1964 Chevrolet Corvette 'Sting Ray' Coupe (RHD)

The 1963-1967 Sting Ray is, to many pundits, the best Corvette of all. The combination of sensational styling, gutsy V8 power and vastly improved ride and handling from the independent suspension proved irresistible to enthusiasts from the time the Sting Ray was launched in 1963 and demand has always remained strong. As much as anything, it was the looks of the new Sting Ray that set it apart, the stunning lines the work of a young man from GM Styling by the name of Larry Shinoda. Futuristic, sexy and like nothing else on the road, the Sting Ray's fibreglass body sat on an all-new ladder-type frame that dramatically improved stiffness while the independent rear end may have appeared crude at first glance, but worked surprisingly well on the road. For 1964, the Sting Ray underwent a minor restyle, with the controversial split rear screen replaced with a single piece of glass, and the fake bonnet vents were also deleted. The 327-cid V8 was sold in three levels of tune, the base L75 offering 300-bhp, the L76 (with four-barrel carb) 365bhp and the fuel-injected L84 punched out a massive 375bhp, delivering drag-strip acceleration. Although a three-speed manual was standard, the vast majority of buyers opted for the four-speed 'box. A total of 8,304 coupes were built in 1964 and, as usual, the convertible proved more popular, making the closed Sting Ray something of a rarity by comparison. The Corvette Sting Ray was a major player on the racetrack in the Swinging Sixties, the lightweight Z06 racers and fearsome Grand Sports mixing it with the Cobras, Mustangs and European exotica on racetracks around America.