1963 Chevrolet Corvette Walkaround

Chevrolet Corvette sports cars have been marketed since 1953.  I must confess that I haven't paid much attention to the styling evolution over most of the eight body design generations produced so far.  (Note to self: do a blog post on the subject -- that'll bring me up to speed).   I'm most aware of the first two generations and wrote about first-generation Corvettes several times (see the marque-list sidebar on the right), including this one lamenting its 1958 facelift.

The other Corvette generation that interests me is the second.  It is known as the Stingray, and the most iconic model was its 1963 introductory model year coupe with a two-piece backlight window.

I rate the '63 Corvette coupe styling as "interesting" rather than beautiful.  Because the design carries too much detailing for my taste, as will be seen in the Gallery images below.  That said, I do like the design.  On an emotional, rather than an aesthetic level.

Agree?  Disagree?  Well, let's do a walkaround.  This post's featured car is a 1963 Corvette coupe, photos via Bring a Trailer Auctions.

Gallery

First, three factory images indicating how Chevrolet wanted the Sting Ray to be seen and appreciated.

This, and the image above show that the design features a horizontal character line that extends all the way around the car.  The 1960 first-generation Chevrolet Corvair had a similar feature.

Overhead view showing the split backlight.  The stylistic reason for the split is the centerline roof crease extending from the windshield to a tiny distance from the aft edge of the car.  The divider bar tended to obscure rear-view mirror visibility, so for 1964, the backlight became a one-piece affair and the bar was consigned to styling history.  Nevertheless, from a styling standpoint (not an ergonomic one), the roof and backlight treatment was interesting and consistent.

Now for the featured Corvette.  Headlight assemblies are rotated open.

The profile is well-shaped.  

The rear quarter is rather busy, yet thematically consistent due to the repeated "boat tail" convergences of the rear fenders and the passenger compartment greenhouse.

I doubt that the passenger compartment boat tail was the result of wind tunnel testing, due to the rapid convergence.  But I might be wrong.

There are sculpted faux air outlets on the B-pillar and front fender abaft of the wheel opening.  These items contribute to the excess detailing mentioned above.

Though the B-pillar is wide, the wraparound backlight keeps the greenhouse looking airy.

The hood featured a forward-thrusting, low profile reverse- boat tail.  But that's echoed by the raised front fender shaping, carrying the theme also seen at the car's rear.  Front and rear bumpers are similarly shaped.

There also are air vents on the hood -- functional ones.

Opened headlights mar the styling, but that probably couldn't be avoided, given early 1960s technology.

The dashboard is cluttered.