting the body style for the C3... i think dont quote me on that one..

7vette2

Speaking of badges, I read somewhere that in the early 70's GM actually wanted to drop the Corvette badge and just leave the the name Stingray. Anyone else ever hear that? :confused:

KingRat

Actually, Bill Mitchell caught a Mako Shark off of Bimini. He had the design team paint the Mako Shark I show car to match the shark he had mounted and hanging in his office. As the story goes, the design team had trouble painting the car to match the fish so they took Mitchell's shark and painted it to match the car. Mitchell was pleased at the final result and never suspected.

woodworkr

King Rat is exactly right about the painting of the Mako in Bill Mitchells office. He never knew a thing about the deception that the paint department pulled on his stuffed fish. Just another one of the all time great stories of the Corvette Legend. :D
JoeB

ylose

OMG...that is so awesome.....gotta love good history !! :yesnod: