The 1963 fuel-injected Corvette produced 360 horsepower.
For 1963, Chevrolet offered the second-generation Corvette with a 327-cubic-inch small-block V8 in several output levels. The top version was the Rochester fuel-injected engine, rated at 360 horsepower. That made it the most powerful engine available in the debut year of the C2 Sting Ray.
The fuel-injection system was an important part of Corvette’s performance identity. Instead of relying on a conventional carburetor, Rochester’s mechanical system delivered fuel directly into the intake stream, helping the engine breathe and produce more power. The fuel-injected option cost extra and was aimed at buyers seeking maximum performance.
The number is easy to confuse with other 1963 ratings. The standard 327 produced 250 horsepower, while optional carbureted versions were rated at 300 and 340 horsepower. The 360-horsepower figure belongs specifically to the 1963 327 small-block fuel-injected V8; later fuel-injected C2 engines received different ratings, including 375 horsepower for 1964–1965.
This engine appeared during the C2’s first model year, when the new independent rear suspension and Sting Ray body made the Corvette both quicker and more capable in corners.