WHAT does stingray mean???
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
WHAT does stingray mean???
Hi. We have had an ongoing argumente amongst the corvette owners here in Norway. Its probably a stupid question, but I havent yet spoken to someone with the knowlage to answer it. 
What does stingray mean (not the fish) was it an option package? Why did some cars come with the badge and some without. Am I right in believing that stingray only came on the C2 and C3?
Hopefully I can get an answer on this forum
Thanks in advance!
What does stingray mean (not the fish) was it an option package? Why did some cars come with the badge and some without. Am I right in believing that stingray only came on the C2 and C3?
Hopefully I can get an answer on this forum
Thanks in advance!
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 11,520
Likes: 13
From: CORVETTE 77 385 C.I. TEXAS
STINGRAY refers to the body design.& only applies to C2 & C3
63-67 & 68-77.
STINGRAY
http://ganeys.home.sprynet.com/STINGRAY.htm
STINGRAY has a fine history & a meaning. STINGRAY refers to the body style. The new smaller body & chassis w/ I.R.S was introduced in 63. It applies to the 2 STINGRAY body styles 63-67 & 68-77.
Stingray- BB hood on 65-66, tail on 63-67 coupes, wings extended from roof 68-77 Stingrays.
Maybe this will help some. The new smaller Sting Ray body in development.
Since 63, for 15 years (63-77) Corvette & Sting Ray were synonymous.
78- 25th anniversay of the Corvette- not Stingray. Many changes.They were already working on the C4 & McLellan had said the styling would be reeled in. 84 induction & 700R4 were in production in 81. So the focus was on the C4.
Some consider all C3s to be Stingrays.
CORVETTE says it all anyway.
63-67 & 68-77.
STINGRAY
http://ganeys.home.sprynet.com/STINGRAY.htm
STINGRAY has a fine history & a meaning. STINGRAY refers to the body style. The new smaller body & chassis w/ I.R.S was introduced in 63. It applies to the 2 STINGRAY body styles 63-67 & 68-77.
Stingray- BB hood on 65-66, tail on 63-67 coupes, wings extended from roof 68-77 Stingrays.
Maybe this will help some. The new smaller Sting Ray body in development.
Since 63, for 15 years (63-77) Corvette & Sting Ray were synonymous.
78- 25th anniversay of the Corvette- not Stingray. Many changes.They were already working on the C4 & McLellan had said the styling would be reeled in. 84 induction & 700R4 were in production in 81. So the focus was on the C4.
Some consider all C3s to be Stingrays.
CORVETTE says it all anyway.
Last edited by Ganey; Aug 20, 2009 at 07:39 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,116
From: Crossville TN
Stingray...or Sting Ray for the C2 series Corvettes....was a 
moniker that the GM brass/marketing liked, so they linked it with the Corvette. Billy Mitchell started that whole 'thing' with his fascination of sharks. The initial C3 design was based on the Mako shark concept. Somehow, the Mako title did not take hold...but the winning name still was a sea creature. Apparently, the Stingray name worked pretty well for a lot of years.
moniker that the GM brass/marketing liked, so they linked it with the Corvette. Billy Mitchell started that whole 'thing' with his fascination of sharks. The initial C3 design was based on the Mako shark concept. Somehow, the Mako title did not take hold...but the winning name still was a sea creature. Apparently, the Stingray name worked pretty well for a lot of years.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,589
Likes: 5
From: Salisbury Maryland
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 11,520
Likes: 13
From: CORVETTE 77 385 C.I. TEXAS
Actually the C2 Sting Ray was based on the Mako Shark (I) show car.
The C3 was based on the Mako Shark II show car.
Manta Ray - Mako Shark II was redone after C3 introduction- the back is similiar to 74-77.
Emblems are for identification. On the low volume (for GM) Corvette, emblems are an inexpensive way to identify a new car at the time. The 68 was obviously new & was called a Sting Ray in the Chevy ads though it did not have the emblem.
The C3 was based on the Mako Shark II show car.
Manta Ray - Mako Shark II was redone after C3 introduction- the back is similiar to 74-77.
Emblems are for identification. On the low volume (for GM) Corvette, emblems are an inexpensive way to identify a new car at the time. The 68 was obviously new & was called a Sting Ray in the Chevy ads though it did not have the emblem.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 26,545
Likes: 46
From: Huntersville NC
From 63 to 67 they called it "Sting Ray" two words, and had two word emblems on the car.
In 1968 they still called it Sting Ray (two words) in the marketing material, but to keep the body looking uncluttered and beautiful (my opinion.. lol) they left off the emblem.
Starting in 1969 in a major cost cutting effort, GM combined the 2 words, Sting and Ray to make one word, Stingray, and put that emblem on vettes 1969 until... when? 1977.. not quite sure..
(Hey, never noticed this before: Fuel Pump: A vapor return line has been added for 300 350 and 390 hp engines for 1968 to help prevent vapor lock) of course... it's a FUEL return line, not vapor.
1968 corvette brochure
In 1968 they still called it Sting Ray (two words) in the marketing material, but to keep the body looking uncluttered and beautiful (my opinion.. lol) they left off the emblem.
Starting in 1969 in a major cost cutting effort, GM combined the 2 words, Sting and Ray to make one word, Stingray, and put that emblem on vettes 1969 until... when? 1977.. not quite sure..
(Hey, never noticed this before: Fuel Pump: A vapor return line has been added for 300 350 and 390 hp engines for 1968 to help prevent vapor lock) of course... it's a FUEL return line, not vapor.
1968 corvette brochure
Last edited by PRNDL; Aug 20, 2009 at 02:37 PM.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,300
Likes: 2
St. Jude Donor '08
I believe 1976 was the last year they used the Stingray emblem. In 1977 it was replaced with a crossed flags emblem, though some early cars had bare fenders. Not sure if they still called it a Stingray in the 1977 marketing material.
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 153
Likes: 0
From: Atlanta GA
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,481
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Bill Mitchell, head of GM design and responsible for the C2 and C3 body design was an avid sport fisherman. Hence the use of Sting Ray/Stingray, Manta Ray, Mako, etc.
He did not use the term "Shark" for the C3s, but he would have approved of its use.
He did not use the term "Shark" for the C3s, but he would have approved of its use.
Last edited by Easy Mike; Aug 21, 2009 at 03:19 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,821
Likes: 204
From: Lincoln CA
Race Director
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 11,334
Likes: 136
From: Out of Site...Out of Mind. Corvette: anything else is just transportation.
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '20
The Stingray was named for the styling cues that are part of the Corvette's timeless design. Started with the '63 and carried over to the C3's. True, a few years didn't have the logo; '68, 77-82, but they're still considered a Stingray.
I even made a "modern" Stingray.
Either way, it's part of the Corvette's heritage.
I even made a "modern" Stingray.
Either way, it's part of the Corvette's heritage.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,336
Likes: 1
From: North Bellmore Ny
St. Jude Donor '09
I heard a rumor that they didn't want to put the two word Sting Ray on the side of the 68 and were looking for something new, An employee wrote a letter about it spelling stingray in one word in script, That caught someones eye and used it on the 69. Thats why you can't find a font on a computer to match this because it's someones handwriting, Who's it is I like to know.