"64 Corvette Sting Ray‘The best way to deseribe the ’64 Corvette Sting Ray: a spots ear with a dual personality. Last year's classic was dubbed a designer's coup for the way it fused eclebrated Corvette performance with penthouse lurury. ‘And Corvette for 64 outdoes its predecessor with a dual personality plus. Both Sport Coupe and Convertible feature better-than-ever ride qualities, higher horsepower ratings for the two top engines refined styling and interior comfort Here's some insight into the rde side of Sting Ray's doubly pleasing makeup. ‘We had to go some to improve on such advanced engineering features as 4-whee! independent suspension, short-wheslbase chasis and rearward weight bias, But Sting Ray's ride has been definitely and émpartoly ‘improved (that is, performance and comfort seekers profit equally). Front and rer, new variable-ate springs size up bumps as they take them on. This means they flex softly for wee bumps and offer more resistance to big ones. In addition, all shock absorbers have boon recalibrated, and noise has been eut to a minimum by a host of innovations designed to reduce and isolate vibration. ‘The end result is a firm but smooth, ‘Quieter ride for plying across town, plus improved open-toad handling and performance characteristics, (More details on this shorty.) But a sports car can be aesthetically pleasing to. As look at the refined countenance of the "6 Sting Ray ‘Sport Coupe will prove. It's enough to puff up the pride of the most design-conscious entA subtle belt-tine crest remains unchanged, sweeps three-sxty around the aerodynamic design. The gentle ‘contour of the body panels is underlined by tasteful new rocker moldings. New, too, isthe one-piece rear ‘window with its slimline molding (even lady bufls get great hindsight without straining in their seat). Up front, power-operated retractable headlamps blend smoothly into the seulptured hood. ‘The hood is newy styled with clean, uncluttered surface. Sting Ray Sport Coupe’s uniquely designed doors still extend well beyond the roof line for easy ins and outs... kind treatment for fragile feminine coifures, ‘That's a swift sketch of th “6 Sting Ray Sport Coupe. But maybe you have a yen for open-air going (and ‘who doesn't). Then shift your attention tothe sweet lines ofthe new Sting Ray Convertible. FFore and aft, note the trim wraparound bumpers and fulLlength windsplite on the hood and rear deck. Observe, also, the subdued aluminum gril, distinctive new wheel covers with simulated knock-off hubs and the refreshing absence of neodleas chrome and other useless doodads. Next, add your finishing touch by selecting a nea sft top or removable hardtop. A tough choice—but noone wil hit th rot if you order both, the hardtop at modest extra cost. Top down for taking aun or top up for taking weather, the ’64 Sting Ra Convertible promises great times, sparkling performance. And with things like Ball-Race steering and a ‘ovwer team from a quartet of restless VS's and versatile transmissions, a Corvette delivers what it promises. This Is the Way the Sting Ray Rides and Looks ROU Peer a ASTIN AThen ThereLuxury abounds within Corvette's sleek outer shell, neatly dovetailed with brass: fack function, Settle yourself in the spacious cockpit of the "64 Sting Ray Sport Coupe, Where plush bucket seats go without saying. Test the feel ‘ofthe deep-hub steering wheel: the simulated-watnut. rim is standard on new Corvettes And so isthe adjustable stor- ing column. Then, look at the elegant eolor-keyed interior (inblack,red, dark blue, silver, white or saddle). Leather- ‘rain vinyl upholstery spruces up the seats and hooded areas of theinstrument panel. Upper door pads sport pieated Jeathergrain vinyl with earpet below. And now you ean gid the lily witha choice of color- keyed genuine leather seats" Next, stretch out and sample the log room. Feel the deep ‘rst carpeting beneath your feet. Assures high-heel com- fort for lady butts and seu protection to boot. Look behind you: you'll be pleased to see that baggage gets equally gentle treatment in thefully carpeted luggage area. (While we're on the subject, ladies, consider the conven: ence of stowing shopping- spree treasures with a casual toss over the shoulder) And, for secret out-of sight stowage, there are two concealed com: partments beneath the luggage ‘rea floor: one for squireling away tools, the other good for ‘valusbles and such, Now, face eyesfront. again. Note the bright new door re- Tease, shift lever and diree- tional signal. knobs—they’re all chrome this year. Study the funetional instrument cluster. Te groupe speedometer, tach, ‘odometer, oil pressure, am: meter, fuel and temperature gauges in a single handsome package. A smart enter con- ole does the same for the ‘lecteie clock, heater controls 's sting Ray's Ta Self—the Pleasing Way It Makes Things Easy and fully transistorized AM-FM radio. Even the breeze is at your fingertips, thanks to erank-operated wine ‘dows and ventipanes. And ‘these will draw purrs of femi- nine contentment: power windows*, Soft-Ray tinted lass, power stering*, power brakes*, automatic ‘trans- ‘mission and airconditioning are alo available Corvette’ efcient: blended air heater is coordinated with the cowl inlet. ventilation system. Warm-weather com- fort anda frost-free windshield are as close at hand as the two control knobs. Brand new for tho 764 Sport Coupe is a rear- compartment ventilation blower. It's mounted in the body side panel behind the drivers seat and designed to draw air out of the passenger compartment via louvered body openings. The blower is actuated by a pul-type switeh located near the retractable Jheadlamp control and operates only when the heater is off ‘The retractable headlamps, by the way, are operated by to reversible electrie motors. ‘They can also be operated ‘manually or locked inthe open position. cockpit ight warns ‘when lights are on and aot in the open position. Finally, check this addtional list of luxury, safety and convenience features—all standard equipment. Mainte- nance reducers like battery- saving “Deleotron generator, hhydrauliesel/-adjusting brakes and long-life exhaust system. Seat belts, amber lenses on front parking and turn signal Tights, inside and outside mi- ror, recessed safety reflectors in the door sidewall panels, Padded armrests, sunshades for driver and passenger. Elec~ trie windshield wipers, push- button windshield. washer. Directional signals, parking brake alarm, courtey TightsHere's the Way Sting Ray Gets Its New Go...Casually Conquers the ‘This is the tech side of the "66 Corvette, rly a tiger tobe tama. Gwlebrated V8 engine have 8 227- felch diplcement, «ote and 829" stoke. The 20-ap standard gloe feature sage dared er, 10651 compression ratio, hydealc valve Miter anda dual exist stem, The 300-Rp power plat Se large cbr carburetor and ‘Sibsp VE" and fp Fuel Injection {Wee havea special cama, new ey Inder heads with extra-hrge eles, ermpesion ati, highpecd valve ‘ate ith special valve mechan fat valve liters ibbed aluminum Fy quart eapcity am the 250. nd Slosp eae) ‘The standard tram 8 Speed Synchro Mosh. Ratios: 2581 frst {LAB second; 1 third and 256: rerene. Fora. varety of engine fd ene ane combinations, Speed Synchro: Meek le the anewer Ratios with 260. and SO0-hp V8 256. fet: 19:1 second 1481 third 1 Youth and 2641 reverse (Cerritos wih the 6th. and Sibi engines: 22051 fat 1 Second; 1284 thd 1 fourths and 22 revere, With both 3 and Speed Synchro Mesh, thera a 10° semicentiien)iaphragm spring hutch with a ighter aluminum 30- ‘teare clutch housing. And the Boor Inounoad sift Tor Speed tani Sons has a mechanism onthe hie Tevertoprevet unintentional reverse ‘engagement. The automatic Power: Bide" vanamision, avalable wih fro. engines efor truly forte Atving- And you canst the Pose fractions we ratio bee sted to Your eboiee of poner teams CCorete Sting Ray for '6 features sn Improved fide—nraoth but fm 1 adds up to softer and queer dieing on normal town rade nd Aster cornering for tre sportscar Peformance, Hers 8 rublows fhe innovations thst make the new Fide poate, plot a deception of CCorvette's chasis and suspension, ‘New varablerate ront colleprngs find varlable-rate rear spring. ‘Amount of defection deems in ‘roporton to the severly of the rad hock encountered. m Recast front and tear shook sbeorbes, 1 New rubber june bumpers font and reat, provide a progressive rate ff cushioning. Revised exhaust Siam components, New tured mt fre reuse extautt noke. @ New Tooptype tall pipe anger fords stkiona baton ioslton and tho front exhaust pipe hanger now tthe to the trateninon rather than to frame commenter fr ther reduce sibation, @ New fear engine mount Stes of rubber has tee reduced approinately oe all to lesen transfer of engine vibration to the frame. m New rubher body mounts for both the Sport Coupe snd Convertible a Ney ansmison shit lever boot and extensive ge of rubber in the abit lever linkage Further ilates vibration snd nose fe New special Insulation between expet and fer gsc panels inthe Iront and rear eampartnent of the Sport Coupe body. Abo, new inst lating blankets era fon wheel houses. Reduce noise and trast. talc of vlna © New et end ouel ilner to mule resonates ‘The reat suspension feature a three ———————— Tak "independent sytem at each ‘wheel A rads are unig from the ‘cotrrodattachd othe diferent fand wheal spindle, and the doable Univerajoined tubule ale batt ‘combine to provide nesty verte! Shel movement: One new male {raneverw spring with arid les tamer baled to the diferentn tare and extends fra rear whee to rar wheel Te takes oaly vert suspension Toads. Braking, aera fiom and lateral fore are tat tnd the frame: The diferent ‘umbly iatached othe rae by {rubber euthioned Bolten erm tember, Stall movements ofthe dierent are taken up by univer Sinton the onepies propa sate. For incre torsional eit and eam aength the Convert has ‘sel frame virally sureund Ing the pauenge eompartnent, While the Sport Coupe has overead sted root members a el ‘You can ad to tre and handing trier aluminum wheel, Vented fn design for eoling; knock-off habs fo eau wheel and. ie chanaingCorners and TurnsMore on the Sting Ray for 64 gines—All engines ave independent mechani, for ‘ach valve tempersare-conrle fan precion-iahined {ergo sel oetaiaf: jemi als main baring: 4 {ulfprewure lures system; flow ol te ic sburber, eee, Speed tataiton Tato ean be mba Tsing Hardie, nd forwarding aun feature: du mwhitewala, beavyduty front and ati oy with Dimensions Wheelbase "Blue, with hardtop, 49.3"; Sport Coupe, 4 Chaass—Diret doublnacting Seong Balanerd string tinkage with 1861 ovr Tone takes with fadeneistane bon ‘operate pork bike. Baek 670 = ‘ponl"670 18" myn aka terior Fetures—Piber hss enn Magie‘Miror serve iacgser Sh Tsedo Buc, Hrnine White, Rienide Red, Siver Blo Daytona Bl, Seddle Tan sod Satin Silver, Th Demaer aDetipeae b elt ape (white, bac and beige) svalsble Werte 5.5" Sport Coupe, 468° Re indy eotor Doors hve pashbstion handles and Key locks. Overall nth Gh Tea rn, 38.0";