FIA Specification 1964 Corvette Sting Ray Chassis No. 40867-S-108144
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FIA Specification 1964 Corvette Sting Ray Chassis No. 40867-S-108144 • From the land where horsepower matters. • Restored to to 1965 Big Block, disc braked racing specification, with a Peter Knight racing engine. • Recently race prepared by RW Racing Services and accompanied by two spare racing wheels and its current FIA Papers. • Beautifully presented throughout this will be a fast and exciting entry to the ever popular GTSCC, Gentleman Drivers and the prestigious Spa 6 Hrs. The Chevrolet Corvette optimizes the racing in America in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s. The Movement away from the cumbersome cars of the 40’s and early 1950’s towards the more refined European style of racing and sports cars. However in doing this American manufactures thankfully managed to keep a style and flair of their own and held on to the old adage that ‘horsepower maters’ . From the first arrival of Chevrolet’s Corvette in 1953 it stood out from the crowd. Wild curvaceous lines and a powerful engine, it was every boys dream. Billed by Chevrolet as ‘Americas only true sportscar’ , in 1956 General Motors put talented expatriate Russian auto engineer and sports car racer Zora Arkus-Duntov in charge of the Corvette. Under his guidance and despite GM banning factory backed racing, the Corvette had become a fast, profitable, race-winning model that helped give Chevy a sporty image. Highly popular with both amateur and professional race teams alike for years to come. Briggs Cunning ran a team of three cars at Le Mans in 1959 and Corvette would go on to grace that hallowed circuit for years to come. T. + 44 (0)1285 831 488 E. [email protected] www.williamianson.com The Corvette Stingray has to be one of the most striking, revolutionary and iconic sports car designs ever to come out of America. In effect a production version of the stunning Mako Shark show car and heavily influenced by, GM’s vice president of styling, Bill Mitchell’s stunning Sting Ray (Racing) Special, this was a serious motor car. While Duntov was developing an innovative new chassis for the 1963 Corvette, designers were adapting and refining the basic look of the racing Sting Ray for the production model. For the first time in the Corvette's history, wind tunnel testing helped refine the final shape. The Sting Ray’s chassis with its independent rear suspension and improved road handling was as much responsible for its immense success as the aerodynamics of its exterior. Fibreglass outer panels were retained, but the Sting Ray emerged with nearly twice as much steel support in its central structure as the 1958-62 Corvette. The resulting extra weight was balanced by a reduction in fiberglass thickness, so the finished product actually weighed a bit less than the old roadster. The early examples were powered by Chevrolet’s Small Block 327 V8 and featured drum brakes, but in 1965 the engine was uprated to Chevrolet’s Big Block 396 (6,480cc) V8 and disc brakes were fitted all round. T. + 44 (0)1285 831 488 E. [email protected] www.williamianson.com This striking example was purchased from Claremont Corvette as a standard 1964 327 road car and was restored for the current owner to full 1965 Big Block, disc braked, racing specification by FS Racing. Stripped back to a bare chassis which was seam welded and strengthened where they are known to flex, ie. around the front engine and suspension mounts as well as where the chassis kicks up to go over the rear wheel arches. The A-arms were also boxed to strengthen them. The chassis cross member just to the rear of the gearbox was cut and bolted back in place to allow the removal of the gearbox without removing the engine. The engine is a Pete Knight Big Block Chevrolet racing engine and the gearbox is the M22. The front brakes are twin pin calipers from Duntov motors which are a recreation of the units raced with in period rather than the usual cast iron single pin ones. Brake lines are copper lined steel bundy tube. The trailing arms are uprated, the front springs are said to be 650lb and the rear spring was also uprated. The original fuel tank was replaced with a large capacity one built to fit behind the seats. All wiring was replaced by a sealed loom with MIL plugs and all fuses/relays located in the glove box. Scrutineering stickers tell of recent outings at the Spa 6hrs in both 2009 and 2011 and at Dijon with the GTSCC last year in 2013. Recently race prepared by RW Racing Services and accompanied by two spare racing wheels and its current FIA Papers. Beautifully presented throughout this will be a fast and exciting entry to the ever popular GTSCC, Gentleman Drivers and the prestigious Spa 6 Hrs. T. + 44 (0)1285 831 488 E. [email protected] www.williamianson.com.