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