Incredible Corvette Sting Ray Roadster LS1 6 Speed

Putting modern mechanicals in a vintage body is no new trick—guys have been doing it since the first gas station opened more than a century ago. Lately, it has become a cost thing, where the greatest cars are quickly spiraling out of sight on the open market, and few are as highly sought as the 1963-1967 Corvettes. The first generation Sting Ray was a triumph of design and a trend-setting machine whose echoes can still be heard today. So if you're looking for something truly unique that offers the style of the early Sting Ray with today's performance and reliability, RK Motors Charlotte is proud to present this modern interpretation of the classic Sting Ray coupe. This is a one-of-a-kind car built on a 2003 Corvette platform, delivering C2 looks on the C5's world-class platform. More than $100,000 was spent on the build, and it took more than seven months to build it from scratch. And rest assured purists, no Sting Rays were harmed in the construction of this awesome machine.

First off, this is not some bolt-together kit that you've seen elsewhere using the C1 Corvettes, it is a completely hand-made machine. Custom molds were created to fashion Sting Ray shaped panels to the C5's structure, and of the handful of cars built, this is the ONLY coupe. As you can imagine, being built in a pro rod shop means that the car is vastly nicer than any stock Corvette, then or now. The molds replicate the curves and shapes of the early Corvette exactly, although the proportions are wider and more aggressive thanks to the C5's longer, wider chassis. But the things that make the Sting Ray special are all there: the crisp line between the upper and lower halves that circles the body, the instantly recognizable nose, the stinger hood, those sinuous rear fenders, and the lovely pointed tail that's perhaps the most iconic Corvette rear end ever. The custom bodywork was immaculately prepped and finished, and we have build photos of the entire process so you can see the extraordinary effort that went into this car. The paint is Intense Blue Pearl, which looks a little bit like Nassau Blue, which was popular on both the original Sting Ray and the C5, and seems perfectly appropriate here. As a professionally-built car, you know that the gaps are exact and the finish is show quality. It simply blows away any other custom 'Vette you've ever seen.

The work was so exacting that parts designed for the Sting Ray are bolt-ons, including the tail lights, badges, back-up light, and even the door handles. The C5's original glass was retained for safety and structural reasons, and it seals up like a new car. It wears correct Corvette crossed flag emblems fore and aft, as well as '350' emblems on the hood to advertise the potent LS1 living underneath (which is technically 346 cubic inches, but who's counting?). Bumpers, grilles, bezels, and other bright details are reproduction items that were designed for the Sting Ray, and they all fit beautifully. You'll also note that this is a two-top car, and comes complete with a transparent roof panel and a solid panel painted to match the body.

The C5's engine bay remains as it was designed by factory engineers, which means this car runs and drives just like a new Corvette. Turn the key and the LS1 lights off instantly and idles perfectly every time. Parts are available over the counter from your Goodwrench dealer, and diagnostics, oil changes, and routine maintenance are identical to those of a stock C5. Of course, it has all been beautifully dressed up to match the rest of the car, including Corvette coil covers painted to match the body, a chrome intake manifold in place of the original black thermoplastic unit, and a lot of chrome dress-up, including the power steering, master cylinder, and alternator covers. A big T-shaped air intake feeds the LS1, and it's a popular C5 upgrade that works just as well in this application, feeding the engine cool air from the nose of the car. All the original components remain fully functional, too, including the A/C, ABS, traction control, cruise control, and electric cooling fans. Take a look under the hood and you'll also note the quality of the fiberglass work—it's as beautifully finished underneath as it is up top. Nobody cut any corners on this one.

The chassis is entirely stock C5 Corvette, so it rides about ten times better than an original C2, and handles like a slot car. The 6-speed manual transmission is mated to a 3.42 gear set out back (literally—both the transmission and rear end are mounted in the back of the car), and are mated by a rigid torque tube that reinforces the chassis structure. The suspension has been lowered 1.5 inches all around, giving it a perfect stance, and the disc brakes still proudly wear the CORVETTE logos on the calipers. The exhaust system was custom fabricated to exit the rear valence just as on the original Sting Ray, and offers Flowmaster D10 mufflers for that unmistakable LS1 rumble. New Torque Thrust M wear custom centercaps with bowtie emblems and a set of 245/45/17 front and 315/35/17 rear Nitto Extreme radials.

The C5's interior was revolutionary when it debuted, and it remains a stylish, comfortable, spacious environment that raised the bar for all Corvettes. The original buckets are the optional sport seats and have fresh leather seat covers that smell great and feature 1960s style crossed flag emblems embroidered into the headrests. A Hurst short-throw shifter has been installed with a big, black knob that recalls the '60s as well, but otherwise the interior is pure C5 Corvette. The gauges are fully functional and do a cool dance every time you key up the engine, the stereo and climate controls are powerful, and things like power seats, windows, keyless entry, a trip computer, and dual airbags all remain fully operational. Recent diamond-plate floor mats painted to match the body are also included with the car. With less 400 miles on the new build, everything is in stunning condition from top to bottom. Even the trunk is like new, with a mat that features an early Corvette Sting Ray logo embroidered into its surface.

Documentation includes build photos and you'll also be pleased to know that this car made the cover of “Kit Car Builder” recently. Also included is a complete pictorial history of the build.

Uncommon machines are what RK Motors Charlotte specializes in, and few are more off-the-charts amazing than this hand-built work of art. Beautifully finished and with exceptional proportions that mirror the original car extremely accurately, it's a car that will make more than a few show-goers scratch their heads in amazement. It's also wonderful to drive, with all the inherent goodness of the C5 Corvette surviving the transformation 100% intact. If you're looking for a car that combines vintage good looks with modern mechanicals that isn't some kind of resto-mod, you can't do better than this incredible machine. Give us a call today and we'll tell you all about it!