How many 1963 corvettes were made

First year for hidden headlights. Stainless steel trim can be found ahead of the vend on the side roof panels. A roller-type catch was used for the gas filler door. Later production models used nylon slide catches. Headlight buckets were composed of fiberglass but later models were equipped with metal headlight buckets New, taller outside rearview mirror with a shorter base was introduced during the middle of production.

This was the first year that the knockoff wheel was offered as an option. Due to aluminum porosity problems, the sale of a Corvette equipped with the knockoff wheels has not been confirmed, however the wheels were sold over the counter.

Storage space increased. Instrument panel gauges were round and black faced. Dash consisted of a new "twin-cowl" design. New hinged deck emblem filler cap.

Mechanical: The old X-brace frame was replaced by a new ladder-type design. New independent rear suspension. Hydraulic-assist steering was now available. Let's start off with the chrome parts, which are sober but they well-highlight the front of the car, the sides, and the windows.

The rear of the car is one-of-a-kind. Particularly for its split window design, but also for that unique sort of "boat tail" it has. The muscular look is slightly accentuated by the rear wheel arches, the rear lights, well encapsulated in chrome frames, look like those of an aircraft, and the bumper, which recalls the style of the front one, gives the car a balanced but sharp look.

Corvettes were ordered with power brakes and power steering — both of which were features that were absent in the earlier Corvette. Items such as air conditioning and leather upholstery were only ordered on a few hundred units.

However, almost 18, of the Sting Rays came with a manual four-speed gearbox, which equated to about 4 out of every 5 Corvettes built that year. Although there were some interesting amenities offered by Chevrolet, serious drivers would prefer spartan interiors and features coupled with the maximum power available. The Chevrolet Corvette came equipped with a cu in engine, a 5.

The most powerful engine was the Rochester fuel-injected engine, which produced hp. Chevy's small-block V8 has been rated as the most consistent and well-made component of classic Corvettes.

The year model was noted to have an edge over past models in both traction and handling because the new independent rear suspension reduced wheel spin compared to the live-axle cars. The 4-speed fuel injected version could do the 0—60 mph sprint in 5. Unlike carburetors, a fuel injection system is composed of a complex set of electronics and sensors. In carbureted systems, the fuel gets drawn from the tank, while in a fuel injected system it uses a fuel pump installed inside the tank for a fine-tuned control over fuel flow.

It is true that carburetors' systems can be precise and easy to maintain, but without any doubts, fuel injection marked the way to fuel the engine of the future. In fact, they are more accurate and could grant an increase of hp to the engine. The '63 Corvette included new twin headlights that are hidden behind an electrically operating cover. This added to the aerodynamics of the car when the headlights were not in use.

The fastback coupe was also new, it included a fixed roof with a large back window that was split down the center with a body colored bar.

This bar was very controversial and was removed in so it makes the '63 very unique. The car now had recessed non-functional hood louvers. Front fender louvers and ribbed rocker panels replaced the coves on the earlier models. The coupe also has louvers at the back of the side windows. The dash has circular gauges with black faces and the earlier models have storage space under the seats. Air conditioning, power brakes and power assisted steering were now available options.

In the middle of the production year the 4-speed manual transmission was transitioned to a four-speed manufactured at the Muncie, Indiana plant, before that the transmission was built by Borg-Warner.