People were still catching their breath after
the amazing changes in the 1963 Corvette, so updates for 1964 were minimal. The biggest development was the elimination of
the split rear window.
Even those who advocated the split window concept
admitted that it had drawbacks. Confirming that opinion were the many owners of 1963 Corvettes who proceeded to install the
single rear window as soon as the parts became available.
Also gone for 1964 were the fake hood vents. The hood indentations remained however. Perhaps GM
figured that the incredible performance the Corvette offered made enough of a statement.
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 inches.
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 when open motoring
was the way to go. Built in Muncie IN. and a mid-year update in 1963, the "Muncie
four speed" was a welcomed improvement.
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.
