Vehicle Description
Nearly from the inception of the original Chevrolet Corvette,
serious sports car fans and racers were critical of it for
compromising performance in the name of style. Even as sales
struggled and GM threatened to pull the plug on the program, plans
for a more focused, purposeful Corvette began as early as 1957. It
took some convincing of the board by a passionate team of engineers
led by Zora Arkus-Duntov, but the Corvette was given a stay of
execution. In 1963, Chevrolet introduced the first all-new Corvette
in a decade. Essential elements of the experimental Q-Corvette and
Bill Mitchell's Sting Ray dream car combined to form the most
advanced and stylish Corvette yet. Duntov and his team
revolutionized the Corvette, ditching its family sedan
underpinnings once and for all and finally giving GM a proper,
no-excuses sports car. The new purpose-built chassis featured
four-wheel independent suspension, big drum brakes (discs followed
soon after), and various iterations of the 327 cubic-inch
small-block V8 ranging from 250 to 360 horsepower. Atop the
advanced chassis was a stunning new body punctuated by its
boat-tail fastback roofline, split rear window, pronounced fender
bulges, and an aggressive, purposeful stance. Chevrolet quietly
offered the 1963 Corvette with a unique package that prepared the
car for racing to appeal to professional and amateur road racers.
Known by its RPO code of Z06, the upgrade was developed by
Arkus-Duntov to transform the 'Vette into the proper hardcore
sportscar he had always envisioned. The Z06 targeted serious racers
wanting a track-prepped Corvette for SCCA, USRRC, and FIA GT-class
racing. For a whopping $1,818 on top of the $4,257 base price, the
competition-minded Corvette buyer got a wealth of carefully
developed high-performance parts. To get a Z06 required selection
of the range-topping 360 horsepower 327 V8 with Rochester
mechanical fuel injection, T-10 four-speed 'box, and limited-slip
rear axle. To that, it added uprated dampers, 50% firmer springs, a
heavier front sway bar, heavy-duty finned drum brakes with sintered
linings, and a unique dual circuit master cylinder (discs were
still two years away). Early cars had magnesium wheels, which
proved troublesome, so Chevy switched to heavy-duty steel wheels
with decorative wheel covers, turning the Z06 into a bit of a
"sleeper." The Z06 was hardly given a chance to shine, as the
anti-racing GM board pulled the plug on factory-sanctioned
motorsport, leaving the Z06 to be quietly canceled after just 199
cars. Presented in its original color scheme of Riverside Red over
black upholstery, this 1963 Corvette Stingray split window coupe is
one of the coveted Z06 factory road-racers equipped with the
ultra-rare "Big Tank" high-capacity fuel system. The handful of
buyers who selected the Z06 package could add the 36-gallon
endurance-racing fuel tank as a separate option. Initially, it was
only available on the Z06 but was later offered across the range -
meaning not all Z06s are "tankers," and vice versa. Out of an
annual sales total of over 21,000 Corvettes, just 78 buyers (some
reports say only 63) ticked the option sheet for both the Z06
Performance Equipment Group and the N03 36-gallon racing fuel tank.
Today, approximately 50 Z06s tankers are known, and they are among
the most desirable of all road-going C2 'Vettes. This beautiful Z06
Tanker boasts fascinating, well-documented history from new. It is
known that Mr. Jack Moore, an experienced racer from Sodus Point,
New York, ordered this car through his local dealer. In a rush to
make his first race with the car, Jack couldn't wait for it to be
trucked to Rochester, NY, so as soon as it rolled off the line in
St. Louis, he flew to Missouri to collect it. The very next day, he
had a roll bar installed and high-tailed it back east for its
maiden race. Moore ran the car in events around the Eastern US and
Canada at tracks, including Watkins Glen, Mid-Ohio, Mosport, and
Daytona. At events in Watkins Glen and Bridgehampton, Moore
participated in a NASA-sponsored study observing heart rates of
performance athletes, where he was wired for a heart rate monitor
and the car fitted with a transponder to record the signals.
Amazingly, this story was confirmed years later by NASA, explaining
the information was used to train astronauts for space travel.
After a few years of track duty, Moore traded the Z06 back to a
local dealer, who, in 1966, sold it to Mr. Bernie Ellis, also of
the Rochester area. In 1977, local body shop owner Tony Sofia
acquired the car, though, at the time, he did not entirely know
what he had bought. After years of hard racing, the big tank and
fuel injection had been removed, so aside from having a stiff ride
and brakes that wouldn't work in the cold, the car seemed like an
otherwise standard Split Window. Tony began restoring the car in
his spare time, eventually realizing his was one of the rare Z06
"Tankers," and spent years returning it to its exacting original
specification. In an article written by Mr. Sofia, he describes
tracking down a man offering two 36-gallon tanks for sale, one from
a '63 and one from a '65. Through their conversation, Sofia
realized the '63 tank was very likely original to his car and
immediately bought it. He also acquired a complete Rochester fuel
injection setup from a friend, who had bought it from a fellow
local Corvette enthusiast. Some back and forth revealed that man
was the original owner, Jack Moore, who still lived in Rochester!
Yet again, Sofia had very likely tracked down the original
components to his car. With the superb restoration finally
completed, Tony showed the car in local and national Corvette
events, racking up accolades, including the all-important
Bloomington Gold. More recently, the Z06 came into the care of
Terry Michaelis of Pro-Team Corvette, and the awards continued to
roll in, adding another Bloomington Gold, NCRS Top Flight Award,
and a Gold Spinner Certificate to its impressive portfolio.
Accompanying the sale is a large file, including judging sheets,
correspondence, documentation, and a recorded in-depth interview of
Mr. Moore by Sofia, where the men discussed the unique details of
this Corvette and all those who had a hand in its history. After
years of meticulous care, the Corvette remains in excellent order
inside and out, its condition belying the age of the restoration.
In its original shade of Riverside Red, the body and paintwork are
finely finished and the exterior trim is correct down to the last
fastener. Likewise, the chassis and undercarriage are detailed to
concours standards, showing only slight wear from occasional use.
The 36-gallon fuel tank dominates the interior, and factory-correct
upholstery materials are used throughout, with details like the
radio-delete console being true to original specifications. Under
the hood sits the correct-specification 327/360HP small block,
complete with Rochester injection and T-10 4-speed 'box, and the
numbers on the block correspond with the car's ID tags. The Z06
Tanker is the Holy Grail of C2 'Vettes, and it stands
shoulder-to-shoulder with the most desirable models in the storied
history of this American icon. An outstanding example and proven
concours winner, this gorgeous '63 Z06 is sure to satisfy the most
discerning collectors. Offers welcome and trades considered For
additional details please view this listing directly on our website
https://hymanltd.com/vehicles/6827-1963-chevrolet-corvette-z06-tanker-coupe/