It's called Independent Rear Suspension(IRS). Other true sports cars of the era had had IRS for years. With the new body/frame that came out in 1963 Zora was able to incorporate an IRS into the new design, giving the Corvette the "world class" handling it so deserved. Packaging issues forced them to use the half-shaft as the upper control arm in the design. Not the best design, admittedly, but the best they could make work
in the space available. The design works as is, but it carries with it a few flaws, and maintenance issues. In the end, it's the best they could do with what they had....and it's worked for many years('63-'82). The '84-'96 cars still use the same basic design, but more room allowed a 4 link set-up that worked much better.
A solid axle in the rear of a Mid-Year or Shark car would not have been feasible.
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Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56 
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"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"
