Chevrolet Corvette C2 327/360 L84 Coupe
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Car producer : |
Chevrolet |
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Model: |
Corvette C2 327/360 L84 Coupe |
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Year: |
1963 |
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Type: |
Coupe |
The 1963 Corvette Stingray not only had a new design, but also newfound handling prowess. The Stingray was also a somewhat lighter Corvette, so acceleration improved despite unchanged horsepower. 21,513 units would be built for the 1963 model year, which was up 50 percent from the record-setting 1962 version. Production was divided almost evenly between the convertible and the new coupe - 10,919 and 10,594, respectively - and more than half the convertibles were ordered with the optional lift-off hardtop. Nevertheless, the coupe wouldn't sell as well again throughout the Stingray years. In fact, not until 1969 (by which time the coupe came with removable T-tops) did the closed Corvette sell better than the open one. Equipment installations for 1963 began reflecting the market's demand for more civility in sporting cars - the power brake option went into 15 percent of production, power steering into 12 percent. On the other hand, only 278 buyers specified the $421.80 air conditioning; leather upholstery - a mere $80.70 - was ordered on only about 400 cars. The beautiful cast aluminum knock-off wheels, manufactured for Chevy by Kelsey-Hayes, cost $322.80 a set, but few buyers checked off that option. However, almost 18,000 Stingrays left St. Louis with the four-speed manual gearbox - better than four out of every five.
All 1963 cars had 327cid engines, which made 250hp (186 kW) standard, with optional variants that made 300hp (224 kW), 340hp (254 kW) and 360hp (268 kW). The most powerful engine was the Rochester fuel injected 327cid V8, which made 360hp (272 kW). Options available on the C2 included AM-FM radio (mid 1963), air conditioning, and leather upholstery. Also available for the first time ever on a Corvette was a special performance equipment package the RPO Z-06. These Corvettes came to be known as known as the “Big Tanks” because the package initially had a 36.5-gallon gas tank versus the standard 20-gallon for races such as Sebring and Daytona. At first, the package was only available on coupes because the oversized tank would not fit in the convertible. Only 199 1963 Z-06 Corvettes were produced usually reserved for racing, of the 199 a total of 6 were specifically created for Lemans racing.
New for the 1963 model year was an optional electronic ignition, the breakerless magnetic pulse-triggered Delcotronic, first offered by Pontiac on some 1963 models.
