Karl Ludvigsen is best known for his work over 50 years as a journalist, author and historian with dozens of book titles to his credit. His history on Corvette from the early 1970s for the Automobile Quarterly Library Series is often credited with elevating the already great interest and passion for America’s sports car. He beautifully sums up one of the most basic reasons so many pursue their own C2 series Corvette in describing an early testing of the project that would become the 1963 Chevrolet Corvette.

“Guards, engineers, test drivers looked at one another with knowing smiles. That high, harsh howl was unmistakable. It echoed from the concrete of the high-banked track at Milford, resounded from the exhausts of a new Corvette under test. They’d heard it before; they knew it meant Zora Arkus-Duntov was on the five-mile circular track, his right foot pressed to the floorboard of a new model, extending it to its absolute limits.”

The 1963 split-window Corvette has become legendary; this should be of no surprise based on the original reviews. Car & Driver magazine stated: “One glance at the new Corvette tells you that it is faster and sportier than its predecessors. Hiding independent rear suspension under its sculpted tail, the Corvette is now second to no other production sports car in road-holding and is still the most powerful.”

Road & Track magazine chimed in with: “As a purely sporting car, the new Corvette will know few peers on road or track……in its nice, shiny new concept it ought to be nearly unbeatable.”

When the new Sting Ray was launched, Chevrolet expected rapid sales, and that is what they got. “The waiting period is at least 60 days,” reported the May, 1963 Motor Trend magazine “and dealers won’t ‘deal’ a bit on either coupes or roadsters. Both are going for the full sticker price, with absolutely no discount and very little (if any) over-allowance on trade-ins.” The total production number for the two body styles would be 21,513 units with a near 50/50 split.

From this number, only 199 customers would pay the hefty RPO Z06 price tag of $1,818.45. Considering the coupe had a 1963 base price of $4,252, the Z06 option greatly increased one’s investment. The Z06 option wasn’t intended for the casual street driver, but for those who were serious racers. This was an automobile ready to race straight from the factory; which they did quite successfully.

Mandatory equipment associated with the Z06 option includes the highly-respected L84 327-cid, 360-hp V-8 fuel-injected engine, G81 Posi-traction rear end, M20 four-speed manual transmission, special heavy-duty racing-type suspension and special big brakes; all combining to make the Z06 platform truly exceptional.

Among the very special components, most notably in the braking department, the Z06 package featured oversized, finned steel brake drums with internal fans and a unique dual-circuit, vacuum-boosted master cylinder. The backing plates have screens that enhance the airflow for proper cooling and expelling of brake dust. In addition, "elephant ear" brake-cooling ducts directed under-car air to the front brakes. The multi-segment brake shoes themselves were lined with a material known as Cerametalix--a different compound than found on the regular sintered-lining option. This Z06 has all of these desirable components.

Reports indicate that the N03 36-gallon fuel tank was first obligatory to this option; then Chevrolet removed the endurance-racing fuel tank as mandatory on the Z06 list (though still kept it as a separate option). The P48 Kelsey-Hayes manufactured cast aluminum wheels were initially listed as mandatory, but were soon removed due to reported manufacturing issues. This exciting Z06 has both the gargantuan 36-gallon fuel tank and the rare, original, factory date-coded Kelsey-Hayes knock-off wheels.

The consensus seems to rest with only 63 Corvettes receiving the “big tank,” with approximately 50 (some sources show as few as 36) being in Z06 option cars; while the Corvette Black Book shows but 15 cars receiving the five Kelsey-Hayes cast aluminum wheels - both of these amazing features are seen on this machine. This beautifully restored and meticulously detailed 1963 Corvette Z06 “tanker” is also in the Z06 Big Tank Survey (Registry) and is further known through its factory trim tag to be presented in its original color combination of Tuxedo Black with Black interior.

Body-off restored, this Z06 is reported to have an original, but re-stamped engine block with casting number 3782870; casting date A-16-3; pad VIN 3115727 and pad date F0322RF. Prior to this stellar restoration; it is reported that in the 1970s, this Z06 was involved in an accident of enough degree to require the replacing of the frame. Being that the Z06s were primarily race-bred, these circumstances were not unheard of in period. When these were just “another old car” and not even thought of being a future collectable of great value, you replaced the damaged components and made it road/race ready again or it faced a fate that often led to a car’s total demise.

Among the further Z06 traits inherent to this car are radio delete, higher revolution tachometer, higher oil pressure gauge, deep-vee pulleys on the alternator and idler, Delco Tar Top battery (reproduction), replacement LOF glass and period-style blackwall bias-ply tires. Even the hood guide blocks are in place on this finely turned out Corvette.

The inside of the “big tank” cars really attracts your attention, as the rear storage area in a standard-sized 1963 Corvette Coupe allows a surprising amount of luggage or grocery shopping area. Not in a “tanker” – this area is impressive in the visible size of the tank, the lack of stowage space and lets you know that this car is ready at all times for the high-speed endurance run it was designed for. In parts terms, the P48 Kelsey-Hayes knock-off wheel cars would have had the lead hammer added under the spring holding the jack and handle in rear corner of passenger sidewall. This cars jack has the proper date stamp, jack tool, reproduction lead hammer and the correct mounting spring in its correct location.

Each Corvette Sting Ray has its own vibrant personality that imparts individuality to its owner. It was a uniquely different kind of car that was as personal as your monogram. This 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 has all the ingredients to bring any driver their own instant prominence.