The 1963 Corvette Sting Ray being assembled at the St. Louis Plant (YouTube)

[Richard G.]

This is interesting photo essay in a chronological video format.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7aYKO-QAWnQ

Just interesting.
I did notice the fuel filter on the FI engine appeared to be silver not black. It was my understanding the correct filter color was black, for the 340hp anyway.
Rick

[Joe R.]

Re: The 1963 Corvette Sting Ray being assembled at the St. Louis Plant (YouTube)

A picture is worth a thousand words! Known fact early cars had silver fuel filters. The 63-64 judging manual invented the word (typical). Live by it or die by it!!!!!!!!!

JR

[Paul H.]

Re: The 1963 Corvette Sting Ray being assembled at the St. Louis Plant (YouTube)

Pretty cool to see that. What jumps out at me is how hands on the plant workers were. Much of the assembly is automated today. Painting cars back in the day with no protection also jumps out at me.

[John F.]

Re: The 1963 Corvette Sting Ray being assembled at the St. Louis Plant (YouTube)

This had to be the first ones to go thru since a lot of test fitting and removal. Also an engineer wearing a tie! Fantastic pictures!!!!

[Harry S.]

Re: The 1963 Corvette Sting Ray being assembled at the St. Louis Plant (YouTube)

Anyone notice the coupe is a Z06.

[James R.]

Re: The 1963 Corvette Sting Ray being assembled at the St. Louis Plant (YouTube)

Great photos. Amazing work conditions by today's standard. Nice to see one photo of a big tank.

[Joseph S.]

Re: The 1963 Corvette Sting Ray being assembled at the St. Louis Plant (YouTube)

What I noticed is the high level of gloss in the paint. Even in the jambs and un-buffed areas (hood grill depressions)! Maybe we should show a few of those photos in the next paint judging classes. We might finally get the word dull out of the exterior judges vocabulary.

[Frank D.]

Re: The 1963 Corvette Sting Ray being assembled at the St. Louis Plant (YouTube)

What I noticed is the high level of gloss in the paint. Even in the jambs and un-buffed areas (hood grill depressions)! Maybe we should show a few of those photos in the next paint judging classes. We might finally get the word dull out of the exterior judges vocabulary.

AMEN - notice the reflection of the overhead lights in this pic, looks pretty shiny to me!

[Michael J.]

Re: The 1963 Corvette Sting Ray being assembled at the St. Louis Plant (YouTube)

Anyone notice the coupe is a Z06.

And a tanker, but no inspection marks on the tank?

[Mark P.]

Re: The 1963 Corvette Sting Ray being assembled at the St. Louis Plant (YouTube)

When they start the chassis black-out at 6:40 it looks very thorough. Does anyone know if they changed the process for 65 ? There are a lot of natural or grey finish items on the 65 so it looks like they changed the black out process and didn't paint the tank, differential, half shafts, shocks, spring, rear spindles, etc.

[John F.]

Re: The 1963 Corvette Sting Ray being assembled at the St. Louis Plant (YouTube)

This appears to be the initial builds to me, not the full running assembly line.

[Michael J.]

Re: The 1963 Corvette Sting Ray being assembled at the St. Louis Plant (YouTube)

When they start the chassis black-out at 6:40 it looks very thorough. Does anyone know if they changed the process for 65 ? There are a lot of natural or grey finish items on the 65 so it looks like they changed the black out process and didn't paint the tank, differential, half shafts, shocks, spring, rear spindles, etc.

This photo from the '65 assembly line looks like blackout was pretty complete, even exhaust pipes up to the manifolds:

[Rick G.]

Re: The 1963 Corvette Sting Ray being assembled at the St. Louis Plant (YouTube)

This appears to be the initial builds to me, not the full running assembly line.

This You Tube was created from a series of photo's of the building of the pilot line cars. If you look closely at about the 9:32 mark you will see the VIN of car 00016. This car, a red/red F.I. roadster was restored by an NCRS member several years ago. He also owned the number 00017 & 00018 cars which were also red/red F.I. roadster cars.

[Mark L.]

Re: The 1963 Corvette Sting Ray being assembled at the St. Louis Plant (YouTube)

Vin 16,17 and 18 were all built August 28. One went to a dealer, one was a zone office car and the other has a number that looks like an internal Chevrolet or GM number.

[Michael M.]

Re: The 1963 Corvette Sting Ray being assembled at the St. Louis Plant (YouTube)

This had to be the first ones to go thru since a lot of test fitting and removal. Also an engineer wearing a tie! Fantastic pictures!!!!

In those days all GM salaried employees were required to wear a white shirt and tie. Could have been a Foreman or other salaried person. Reminds me of my Fremont days ('65-'82) sometime in the late '60's or early 70's when salaried employees were allowed to wear solid pastel colored shirts - it was a big deal at the time. GM was very conservative back in the day.