The Sting Ray Roof Controversy: Design Genius or Borrowed Brilliance?

Where Did the Sting Ray’s Roof Come From? 

When the 1963 Corvette Sting Ray arrived in car magazines and car showrooms in the fall of 1962, the automotive world was stunned! There was nothing like it in the entire industry. And it wasn’t just a pretty, all-new, fiberglass beauty with sexy flip-up headlights, available as a convertible or coupe. Buyers could order a traditional “roadster” (convertible) or a fixed-roof coupe. The new Sting Ray had an improved parameter frame, suspension, and interior. Engine and transmission selections were carried over from 1962.

There was nothing like the Sting Ray in the fall of 1962. It was a novel concerto of unique design elements: the long hood, fender and hood bulges, and that perfect coupe roof, and pulled it all together as the “Sting Ray”.

In the news world, the old saying is, “If it bleeds, it leads…”. In the advertising world, it’s a well-known fact that “sex sells”. So, where did the Sting Ray Coupes get their Marilyn Monroe-like sexy bod? It is an amazing story with multiple players and parts.

The Cast of Characters: Harley Earl, Bill Mitchell, Peter Brock, Larry Shinoda, Paul Jaray, Rubin Halprin, James McLynas, and David Holls

Harley Earl – Vice President of Design/Styling from 1927 to 1958

Harley Earl was the Father of the Corvette and the inventor of automotive styling. In the early days, practicality was the driving design force. Harley grew up in his father’s “Earl Automotive Coachworks” business in the early days of Hollywood, making wagons for films and customized cars for producers and stars.