The Corvette Stingray was first introduced in 1963 as the second-generation Corvette, known as the C2.
The 1963 model marked a major redesign after a decade of the original Corvette shape. Its styling was developed under GM design chief Bill Mitchell, with Larry Shinoda playing a central role. Designers drew inspiration from the 1959 Sting Ray racing car, the Jaguar E-Type, and the appearance of a mako shark Mitchell had seen while deep-sea fishing.
The 1963 Corvette was notable for being offered as both a convertible and, for the first time, a production Corvette coupe. The coupe had a distinctive split rear window, a feature used only for the 1963 model year because of visibility and safety concerns. The car retained fiberglass body panels and used a small-block V8. The C2 generation continued through 1967, while the later C3 generation arrived for 1968.