Corvette Generations:

C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7 C8

Corvette: Year by Year

1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963
1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974
1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985
1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996
1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025

Introduction	Glory Years, Split Window Coupe	Interior, Hidden Headlights	Production Quantities, Wheel Choices	Specifications
Engine Selection	Brochure, GM Photographs	Chassis	1963 Z06 Part Two	SAE Paper

1963 Corvette C2 Sting Ray Z06

The AMA (Automobile Manufacturers Association) had a corporate racing ban in effect in 1963. Corvette engineers made an end run around the ban by offering the Z06 option. Although technically available to anyone, in reality it was intended for racers.

Typical 1963 Corvette Z06 window sticker:

Power Brakes with Metallic Linings
Heavy Duty Stabilizers
Heavy Duty Shock Absorbers
Heavy Duty Springs
Positraction Rear Axle
360 Horsepower Fuel Injection Engine
Four Speed Transmission

This example included the N03 option (quantity 63, 0.29% of the 1963 production) which is the 36.5 gallon fuel tank but did not include the knock-off wheels.

1963 Corvette Z06 N03 Big Tank Competition Fuel Filler

Above: 1963 Corvette Z06 N03 Big Tank set up for competition. Left: 1963 Corvette Z06 N03 Big Tank as shipped from the St. Louis MO factory. While the Z06 option was 1963 only, the N03 Big Tank option was available on subsequent C2 Corvette coupes.

A total of 199 1963 Corvettes featured the Z06 option. Initially all were coupes, which were better suited for racing. Indications are that only one Z06 convertible was made which did not include the 36 gallon fuel tank. The price of $1814.45 was high - almost half the price of the entire Corvette. Changes in the option occurred during the production run. At one time the larger fuel tank and knock-off wheels were dropped, lowering the price to $1293.95 and accommodating buyers who wanted to use the car on the street and did not want to sacrifice luggage space.

Click here for 1963 Corvette slideshow

#614 was one of the first Corvettes sold with the Z06 option. It was delivered from the St. Louis factory on a Monday and with 2500 miles on the clock and only one day of preparation, was racing the next Saturday at Riverside CA. It ran in the SCCA Xp and A Production classes in 1963. In 1964 it was raced in the C Modified class. It also saw success in the Southern California Timing Association events and was clocked at 200 mph at Bonneville. It was restored by Vic Edelbrock in 1987 and currently enjoys a retirement competing in vintage racing events.