VIN for last Stingray - 1976 or 1977?

[Chris Patrick]

I am a bit confused on this. Most books say that the last Stingray was 1976 and that no 1977 had the name. I've searched the archives and Joe Lucia states that early 1977s had Stingray and dropped it.

I read on another list that the Stingray name was dropped by Corvette when Bill Mitchell retired, as an honor to him. And that this was early into the 1977 model.

Can anyone tell me when the Stingray was dropped for sure? I realize it may only be a range of VINs and not the actual last VIN, but it seems there is some confusion as to when.

Since there are some GM people on here, is the story of respect for Bill Mitchell the true story?

[Harry Sadlock]

Re: VIN for last Stingray - 1976 or 1977?

Let's try this from the show.

In 1963 to 1967 "Sting Ray" was two words. It was not used in 1968. It returned in 1969 as one word "Stingray".

Harry

[Joe L.]

Re: VIN for last Stingray - 1976 or 1977?

Chris-----

I don't recollect, at all, how I came by the information and I sure cannot document it now. However, that recollection is that very early 1977's had the "Stingray" side emblem. Then, they went to no emblem, at all. The final version was the "crossed flag" emblem.

I have no idea when these changes occurred. However, I do think that the "Stingray" emblem was only on VERY early cars---like maybe the first month, or so, of production.

[Joe L.]

Re: VIN for last Stingray - 1976 or 1977?

Harry------

We know, of course, that the instigation for the model designation for C2's of "Sting Ray" came from the styling cues which resembled the fish. In particular, this included the dorsal "spine" and rear roof design of the coupe. C3's also had strong styling cues which resembled the same fish, but they were much different than the styling cues from the C2 era. For C3's most of the styling cues which resembled the fish were in the front end of the car, not the rear as was the case for C2.

One thing to keep in mind, though, is the fact that the name of the fish is "Stingray"; it is not "Sting Ray". There is no such fish as a "Sting Ray" (spelled that way) and, aside from the fact that the term "Sting Ray" was used as a model designator for C2 Corvettes, there is no such word or term as "Sting Ray".

The term "Sting Ray" would be equivalent to Chrysler using the term "Barra Cuda" for the Barracuda, Ford using the term "Mus Tang" for the Mustang or AMC using the term "Jave Lin" for the Javelin. Obviously, such a utilization of terms seems silly. However, the term "Sting Ray" is the EXACT equivalent of these.

I believe that the change from "Sting Ray" to "Stingray" occurred because someone at GM finally realized this "error". So, they let the model designator "Sting Ray" die after the 1967 model year, left the 1968 model year without a "sub model" designator for Corvette in order to "purge" the earlier mis-application of terms, and, then, came back with the sub-model designator for Corvette for the 1969 model year with the correct spelling of "Stingray".

[Chris Patrick]

Re: VIN for last Stingray - 1976 or 1977?

Thanks, Harry, but I really wanted to know when the last use of Stingray was on Corvettes. This had nothing to do with the Pro Team show or the 1963 to 1967 Corvettes.

Most books say 1976, but I see in the archives Joe mentioned the early 1977 Stingray emblems and in another list, I saw it mentioned they were dropped in '77 for the retirement of Bill Mitchell in his honor.

So I wanted to know three things, if they did have any on some early '77s, about when they dropped them if they did, and if it is true this was for Bill Mitchell.

Thanks, Chris

[Chris Patrick]

Re: VIN for last Stingray - 1976 or 1977?

Thanks, Joe, for the reply. I'm surprised no one else has added anything here. While lurking the last many months, I see that several people centralize around a year or a group of years in their expertise and surprised no one for the 1976 and 1977 have commented.

Also, do you know if the story about Bill Mitchell's retirement is true?

[Joe L.]

Re: VIN for last Stingray - 1976 or 1977?

Chris------

Yes, I'm surprised we have not heard from some "77 guys or gals". The best information would come from owners of original cars. As I've mentioned before, empirical information is always the best.

As far as the Bill Mitchell story, I've never heard that possible connection to the demise of the "Stingray" model designator. It's possible, but I kind of doubt it.

One strange thing is that the Stingray name, under any circumstances, disappeared before the arrival of the 1978 model. In my opinion, the 78-79 Corvettes had more styling cues from the Stingray fish than any other model year Corvette.

[Tracy C.]

Re: VIN for last Stingray - 1976 or 1977?

Joe,

With no disrespect to your opinion, rather than a "error", I believe the choice of Sting Ray was a play on words. These are both actual words used in our common vernacular, both with attibutes that apply to the car.

The car would "Sting" the competion with it's speed of light "Ray" quickness.

Marketing pukes wouldn't allow the "mispelling" unless it served a purpose to provide image for the car.

tc

[Chuck S.]

Re: VIN for last Stingray - 1976 or 1977?

Hmmmm...I don't know, Tracyman, but it seems like yer stretching there to me. Sounds like to me the, uh,..."greatest Corvettes in history" have a bastichized name. "Sting Ray"..What do they call that?...A malapropism??!! A Bakka Rudduh by any other name?!

[Joe L.]

Re: VIN for last Stingray - 1976 or 1977?

Tracy-----

If they had not changed it for 1969, I'd say that what you suggest might be a possibility. However, the fact that they did change it and under the circumstances described, to me, strongly implies a "correction". If they had intentionally used the terms for the reason you described, then why change it for 1969 and later?

[Tracy C.]

Re: VIN for last Stingray - 1976 or 1977?

Joe,

They probably just got tired of people pointing out the fact that Stingray was spelled as one one not two. Rather than explain it over and over they just dropped the name and brought it back in 69 as one word when customers complained. (it sounds cool either way)

That my theory and I'm sticking to it. I find it very hard to believe that an "error" would have lasted 5 years before it was discovered.

All this discussion is really mute anyway. Somewhere in a book somewhere, may lie the answer.

tc

[Tracy C.]

Re: VIN for last Stingray - 1976 or 1977?

Oh come on Chuckdude... Do you really think the boys in marketing wanted to name the car directly after a dull boring lazy ugly fish? The name is the ONLY thing this creature has going for it. Picture yourself as marketeer and knowing your job depends on building an public image for the cars being build by your Corporation..

You come across this description...

"Stingrays are beautiful and graceful swimmers, gliding like flying carpets of the ocean floor! These flattened-out fish are related to sharks and have a distinctive, sleek tail with sharp spines on it. Each spine has little barbs along the edges like thorns, which sting like a scorpion's tail, to defend the stingray from predators. Their sandy-brown color is great camouflage while they dig into the mud for crabs, shrimp, clams, fish, and worms to eat. Stingray mouths are conveniently located on their bellies, so when they find something, in it goes! If a stingray eats a clam, it eats it whole, crushes it up, and then spits the shell out!

Do you think to yourself..hey this sounds like a bad azz creature? What, digs in the mud for food? You mean like a pig? Not a chance, but the name does sound cool so you morph it into a variation like "Sting Ray" with the rationale in given in my last post.

Don't you C3 guys have any imagination?..

tc

[mike cobine]

Re: VIN for last Stingray - 1976 or 1977?

Incredible. 259 views and only about 4 people have replied. You'd think there were more experts on the 1976 and 1977 here.

I can't remember when Bill Mitchell retired, so that might be a clue if there is anything to the story.

[Tracy C.]

Re: VIN for last Stingray - 1976 or 1977?

Joe,

I snagged this recent photo of the 59 concept car off another site. (posted by John H) I have no way of knowing if these emblems were on the car originally. If they were, this suggests a conscience departure from Stingray to Sting Ray in 63.

Isn't this fun??

tc

[Mike H.]

Re: VIN for last Stingray - 1976 or 1977?

TC,

I think you need to take a closer look! Your picture supports Joe's claim. The script is two words. The R in Ray is capitalized with a small space between the two words. Just pointing out the error in your ways!

Mike