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Harley's early work included the 1938 Buick Y-Job; he was also an early supporter of Project Opel which became the Corvette. Earl retired in 1958 but stayed on with GM as a consultant and in 1963 GM gave him this personalized 1963 Corvette Sting Ray which was modified by the GM design staff. He drove it regularly for two years and then sold it ...
- Harley J. Earl, The Vice President of Design at GM
- Harley Earl Retires
- Earl Sells His 63 Corvette
- The 63 Vette Surfaces Again and Is Sold
- Joe Clark Studies The 1963 Harley Earl Corvette
- Features of Harley J. Earl Corvette Sting Ray
- Where Is Earl’s 1963 Corvette Sting Ray Now?
- Auction History
- Photo from Mecum Kissimmee Listing
Shop Order 10323, the 1963 General Motors styling car, is famously attributed to Harley J. Earl, the Vice President of Design at GM. In his 30-year tenure at the company, spanning from 1928 to 1958, Earl earned himself the esteemed title of being one of the world’s most influential automotive stylists. His many innovations – the 1927 LaSalle redesi...
Upon reaching the then-mandated retirement age of 65, Earl retired in 1958 as Vice President of GM, though he continued to serve as a consultant. To recognize his achievements, GM presented him with a personalized Corvette Sting Ray in 1963; it was reminiscent of the Corvette show car designed for the Chicago Auto Show that year. This 1963 Sting Ra...
Harley Earl parted with the one-of-a-kind Corvette, selling it to a veteran from Maryland. The veteran’s voyage in the car was featured in a local newspaper. Unfortunately, the car vanished afterward but was eventually recovered at a bankruptcy auction in 1973.
At a bankruptcy sale, a group of amateur racers acquired an unidentified Corvette for just $1,500 with the intention of using it as a drag car. But upon closer inspection, they began to suspect the car was something special and so kept it in its original state for the next seven years. When the car was showcased at the famous Corvettes at Carlisle ...
Upon buying the car, Joe Clark and his partner Bob Gold were unaware of its rare heritage. However, due to their collective status as Corvette connoisseurs, they soon came to realize they had purchased something much more special than a typical custom car. The car posed numerous perplexities, some beguiling, some worrying. Its headers penetrated in...
Origin and Significance:Historical Journey:Unique Features and Specifications:Distinctive Exterior and Interior:At Mecum’s 2010 Spring Classic in Indianapolis, Terry Michaelis of Proteam Corvette submitted the triumphant bid of $925,000 to acquire the highly-sought-after 1963 Corvette convertible that had belonged to Earl after he left his position at General Motors. In 2011 it was inducted into the Bloomington Gold Great Hall and since has been invited more...
This iconic 1963 Corvette convertible, formerly owned by Harley Earl, underwent a noteworthy auction sales journey. It made its debut at Barrett-Jackson in 1999, fetching $152,300. The allure of this piece persisted, leading to a significant sale at Mecum’s Spring Classic in Indianapolis in 2010, where it commanded an impressive $980,000 amid a vib...
For more photos, check out the Mecum listing here. Its exterior boasts a striking metallic blue hue, a color option not originally available in the ’63 model, complemented by a distinctive white stripe originating at the “stinger” and extending along the entire length of the car. The cabin echoes the striking exterior with a luxurious blue-and-whit...
Aug 27, 2023 · Despite its 1963 model designation, it features 1965 parts such as chrome trim, exterior emblems, interior control knobs, and four-wheel disc brakes, as well as the hood. This unique styling car is the original Corvette Sting Ray presented to the legendary Harley J. Earl, making it a one-of-a-kind factory special.
Oct 12, 2013 · When Harley Earl left General Motors in 1963, he was gifted with this unique Corvette Sting Ray Convertible that was customized to his interests by the style department he originally created. The Harley Earl Corvette was the featured vehicle at Mecum’s 2013 Chicago auction and a little after 3pm ET on Saturday afternoon, the hammer […]
Jan 9, 2014 · Most Corvette enthusiasts are probably aware of the 1963 Corvette built for GM’s design boss Harley Earl. The blue roadster has traded hands a couple of times in recent years most recently selling for $1.5 million in October 2013. But did you know that GM also built a special car at the same time for […]
Apr 7, 2010 · A 1963-based Corvette featuring a 327 cubic inch engine, the Harley J. Earl Corvette boasts a 4-speed manual transmission; distinct dual instrument panels and stainless steel side-exit exhausts ...
May 29, 2009 · The Harley Earl Corvette is a one-of-a-kind factory special. MARENGO, Ill. - The 1963 Harley Earl Chevrolet Corvette Convertible will cross the block during Mecum’s Bloomington Gold Corvette Auction, June 26-27, in St. Charles, Ill. This unique car joins 400 other Corvettes offered for sale at the only all-Corvette auction in the industry.
