Sting Ray Stigma
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,106
Likes: 168
2018 C2 of Year Finalist
Does it matter? The 68 sales brochure is full of references to the new '68 Sting Ray yet the name doesn't appear on the body. They used the "Sting Ray" term as opposed to "Stingray." I guess if Chevy thought it was a Sting Ray it was but it doesn't say it anywhere on the car. I just refer to mine as a Corvette. This has been argued about forever it seems.
Administrator
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 53,971
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From: About 1100 miles from where I call home.
Most Corvette people know there's no physical/performance difference to the non Stingrays of 77 and later. Its just another name for a certain series of cars arbitrarily decided by the manufacturer. Ended in '76, started up again in the C7, again, not to denote anything. Just marketing.
I've just never understood why people want to argue so hard about the later cars being "Stingrays." Ive had several 77-82 cars, and I'd never call them Stingrays. Theyre not. Who cares? Doesnt affect the value any. I'd rather have a '77 than a '76 for that matter.
I've just never understood why people want to argue so hard about the later cars being "Stingrays." Ive had several 77-82 cars, and I'd never call them Stingrays. Theyre not. Who cares? Doesnt affect the value any. I'd rather have a '77 than a '76 for that matter.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 11,608
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From: Eustis ( Area 51 Bat Cave ) Fl
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,626
Likes: 140
From: Kanuckistan
2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Being somewhat of an admirer of aquatic life..I often wondered why Chevy would use the sting ray as the hallmark name for America's sports car.The stingray resides in shallow water often covered in sand..Indolent..
When on the move it swims-floats in a leisurely fashion.YES it can be lethal as the recent unexpected death of the crocodile man demonstrated..but it sure isn't FAST in terms of critters..Moray might have been better..or Mongoose..seein' as how the Cobra was another memorable muscle car..Jim
When on the move it swims-floats in a leisurely fashion.YES it can be lethal as the recent unexpected death of the crocodile man demonstrated..but it sure isn't FAST in terms of critters..Moray might have been better..or Mongoose..seein' as how the Cobra was another memorable muscle car..Jim
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 3,033
Likes: 503
From: myrtle beach sc
Army
I feel that the Sting Ray name should have stayed with the 63-67 Corvettes, to make them special. We called them mid-years back then. I think the public kept on calling ALL new Corvettes Sting Rays, so GM gave up and slapped the name on the fender in 69. I have owned a 68 coupe for 44 years now, and we never called our cars Sting Rays or StingRays.
They were CORVETTES! Lou.
They were CORVETTES! Lou.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 781
Likes: 113
Growing up in a small farming town and graduating HS in '66, I never saw a CORVETTE of any sort.
WE listened to songs talking about the Sting Ray.
"Dead Man's Curve .."...."Shut Down'..but no one owned or drove a Corvette back then and there..I'm not sure at all when there Was a fuel injected Sting Ray from Shut Down..
We saw a few older muscle cars and hot rods..an occasional GTO or hot Dodge .. Jim
WE listened to songs talking about the Sting Ray.
"Dead Man's Curve .."...."Shut Down'..but no one owned or drove a Corvette back then and there..I'm not sure at all when there Was a fuel injected Sting Ray from Shut Down..
We saw a few older muscle cars and hot rods..an occasional GTO or hot Dodge .. Jim
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 6,304
Likes: 278
From: Ocala FL
Stigma? How is the use of "Sting Ray" or "Stingray" a stigma?
This question of why, what is, and what isn't has been kicked around for 40 years. Like previously mentioned, the sales literature all listed the 1968 Corvette Sting Ray as the car.
In the '60s, Chevrolet ran cars with sub-model (series) names. Often they weren't needed when cars had only one series, but had them in keeping with the rest of the cars.
Example
Chevy II 100
Chevy II 300
Chevy II Nova
This question of why, what is, and what isn't has been kicked around for 40 years. Like previously mentioned, the sales literature all listed the 1968 Corvette Sting Ray as the car.
In the '60s, Chevrolet ran cars with sub-model (series) names. Often they weren't needed when cars had only one series, but had them in keeping with the rest of the cars.
Example
Chevy II 100
Chevy II 300
Chevy II Nova
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 781
Likes: 113
Stigma? How is the use of "Sting Ray" or "Stingray" a stigma?
This question of why, what is, and what isn't has been kicked around for 40 years. Like previously mentioned, the sales literature all listed the 1968 Corvette Sting Ray as the car.
In the '60s, Chevrolet ran cars with sub-model (series) names. Often they weren't needed when cars had only one series, but had them in keeping with the rest of the cars.
Example
Chevy II 100
Chevy II 300
Chevy II Nova
This question of why, what is, and what isn't has been kicked around for 40 years. Like previously mentioned, the sales literature all listed the 1968 Corvette Sting Ray as the car.
In the '60s, Chevrolet ran cars with sub-model (series) names. Often they weren't needed when cars had only one series, but had them in keeping with the rest of the cars.
Example
Chevy II 100
Chevy II 300
Chevy II Nova
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Instructor
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 126
Likes: 11
From: Tulsa
I never even thought of the Stingray name or even cared about it. Now, the first time owing a Corvette, a '69, it comes up frequently at the gas stations. Even at my 13yo sons school, a couple of his class mates came up & one asked if it was a Stingray & I said "yes" then he proceeds to tell the other kid, "I told you" then he pointed at the emblem on the fender & said "see, right there".
Last edited by grancuda; Jun 29, 2016 at 01:46 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 934
Likes: 20
From: Indianapolis Indiana
We have cars with a typo in them! :P
It probably should be 2 capitalized words.
I'm going to go home and check mine out more closely.
jim
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 11,614
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From: No Where USA
I think people have to much time on their hands to be worried about this. Who cares. If someone tells me my 80 is a nice stingray I say thank you . I am not going to waste my time explaining something to them that they really don't care about. I am not a Corvette historian, if they are interested get a book and read up on Corvettes.
We drive C3 Corvettes which are the best looking of the generations. The word stingray on the side does not make it any better.
We drive C3 Corvettes which are the best looking of the generations. The word stingray on the side does not make it any better.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
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From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 19,294
Likes: 2,753
From: Charlotte NC
Most Corvette people know there's no physical/performance difference to the non Stingrays of 77 and later. Its just another name for a certain series of cars arbitrarily decided by the manufacturer. Ended in '76, started up again in the C7, again, not to denote anything. Just marketing.
with that. Marketing departments KNOW what people need to make it sell.I've just never understood why people want to argue so hard about the later cars being "Stingrays." Ive had several 77-82 cars, and I'd never call them Stingrays. Theyre not. Who cares? Doesnt affect the value any. I'd rather have a '77 than a '76 for that matter.
...It is all in the name and how people want to make something out of it when there really was nothing really different to distinguish the differences in the options.And as for why it was dropped off the car and cross flags used....I would think that the tooling and costs of making a Stingray emblem would by that point have long since paid for the tooling of the molds..and cost very little to produce.
Who knows? All I know is that I do not use 'Stingray' to describe a Corvette.... unless I am ordering a 'Stingray' emblem....But I will use 'Grand Sport' if it is a Grand Sport...or a 'ZR-1' if it is a ZR-1....or 'Z06' if it is a Z06.
DUB
