Will Classic Corvette Stingray return for 21st Century?

November 2, 5:38 PMClassic Autos ExaminerJim Cherry

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Chevrolet annouced a refresehed version of the Stingray concept soon. Production classsic to follow?

Introduced in 1963 as the most dramatic make-over of the Corvette ever, the first Stingray caused a sensation with its gorgeous new Bill Mitchell bodywork and independently sprung chassis. The automotive press hailed it as far and away the best Corvette yet. When Corvette's new "Mako Shark" derived body arrived in 1968, the "Sting Ray" name remained in use until 1977, though it was changed to a single word in 1969.

A swoopy purple Sting Ray III concept car debuted to great acclaim in 1992 but soon disappeared without a trace. Production Corvettes took on blandly aerodynamic styling that functioned well but lacked the drama that marked earlier models like the Sting Rays. 

For the Transformers II movie, General Motors trotted out another Sting Ray concept car. This is one car that does not lack for drama. Taking a cue from the styling of the new Camaro, the Sting Ray concept is a mean, menacing, chopped-top coupe that looks all business. GM has announced that a re-worked version of this concept is soon to be revealed. The fact that they're continuing to refine this concept could indicate that we'll see a Sting Ray as the next generation Corvette.

Will GM produce a production version of this car? Though the current Corvette is a budget supercar with performance to challenge Europe's best, its design is forgettably functional and lacks the drama that made earlier models compelling objects of desire. One can only hope Chevy injects some serious styling mojo into its next iteration. In that regard, it's interesting that the concept shows a split rear window borrowed directly from the classic 1963 Sting Ray coupe.

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