What is a Stingray?
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 70
Likes: 1
From: Louisville KY
What is a Stingray?
I am a new member and this is like an atomic bomb discussion at the car shows I attend. I ask this question at every event and get mixed results. My personal view for the StingRay is 1963 born and the last Stingray is 1982. Yea I get it C3 went 15 years.. blah blah. However in the C2 they are the first of the stingrays. 1968 consolidated the design without the StingRay emblem. As a corvette owner my view is from 1963 C2 to the end of the C3's 1982 they all are based on the Mako design, which makes them all StingRays. The C7 is inspired by the 63 to 82 and is the new Stingray. Stingray is a Corvette body style not a seperate model. Okay and now I open the floor.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,481
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Last edited by Easy Mike; Dec 14, 2015 at 04:01 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 22,162
Likes: 4,171
From: Kannapolis NC
I don't waste my time or energy thinking about what other people might call a Sting Ray, or Stingray, or any variation. The only time it comes up at a car show is if a youngster says "Is that a Sting Ray"? In that case I just say "Why, yes it is". They leave happy and I stay happy.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,626
Likes: 140
From: Kanuckistan
2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Well, it's a fish that inspired the shape of the C2.
So, while it made sense for this generation of hold this moniker, past the C2s its just a marketing trick.
So, while it made sense for this generation of hold this moniker, past the C2s its just a marketing trick.
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
Pro
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 530
Likes: 10
Yeah, the C3 was inspired by a shark, the Mako Shark II, specifically. So if someone asks me if it is a "shark" I say "YES!".
Last edited by softwarejanitor; Dec 14, 2015 at 06:05 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 12,657
Likes: 3,117
From: Shamong, NJ
Personally, I never call any Corvette a Sting Ray, or Stingray. To me they're all Corvettes, and that's what I call them. If someone else wants to call them something different, that's their prerogative.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 1,194
Likes: 109
From: Las Vegas NV
Racer
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 430
Likes: 31
From: Ontario
It's pretty simple. If a C3 had Stingray badges from the factory it's officially a Stingray. If it didn't, it isn't. Whether the term actually has a useful purpose or special meaning is another matter. It doesn't ..but it easily could have. If GM had dropped the Stingray badge when chrome bumpers disappeared it would have a very definite meaning to us now. Or they could have stopped using it when the bubble backs came out or when the C4's arrived. Any of those opportunities would have given it a particular significance now. Instead GM stopped using it for no apparent reason and we have a situation where guys debate whether certain C3 years are actually Stingrays. It's like arguing whether a `73 should be classed as a chrome or rubber bumper model. There is no correct answer because it's a matter of opinion.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,325
Likes: 1,589
From: Western NY
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 12,146
Likes: 2,038
From: Easton, PA
St. Jude Donor '10
I love this discussion, and thank you for raising it up for open and honest dialog. I suspect I will be getting that question a lot when I reveal the 72 road race replica in 2016.
Ask me if it is a Corvette and I most likely will say "yes".
Ask me if it is a Stingray and I will most likely say "it was".
Ask me if it is a Mako and I will say "no".
Ask me if it is fast and I will say "VERY".
I am still looking for a name for it, and although one forum member offered "Hideous" I think I will keep looking.
Bottom line, call them what you want and enjoy the heck out of them while you can.
David
Ask me if it is a Corvette and I most likely will say "yes".
Ask me if it is a Stingray and I will most likely say "it was".
Ask me if it is a Mako and I will say "no".
Ask me if it is fast and I will say "VERY".
I am still looking for a name for it, and although one forum member offered "Hideous" I think I will keep looking.
Bottom line, call them what you want and enjoy the heck out of them while you can.
David
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,116
From: Crossville TN
Position #1: The car is a Stingray ONLY if it has a Stingray logo planted on the car.
Position #2: The design of the car is called the Stingray-type design. Therefore, all C3's are "Stingrays".
Position 3 thru infinity: All the other interpretations of the term Stingray.
P.S. The C2's were labeled 'Sting Ray'; the '68 car had NO name logo planted on it; the '69-'77 had the 'Stingray' logo on the car. So, does it make sense that the '68...which is almost identical to the '69-'72 cars...should NOT be considered a Stingray????
Bottom Line: You can call any C3 a Stingray if you want. Tell anyone who takes issue with you to 'take a leap'.
Position #2: The design of the car is called the Stingray-type design. Therefore, all C3's are "Stingrays".
Position 3 thru infinity: All the other interpretations of the term Stingray.
P.S. The C2's were labeled 'Sting Ray'; the '68 car had NO name logo planted on it; the '69-'77 had the 'Stingray' logo on the car. So, does it make sense that the '68...which is almost identical to the '69-'72 cars...should NOT be considered a Stingray????
Bottom Line: You can call any C3 a Stingray if you want. Tell anyone who takes issue with you to 'take a leap'.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 1,094
Likes: 16
From: Los Angeles California
1976 Last year for stingray...
any who I don't really care if the call it a stingray for a the 3rd gen cars if they wanna call it a stingray so be it. Ima put those c7 tadpoles and remove stingray badges once I paint my car so will it be a c7 stingray... nope it will be a c3 stingray with tadpoles on it that look SWEET. and 68 shouldn't be considered stingray if the 77-up aren't "considered" "stingrays" now for c2 I always pause between the two words just make it clear but I prefer the c and what ever gen they are better.
any who I don't really care if the call it a stingray for a the 3rd gen cars if they wanna call it a stingray so be it. Ima put those c7 tadpoles and remove stingray badges once I paint my car so will it be a c7 stingray... nope it will be a c3 stingray with tadpoles on it that look SWEET. and 68 shouldn't be considered stingray if the 77-up aren't "considered" "stingrays" now for c2 I always pause between the two words just make it clear but I prefer the c and what ever gen they are better.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 430
Likes: 31
From: Ontario
Good summary. #1 is my position but I'm just saying if somebody puts Stingray badges on a 68 or a 77 and and up then they aren't 'factory'. I couldn't personally care less if they're not on a Vette that originally came with them or they're on one that didn't. I put them in the same category as stripe packages. I don't like a lot of clutter. I ordered a brand new 1973 340 4 gear Duster when I was 18 and asked the dealer to omit the white stripes and 340 labels on the sides of the car. He said he couldn't do that and I was glad a couple years later when I sold it because the stripe package mattered to the potential buyers. It didn't to me though.