I've searched the archive. No info that I could find.

What does the "Z06" stand for?

Thanks...

~m

 

I believe it was a RPO code back in 1963 for the vette - high performance set-up, but I don't know what all it encompassed. Chevy brought it back, so to speak, to denominate the "high performance" version of the current car.

 

That is the "Z" part, right?

What about the "06"?

Thanks for the info...

~m

 

When you bought your new car, did the dealership not give you the new Corvette brochuer, or the tape? :confused:

 

Yah...got the tape. No VCR tho'.

I'm getting that "D'oh" feeling here.

Is this one of those _obvious_ answers?

Hmphf!

~m

 

It's all part of the code, just like LS1, MN6, etc.

 

I don't think it actually means anything. It's just a code. If it does mean something, you got me. :confused:

 

Pardon the paraphrase, but Z06 stands for Factory Fastest Corvette.:jester

:party:

:cheers:
VetterMan

 

The "Z" is for Zora Duntov, the creator of the original 1963 Z06. The "0" I have no idea about. The "6" is for the LS6 engine. :thumbs:

 

Zora Arkus-Duntov was chief engineer and in the mid sixties built 5 Gran Sport competition cars based on the new '63 design before GM pulled out of racing. In 2001 an updated version was born; could be why they call it ZO6.

 

THIS is what Z06 stands for!


[Modified by 63Corvette, 7:47 PM 4/23/2003]

 

The designation Z06 stands for the performance option (competition brakes, heavy-duty sway bars, weight reduction measures, chassis design, etc.). It was first used by Zora Arkus-Duntov in the performance oriented '63 Stingray coupes (later some verts were made) but the coupes (big tanks) are the "real" Z06 of the mid-year generation.

"Z" has always denoted performance optioned Corvettes starting with the '63 Z06. Throughout the history of Corvettes, most of its performance optioned models had the "Z" designation. It was used again in 1970 on the LT1 powered ZR-1 which ran through the 1972 model year. A big-block version with the LS6 (first use of this engine designation) in 1971, the ZR-2 (one year production only). Very rare with only 12 produced.

And of course during the C4 production years, the competitive models were the Z51 (base engine cars) but later in 1989, the ZR-1 was introduced with the LT5 DOHC Lotus-engineered firebreathers.

2001 marked the reintroduction of the moniker, Z06 optioned with the all new 385 hp LS6.

Tire manufacturers by the way use the "Z" designation for their ultra-performance speed rated tires too.

 

GM began using a three character alpha-numeric coding system for regular production options (RPOs) in 1963. Prior to that it was three digits, which were limited to 999 choices. In the early days of alpha-numeric coding, option codes were typically a letter followed by two numbers, but later codes included two letters followed by a number, which expanded the available combinations.

"Z" prefix options have traditionally been reserved for "special performance equipment packages". The letter does not stand for Zora! Special performance equipment packages usually included some combination of engine, drivetrain, brake, and suspension equipment bundled together as a package. The first Z-prefix RPO, Z-06, became available in 1963 and included HD drum brakes, HD suspension, and a 36 gallon fuel tank. It was designed for production class club and international endurance racing. The 36 gallon fuel tank was unbundled in the second half of '63 production, and for '64 all the equipment was completely unbundled to separate options. Though Z-06 was not available in 1964, you could buy all the equipment that made up the '63 Z-06 package by ordering the appropriate separate options. Don't ask me what happened to Z-01 through Z-05. They weren't used, at least in the early days.

Other well known special performance equipment packages include the '69 ZL-1 with the all aluminum big block. In 1970 the ZR-1 package became available, which bundled the LT-1 engine with HD cooling, suspension, and brakes and was followed by ZR-2 in 1971, which bundled the LS-6 big block with other HD parts including suspension and brakes. (BTW the term "heavy duty" was Chevrolet's euphamism for racing, since management frowned on any overt attempts to support racing.) Following he demise of mechanical lifter engines due to emission regulations, these two packages were replaced with Z-07, which bundled just the HD suspension and brake parts for 73-75.

Of course, ZR-1 is better known as the option code for the "King of the Hill" C4 Corvette from 90-95. Z-prefix options were available throughout the Chevrolet model line, such as the '63 Z-11 full sized Chevrolet, which included aluminum front end sheet metal with the dual quad 409. It was focused at drag racing. Other historical Z-prefix options are Z-29 GT equipment for the Vega and Z-09 Cosworth Vega,

Z-prefix options were not part of car guy vernacular back in '63, but it was the Z-28 option for the Camaro that elevated Z-prefix options to cult status. Chevrolet quickly recognized the marketing value of their esoteric codes for high performance packages, and the rest is history. The '67 Z-28 Camaro was devoid of any special badging as it was a "homologation special" required to make the Camaro eligible for Trans-Am racing, and only about 700 were built, but word quickly spread about this special package and for '68, prominent Z-28 badges were evident, and it was a big hit. Likewise, ZR-1 was not just a production code for the King of the Hill Corvette, but the official model name. They followed suit by using Z06 as the official model designation for the highest performance C5 in recognition of its historical signficance.

Prior to the release of the '01 Z06 only serious vintage Corvette aficianados knew anything about the '63 Z-06 including, of course, the current owners of the remaining 199 that were built in '63, but due to Chevrolet's publicity and word of mouth, most current Z06 owners have become aware of the signifiance of zee-zero-six.

Duke

P.S. The Z-51 option on coupes and convertibles is usually thought of as a suspension option, but it is really a PACKAGE because it includes a power steering cooler. The suspension itself is actually coded FE3, but it is not available separately - only with the power steering cooler. Thus, it's a special performance equipment package and carries a Z-prefix.





[Modified by SWCDuke, 9:54 AM 4/11/2003]

 

As always, Duke has all his Ducks in a row:-) My hat's off to him. ANY question you have on Corvettes, this is the place you will find an answer.

 

Thanks Duke!

An amazing retrospective.

I really appreciate your time and effort on that.

~m

 

All very excellent information... I'm glad that some folks could provide the information to shop that our cars (Z06) come from a very special bloodline, and that those z06s from 63 are very special cars....

If you ever wonder about RPO or Regular Production Options, look on any factory winder sticker. Each of the three digit codes is on the sheet. Z06 is just another option code. Although in our case it is a pretty cool one. As others have stated other like the Z-11 and the Z-28 denote pretty cool cars also along with ZR-1 and ZR-2. One other one I would like to point out is the special performance package in the C4's the Z07 option which was also a very special Corvette package back in the 60's also.


[Modified by J-Rod, 10:39 AM 4/14/2003]

 

Fast :cool:

 

WOW! :eek: Thanks for the excellent information. Where do you get all of that information? Obviously I need to brush up on my Corvette history so I can actually talk like I know about my vehicle. Maybe I can just keep pretending.

 

That was some cool info there... Thx :yesnod:

 

I've been a Corvette junkie since about 1957 when I was eleven years old. Went to work because I wanted one and special ordered a new '63 SWC when I was in high school. Of course, I continued to track Corvette racing and development until the emissions era almost killed the car. Went on to get a couple of engineering degrees and worked for GM before going into the aerospace business in the early seventies. (It was clear that the performance era was over and working on emissions and bumpers didn't appeal to me, plus the weather in LA is a lot better than Detroit.)

Living through most of the "golden era" as a close observer gives one a pretty good perspective and a mind full of details and trivia. :)

Duke