Specialty Press

Chevrolet Corvette 1963 to 1967

by  William Burt

Reviewed By  Fred Horky, IPMS# 6390

MSRP: $22.95 ISBN: 1-58007-101-5 112 pgs, 8.5" X 11", soft cover, illustrated Available for $22.95 direct from Specialty Press (www.specialtypress.com), or standard book sellers. You might call this book "All You'll Ever Want to Know about the Sting Ray Corvette, with pictures." A couple of words about generations are likely in order here. At present there are six generations of 'vettes, today commonly termed C1 through C6. Within each generation there were many changes from year to year, but as a whole a generation shared the same features and same basic body style. The first (C1) generation ran from 1953 through 1962. The second generation is most commonly called the "Sting Ray" or C2; and the subject of this book. When the next (C3) generation followed, the C2 was often called the "Mid-Year" Corvette. (The term became inaccurate when three further generations were added, but mid-year is a still-heard misnomer.) The Sting Ray C2 had the shortest run of any Corvette generation, running only five years from 1963 through 1967 inclusive. This brevity is part of the reason that C2's are arguably the most sought after of any collectible 'vette. A larger part is that designer Larry Shinoda's C2 body design had mesmerized auto enthusiasts from the beginning. Even today it can't be mistaken for any other car. That sexy design, coupled with the genuine performance and technical improvements like IRS (Independent Rear Suspension) and many others made the car a true state-of-the-art car. But, the bottom line was looks and performance. My example is likely typical of many, where the sentiment generated when I first saw the Sting Ray can more accurately described as "lust" than "love". I've had mine for forty-three years now. Author Burt has done a wonderful job of telling the Sting Ray's story in very clear, understandable, and greatly detailed text. While the information is very much in depth, this isn't the book you would take out to the shop to use as instruction on a car under restoration. The layout and printing production values of the photos make this book more of a coffee-table book for Corvette nuts than a greasy shop manual. The pictures are truly beautiful, with high production values on the color printing and registration, etc. While only a true car nut would rave about pictures of brake calipers, steering column installations, they ARE good pictures! Obviously I like the book, and recommend it. Even if you don't buy this book for yourself, you might consider one as a gift for a friend or relative with a Sting Ray … or perhaps the 'vette freak friend who is still pining for his first collectible Corvette. The worst case scenario of a guy who NEEDS the book is the FORMER owner who USED to have a Sting Ray, but sold it! (They're usually distinguished at car shows by the tears running down their faces.)

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