The Corvette concept car that inspired the C2 Sting Ray was the Mako Shark.
The XP-755 Mako Shark was designed by Larry Shinoda under the direction of GM design chief Bill Mitchell. Developed in the early 1960s, its pointed nose, tapered form and shark-like surfacing helped establish the visual language associated with the second-generation Corvette. The concept made its public debut at the 1962 New York Coliseum automobile show.
The production C2 Corvette arrived for the 1963 model year with a new “Sting Ray” name, a sharper body and, on the coupe, the famous split rear window. The Mako Shark was not the only influence: Mitchell’s 1959 Stingray Racer, known as XP-87, and the earlier Q Corvette also contributed to the C2’s design. That history explains why XP-87 is a tempting alternative.
The original Mako Shark was later renamed Mako Shark I after Chevrolet created the Mako Shark II in 1965. The second concept influenced the third-generation Corvette introduced for 1968, so the two Mako Sharks are often mistakenly treated as one car.