Page 69 - Demo

69Early in the 1963 model year, the Z06 package was a coupe-only option, but later made available for Corvette convertibles at reduced cost. While attractive castaluminum “knock-off” wheels were initially available, they were somewhat porous and leaked air, resulting in the majority of Z06 cars being fitted with tried-and-true steel wheels. Corvettes equipped with RPO Z06 were only available with Chevrolet’s RPO L84 327ci V8 rated at 360 horsepower with Rochester “Ramjet” mechanical fuel-injection, 11.0:1 compression, free-breathing cylinder heads, low-restriction exhaust and a hot solid-lifter cam. A 4-speed manual transmission and posi-traction limited-slip rear end were mandatory options. Reducing unnecessary weight, some Z06 Corvettes left the St. Louis factory with radios deleted. Except for roll bars and fire extinguishers, Z06 Corvettes could virtually be driven to the track, raced and driven home. Californian racing legend Mickey Thompson was one of a select few offered the opportunity to preview the new Corvette Sting Ray in 1962, along with star driver Dan Gurney and Gulf Oil executive Grady Davis. Thompson, who forged a relationship with “Bunkie” Knudsen, who headed Chevrolet, saw the new Corvette as an American rival to Ferrari’s then-dominant GT cars and a true Le Mans contender. Accordingly, Knudsen tasked Corvette chief engineer Zora Arkus-Duntov to develop the Z06 Corvette as an FIA-compliant, GT-class race car with an eye to American SCCA and FIA-sanctioned international competition. By summer 1962, Z06-equipped 1963 Corvettes were available for racing, with fast-rising West Coast drivers Bob Bondurant, Dave Macdonald and Jerry Grant flown to St. Louis to pick up their newly assigned Sting Ray coupes, which they drove home to break in their engines during the trip. Another four cars were air-freighted to Los Angeles, where they were picked up by Mickey Thompson and his crew. One was entered into the October 1962 Los Angeles Times Grand Prix at Riverside, driven to victory by Doug Hooper over an early Shelby Cobra. Areas for improvement were identified, analyzed and corrected in - - -IN ALL, 2,610 CORVETTES WERE POWERED BY THE TOP-SHELF RPO L84 “FUELIE” ENGINE, AND JUST 199 OF THEM WERE EQUIPPED WITH THE ALL-OUT RPO Z06 PACKAGE. - - -