RREEVES

I will definitely post some pictures later, today we're celebrating my son's birthday, I have quite a few pictures to post.
I would love to hear all of your constructive comments you can think of.

gbvette62

You need to go back and carefully read over this entire post again. I didn't see where anyone made a comment that wasn't constructive.

You wanted to dismiss JohnZ's comments, but that is a big mistake. John worked at St. Louis, and built those cars. He knows more about them then just about anyone else you'll find. John is included in the National Corvette Museum's Hall of Fame. He knows what he's talking about. You may not like his answers, but you can believe what he tells you.

I don't think anyone questioned the possibility that your car is a legitimate tanker, what they're all saying is that the modifications (hood, side pipes etc), were all added later.

63's delivered to potential racers, looked just like every other production 63. The pictures below are of a 63 big tank Z06, that was raced by Gary Morgan of Rochester NY. The car was provided for Gary by Heinrich Chevy-Land in Rochester.

The first picture is of Gary's Z06, when it was delivered in the spring of 63. As you can see, it looks like any other 63 coupe, with emblems, bumpers and wheel covers in place. The second picture is of the same car at Watkins Glen a few weeks later, after it had been prepped for racing.

RREEVES

thanks, makes sense about the fuel filter area.
wanted to add some pictures, I haven't done it for a while, is there a help screen?

JohnZ

If you scroll all the way to the bottom of the "Forum Jump" window at the bottom of the page, you'll see a "Testing" forum where you can pick up the photo-posting method.

RREEVES

thanks Nowhere Man, when I bought the car in 1968, it had a 1967 427 hood, 1965 side pipes without covers, power brakes, radio delete, originally a fuel car, build date was Nov 7 of 1962, no front bumpers, holes for scoops on the quarters, 1964 master cyclinder , racing seat belt on drivers side, and I believe it had a small steering wheel, chrome reverse rims.

sub006

Doug Hooper's black Riverside winner appears to have had some fiberglass removed, namely the inner lips of the wheel openings, to accommodate fatter race tires. Same thing for the red car, shaved up to the beltline compared to the as-delivered picture.

If not, it's the fuzziness of the pics on a monitor or my senior eyes!

ChattanoogaJSB

Well somebody has to give a to this!

Frankie the Fink

I'm having a "...rare factory small block Corvette with the big block hood" flashback; or maybe its the "rare '63 Corvette delivered from the factory with knock-off wheels" flashback.

I'm old and I just can't remember

C2Racer

Anyone know what the symbol above the crossed flags on the fender of the red race car is? Funny how all racers care about the wheels......couldn't stay red!

Steve

midstyle

Sounds like a real tanker is being described, in which case the filler area is painted because there is no rubber boot (as in regular tanks). I attended an expert panel discussion session at NCRS Cypress Gardens FL meet, decades ago. Noland and a half dozen others were fielding questions, and it was said that when the N03 cars were painted, they put a coffee cup or similar over the opening so overspray would not go down the filler tube. The 36.5 gal tank was part of the body, and not mounted to the chassis, as with the other Corvettes.

[Pics from my '65]







c

midstyle

With N03, the tank occupied the two pits behind the driver and passenger seats, one of which, in a normal car, was used for the jack and wrench. So they had to put them someplace and the passenger side rear corner was chosen. Pic shows the 2 clips (same as behind drivers' seat on a regular car), and the spring. I was using the jack elsewhere at the time . You can see the imprint of the jack base which is flat against the vertical panel. You can see/feel the other ends of the 4 rivets inside the tire side of the wheelwell.

But the real "can't miss" on tankers is the inner wheelwell filler panel (s), and you can see part of it in the left of the pic. The factory cut out part of the original inside panel and installed these to allow a tire of (say) an extra inch diameter to be used, without hitting the wheelwell on jounce. I'll try and add a better pic of it.

Edit: added the shot of the inner panel.







c

Jackfit

I just got bow ties , not good for gas flow

gbvette62

Yes I do know. I have a number of other pictures of the car, including one that shows the decal there very clearly.

It's actually a full rectangle in white, with two lines of lettering on it. The top line said "HEINRICH MOTORS INC" in red, and the second line says "DRIVER GARY MORGAN ROCHESTER NY", with driver and Rochester in black and Gary Morgan in red.

In the picture I posted, much of the label appears to be covered by red tape. All I can figure is that he was running in some sort of amateur race, and having the dealer's name on the car, caused an issue? Things were a lot different in the 60's, and the SCCA may not have liked him having sponsorship on the car? I'm sure that it wasn't as a result of a problem between Gary and Heinrich, because they had a long relationship with each other. In late 66, Vince Piggins brought Gary and Heirich's owner to Detriot, to show them the new Z/28. He wanted them to replace the Z06 with a Z/28, so that they could race in Trans-Am and A-Sedan. Piggins arranged for them to get one of the first 67 Z/28's built, and Gary raced it with "Heinrich Chevy-Land" prominently displaced on the rear quarters.

Wheels do seem to be the first thing that racers change. I have later pictures of the car, where he was running what look like American Torque Thrust's, larger tires, and the rear wheel openings have been radiused to clear the larger tires.

I saw your on the entry list for Indy, is your 63 ready to go? I'll be there again with Jim Glass and his 65, and Bill Bogner's 66. We have a couple friends coming with us who race brand X's, a T/A Boss 302 and a 65 A/S Mustang notchback.

The Trans-Am Camaro that I helped build, and crewed on from 87-89, has been restored to it's 1989 as raced appearance, and is coming to Indy from San Diego. As you can imagine, I'm really looking forward to seeing it again!

Ironcross

This post is the most creditable response....

And as a footnote what was the GS option.....I ordered 2 63 coupes and apparently missed the number or code on the order....That's because there was non......aye......

...because if it was available, I would have had one..

C2Racer

Yes, my 63 is ready with some improvements from last year and we are bringing a new car just finished. A 69 Doug Rippie car with lots of history. See my post in the racing forum. Look forward to seeing you and the cars.

Steve

BADBIRDCAGE

Midstyle: really good to gain the knowledge from your car. I had started to post on the relocation of the jack hook as my 63 had the stock tank and the storage wells. Then I saw the big tank and realized it would have to be different.

RREEVES

HI vintagecorvette, let me know what you think of these pictures

midstyle

(Midstyle, here): Wow -- what a time warp. That was my survey sheet of 20 years ago , when I used to live in a suburb of Montreal Quebec Canada.

Your car is really clean underneath, at least compared to my '65.

chevahaulic

There was a post a while back about a big tank, low hp, automatic car. Its just an option that could be ordered in a coupe. No racing history included, just check the box.
My 66 drag car came with a 67 L-88 engine. It makes it a hot rod, nothing more or less.
My theory is GM didn't have time to stamp the pad correctly and it was a " test mule " in disguise. That's my story & I am sticking to it. I also bought the bridge. Currently looking for a river to span.