Unveiling the Majesty of the Corvette C2

A Comprehensive Journey from Engineering Excellence to Conversion Brilliance

C2 Engine and Transmission

The C2 Corvette featured a range of engines during its production period. The 327 cubic-inch fuel-injected small-block V8 was offered in 1963 with 360 horsepower and in 1964-1965 with 375 horsepower. In 1965, the 396 cubic-inch big-block V8 became available, delivering a powerful 425 horsepower.

The 427 cubic-inch big-block V8 made its debut in 1966-1967 with 390 horsepower and was exclusively offered in 1966 with 425 horsepower. Lastly, the 427 cubic-inch big-block Tri-Power V8 was introduced in 1967, available in both a 400 horsepower and a 435 horsepower version.

The C2 Corvette offered a choice of three transmissions during its production period, including a three and four-speed manual transmission, as well as a two-speed Powerglide automatic transmission.

C2 Models From 1963 to 1967

The 1963 Sting Ray came standard with a 250-horsepower, 5.4-liter engine with optional versions that produced as much as 360 horsepower. Acceleration improved over the previous generation due to the lighter weight.

In 1964, the Corvette had only various small changes, including the removal of the faux air intakes on the bonnet. On the other hand, the faux vent on the rear pillar was made functional on the left side of the coupe. The suspension saw slight improvements for this year, as did the sound insulation. Drivetrain choices remained the same, except that the 365-horsepower engine had a new four-barrel Holley carburetor instead of the previous Carter. Sales of the 1964 model saw a slight improvement over the first year of the C2.

In the third model year of the C2, the 1965 Sting Ray introduced a completely new braking system and larger engine choices. The 396 cubic-inch big-block V8 made its debut, boasting a massive 425 horsepower at the time. Another small-block V8 producing 350 horsepower was added with the switch to hydraulic lifters instead of solid ones. Another significant addition for this year was four-wheel disc brakes. The bonnet styling was cleaned up with no indentations, and the front fenders now featured fully functional vertical exhaust vents.

The fourth model year was 1966, and the big-block V8 was now available in two forms: one with 390 horsepower and the other with 425 horsepower. At this point, big-block engines were in higher demand compared to small-blocks, so Chevy reduced the available small-blocks to two choices from the previous five. These two options were the 300 and 350 horsepower versions. The front of the 1966 Stingray underwent slight modifications with an egg crate grille. A new emblem now adorned the bonnet corner, and on the inside, headrests became a new option.

The final year of the C2 was 1967, and with five years of adjustments under the bonnet, it was considered the best of the bunch. The overall changes were modest, however. The three large fender vents were replaced with five smaller ones, and only one backup light was used just above the license plate. The optional hardtop for the Corvette convertible was fitted with a new black vinyl cover, which was a popular trend at the time. The main engine change was the availability of the 427 with Rochester 3x2-barrel carburetors, known as the Triforce. This engine was factory-rated at 430 bhp, but in reality, it was more like 560 bhp. The engine also required special racing fuel rated at 103-octane, which was not readily available. This engine was not marketed to the casual Corvette buyer but rather to those seeking a competitive race car.

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