C2 Corvette (1963–1967): Specs, Price, Problems & Best Years
By CarWhere Research · Updated
The C2 Corvette Sting Ray was sold for 1963–1967 as a coupe and convertible with independent rear suspension. The 327 V8 ran 250–375 hp, a 425-hp 396 arrived in 1965, and 427s rated 390–435 hp followed in 1966–1967. Four-wheel disc brakes became standard for 1965. Base prices ran $4,037 to $4,388.75.[1][2][3][4][5]
C2 Corvette trims, engines & horsepower
Manufacturer ratings. A dash means no source we could verify publishes the figure.
| Model / variant | Years | Engine | Horsepower | Torque | Transmission |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 327 base | 1963–1965 | 327 cu in V8, 4-barrel | 250 hp @ 4,400 rpm[1][2][3] | 350 lb-ft @ 2,800 rpm | 3-speed manual; 4-speed manual or Powerglide optional |
| 327 L75Became the base engine for 1966–1967. | 1963–1965 | 327 cu in V8, large 4-barrel | 300 hp @ 5,000 rpm[1][2][3] | 360 lb-ft @ 3,200 rpm | 3-speed manual; 4-speed or Powerglide optional |
| 327 L76 | 1963 | 327 cu in V8, solid lifters | 340 hp[1] | 344 lb-ft | Manual |
| 327 L84 fuel injectionGM's 1963 spec sheet rates it 360 hp; the option list reprinted in the same kit says 375 hp. | 1963 | 327 cu in V8, fuel injection | 360 hp[1] | 352 lb-ft | Manual |
| 327 L76 | 1964–1965 | 327 cu in V8, solid lifters | 365 hp @ 6,200 rpm[2][3] | 350 lb-ft @ 4,000 rpm | 4-speed manual |
| 327 L84 fuel injection1965 was the last year of fuel injection until throttle-body injection in 1982. | 1964–1965 | 327 cu in V8, Rochester fuel injection | 375 hp @ 6,200 rpm[2][3] | 350 lb-ft | 4-speed manual |
| 327 L79 | 1965–1967 | 327 cu in V8, hydraulic lifters | 350 hp @ 5,800 rpm[3][4][5] | 360 lb-ft @ 3,600 rpm | Manual (Powerglide was limited to other engines) |
| 396 L78Introduced in mid-March 1965 with a special hood; 2,157 built. | 1965 | 396 cu in V8, large 4-barrel | 425 hp @ 6,400 rpm[3] | 415 lb-ft @ 4,000 rpm | 4-speed manual |
| 327 base | 1966–1967 | 327 cu in V8, 4-barrel | 300 hp @ 5,000 rpm[4][5] | 360 lb-ft @ 3,400 rpm | 3-speed manual; 4-speed or Powerglide optional |
| 427 L36 | 1966–1967 | 427 cu in V8, 4-barrel, hydraulic lifters | 390 hp @ 5,200 rpm (1966), @ 5,400 rpm (1967)[4][5] | 460 lb-ft @ 3,600 rpm | 4-speed manual or Powerglide |
| 427 L72Initially listed at 450 hp; GM lowered the rating, not the output, soon after launch. | 1966 | 427 cu in V8, 4-barrel, solid lifters | 425 hp @ 5,600 rpm[4] | 460 lb-ft @ 4,000 rpm | 4-speed manual |
| 427 L68 | 1967 | 427 cu in V8, three 2-barrel carburetors | 400 hp @ 5,400 rpm[5] | 460 lb-ft @ 3,600 rpm | 4-speed manual or Powerglide |
| 427 L71L89 aluminum cylinder heads were a $368.65 option on the L71; 16 built. | 1967 | 427 cu in V8, three 2-barrel carburetors, solid lifters | 435 hp @ 5,800 rpm[5] | 460 lb-ft @ 4,000 rpm | 4-speed manual |
| 427 L8820 built at $947.90. | 1967 | 427 cu in V8, racing-oriented | 430 hp[5] | — | 4-speed manual |
C2 Corvette original MSRP by year
Base price when new, as published by the manufacturer — not today's value.
| Model year | Model / body | Original MSRP | Destination | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | Sport Coupe (837) | $4,257[1] | — | |
| 1963 | Convertible (867) | $4,037[1] | — | |
| 1963 | Z06 Special Performance Equipment (option) | $1,818.45[1] | — | Option price on top of the base car; 199 built. |
| 1964 | Sport Coupe (837) | $4,252[2] | — | |
| 1964 | Convertible (867) | $4,037[2] | — | |
| 1965 | Sport Coupe | $4,321[3] | — | |
| 1965 | Convertible | $4,106[3] | — | |
| 1966 | Sport Coupe (19437) | $4,295[4] | — | |
| 1966 | Convertible (19467) | $4,084[4] | — | |
| 1967 | Sport Coupe (19437) | $4,388.75[5] | — | |
| 1967 | Convertible (19467) | $4,240.75[5] | — |
Base retail prices are from the option lists reproduced in GM Heritage Center vehicle information kits. Engines, the 4-speed, power steering, air conditioning and the auxiliary hardtop were all extra, so most cars sold for more than the base figure.
C2 Corvette production by year
| Model year | Units built | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 1963 | 21,513[1] | 10,594 coupes, 10,919 convertibles. |
| 1964 | 22,229[2] | 8,304 coupes, 13,925 convertibles. |
| 1965 | 23,562[3] | 8,186 coupes, 15,376 convertibles. |
| 1966 | 27,720[4] | 9,958 coupes, 17,762 convertibles. |
| 1967 | 22,940[5] | 8,504 coupes, 14,436 convertibles. |
| Total (years listed) | 117,964 |
All five totals come from the Corvette fact pages in GM's Heritage kits and add up to 117,964 cars.
What changed year by year
Every C2 shares the Sting Ray body and independent rear suspension. The big buying differences are brakes (drums through 1964, discs from 1965) and engines (327 only until the 396 and 427 arrived).
| Model year | Key change |
|---|---|
| 1963 | All-new Sting Ray coupe with split rear window, plus convertible; independent rear suspension; 327 at 250–360 hp; Z06 package (199 built) |
| 1964 | Rear-window split and hood trim panels removed; L76 raised to 365 hp, fuel injection to 375 hp |
| 1965 | Four-wheel disc brakes standard (drums a credit option); L79 350-hp 327 added; 425-hp 396 from mid-March; last fuel-injected year until 1982 |
| 1966 | 427 replaces 396 (390 and 425 hp); 300-hp 327 becomes base; record C2 production of 27,720 |
| 1967 | Final C2: L68 and L71 427s with three 2-barrel carburetors (400 and 435 hp), 20 L88s, L89 aluminum heads |
How rare the high-performance C2s are
GM's option quantities make it easy to check whether a claimed car is plausible. These counts come straight from the kit option lists.
| Year | Option | Units built | Option price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | Z06 Special Performance Equipment | 199 | $1,818.45 |
| 1963 | L84 fuel-injected 327 | 2,610 | $430.40 |
| 1964 | L84 fuel-injected 327 (375 hp) | 1,325 | $538.00 |
| 1965 | L84 fuel-injected 327 (375 hp) | 771 | $538.00 |
| 1965 | L78 396 (425 hp) | 2,157 | $292.70 |
| 1966 | L72 427 (425 hp) | 5,258 | $312.85 |
| 1967 | L71 427 (435 hp) | 3,754 | $437.10 |
| 1967 | L89 aluminum heads for L71 | 16 | $368.65 |
| 1967 | L88 427 (430 hp) | 20 | $947.90 |
Which C2 to buy
For driving, a 1965–1967 car gets standard four-wheel disc brakes. A 327/350-hp L79 (1965–1967) gives high output with hydraulic lifters, while the 427s give the most torque, 460 lb-ft. A 1963 coupe is the only split-window C2. Big-block and fuel-injected cars were built in small numbers, so documentation matters.[1][2][3][4][5]
C2 Corvette problems & recalls
Aftermarket remanufactured rear calipers with faulty seals (1965–1967 (disc-brake cars))
NHTSA equipment campaign 03E032000 covers Cardone remanufactured rear calipers (part nos. 18-7019, 18-7020, 16-7019, 16-7020) built February–April 2003 for 1965–1982 Corvettes. Faulty piston seals can leak brake fluid. It is not a GM recall, but any C2 with replacement calipers from that period should be checked.[6]
| Campaign | Date | Model years | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 03E032000 | 2003-05-12 | 1965–1982 | Service brakes: remanufactured rear brake calipers (aftermarket equipment) | Equipment recall by Cardone, not GM. Remanufactured rear calipers, part nos. 18-7019, 18-7020, 16-7019 and 16-7020, built February 1 to April 25, 2003 for 1965–1982 Corvettes, were made with faulty piston seals that can let brake fluid leak. Cardone repurchased unsold stock and offered customers a refund. (15,899 vehicles potentially affected)[6] |
The NHTSA recalls dataset has no GM campaign naming 1963–1967 Corvettes. The one Corvette-specific entry for these years is an aftermarket caliper recall that applies to 1965–1967 disc-brake cars.
Check any specific car for open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Best and worst C2 Corvette years
Each call is tied to a documented fact — a mechanical change, a recall or a published rating — not opinion.
Four-wheel disc brakes were standard from 1965, per GM's 1965 fact page.[3]
Widest engine choice of any C2: 300- and 350-hp 327s plus 390-, 400- and 435-hp 427s, all with 460 lb-ft on the 427s.[5]
Model-year complaint data across every Corvette: Corvette years to avoid.
What to check before buying a used C2 Corvette
- Check the VIN against GM's range: 1964 40837S100001–40837S122229; 1965 194375S100001–194375S123562; 1966 194376S100001–194376S127720; 1967 194377S100001–194377S122940 (fourth digit 6 on convertibles).
- Read the engine suffix code and match it to the claimed engine; for example, 1965 HN is the 375-hp fuel-injected 327 and IF is the 425-hp 396.
- A genuine 1966–1967 427 car should have the special big-block hood GM fitted to every 427 car.
- On a 1965–1967 car, ask what rear calipers are fitted; Cardone remanufactured units 18-7019, 18-7020, 16-7019 or 16-7020 from 2003 fall under recall 03E032000.
- On a 1963–1964 car, confirm whether it has the optional sintered metallic brakes or standard drums.
- For a Z06, L84, L88 or L89 claim, compare against GM's build counts (199, 771–2,610, 20 and 16) and ask for original paperwork.
- Confirm the transmission matches the engine: GM limited Powerglide to the 250/300-hp 327s in 1963–1965, and in 1967 paired it only with the 300-hp 327 and the 390/400-hp 427s.
C2 Corvette prices today
Prices on used Corvettes vary widely with mileage, options and condition, so we don't publish a single value. Compare current listings below.
More Corvette research
Frequently asked questions
What years are C2 Corvettes?
The C2, known as the Sting Ray, covers the 1963 through 1967 model years in coupe and convertible form.
How much did a C2 Corvette cost new?
GM's option lists show base prices from $4,037 for a 1963–1964 convertible to $4,388.75 for a 1967 coupe. Engines, the 4-speed and comfort options were extra.
How many C2 Corvettes were made?
GM's kits list 117,964 cars: 21,513 in 1963, 22,229 in 1964, 23,562 in 1965, 27,720 in 1966 and 22,940 in 1967.
Which C2 years have disc brakes?
Four-wheel disc brakes became standard for 1965 and stayed through 1967. 1963–1964 cars have drums, with sintered metallic linings optional.
What is the most powerful C2 Corvette?
The 1967 L71 427 is rated highest at 435 hp at 5,800 rpm and 460 lb-ft. The 20 L88s were rated 430 hp.
Is the 1963 split-window coupe only one year?
Yes. GM's 1964 fact page lists removal of the rear-window split as a 1964 change, so the split window is unique to 1963 coupes.
Sources
Every figure on this page is footnoted to one of these sources. Secondary references are used only to corroborate manufacturer and government figures.
- 1963 Chevrolet Corvette vehicle information kit (specifications, Corvette fact pages, option list with prices and quantities) — GM Heritage Center (gm.com)
- 1964 Chevrolet Corvette vehicle information kit (specifications, Corvette fact pages, option list with prices and quantities) — GM Heritage Center (gm.com)
- 1965 Chevrolet Corvette vehicle information kit (specifications, Corvette fact pages, option list with prices and quantities) — GM Heritage Center (gm.com)
- 1966 Chevrolet Corvette vehicle information kit (specifications, Corvette fact pages, option list with prices and quantities) — GM Heritage Center (gm.com)
- 1967 Chevrolet Corvette vehicle information kit (specifications, Corvette fact pages, option list with prices and quantities) — GM Heritage Center (gm.com)
- Recalls Data (dataset 6axg-epim) — NHTSA via U.S. DOT data.transportation.gov
Independent reference compiled by CarWhere — not affiliated with or endorsed by General Motors. Chevrolet, Corvette, Stingray, Z06, ZR1, ZR1X, E-Ray and Grand Sport are trademarks of General Motors.