A Bite of History – Mike Thies

1963 Corvette Coupe
The Split-Window Sting Ray Strikes

Some cars just look fast standing still. The 1963 Corvette Sting Ray Coupe didn’t just look fast. it looked like it could time travel. With its sharp lines, hidden headlights, and that iconic split rear window, it rolled off the line like a spaceship made of muscle.

This was the first year for the second-generation Corvette (C2), and it was a total reinvention. Inspired by stingrays and fighter jets, the ‘63 Coupe was the first hardtop Vette ever. and it made a statement. That split window? Pure design drama, courtesy of GM styling boss Bill Mitchell. Gorgeous? Absolutely. Practical? Mostly, not totally. Rear visibility was a small problem. But hey, style over function, right?

Under the hood, you could get up to 360 horsepower from a fuel-injected 327 V8, which meant this thing could back up its looks with serious speed. Independent rear suspension made it handle like a dream compared to earlier Corvettes. This wasn’t just a pretty face. it was a legit sports car.

The split-window lasted just one year (replaced in '64 with a regular rear glass), making the ‘63 Coupe one of the most collectible Corvettes of all time. It's rare, it's radical, and it still turns heads six decades later.