1963 Corvette Part Three
Designer Larry Shinoda was not a tall man, but he did accommodate them by supplying a cut out in the roof to make entry / exit easier for taller enthusiasts in the low slung Corvette.
The hood of all 1963 Corvettes had faux vent grills. The story is that originally they were functional but the hot air escaping from the engine found its way into the passenger area via fresh air venting in the cowl. The faux vent grills are a 1963 only feature.
1963 saw the introduction of "Sting Ray" as a Corvette moniker. It would be retired for 1968 but resurrected for 1969 thru 1976 as "Stingray", and reappear for the 2014 C7 Corvette.
Amazingly enough, the one thing that didn't change in 1963 was the engine selection, which was the same as 1962. The standard engine was a 327 cubic inch 250 horsepower unit. Also available were 300 horsepower (RPO L75; $53.80) and (above) 340 horsepower (RPO L76; $107.60) engines.
Below: The 327 cubic inch fuel injected mill (RPO L84; $430.40) continued as the top performer with 360 hp, well beyond the one hp / cubic inch milestone. The air cleaner and Plenum chamber (affectionately known as "the doghouse") was updated.
Corvette Odyssey
The True Story of One Man's Path to Roadster Redemption by Terry Berkson
If owning a 1963 Riverside Red convertible is a car enthusiast's dream, then having it stolen is the ultimate nightmare. Exactly that happened to Terry Berkson and with the tenacity of a pit bull and against the advice of his family and assorted experts, he started a fanatical search to get it back. His endeavors are chronicled in "Corvette Odyssey" which reads like a Mickey Spillane novel or Bruce Springsteen song but is made all that more enjoyable due to the fact that it is a true story. "Corvette Odyssey" is a testimony of a Corvette owner's dedication and a great read. Highly recommended as well as reasonably priced, "Corvette Odyssey" is available from Amazon or for a custom signed book (up to 20 words) send check or M.O. for $8, (postage is included) to
Terry Berkson
349 Gulf Road
Richfield Springs
New York 13439
1963 Corvette Part Four
1963 Corvette Options