In the early 1960s Harley Earl retired, and new ideas came with new leadership. Bill Mitchell, GM’s new chief of design, had an incredibly successful idea: Stingray! Tradition was broken as the totally redesigned Corvette was offered as a coupe or a convertible with 4 engine choices. Both featured a streamlined appearance and improved passenger accommodations. The American public loved 1963-1967 Stingrays because they were fast machines that looked supersonic even when parked. They remain the most collectible Corvettes today.
The Sting Rays were the automotive success story of the year. Chevrolet had to add a second shift to its St. Louis, Missouri assembly plant to keep up with demand, and dealers reported owners waiting months for their cars to be built. By the end of the model year, Corvette production would surpass the 20,000-unit milestone.
Styling was cleaned up a bit for 1964. The previous year’s distinctive rear window divider was replaced by a solid piece of glass. The fake hood vents were eliminated and the roof vents were restyled. A three-speed fan was also available in the coupe to aid in ventilation.
1964 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray. The exterior is Red with a Black interior. General Motors THM 350 – 3 Speed Automatic, V-8 engine. Side pipe exhaust system. 1967-style Corvette Rally wheels. Modern steering wheel. Whitewall tires. 1967-style “stinger” hood. Non-factory dual sport-style mirrors. Power brakes. Radio. Air conditioning.
