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'63 Stingray

Well the Stingray has just become an iconic, not just as a Corvette but as a car known around the world and specifically the ’63 Stingray because of its unique styling. It was a departure from anything else in the time...at that time in 1963, or actually in ’62 when it first came out. It was so unique and...but it's a lasting design. It’s something that’s still catches your eye today, it’s still fresh today. And that’s the hallmark of an iconic design, I think. It’s that, you know, it’s still fresh throughout the ages. It’s one of the most sought after collector cars too that I think that’s affordable.

And this was the first year of a coupe version. So the coupe became probably the most iconic of the Corvettes because of the, just the structure, the shape, more aero looking, and the split window, which is only in the 1963 version. So that was something that they discussed and they decided to take out, Larry told me that they took it out the next year because of visibility and probably cost reasons, that type of thing. But that’s still the most sought after version - is the 1963 - which is the first Stingray.

He had a lot of internal fights with the other people involved in the program because he wanted the car to be more aero in the front. And they fought for the flip-over headlights and he wanted the headlights hidden behind the grille because that would be more aerodynamic. You know, he always told me that, you know, you drive just as fast at night as you do during the day so if the headlights open and they create a bigger air-drag, he didn’t like that. But he lost that battle so you know, that’s the way it goes, you have to go with the flow on some of that stuff. He didn’t win them all.


automobiles Chevrolet automobile Corvette automobile Corvette Stingray design Larry Shinoda motor vehicles sports cars

Date: September 14, 2011

Location: California, US

Interviewer: Akira Boch

Contributed by: Watase Media Arts Center, Japanese American National Museum

Interviewee Bio

After graduating from high school in Anaheim, Ron Kusumi earned his degree from Cal Poly Pomona, and worked in the automotive industry for 20 years with companies such as Nissan and Mitsubishi. It was while working on a project developing an aluminum alloy wheel at Nissan that Ron met famed designer Larry Shinoda, whose brief comments about the project impressed Ron with a keen eye and genius for knowing the essence of style and function. The two shared a mutual passion for sports cars and became friends. For the past fifteen years, Ron has run an independent film studio in Long Beach, California, writing, producing and directing programs for cable television. (September 2012)

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