Dubbed the “Mid-Year” Corvettes, the C2 introduces the world to the Sting Ray. Fiberglass body panels remain, sculpted into a revolutionary design inspired by a mako shark Bill Mitch caught fishing. Hidden headlamps and a split-window fastback highlight the ’63 model (the first coupe ever offered), and the upmarket Z06 is born, beginning the Corvette’s long love-affair with high-performance. A traditional coupe replaces the split-window in ’64, and aesthetically the C2 remains largely similar through ‘67. Chevy responds to fans thirsty for power/performance with the optional big-block V8s in ’65, including the venerable 427 introduced in ’66. Big power begets better performance equipment, including standard 4-wheel disc brakes, dual headrests, and an energy-absorbing steering column all ushered in by the model’s final offering in ’67.