Hey friends - I received an email from Mid America today offering hooker sidepipe covers that say "Stingray" in the etched metal and they are advertising them as appropriate for 1968 - 1982 Vettes.  Now I was chewed out at a car show one time by a guy who saw my "Stingray" floor mats and told me that the only "Stingrays" were the first year metal bumper C3's - and that I didn't have a "Stingray" I had a "Shark".  So I am going to the mountain and asking all of you - is it proper to refer to a 1980 vette as a "Stingray" or not.  (hanging on the balance of your answer is a new set of side pipe covers)  Thanks!

Who knows. A C3 is a C3, is a C3 IMO. SOme say the last Stingray was built in 1967, too.

Mid years are Sting Rays  and then in 1969 until 1976 they became Stingrays.  So Mr. smarty pants was wrong too. 71Shark2008-03-20 14:35:43

Tim is right. '76 was the last year "Stingray appeared on the fender. After that they used the cross flag emblem.

I'd tell him to go wax his ferd.  If he wants you to have the other mats, he can darn well buy them for you!

I hate jerks like that and love making them look like the simpleminded fools that they are

Hmmm...1968...FIRST year chrome bumper "C3"...Don't recall ANY of them being labeled as Stingray. Chevy didn't do it.
'69-'76, and EARLY '77 were ALL labeled "Stingray".

So, technically, all '69-early '77 cars were officially "Stingrays". Before that, in '68, and after that, they were simply called "Corvette".
"Shark" is the term used for the body style, regardless of year, or fender badges. I prefer the term Shark, myself...

It's a matter of semantics...you say tomato, I say termater. If you like the covers, go for it...who cares what some Goober says?

[QUOTE=RUCRUZIN]Hey friends - I received an email from Mid America today offering hooker sidepipe covers that say "Stingray" in the etched metal and they are advertising them as appropriate for 1968 - 1982 Vettes.  Now I was chewed out at a car show one time by a guy who saw my "Stingray" floor mats and told me that the only "Stingrays" were the first year metal bumper C3's - and that I didn't have a "Stingray" I had a "Shark".  So I am going to the mountain and asking all of you - is it proper to refer to a 1980 vette as a "Stingray" or not.  (hanging on the balance of your answer is a new set of side pipe covers)  Thanks![/QUOTE]

RUCRUSIN-
                  I know  I would laugh at the Guy who wanted to tell you what floor mats you could use. Actually I am laughing right now. You must have a really nice car there if the Guy couldn't find anything else he didn't approve of. I have looked at pictures of your car a few times and I must have forgot to look at the floor mats.
Seriously you have to have a sense of humor when you own a C3.
One thing someone told me the other day was when you own a Vette it doesn't matter "What it is!" It still carries value. Meaning Gt, SS, 302, RS ....it only needs to be a Vette.
I am putting side pipes on (just got them yesterday) they have shields but eventually I want to get the ones you are buying. I went with the Patriot Side Pipes they look pretty good in the box ... we will see when mounted.

I got an email a few days ago from Steel shields. The shields with Stingray and the Flags are on back order. They should be in the U.S. in 2 weeks.

In case you are allowed to have the shields with the flags.
Gene2008-03-20 20:32:30

Gene;

You are absolutely correct.

I love the guys that walk up from behind my car and ask what year it is...

The tag says 80Shark...Hmmmm

Then there are the guys with the shaggy dog story about all the C1 & C2's they've owned.  Of course, they don't know what C1 or C2 means when you refer to the cars that way...  Gotta love 'em!