Trivia C2

Corvette Trivia

C2 1963 - 1967

The earliest serial number air conditioned Sting Ray has a production build date in October, about 6 months before the rest of the AC cars. The reason? The owner was a GM executive and the car returned to Chevrolet for refitting with AC.

An error was made in creating the roof panel mold in 1963, using the wrong side of the dimensions, such that all roof panels were too small. This left a gap seen in the door pillar above the door latch in all but a few 1963's to 1967. The ones where it is not found were cosmetically covered up with body filler.

Power steering was first available in the 1963 Corvette.

Bill Mitchell and Zora Arkus-Duntov argued over the "Split" rear window for the new Corvette. Bill Mitchell won out for the 1963 Model, but it was removed for 1964 never to be seen again.

The 1963 Grand Sports, while originally looking much like the production coupes, had no body parts in common. The fiberglass body panels were roughly half the thickness of production panels to save weight.

The 1963 Grand Sports originally were released without fender flares, using the stock look. However, they were wider to allow a wider tire 8.25x15 rather than the stock 6.70x15 tire.

Only the driver's side vent on the 1964 Corvette is functional.

The first major tire size change in Corvette history occurred in 1965. Tire size changed from 6.70x15 to 7.75x15

While the 427 was developed first, the 396 went into the Corvette, Chevrolet, and Chevelle in 1965 due to a GM policy restricting them to less than 400 cubic inches.

The 396ci 425hp engine lasted only one year 1965.

1965 was the first year to have two separate hoods - the smooth small block hood and the bulge of the big block hood.

The 1966 Corvette was not eligible in SCCA Trans Am, due to the upper limit of 5.0 liter on engine displacement. Chevy's only eligible car was the Corvair.

1967 was the first year to have three hoods: the small block hood, the big block hood, and the L-88 hood, even though externally the L-88 looked like the regular big block hood.

In late February and early March, 1967, some small blocks received the big block hood due to an industrial accident with the small block hood mold. These were not given the hood stripe.

The "GM Mark of Excellence" sticker appeared in one year only- 1967.

Federal law mandated the removal of spinners from wheels in 1967, so the knock off wheel of 1963-66 was replaced with a bolt on wheel.

1967 was the first year "Vinyl" was offered as an optional exterior covering for the hardtop.

The '67 model was the first to have the "tank sticker", or the build sheet, attached to the gas tank.

The maximum install fuel tank capacity was offered in the Corvette from 1963 to 1967, 36 gallons.

An option was offered in 1967 that lasted for only three production years.. A speed warning indicator.

The '67 LeMans Racer was "DRIVEN" to the track from the airport (in place of being trailered) was because the trailer was chuck full of parts!

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