| The introduction of the 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Sting | | | | the street racer cult as the primary consumers and |
| Ray heralded major changes in the march onward in | | | | purchasers of the Vette. More and more of the |
| the Chevrolet Stingray. The Sting Ray was available | | | | Corvettes were equipped with such luxury and |
| as both a "Roadster "version with a removable | | | | comfort options as air conditioning, power steering and |
| hardtop and a "Coupe" sometimes referred to as a | | | | telescoping steering columns. It was not long before |
| fastback. Onwards from 1963 to 1967 the Sting Ray | | | | the Corvette with emission devices and soon the real |
| got even better with a greater number of options for | | | | 'Vette type of performance was history. What was |
| both luxury and power performance. This was the | | | | more than interesting was the response original hot |
| heyday of the days of sports car customizers. And | | | | rodder modification group. The amazing part of all of |
| the Corvette Sting Ray was the perfect 100 % raw | | | | this is how the circle came round. Karma sneaks in. |
| material for the sports car customizers. Headlights | | | | The same dedicated group of sport car enthusiasts |
| were molded and in and the bumpers were removed. | | | | and hot rodders, who modified the older, pre |
| So many Corvettes received an extra pair of taillights | | | | mainstream luxury comfort model Corvettes, is now |
| that people that they were actually a General Motors | | | | the very ones who restore this same converted |
| Chevrolet Corvette factory option. Later when the low | | | | Corvette back to exact stock specifications. How |
| profile wide tires came along, so did large fender flares. | | | | could these people justify the work and effort of |
| The speed equipment industry had boomed, so the | | | | taking these cars back in time to factory specs when |
| majority of Corvette engine parts were being replaced | | | | a great amount of time, effort and cost had been |
| by the latest: Hot Setup". Rochester fuel injectors | | | | invested in these very cars? A used Corvette at the |
| were being removed because of service problems, | | | | time was essentially a very attractive sports car buy. |
| and everyone heard that the single four barrel in a high | | | | Why were restore cars in vogue and even preferred |
| riser manifold was better. In 1965 the first Chevy | | | | over the earlier modified ones. Partially it was a case |
| big-block was introduced in the Corvette, and the | | | | of limited supply and very high prices being offered by |
| performance was more than awesome. Another new | | | | the stock type Corvettes and classic car auctions and |
| body style - both larger and heavier was introduced in | | | | the prices being asked in the special car groups and |
| 1968. Many thought that this was the beginning of the | | | | publications. All in all it can be said it can be a |
| decline of the Corvette, But in the vital performance | | | | combination of the custom cars getting old and |
| department, the 427 cubic inches Rat Motor with its | | | | needing refurbishing and the 55 mile speed limit in the |
| three two-barrel carbs and the 435 horse power | | | | time. Perhaps as well it was a question of maturity on |
| ratings more than powered the Corvette legend of | | | | the kids who were the Corvette hot rodders at the |
| lore. No letting down of the powerful image of the | | | | time. See the influence of time, life and having a family |
| 'Vette. Things got even better right on up to the 1969 | | | | with its change of priorities can have on the wildest |
| L-88with aluminum cylinder heads the 1970 LS-6 rated | | | | kids. |
| at a mighty 465 horse power rating. The word | | | | Second Chance Finance Ventura Highway Bad |
| Corvette invokes the image of high performance | | | | Credit? Need Transportation? Have a Job? |
| sports car performance. An older age group replaced | | | | |