1963 Chevrolet Corvette C2 'Split-Window' Coupe

• Supplied new by Harry Mann, Los Angeles CA, the largest Chevrolet dealer on the West Coast at the time
• Finished in rare Saddle Tan Metallic with a tan interior
• Desirable factory options include uprated 300bhp, L75, 327ci engine, Powerglide transmission and electric windows
• Restored to NCRS standards achieving a ‘Flight’ award in recognition
• Featured on the cover of and in 'Classic American' magazine and also in 'The Art of the Classic Sports Car' with photography by James Mann
• The appropriate registration number VET 661 will remain with the vehicle

Now in its eighth generation, the Corvette began life in 1953 with the C1 - a model that inspired a generation of young Americans and gave the Ford Empire a nine-year headache. However it was the C2, the immortal Sting Ray produced between 1963 and 1967, that really set Chevrolet's cash registers ringing and left us with the most desired and collectable Corvette to date. Designed by Larry Shinoda under the guidance of the legendary Bill Mitchell, influences on the Sting Ray's unique and unforgettable form are said to include: the E-type Jaguar, a Mako shark once caught by Mitchell, the 'Q Corvette' concept car of 1957 and the 'Mitchell Sting Ray' design exercise.

By the autumn of 1959, elements of the two unique Corvettes had been built into XP-720 - the design programme that led to the production of the Sting Ray as we know it. The aims for the new car included: improved passenger accommodation, more luggage space and superior ride and handling and with this, in mind, a new ladder chassis was created for the car by Zora Arkus-Duntov, the most important element of which was the move away from a live axle to independent rear suspension, courtesy of lateral struts, radius rods and transverse leaf spring. The independent front suspension was much as before, as were the recirculating ball steering and there were a number of drive train options available including four small block V8 engines, three transmissions, and six-axle ratios. One major innovation was that the C2 was available in both Convertible and Fastback Coupé form. The latter initially featured a dramatic split rear window, but this was discontinued a year into production and consequently, the 'split-window' cars are now by far the most desirable.

The Corvette has since become widely known as "America's Sports Car" and has become synonymous with freedom and adventure, ultimately becoming both "the most successful concept car in history and the most popular sports car in history"

Built in St. Louis Missouri, this very rare and desirable 'Split-Window' C2 is the Holy Grail of Corvettes with production only running for one year. Having had just four owners in total, this ‘black plate’ Sting Ray spent its entire life in California before being exported to the UK in September 2014. Prior to that, the car’s second owner had placed it into dry storage in 1980 where it remained until 2011 emerging ripe for restoration with a complete and total chassis-up rebuild taking place over the next two years. Restored to original specification and NCRS ( National Corvette Restorers Society) standard, this matching numbers example finished in Saddle Tan with a Tan interior is one of just 1,505 Powerglide examples to roll off the production line and remains stunning throughout with an attention to detail that is rarely achieved, even the radiator has the correct year date stamp! Factory options include the uprated 300bhp L75 engine, Powerglide 2-speed auto transmission and electric windows.

Not only chosen as a cover car for ‘Classic American’ in 2017 with full feature, this outstanding Sting Ray, wearing the appropriate registration number VET 661, is also included in the coffee table book ‘The Art of the Classic Sports Car’ with photography by James Mann, copies of both are included within the comprehensive history file that accompanies the car.

If you have been searching for what must be one of, if not the, best 1963 Split Window coupes, certainly in the UK then look no further! We strongly encourage and welcome your earliest inspection to fully appreciate the lengths taken to produce this outstanding example of automotive history that retains a cult following to this very day.