Lot 37
1963 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray RestoMod Roadster
OFFERED WITHOUT RESERVE

This lot is available for online bidding at Proxibid.com, LiveAuctioneers.com and Invaluable.com

Corvette LS3 V-8 engine, 383 HP, Borg-Warner five-speed transmission, custom chassis, fully adjustable independent coilover suspension, four-wheel power disc brakes; wheelbase: 98”


One of the most iconic American sportscars ever produced, the inaugural 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray changed the brand forever and launched Corvette into the stratosphere. And speaking of outer space, the aerodynamic new body style captured the space race era like no other car being built in the USA at that time and the result was an instant classic.

A love child of Bill Mitchell’s 1957 SS racer the Chevy’s XP-720 prototype, the new model featured a sharp descent on a long dramatic nose with a subtle windsplit and dual vents, a striking chrome embrace ran around the base of the car as well as sleek, hidden quad headlights that would become a staple of Corvette styling for the next 42 years. Crafted by Bill Mitchell, Larry Shinoda, and Peter Brock, the car was an instant success in the looks department. The first Corvette to ever endure a wind tunnel, the groundbreaking styling wasn’t the only thing this model had going for it. With an engineering team led by Zora Arkus-Duntov, the aerodynamic 1963 Corvette garnered the reputation of a true sports car and could at last compete with its European counterparts. It was equipped with four-wheel independent suspension, new chassis, and four-wheel disc brakes.

When conceived, the desire for this particular Sting Ray was to retain every ounce of the legendary beauty’s style but deliver on all the creature comforts and performance the antique car was missing under the hood. This tough balance was actually achieved with great success through Gearheads Garage in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. In the cockpit, one must look incredibly close to spot modern upgrades while, under the hood, this car surpasses performance that the visionaries of Sting Ray could only have dreamed of. Every enhancement has been done with elegance and respect to the spirit of historic detail.

During a meticulous restoration that included a period-correct Riverside Red paint job, dazzling renewal of the brightwork, a classic black canvas top and expert reproductions of the classic 17-inch ‘knock-off’ wheels, the body of this singular example was returned to its former glory and then some. Beneath the hood was where the real magic happened; here the car was outfitted with Chevy’s LS3 V-8 engine as well as a customized and modern chassis, and a new Borg-Warner five-speed manual transmission. If you ever feel like burning rubber, the stainless-steel exhaust system boasts solenoid-actuated dump valves, which is controlled by a switch concealed in the ashtray. The chassis was designed to support Corvette’s C4 brakes, adjustable QA-1 coilover dampers, cross-drilled and vented rotors as well as stainless, braided brake hoses. The result is lighter and stiffer than the original with an improved center of gravity, assisted by lowered mountings for the GM Performance LS3. At 383 horsepower and 386 ft-lbs of torque, this brilliantly reimagined Sting Ray is fast enough to blow your hair back as well as the competitions’, but it also has a silky, smooth ride unlike the teeth-rattling experience of the original.

The cockpit is draped in perfectly tailored red leather and the lovely loop carpeting just screams high-end, mid-century Chevrolet. Attention to detail is readily apparent in the interior where it requires close examination to find the elegantly retro modernizations amidst the perfectly period reupholstery. Modern upgrades include a GM tilt column that is the base for the classic, wood-trimmed steering wheel while custom Auto Meter circular gauges look like they could be the originals if it weren’t for the backlit analog mileage numerals. The original clock is perched above a stylized new radio and Vintage Air air-conditioning in the center stack and the modern transmission is controlled by the original chrome-plated T-handle on the center console.

Undoubtedly among the most iconic American sportscars to ever slap pavement, the 1963 Corvette Sting Ray is simply inimitable, and this particular car is a rare example of a restomod that truly did everything right. Unlike efforts that try to reinvent the wheel aesthetically and get it all wrong, this car has retained the magic – the purity, spirit, and allure of Bill Mitchell’s legendary Sting Ray – while delivering a massive leap in performance and handling. The car achieves what most set out to accomplish in a restomod, but rarely attain. Guaranteed to delight in any venue and destined to outperform the competition on a straightaway, this unique 1963 Sting Ray is just so easy to love and enjoy.