1964 Corvette

1964 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible in Riverside Red

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1964 Chevrolet Corvette in Riverside Red

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People were still catching their breath after the amazing changes in the 1963 Corvette, so updates for 1964 were minimal.

Below: The biggest development was the elimination of the split rear window.

1964 Chevrolet Corvette Rear Window

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1964 Chevrolet Corvette Hood

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Above: Also gone for 1964 were the fake hood vents. The hood indentations remained however although word is that the 1963 faux vents will not fit on the 1964 hood. Perhaps GM figured that the incredible performance the Corvette offered made enough of a statement.

1964 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe

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Another change was the added functionality of the air outlet to the right of the driver’s door on the coupe. For 1963 they were closed off, represented by a small indentation. A small fan was added to boost airflow but it was only minimally effective and the whole idea was dropped by 1966. Updated body mounting methods and other changes improved interior noise. The overall build quality, long a legitimate Corvette complaint, was improved.

There were engine improvements for 1964. The base motor (250 hp) and the upgrade L75 mill (300 hp) were unchanged but the L76 went to 365 hp (previously 340 hp) and the top dog L84 fuel injected model was now 375 hp, up from 360 hp due to revised heads, camshaft and bigger valves. All 1964 motors were 327 cubic inchers.

1964 Chevrolet Corvette Brochure Illustration

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Each of the mid-year Corvettes (1963 thru 1967) featured different fuel filler lids.

1963 Corvette C2 Fuel Filler Lid

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1963 Corvette C2 Fuel Filler Lid

1964 Corvette C2 Fuel Filler Lid

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1964 Corvette C2 Fuel Filler Lid

1965 Corvette C2 Fuel Filler Lid

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1965 Corvette C2 Fuel Filler Lid

1966 Corvette C2 Fuel Filler Lid

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1966 Corvette C2 Fuel Filler Lid

1967 Corvette C2 Fuel Filler Lid

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1967 Corvette C2 Fuel Filler Lid

1964 Corvette C2 P48 Optional Cast Aluminum Wheel

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Optional P48 Optional Cast Aluminum Wheels (RPO P48; $322.80) were first widely available in 1964 Corvettes. 806 or 3.63% of the total 1964 production were sold.

1964 Corvette C2 Aluminum Wheel RPO P48 Maintenance Instructions

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Above: Maintenance information card for the knock off wheels. Notice the instructions for the locking nut and adapter specified right and left sides. Following those instructions is an important safety step. The left side locking nut was a clockwise to tighten design while the right side was counter-clockwise to tighten. Not strictly following the procedure could cause the nut to loosen while driving.

1964 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible Storage

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Above: The Corvette had not had a conventional trunk since 1962. The coupe did have a fair amount of storage space and so did the convertible – as long as the top was up! A popular way to go for ragtop Corvette owners was to remove the soft top completely and take long trips with a hardtop. The hardtop could be removed easily and stowed (in a hotel room, for example) when open motoring was the way to go.

Below: A new M20 four speed manual transmission. Built in Muncie IN. and a mid-year update in 1963, the “Muncie four speed” was a welcomed improvement.

1964 Chevrolet Corvette Four Speed Shifter

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A replacement for the conventional points / condenser system arrived in the form of a transistorized ignition system available as RPO K66.

The Z06 may not have been available as a package in 1964 but close examination of the order form revealed that most of the parts were. Competition brakes were available as RPO J56 and featured cerametalix linings, drum cooling fans, finned drums cooling ducting and a special power assist dual action master cylinder. A heavy duty suspension (RPO F40) featured stiffer springs and shocks and a thicker front stabilizer bar.

1964 Chevrolet Corvette – Official GM Photo

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1965 Corvette

1964 Corvette Options