Although the same basic car could have been ordered in a new 64 model, it was not called a Z06. All of the separate components of the original 63 Z06 package had to be ordered separately for 64. The 63 Z06 package was a one year only option.

Hmmmmm.... just thought of something. I wonder if J56 brakes could have been ordered without F40 HD suspension??

 

Michael,

rumor has it THREE were actually built - this is the only one that we KNOW FOR SURE has documentation to prove it!

 

I don't doubt that number. Quite possible. I have a feeling several more will surface now though.

Still looking for even one with that other Z06 option that includes the finned drums but without vented backing plates. Now THAT'S would be rare indeed. Must be real because I read it somewhere.

 

You don't get them wrong often, so I have to take every opportunity you give me.

Dick Guldstrand is our convertible C2 guy. Yenko ran a C1 a couple of years into the C2 era before changing. He had his C1 dialed in completely, and with a lot of tricks he didn't want to give up too soon. He had written a couple of articles in SportsCar on how to, err, get the most out of your Corvette in racing.

 

As soon as the disc brakes showed up on the '65s, any Z06 actually being raced would have had the drums ripped off and disc brakes installed. Last year's race car was only good for what you could use off of it for this year's race car.

So it is doubtful we will find any in original condition. Anyone spending $1300 over the $4000 base price was probably not doing it to cruise the A&W on Saturday night.

 

Yes, they didn't stay around long. They really weren't very good to begin with and everyone disliked them. Doug Hooper, the guy that drove/won in the #19 car at the L. A. Times event in late 1962 had no good words, at all, for the Z06 brake package. Can't repeat exactly what he said here but I remember it word for word.

Not likely any more cars with authentic paperwork will show up now, 40+ years later, but it's possible I suppose.

 

Yup, you are correct Mike. I don't know why I was thinking it was Yenko. See what happens when ya get old? Brain fade sets in.

 

Instead of looking for trouble on Friday, you should have been over talking to Phil Currin. His '63 didn't have no stinking drum brakes. And the numbers matched - there was a 99 on both doors.

 

This is a car that was run as a '63 ZO6 at Monterry Historics last year. It had disc brakes. So if you buy a car with the ZO6 option and then you remove the option, is it still a ZO6?

 

 

Interesting info on the vert vs the coupe

 

The car is black with a saddle leather interior, white soft top, and black hardtop; this was taken when it was shown for the first time at the Zion, Utah Regional in 2003.

 

This seems to be the double standard in Corvettes. If it is a famous car, or one that certain Corvette owners have, it is valuable regardless of what has happened to it.

If you are an average joe, your car has to be completely original in every nut and bolt or it is worthless.

The 12-mile L88 has a replacement engine. It is worth a bunch.

The Last Sting Ray has a replacement engine. It sold for a bunch.

The guy who has an unmolested, well-kept, original car that blew the original black under warranty and has a CE now. Well, sorry, nice car, but it is an NOM.

The reality is they were all built by putting parts together, either back 40 years ago in St. Louis, or a year or two in someone's garage. The value, if the car isn't completely 100% original, should be in the quality of the car.

If (enter big name Corvette collector) owns a 435 hp Corvette with a replacement motor, it is worth $xxx,xxx.

If you own a 435 hp Corvette with a replacement motor, it is worth $xx,xxx because it is an NOM, or you are "faking it".

 

John Z - Yep, that's the one that I saw! I shouldn't have said "non appealing", that's a matter of opinion.

Great story behind the Z06 Coupe at the historics too. Armstrong bought it for his wife to race because he didn't want her racing his multi-million $$$ Ferrari's! Not all bad ...

Nick

 

Z06 was a 1963 only option, but I think in 64 you could get most of the components to make your own Z06 a la carte. There were Big Brake and Airbox C1's, which were, like the Z06 intended for non-factory supported track use. There was a factory race version of the 67 C2 (l88) and C3,(L88 and ZL1).

The Z06 name was revived for the Corvette during the C5 run to cash in in the cache of the name, much like the Z28 camaros begat the Z24 Cavalier and Z26 Beretta (and don't forget the Z85 Silverado!)

 

These packages were determined a lot by SCCA rules. In the '50s, you had to race a car in basically stock trim in the production classes. If the item was not available stock, you couldn't race it. This is why there were race packages.

Not everyone bought a car with the race package, of course, because you could get a used car cheaper, then add the parts for the package.

Z06 was not the last package like that for Corvette. In 1963, it included all you needed but the tires and roll bar. By this time, SCCA was allowing you to change the cars some by adding, updating, and backdating. They still had to be stock items.

After that, you simply ordered the individual pieces. No packages. The L88 is really an engine option, however, there were so many restrictions, it was nearly a package. This was as much to restrict street users as to set up what Chevy deemed the best combination.

If you doubt people just check the biggest and nastiest, look at all who bought Z51 on the '84 Corvette and up, when they never saw a track.

In 1970, the pieces (brakes, suspension) were not available so the ZR1 and then the ZR2 packages in '72 had to be included to make the parts legal for racing. Even the Z07 was there to keep the car legal through 1975.

After 1975, the SCCA rules had loosened enough that there was no need for these packages anymore.

 

wow

 

 

Bill

 

I would like to add some comments and clear up some misconceptions.

I have known the Armstrongs for more than 15 years. I have never known them to race a Ferrari. Susan's #6, 63 Z06 is the ex-Paul Reinhart car with full history. I was paddocked right across from the Armstrongs at Monterey in 05. Susan, who is a fine driver, ALREADY raced her own 63 Z06 when Paul decided to make his available in order to repurchase his OWN 57 FI race Corvette. The #6 car runs a carb because that's the way Paul raced the car when he owned it. As previously mentioned, the Z06 finned drums, with sintered metallic linings are TERRIBLE. I raced them for almost 20 years, before deciding that I would die if I continued. They pull to the left, then to the right, then they lock up....or don't stop at all. ALL vintage racing sanctioning organizations currently allow updating to the STOCK K-H disc brakes which were available from 1965 thru 1982. All of the C2 Corvettes currently use those brakes with modern race linings (I use PFC-01). All of my original parts are at home in a box, cleaned and painted, ready for when I'm too old to race my car any more. Susan, Vic Edelbrock and I all race original 63 Z06 Coupes, however, (as far as I know) I am currently the only FI car racing. Don't know why that is. We all run motors that are modified "to the original period" for racing. Safety gear is modern. No one wants death or injury to result from vintage racing. Obviously none of our racecars are "numbers matching", but Steve Earle encourages "originality". My car runs a full interior, glass, clock and radio (and weighs 3050lbs). Cobras are allowed fender flares, bigger wheels, and larger tires, but Cobras also weigh 2000 lbs (and GT350s 2500 lbs). Corvettes never beat Cobras back in the day, and still (with the exception of Terry Gough) don't today. So what, nothing else beat Cobras either. I got invited to Monterey, and race in one of Steve Earls races every year. I am not rich, nor do I have any exceptional talents, nor am I a "celebrity". Anyone with a race history, who has a period correct car, who can drive without endangering himself or others can participate in this wonderful sport. Most, however, prefer to talk about it. If you don't choose to race, at lease come watch. Vintage racing is exciting stuff.
BTW the original FIA homologation papers for the ZO6 list the "big brake package" with finned, cooled brakes as "Stock on ALL 63 Corvettes". They listed the small stock drums as "optional brakes" sorta like the "disc brake delete" option for 1965.
If you think a Corvette is valuable only because some idiot is willing to spend too much money for it, just wait and see if that will get him invited to race it at the Monterey Historics.