The 1963 Chevy Corvette Sting Ray was a clean-sheet redesign of both the body and chassis. The bodywork featured pontoon fenders and a center ridge that started at the top of the windshield down to the tail of the coupes (on convertibles, the ridge ran from the leading edge of the convertible deck), much like the sea creature that is its namesake. The unbroken “spine” was made possible on the coupe by the one-year-only split rear window. The Corvette now featured independent rear suspension with a transverse leaf spring, allowing for much improved handling and ride.
For the 1963 model year only, the Chevy Corvette could be had with RPO Z06 Special Performance Equipment, intended strictly for competition cars. Checking the Z06 box got you the 360-hp, L84 fuel injected engine, a 36-gallon fiberglass fuel tank, a four-speed, close-ratio manual transmission, Positraction, larger finned steel brake drums with internal fans, “elephant ear” brake-cooling ducts that moved air to the front brakes, a dual-circuit, vacuum-boosted master cylinder, heavy-duty shocks and springs, and a larger front anti-roll bar. The Big Tank Z06 option was only available for coupes, and only 63 were made.
Our featured Chevy Corvette is one of those 63 Big Tank (RPO N03) Z06s. It has been the recipient of an exacting rotisserie restoration. It has won numerous awards, including Bloomington Gold Certification, an NCRS Top Flight award, NCRS Performance Verification, and the Zora Arkus Duntov Mark of Excellence. In addition to the Z06/N03 options, it comes equipped with leather seats, power windows, AM/FM radio, Off Road exhaust, T10 4-speed manual transmission, and 4.56 rear gears.
It is sold with documented ownership and title history, warranty book, owner’s manual, sales brochure, and an NCRS shipping data report. Hagerty Price Guide value for a 1963 Chevy Corvette Z06 Big Tank Split Window Coupe in #1 condition is $681,000. This unicorn Corvette will grace the auction block at the Mecum Indy sale May 14th-22nd.
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Comments
EXTREMELY rare-optioned Corvette; most Corvette owners/fans have never even seen an NO3-equipped car. The NCRS Duntov Award is a no-brainer; this vehicle will surely bring $1,000,000+ at auction.
COMPLETELY AGREE TOM
Yeah, big buck car here. A real rare one, and all restored. Wow!! I’d never heard of this model.
People keep calling 1963 corvette coupe a split window coupe. redundant either 1963 coupe or coupe not both. all 1963 coupes have split back windows
I can’t imagine what life must be like to be so nitpicky, and I can’t make any sense of “1963 Coupe or Coupe not both”.
And no, not all ’63 coupes have a split back window, as some people had the center bar removed and the window replaced with a single one-piece window. It wasn’t widespread, but it did happen.
thank you I agree I’ve been saying Corvette coup not split window coupe. or split window corvette