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The Corvette’s Sting Ray story begins with the 1963 C2: the first Corvette coupe, a dramatic redesign, and the only year with a split rear window. Chevrolet used the name “Sting Ray” for the 1963–1967 generation, later brought “Stingray” back for the 2014 C7, and carried it into the mid-engine C8 that began in 2020. The name marks particular chapters—not every Corvette generation.
Before the Sting Ray: Corvette’s first decade
Corvette entered production in 1953. Chevrolet’s legacy timeline says the first-year output was 300 cars, all painted Polo White. The small-block V8 arrived in 1955, fuel injection followed in 1957, and Corvette made its Le Mans racing debut in 1960. The Sting Ray’s 1963 arrival was therefore the next major step in a decade of development.
1963–1967: the C2 Sting Ray years
A new coupe and a one-year split window
GM Heritage describes the 1963 Corvette Sting Ray as the first total restyling since the model’s 1953 introduction—and the first Corvette coupe. The redesign paired a new chassis with independent rear suspension. Its split rear window made the coupe instantly recognizable, but the feature lasted only for the 1963 model year. Chevrolet’s 1995 Corvette information kit says the window was replaced in 1964 by a single-piece design after owners complained about visibility. That records a reason for the change, not a claim that all owners disliked the split window.
GM Heritage’s archived 1963 Corvette example is specified with a 327-cubic-inch overhead-valve V8 rated at 360 horsepower at 5,000 rpm. Those figures describe that archived example; they should not be read as a universal specification for every 1963 Sting Ray.
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Performance milestones across the C2
The five-year C2 run brought a succession of performance developments. Chevrolet’s timeline places the Z06 package debut in 1963, disc brakes and a big-block engine in 1965, and the 427/435 engine in 1967. These milestones belong to particular years and configurations, rather than describing every Sting Ray.
GM Heritage’s 1966 Corvette record lists the 427-cubic-inch V8 with 390- or 425-horsepower ratings. It records 27,720 Corvettes produced for 1966, including 5,258 equipped with the 425-horsepower 427.
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- Brand new box.
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The separate racing story of the Grand Sport
The original C2 Grand Sport was a racing-focused car based on the Sting Ray, not a regular mass-market Sting Ray trim. Chevrolet says only five were built. The cars earned class victories, including at the 1964 Twelve Hours of Sebring. In a 2026 Chevrolet Newsroom article, Corvette Chief Engineer Josh Holder calls the Grand Sport the “sweet spot,” referring to later Grand Sport combinations of wide-body handling and a capable standard engine; it is a manufacturer’s characterization of the Grand Sport, not a verdict on every Sting Ray.
1968–1982: the long C3 generation
Chevrolet treats 1968–1982 as the C3 generation, a distinct era whose curvaceous styling defined Corvette for nearly 15 years. Its timeline identifies the ZR1 performance package in 1970, the 500,000th Corvette in 1977, the model’s Indianapolis 500 pace-car role in 1978, and electronic fuel injection in 1982. The C3 followed the comparatively brief C2, but Chevrolet’s generation history does not identify the whole C3 era as a Sting Ray generation.
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- High-Quality Materials:The Chevrolet Corvette die-cast car is made of zinc alloy,plastic parts and rubber tires,making it safe for children to play with.It features detailed interior and exterior trim, and is very sturdy.
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1984–2004: technology and architecture evolve
C4: 1984–1996
Chevrolet dates the C4 to 1984–1996 and describes it as an all-new design with a stronger body structure. Its timeline notes Tuned Port Injection in 1985, the ZR-1’s “King of the Hill” nickname in 1990, and production of the one-millionth Corvette in 1992.
C5: 1997–2004
The C5 brought a rear-mounted transmission and the LS1 5.7-liter V8. Chevrolet also records the Z06’s return in 2001 and C5-R victories at Daytona, Sebring, and Le Mans. These are C5-generation milestones; the Stingray name was not used continuously through these years.
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2005–2019: performance continues and Stingray returns
C6: 2005–2013
Chevrolet’s timeline says the C6 was the first Corvette to offer 400 horsepower as standard. Its Z06 used a racing-inspired aluminum chassis, and the 1.5-millionth Corvette was produced in 2009.
C7: 2014–2019
The C7 brought back the Corvette Stingray name. Chevrolet also highlights the supercharged LT5 in the ZR1, rated at 755 horsepower, and the 2018 Carbon 65 anniversary model. The name’s return does not make every C7 a Stingray trim: these are distinct generation and model milestones.
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- Versatile 3-in-1 Kit: Build your 1963 Chevy Corvette Sting Ray as factory stock, a street custom, or a drag gasser with this multi-option kit.
- Enhanced Features: Includes pre-lettered drag slicks, clear red taillights, and stock & custom wheels for an authentic and detailed build.
- Multiple Engine Options: Customize your model with various engine intake options, allowing for unique and personalized creations.
- Retro Styling: Comes with a full-color, retro-styled decal sheet and vintage “Street Rods Series” packaging, perfect for nostalgic collectors.
- High-Quality Collectible: AMT's improved reissue offers superior parts and detailing, making it a must-have for model enthusiasts and collectors.
2020 onward: Stingray with a mid-engine layout
Chevrolet dates the C8 era from 2020 and calls its mid-engine layout a historic change for Corvette. This makes the C8 a fundamental engineering break from the earlier front-engine generations, even as the Stingray name continues. Chevrolet’s timeline also notes the C8’s dual-clutch transmission and the E-Ray as the first Corvette with electric all-wheel drive. It identifies a C8 Corvette Stingray appearance in the 2023 film Transformers: Rise of the Beasts.
Chevrolet’s timeline currently includes model-year material through 2027. Future model-year listings are announcements, not proof that those vehicles are already on sale; the C8 history described here begins with the generation’s 2020 debut.
How the name changed over time
The spelling helps distinguish the chapters. Chevrolet calls 1963–1967 the “Sting Ray” years, with a space; it identifies the name’s return for the 2014–2019 C7 and its continuation into the C8 era as “Stingray,” without a space. Between those periods, Chevrolet’s timeline describes the C3, C4, C5, and C6 as generations in their own right rather than labeling all of them Sting Rays or Stingrays.
Quick Recap
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