1976 Corvette Stingray

The Chevrolet Corvette is one of America's favorite sports cars, debuting in 1953. This classic muscle car was almost cancelled in the mid 1950s. However, the Corvette endured, and a new design in 1963 became known as the Corvette Sting Ray. This generation of Corvettes was eventually replaced by the third generation of Corvettes in 1968. The 1976 Corvette Stingray was the last Corvette to bear the Stingray emblem, though the same overall design was featured on the Corvette until 1983.

The 1976 Corvette Stingray, and all Corvette Stingrays, were designed based on the ideas of Bill Mitchell, Larry Shinoda, and Zora Arkus-Duntov. Mitchell and Shinoda were especially influential on the Sting Ray design, including its signature split window, though Duntov was responsible for redesigning the Corvette's engine, giving it more horsepower. Duntov argued that the split window was impractical, since the stylish feature blocked rear vision. The 1964 Sting Ray was manufactured sans the split window.

One difference between the second generation and third generation Corvettes was in the name - second generation Corvettes were named the Sting Ray (two words), while the third generation Corvette was the Stingray (one word). Famously, the style of the third generation Corvette was revealed early by the release of the corresponding Hot Wheels toy. Early Stingrays were high powered muscle cars, but as time went on, horsepower was lowered to keep up with government fuel emission standards. By the time the 1976 Corvette Stingray was released, Corvettes were no longer even available as a convertible.

The Chevrolet Corvette Stingray is still one of the most iconic muscle cars from the 1960s. Though the Stingray denotation was removed officially from the Corvette after 1976, the name is still fondly remembered by muscle car enthusiasts everywhere.