The iconic 1963 Corvette Sting Ray "Split Window Coupe" is a GM milestone that many believe is the most significant Corvette introduced since the original was unveiled a decade earlier. Sleek and aerodynamic, the 1963 Sting Ray signaled an entirely new era in American automotive design, and delivered performance levels of a world-class sports car.

Harley Earl, GM's styling wizard from the 1930s to 1950s, retired in 1958. He was succeeded as Vice President for the Design and Styling Department by Bill Mitchell, under whose leadership GM design became less ornamental and more aerodynamic. The direct decedent of Bill Mitchell's 1958 Sting Ray Race Car, the 1963 Corvette Sting Ray was the product of three automotive geniuses; Bill Mitchell himself, and two automotive legends, Larry Shinoda and Zora Arkus-Duntov. Fast, nimble and beautifully sculpted, the 1963 Corvette Sting Ray was a huge success and demand for the new Chevrolet grew rapidly. The distinctive divided rear window is only found on the 1963 Coupes, an important design element championed by Bill Mitchell. The split rear window allows a center ridge to flow gracefully from the windshield down the length of the roof uninterrupted to the sharply cut rear. But, as any woman in high heels will tell you, style is not always practical. The "split window" was replaced one year later with a single rear window to improve visibility and in doing so made the 1963 Corvette Coupe instantly recognizable to car enthusiasts around the world. One other effect was unintentional, the simple change to later Corvettes turned the 1963 Corvette Coupe into one of the most desirable collector cars ever built.

Automobile Magazine recently selected the 1963 Corvette Coupe as one of "The 25 Most Beautiful Cars Ever." Referring to its timeless appeal, Automobile Magazine called the 1963 Corvette Coupe "the Cindy Crawford of sports cars." More recognition came from The Washington Post, who described the 1963 Corvette Coupe as "the height of American industrial styling."

The Corvette Sting Ray shown in this gallery was painstaking restored to like-new condition. It recently received the prestigious NCRS Duntov Mark of Excellence, named after Zora Arkus-Duntov who guided Corvette designs into a race winning competitor. Saddle Tan, as is seen on this Corvette is an unusual color, it was new in 1963 and only offered for 2 years.