Mecum’s Seattle auction on June 13-14, 2014 will be featuring this 1963 Corvette once owned by Mickey Thompson. It will hit the block on Saturday, June 14. But this isn’t just any split-window C2 owned by a celebrity.
In this car’s case, it is a Corvette Z06, which means it came from the factory with the following features:
- Unique dual-circuit power brakes with sintered metallic linings
- Vented backing plates
- Larger finned brake drums
- Cooling fans in the drums
- Self-adjusters that work going forward (instead of when backing)
- Heavy-duty rear transverse spring (7 leaves rather than the stock 9 leaves) and front springs
- Specially calibrated shock absorbers
- Thirty-six gallon fuel tank
- Aluminum knock-off wheels (later dropped)
- Additional options, like the 360-horsepower fuel injected engine, four speed transmission and Posi-traction, were required
Only 199 people ordered this package, which cost a hefty $1,818.45 new. That pushed a Corvette into the $6,000 range back then, which was quite expensive at the time—even more than your basic Cadillac. But, remember, this Z06 is different:
- Previously known to be “The Sears/Allstate Tire Test Car”
- Thompson likely spent more time driving #6844 than all four of his other Z06 race Corvettes
- #6844 was also used as the advertising model for Mickey Thompson mag wheels
- Mickey Thompson’s original Chevron credit card
This may be the ultimate 1963 Corvette. Unsure? You can catch Mecum’s auction on NBC’s Sports Network and the Esquire Network, or visit mecum.com for results after the auction.
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