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1963 Corvette® Sting Ray - Fiberglass - Blue Metallic
Part Number: B11E666

Approximately 7 1/4” (18.4 cm) in length. Scale 1:24.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Franklin Mint has created a model that is worthy of any collector regardless of their budget.  The 1963 Corvette Sting Ray with fuel injection is this car.  The designers at Franklin Mint decided it was time to make a truly authentic Corvette model and put a fiberglass body on this baby.  The first time you pick it up you realize how special this car is

 

 

 

The 1963 Corvette Sting Ray offered so many new things it is hard to know where to start.  The most obvious place for the Vette enthusiast was the radical new split window design.  This design was used to enhance the roof line and carry that line all the way to the rear of the car.  .  In this model it doers just that.  It brings the roof line from the wind shield to the back of the trunk.  The serious sight limitations of the split window made this a one year design option for Corvette. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The faux vent grilles gave a nice look to the hood but were only there as a decoration.  It breaks up the hood nicely and provides the effect of additional cooling for the engine.  The reality is that this was just some nice looking decoration the engineers and designers dreamed up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The interior of this car is gorgeous.  The carpeting is throughout the whole interior and the seats have that leathery feel to them as well.  The dash is set up like the inside of an airplane which lends itself to the speed and power of this sports car.  The passenger grab bar is included in this model and fits nicely as part of this interior.  The gauges are small but readable and the shifter is well positioned as well. 

1963 marked the debut of the all-new Sting-Ray--the only year for the now-coveted "split-window" body style and the first time Chevy offered the Z06 model. Technically called the Special Performance Package, it could be ordered as Regular Production Option number Z06. The idea was to assist Corvette race teams by homologating the hi-po hardware at the same time. Some of the changes were larger, dual-circuit power brakes with sintered metallic linings, cooling fins for those Alfin front drums, a 36-gallon fuel tank, knock-off alloy wheels, and a 360-horse version of the fuel-injected 327 V-8. The Z06 was theoretically available only in the coupe body style, but one documented Z06-equipped roadster snuck down the production line. One of the first Z06s off that line won a road race at Riverside International Raceway in late 1962. RPO Z06s cost $1818, plus another $650 or so in required options. Just 199 were built, and they're among the most interesting--and rare--of all Corvettes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As you look through one of the rear windows the original jack instructions are clearly visible.  This was a nice detail added by the folks at Franklin Mint and makes the owner feel like he just picked up the car from the factory floor.  The flip up headlights are included in this model as well.  They turn up nicely and the spacing around the hood is excellent as well. 

 

 

 

 

 

This car is a must buy for any Corvette collector.  The split window design makes this a one of a kind collector item to begin with let alone all the other amenities included in this model.  Franklin Mint has certainly shown they can produce top end models and the 1963 Corvette Sting Ray is no exception.  I highly recommend this car and look forward to adding it to my Christmas list.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bet you didn't know....

 

 

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.

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.