Reliability
Maintenance Costs
Parts & Support
Market Appeal

Just a decade after the first Corvette was created, Chevrolet launched the ground-breaking Sting Ray. It featured four-wheel independent suspension and four-wheel disc brakes (starting in 1965), which made it handle much more like contemporary European sports cars. Optional fuel-injection through 1965 and monster big-block engines after 1965 gave it plenty of power. 1963 also saw the first Corvette in a coupe body. Transmission choices include the 2-speed Powerglide automatic as well as Muncie 3- and 4-speed manuals. Parts are easy to source and the cars are generally simple to fix, but hideaway headlights can be troublesome. 1963 "Split Window" coupes, fuel-injected cars, and maximum horsepower cars such as the 427-ci L88 are the most valuable. However, all second generation Corvettes are great collector cars. If you can find one in your price range, buy it.

TR6s are a perennial entry-level collector car. A robust drivetrain, and good aftermarket parts supply has kept more than a few on the road. Of course, they rust everywhere so good ones bring a premium.