Franklin Mint has created a model that is worthy of any collector regardless of their budget. The 1963 Corvette Sting Ray with fuel injection is this car. The designers at Franklin Mint decided it was time to make a truly authentic Corvette model and put a fiberglass body on this baby. The first time you pick it up you realize how special this car is.
The 1963 Corvette Sting Ray offered so many new things it is hard to know where to start. The most obvious place for the Vette enthusiast was the radical new split window design. This design was used to enhance the roof line and carry that line all the way to the rear of the car. . In this model it doers just that. It brings the roof line from the wind shield to the back of the trunk. The serious sight limitations of the split window made this a one year design option for Corvette.
The faux vent grilles gave a nice look to the hood but were only there as a decoration. It breaks up the hood nicely and provides the effect of additional cooling for the engine. The reality is that this was just some nice looking decoration the engineers and designers dreamed up.
The 327 engine remained a staple in this car and once again Franklin Mint provides amazing detail for so small a scale car. The hoses are lined up perfectly and the intake matches up perfectly as well. It is always nice to see how clean and spacious the old engine compartments were on these cars. If one were to look under the hood today there is barely enough room to get your hand in to loosen up the oil fill let alone try and change the spark plugs. The fuel injected 327 boasted a robust 360 H.P. which was much higher than the standard 250 H.P. offered on the base models with the same engine.
The undercarriage of the 1963 Corvette also contained several breakthroughs although none more important to drivers than the first independent rear suspension. The IRS in this car smoothed out the bumps and allowed the driver to feel the road much better on both the road and the race track. The Independent Rear suspension on this model is fully functional and contains a lot of detail as well. The designers made sure they did not leave out any piece on this Corvette.
The interior of this car is gorgeous. The carpeting is throughout the whole interior and the seats have that leathery feel to them as well. The dash is set up like the inside of an airplane which lends itself to the speed and power of this sports car. The passenger grab bar is included in this model and fits nicely as part of this interior. The gauges are small but readable and the shifter is well positioned as well.
As you look through one of the rear windows the original jack instructions are clearly visible. This was a nice detail added by the folks at Franklin Mint and makes the owner feel like he just picked up the car from the factory floor. The flip up headlights are included in this model as well. They turn up nicely and the spacing around the hood is excellent as well.
This car is a must buy for any Corvette collector. The split window design makes this a one of a kind collector item to begin with let alone all the other amenities included in this model. Franklin Mint has certainly shown they can produce top end models and the 1963 Corvette Sting Ray is no exception. I highly recommend this car and look forward to adding it to my collection.
1963 Corvette Sting-Ray History
1963 marked the debut of the all-new Sting-Ray--the only year for the now coveted "split-window" body style and the first time Chevy offered the Z06 model. Technically called the Special Performance Package, it could be ordered as Regular Production Option number Z06. The idea was to assist Corvette race teams by homologating the hi-po hardware at the same time. Some of the changes were larger, dual-circuit power brakes with sintered metallic linings, cooling fins for those Alfin front drums, a 36-gallon fuel tank, knock-off alloy wheels, and a 360-horse version of the fuel-injected 327 V-8. The Z06 was theoretically available only in the coupe body style, but one documented Z06-equipped roadster snuck down the production line. One of the first Z06s off that line won a road race at Riverside International Raceway in late 1962. RPO Z06s cost $1818, plus another $650 or so in required options. Just 199 were built, and they're among the most interesting--and rare--of all Corvettes.
