CVC March 2013.pdf

two words the first time around, the original
Sting Ray debuted in 1963 along with a new
coupe body and independent rear
suspension. These second-generation
Corvettes, built through 1967, are
commonly called “mid-year” models today.
Some enthusiasts call third-generation
models “Sharks” in honor of the 1965 Mako
Shark II showcar that predicted the
Corvette’s 1968 restyle. Still the longest of
the seven model runs, this generation
remained on the market up through 1982,
with Corvette production moving east from
Missouri to its present location in Bowling
Green, Ky., the previous year. Chevrolet
officials then opted to skip the 1983 model
designation due to delays encountered
during development of the fourth-generation
Corvette, which debuted as a 1984 model
then retired in 1996.
The radically redesigned fifth generation
was initially slated to make the scene in
August 1992, just in time to help mark the
Corvette’s 40th birthday. But stumbling
blocks again took their toll, pushing the big
date back to 1997.
It was during this protracted crawl to market
that the Corvette’s generational “code
names” came into vogue, and once “C5”
became popularized it logically followed to
retroactively identify the preceding groups
accordingly. The C6 then appeared in 2005
to do its predecessor one better.
Now we await the C7 Sting Ray. If only we
humans could look even half as good in our
60s.