Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Split Window specs

Motortrend May 1963:
0-60 mph - 5.8 sec
1/4 mile - 14.5@102 mph

www.motortrend.com/features/1963-chevrolet-corvette-fuel-injected-coupe-unmatched-ancestors/amp/

AMuS 15/1963:
0-100 6.6 sec
0-160 15.8 sec
0-200 26.6 sec
Top speed - 229 kph

1963 was the only year the Chevrolet Corvette Stingray came with a split rear windshield. I once read that the top speed is 153 MPH.

This is one of the most coveted of the classic Corvettes

Contemporary testing shows that the 1964 Corvette with the L84 engine did 0-60 mph in 6.3 seconds, 0-100 mph in 14.7 seconds, and had a top speed of 138 mph. Very impressive for 1964! Also very impressive for a car with only a four speed manual transmission. With a somewhat high revving V8, but only four speeds spread over 138 mph, it is certain that the acceleration would have benefited from a five or six speed transmission.

It is certainly possible for Road and Track to be right that it was underrated, but the insurance industry had not started penalizing high horsepower ratings yet in 1963. Further, GM tended to ignore the insurance issue, and kept on quoting high horsepower numbers in order to get enthusiast sales throughout the remaining "gross horsepower era" (ie. until 1972 and the introduction of net ratings). Having said all that, the following year 1964 saw the upgrading of the fuel injected 327 cu. in. as a code L84 V8 and quoted it at 375 hp @ 6200 rpm and 350 ft. lbs. of torque @ 4400 rpm.

The actual power of this engine , near to 385 Gross SAE hp , and 310 NET hp , I read this in Road and Track article in mid 80 . This car tested by British Important Motor mag and The 1963 Sport Auto , she's much faster than 1963 Ferrari 250 GT Lusso and E-Type 3.8 Jag and Maserati 3500 GT and Mercedes 300 SL . Fantastic in style and performance and improved suspension in deed .

Duntov said : This car is more beauty than any other american car.
After driving : Damn! I can't see the rear!!!!!! :D

Probably, I guess that it was extensively tested tells us that Jaguar wanted that specific car to be used so it must of had some magic on it :P

Thanks. I suspected as much given the results from some of the few road tests from the time. The power of some of the early Jaguars may have been from ringers however. An early E-Type that was extensively tested was in fact one with a carefully blue printed engine. :)

I don't quite remember the name, all I know is that it's pretty much the same as the one they use today so there's little discrepancy between ratings then and now.

Mike B you bring up an interesting point. American cars in the 1950s and 1960s used SAE gross horsepower measured without accessories, air cleaner, and proper exhaust. What system of horsepower was being used by European Exotic sportscars in those days?

hehe, I think it was because I saw the comment first, and yes, even if it only made 260hp very few cars had more power at the time, it's not much less than what a Ferrari 275 made.

@Mike B yep, you nailed it. You type faster than I do.

Very impressive indeed

Very cool car, I was very young when these came out. I played with a toy split window corvette in those days. It is hard to say how much horsepower the 327 cu in engine would make given modern SAE standards. 360 hp gross indicates somewhere between 260 and 300 bhp net, I would guess. Still very impressive for 1963!

Ah I see, haha LS1 has redeemed itself lol

Well, the hp on the stats is gross, that translates to around 280-290 net hp so the actual figure is ~53bhp/liter, a little less than the C5 :P

This interestingly had about the same BHP/liter as a C6 corvette, and more than a C5.