1963 Chevrolet Corvette Split-Window Z06 Coupe

Soon after its 1953 New York introduction, by 1955, Chevrolet's Corvette was infused with small-block V-8 power and tirelessly developed into a formidable racing contender that shattered speed records at Daytona Beach and utterly dominated SCCA production-class road racing during the late 1950s. A large part of this success was rooted in the growing pipeline of race-bred factory options developed by Zora Arkus-Duntov and his engineers, which made it possible to buy a virtual track-ready Corvette from the dealer showroom as early as 1957 with the new fuel-injection and competition-ready brake and handling packages. Not even the 1957 AMA racing ban could blunt the Corvette's charge, and by 1960, it rose to international glory with a hard-won GT 5.0 class victory scored by Team Cunningham drivers John Fitch and Bob Grossman at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Upping the ante for 1963, the redesigned second-generation Corvette Sting Ray was the first equipped with standard fully independent suspension and now available with a comprehensive racing option–the RPO Z06 Special Equipment Package–including most everything necessary to obtain a virtually race-ready Corvette straight from the dealer floor. Among those upgrades were a thicker front stabilizer bar, larger-diameter shock absorbers, higher-rate springs and uprated brakes, including fade-resistant sintered metallic brake linings, a dual-circuit master cylinder and vacuum booster. Initially priced at $1,818.45, RPO Z06 cost nearly half as much as the basic vehicle.

Corvettes equipped with RPO Z06 were only available with Chevrolet's high-winding RPO L84 327 CI V-8 rated at 360 HP with Rochester 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 Positraction limited-slip rear end were mandatory options with RPO Z06. Except for roll bars and fire extinguishers, Z06 Corvettes could be driven to the track, prepared, raced and driven home.

In total, 2,610 Corvettes were powered by the potent L84 “Fuelie” engine, and just 199 were equipped with the all-out RPO Z06 package. This 1963 “Split-Window” Corvette Coupe is one of those precious few legends, sporting a comprehensive frame-off rotisserie restoration in the factory-correct Sebring Silver and black color combination. Having recently been awarded NCRS Top Flight honors in 2023 with a judging score of 99.6 out of 100 possible points, this extremely rare Z06 Corvette retains the matching-numbers, RF-suffix 327/360 HP L84 V-8 engine, paired with a mandatory 4-speed manual transmission. In addition to its Z06 special heavy duty suspension and Z06 metallic brakes with finned drums and cooling fins, this example is surprisingly equipped with power windows and an AM/FM radio. Steel wheels mounting full-size bright “spinner” wheel covers and a set of original Firestone Deluxe Champion blackwall tires provide the proper finishing touches to this extremely rare 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Z06.