Vehicle Description
Five fuel-injected Z06 Big Tank Corvettes were GM-assigned to legendary racer and team manager Mickey Thompson during 1962. Researched, confirmed and documented by Corvette expert David Burroughs' Prove It service, this vehicle was the personal driver of Mickey Thompson. Extremely rare, this is one of 63 N03 Big Tank 1963 Corvette Sting Ray coupes with RPO Z06 racing option. Restored and presented in period appearance, including lettering and Rader wheels. RPO Z06 Special Equipment Package based on fully independent underpinnings, the new 'Vette formed an outstanding basis for the race-bred RPO Z06 enhancements including a thicker front stabilizer bar, larger diameter shock absorbers and higher rate springs. Braking was improved with greater fade resistance from sintered metallic brake linings, while a dual-circuit master cylinder and vacuum booster enhanced safety and reduced pedal effort. Priced at $1,818, RPO Z06 cost nearly half as much as the basic Corvette coupe. The large capacity RPO N03 fiberglass 36-gallon fuel tank was tailor-made for endurance races to reduce the need for frequent pit stops. Just 63 Corvettes were so-equipped. Corvettes equipped with RPO Z06 were only available with RPO L84 327ci V8 with 360 rated horsepower, courtesy of sophisticated Rochester mechanical fuel-injection, 11.0:1 compression, free-breathing cylinder heads, low-restriction exhaust and a hot solid-lifter camshaft. A Muncie M20 4-speed transmission and posi-traction limited-slip rear end were mandatory options with RPO Z06. To reduce unnecessary weight, some Z06 Corvettes left the St. Louis factory with their radios deleted. All told, 2,610 Corvettes were equipped with the RPO L84 "Fuelie" engine for 1963. Just 199 were equipped with the RPO Z06 Special Performance Equipment package, and only 63 were specified with the RPO N03 36-gallon long range fuel tank. This 1963 split-window Corvette coupe is one of those precious few, and it is even more special with confirmed and documented provenance as the daily driver of Corvette racing team owner Mickey Thompson.
