The 1963 Chevy Corvette Sting Ray was a clean-sheet new design that shared design elements with XP-755 Mako Shark concept car. The new Sting Ray featured a transverse leaf spring independent rear suspension, and for the first time could be had in either coupe or convertible configurations, with the coupe sporting the now iconic split rear window. Powertrains were largely carried over from the 1962 model year, with the 327 Small Block was available in 250-, 300-, 340-, and 360-horsepower ratings, with two-speed Powerglide automatic, three-speed or four-speed manual transmissions available.
The 1963 Chevy Corvette was also available with a new performance package, Regular Production Option Z06, described in factory literature as “Special Performance Equipment.” Initially available only in the coupe variant, RPO Z06 cost nearly one-quarter of the price of a Sting Ray coupe. It included the 360-hp fuel-injected engine, close-ratio four-speed gearbox, and heavy-duty suspension with upgraded coil springs, shock absorbers, and front stabilizer bar. The braking system incorporated special brake drums with impressive cooling fins and fans, ventilated backing plates, metallic linings, and “elephant ear” scoops greatly improving cooling and mitigating fade . The system also employed a dual-circuit master cylinder and vacuum power booster.
Our feature Chevy Corvette Z06 may be one of the lowest-mile examples extant, it has had just three owners from new, and shows fewer than 5,400 documented miles from new. One of just 199 1963 Corvette Z06s produced, it is finished in brilliant Sebring Silver metallic over Saddle Tan leather, and powered by the 360-horsepower 327 Small Block fed by Rochester mechanical fuel injection. It is Bloomington Gold certified, and has been featured in several Bloomington Gold Special Collections in addition to being a Bloomington Gold Great Hall Inductee. This Corvette Z06 is the only known copy finished in Sebring Silver over Saddle Tan hides, and is optioned with a radio and blackwall tires.
The Chevy Corvette Z06 saw only two years of careful use before being stored and receiving fastidious care. It is accompanied by the original dealer invoice, glove box paperwork, ownership history, and records. It has been featured in numerous publications including The Complete Book of Corvette, Classic Corvette, American Legends, Automobile Quarterly, Corvette Milestones, and The Definitive 1963 Corvette RPO Z06.
This Chevy Corvette Z06 crossed the auction block at the 2022 Gooding & Co. Amelia Island auction, trading hands for $1,242,500 inclusive of fees.
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Comments
Beautiful car. True American sports car.
And what I think of as skinny little tires. All that power. Mechanical fuel injection, no computer chip based technology.
Love that tan interior.
Great car and I love seeing examples still exist but it still grieves me that the car wasn’t driven.
The 36 gallon fuel tank wasn’t mentioned. By the looks of the generous sized cargo area, it doesn’t have it. Beautiful car, but a strange omission.
Not all Z06s had the 36-gallon tank, as there were 199 Z06s built in 1963, but only 63 RPO N03 36 Gallon Fuel Tanks left the St. Louis assembly plant. Hope this helps.
Hey, Brett,
I had the same exact question as Eagerdever, and thanks for answering it. So, my new question is, with the Z06 Option, was the 36 gallon “tanker” tank part of the option package like I had always assumed, and does that mean that the 136 Z06 optioned cars left the St. Louis plant without the 36 gallon tank had that specific feature as “option-delete”? Or was there something else going on? You seem to be an expert on this, so thanks for your answer ahead of time! Glenn in Brooklyn, NY.
According to Mike Antonick’s Corvette Black Book, early in production the Z06 package did not include the RPO N03 36-gallon tank and could only be had with in Corvette coupes. Later in the 1963 run, the Z06 package was available in convertibles, included the big tank and knock-off wheels. Hope this helps!
Peak Corvette.