Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray Coupe Split Window

The split window coupe is the most desirable version of the Chevrolet Corvette.

The two-part rear window was only used for one year, because the chief engineer found it reduced rearward visibility. The Sting Ray’s (later Stingray) styling, that was inspired by a mako shark, was by Larry Shinoda working under the direction of GM chief stylist Bill Mitchell. Although many European sports cars were imported into the United States after the Second World War, these did not meet the requirements of most American consumers. The cars had to be built for long, straight roads and provide a certain degree of comfort. There was therefore a demand for a true American sports car, and in 1953 General Motors launched the Chevrolet Corvette, named after a small, manoeuvrable warship. The bodywork is made of fibreglass, a technique borrowed from boat building. The Stingray was the second generation Corvette.