Stingray/Shark??
Pro
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 708
Likes: 21
From: Montrose CA
Re: Stingray/Shark?? (Terry McIntyre)
I agree that the stingray ended on the '76 model... The question I always had was how the nickname "Shark" came about... I see the tie to the Mako Shark concept car... Too bad Chevy did not choose to call the car shark when they switched in '68 to the new body style.
I can "see" the shark in my '76 model... the gil, the slope of the head across the front fender, the bite of the front bumper, the sharp angle of the rear window is supposed to be the back of the dorsal fin, and the angle of the rear spoiler of the pre '73 cars is the tail... perhaps I read too much into it but I really never was able to view the Corvette as a "Stingray" (as in the flat fish that lays on the bottom with its long tail).
I can "see" the shark in my '76 model... the gil, the slope of the head across the front fender, the bite of the front bumper, the sharp angle of the rear window is supposed to be the back of the dorsal fin, and the angle of the rear spoiler of the pre '73 cars is the tail... perhaps I read too much into it but I really never was able to view the Corvette as a "Stingray" (as in the flat fish that lays on the bottom with its long tail).
Instructor
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 220
Likes: 1
Re: Stingray/Shark?? (Terry McIntyre)
Hey Terry! I have read in several car books that officially the 76 ws the last year with the StingRay badge but the 77 was the last year for the style. I'm a purist at heart and to me the Stingray was the 63 Split window coupe and that was the way Chevy advertised it. 63-67 coupes are Stingrays to me and always have been; I never considered the coonverts of those years Stingrays but I think they started adopted the badge after 63. so what's going on in the thriving metropolis of Dover.
Bill :chevy
Bill :chevy
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 15,156
Likes: 477
From: NM
Re: Stingray/Shark?? (majbillgsd)
63-67 coupes are Stingrays to me and always have been; I never considered the coonverts of those years Stingrays but I think they started adopted the badge after 63.
tom...
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,051
Likes: 0
From: Inside every color vette there is a blue one trying to come out!
Re: Stingray/Shark?? (Tom73)
Just my 2 cents but I think that the 68-77 "sharks"/Stingrays are the coolest, bestest, baddest looking of the bunch...that's why I got one, and that's why I constantly get looks and comments from drivers yelling out the question of "what year is that?" when I am driving down the road. :yesnod: :cool: :yesnod:
Instructor
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 220
Likes: 1
Re: Stingray/Shark?? (Skruball73)
Check, Tom. I remember Chevy really putting the emphasis on the coupe in all their early advertising of Sting Rays; along with the shape of the coupe and that advertising I suppose is the main reason I look at the coupes as Sing Rays although the verts were as well.
forget who it was that said they liked the shark style of 68-77' I know what you mean I get a lot of the same comments about the looks of the car and also what year with my 77!
Bill :cool: :chevy
forget who it was that said they liked the shark style of 68-77' I know what you mean I get a lot of the same comments about the looks of the car and also what year with my 77!
Bill :cool: :chevy
Instructor
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 220
Likes: 1
Re: Stingray/Shark?? (Stingy74)
Terry, I like what John Hall did with his custom in painting StingRay on the butt end! Since you are from Dover just get someone with a good air brush and paint on the butt end " Sting Neck" -- you will definitely be unique and different! Then when people see your license plate and they see your "Sting Neck" on the car they'll just say "Hot damn, that sunny beach mus be from Dovah! :lol: :cheers: :seeya :chevy
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,169
Likes: 0
From: SASKATOON SK
Re: Stingray/Shark?? (Stingy74)
I think they stopped putting the Stingray (one word) badges on c3 cars in 76 but one of the old timers in our club said his 77 came brand new with the badges. I've always considered the flat back windows cars "Stingray's". In 78 they changed to the different round window.
when are you coming down again? soon i hope!
Rod :cool:
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 11,520
Likes: 13
From: CORVETTE 77 385 C.I. TEXAS
Re: Stingray/Shark??
Some Corvette history is helpful to ID a Stingray.
In 63, the new smaller body & chassis w/ I.R.S. was called a Sting Ray. When the body was redone in 68 at first called Sting Ray & then used Stingray emblems in 69. Emblems are for identification & some can not identify w/o the emblem. Seems some place far more importance on emblems than the factory ever did. The factory wanted to change the new car so that it could be identified as new at the time. Stingray is not an option or emblem, some are unmarked.
Chassis essentially same from 63-77, body essentially same 68-77 & interior essentially same from 68-77.
There can be no question that 68-77 are Stingrays.
Can be debated on 78-82. Note that the 78- rear glass is reminiscent of the 63-67 coupe & many who prefer the C2 coupe like the 78- glass. Did a Photoshop topic where someone modified it slightly to look more like C2 coupe rear glass.
In 63, the new smaller body & chassis w/ I.R.S. was called a Sting Ray. When the body was redone in 68 at first called Sting Ray & then used Stingray emblems in 69. Emblems are for identification & some can not identify w/o the emblem. Seems some place far more importance on emblems than the factory ever did. The factory wanted to change the new car so that it could be identified as new at the time. Stingray is not an option or emblem, some are unmarked.
Chassis essentially same from 63-77, body essentially same 68-77 & interior essentially same from 68-77.
There can be no question that 68-77 are Stingrays.
Can be debated on 78-82. Note that the 78- rear glass is reminiscent of the 63-67 coupe & many who prefer the C2 coupe like the 78- glass. Did a Photoshop topic where someone modified it slightly to look more like C2 coupe rear glass.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 2,826
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From: Why Drive When you can ride
Re: Stingray/Shark?? (Markm10431)
Don't forget that the C-2s are the ORIGINAL Stingrays. and according to every book I have seen, the name "stingray" was banished in 77
