[4][5] Also influential was the Alfa Romeo Disco Volante, already several years old by the time of Mitchell's visit.

[6][1][7] In the mid to late 1950s, Ed Cole, General Manager for Chevrolet, initiated a project called the Q-Chevrolet, a defining feature of which was to be a front-mounted engine and a rear-mounted transaxle.

Mitchell showed pictures of cars seen on his Italian trip to his design team headed by Bob Veryzer to illustrate his goals for the shape of the Q-Corvette.

While both were based on Brock's original sketch, the designs diverged in some details in addition to their different roof lines.

At this time Larry Shinoda was brought in to refine the design, adding details that would be needed if the car went into production.

Donner's focus on improving profitability by cutting costs meant the end of expensive engineering projects.

The original Stingray engine appears to have been identical to the 283 cu in (4.6 L) Chevrolet small-block V8 engine with aluminum cylinder heads, a Duntov profile solid-lifter camshaft, and Rochester Ramjet fuel injection developed for the SS, but with an 11.0:1 compression ratio and slightly higher power output.

Construction of the Stingray racer started in a small space at GM informally called the "Hammer Room".

Shinoda headed up the effort to revise the shape and fit it to the Corvette SS chassis with its 92 in (2,337 mm) wheelbase.

[20] During the 1959 racing season the front and rear sections were remade in thinner 0.060 in (1.5 mm) fiberglass, with balsa wood reinforcement.

[8] Even though it was raced as a private entry, Mitchell was pressured by GM to withdraw the car from competition in accord with the AMA ban.

Some of the changes requested by Mitchell included a full-width windshield and a passenger seat, making the car legal for use on public roads.

After its career as a concept car was finished, it was retained by the GM Design Studio as a historically significant vehicle.

[1] A news article from 2012 reports the car having a 350 cu in (5.7 L) small-block V8 with period-correct mechanical fuel injection.

No other name was apparently applied until Mitchell wanted to start racing the car, and was prevented from calling it a Corvette.

An avid deep-sea fisherman, Mitchell chose the name of the stingray sea ray, whose streamlined body and undulating movements he admired.