1963 Corvette Z06

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Mecum Auction Listing - Kissimmee 2017

1963 Corvette Z06

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Lot S174
Kissimmee 2017
Jan 6-15

Highlights

  • Bloomington Gold Benchmark award in 2013
  • Bloomington Gold and Survivor awards in 2013
  • NCRS Top Flight award winner
  • Unrestored with original paint, glass, interior and drivetrain
  • The original owner kept the car 43 years
  • Documented with the dealer invoice, owner's card, letters from GM, receipts dating back to 1963, fuel fill-up log, maintenance log, 1963 license plates and plaque from Corvette Museum
  • Featured in GM's 2001 Z06 re-launch brochure
  • Original matching numbers 327/360 HP engine
  • CCAS engine affirmation
  • 4-speed transmission
  • Z06 special heavy duty suspension
  • Z06 metallic brakes with finned drums and cooling fans
  • Power brakes, 3.70 Positraction rear
  • Original body and trim tags
  • 1 of 199 produced
  • Produced on July 24, 1963
  • Sold new by Jack Schwhirtz Chevrolet to Tom Atchinson on Elizabeth, IL
  • Cover car for Vette Magazine in June 2002
  • 39,000 original miles

This is the rarest of finds: a Bloomington Gold Benchmark, unrestored and original, 39,000-actual mile 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 equipped with its original matching-numbers fuelie engine. There were only 199 1963 Z06s produced, and this is the actual car that Chevrolet featured in its promotional literature relaunching the Z06 fixed-roof coupe in 2001. Prior to recently receiving its Bloomington Gold Benchmark designation, this stunner received the coveted Bloomington Gold and Survivor certification and an NCRS Top Flight award. There's no question that few Corvettes ever built are more desirable, from all the well-deserved accolades to the split-window body style and Z06 performance goodies that all combine to make this one special ride.

This Riverside Red with the dealer-painted white racing stripe Z06 was purchased new on August 14, 1963, from Jack Schwirtz Chevrolet by Tom Atchison of Elizabeth, Illinois, who owned the car for an astounding 43 years. Amazingly, this was Atchison's second 1963 Z06; he ordered the first one, a Riverside Red coupe, in October of 1962 and took delivery in March 1963. Two weeks later, during a long drive home late on Good Friday, he fell asleep at the wheel and crashed, totaling the car, his life saved by the seat belts he had ordered at a cost of $18.55.

By then it was very late in the 1963 production schedule; after the imposition of an internal racing ban by GM management, Chevrolet had stopped taking orders for the Z06 in February. Atchison sent a letter to Chevrolet telling them of his misfortune and his wish to replace the written-off Corvette with another. After a bit of a wait, Atchison's big wish was granted with a nearly identical Z06. One unique feature is a one-off set of nickel-plated steel wheels with custom two-bar spinner center caps. Those wheels have remained with the car ever since.

Delivered a full 6 months after the February 1963 production cut-off date, Atchison's Z06 is quite likely the last one built and is also most certainly the most thoroughly documented. Not only did Atchison keep virtually every piece of paper generated by the car during his ownership, including dealer invoices, trade-in and financing agreements, letters from GM, the owner's manual packet, complete maintenance and fuel fill-up records—the latter including the price of gas on the day of each purchase—period photographs, even parking receipts and the original license plates; he also kept most every part that was ever removed from the car, including the original headlights, water temperature gauge and spare tire lock boot, most of which were replaced under warranty.

In addition to appearing in the 2001 Z06 promo materials, the Tom Atchison 1963 Z06 was displayed at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky, through 2000 and 2001. It is highly decorated, winning Bloomington Gold Benchmark status in 2013, Bloomington Gold and Survivor Certification in 2013, the NCRS Top Flight Award in 2002 and the NCRS Bowtie Award in 2000. An affirmation by CCAS/Al Grenning supporting the legitimacy and originality of the engine, stamp pad and stampings is included. Most significantly, this car is widely regarded as the best original, unrestored and legitimate Z06 in the world.

From the Mecum Auction Listing - 2013:

Lot S128 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Z06
Well Documented, Bloomington Gold & Survivor
Select Vehicles from the Rick Davis Collection

Kissimmee, FL Auction
January 18-27, 2013
This Lot scheduled to be sold SAT 2:40PM

Description:

One of 199 produced, this unrestored and original, matching numbers 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 coupe is the car that GM featured in its promotional literature relaunching the Z06 fixed roof coupe in 2001. In addition to having been displayed at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky through 2000 and 2001, it is highly decorated, winning Bloomington Gold and Survivor Certification in 2010, the NCRS Top Flight Award in 2002 and the Chevy Vettefest Bowtie Award in 2000. A one-owner car for almost its entire life, it boasts the Z06-specific combination of 327/360 HP V-8 with Rochester fuel injection, 4-speed close-ratio manual transmission, 3.70 Positraction rear end (changed when new from the factory-installed 4.10 gearset), special heavy duty suspension, sintered metallic power-assisted drum brakes with forward self-adjusters, front cool-air scoops and internal cooling fins, and 6.70x15 wheels with 4-ply Whitewall tires. It is finished in the original Riverside Red and still sports the White racing stripes and chromed wheel covers added by the first owner a few days after he took delivery of the car from Jack Schwartz Chevrolet of Elizabeth, Illinois on August 14, 1963. Documentation includes the original dealer invoice.

Highlights:

  • 1 of 199 Z06 Corvettes produced in 1963
  • VIN: 30837S120377
  • 2010 Bloomington Gold Certified
  • 2010 Bloomington Gold Survivor
  • 2002 NCRS Top Flight award
  • 2000 Chevy Vettefest Bowtie award
  • Z06 special heavy duty suspension
  • Z06 metallic brakes with finned drums and cooling fans
  • Matching numbers 327/360 HP Fuelie engine
  • 4-speed manual transmission
  • Power brakes, 3.70 posi rear end
  • Factory correct color combination
  • Riverside Red with Black interior
  • Documented with the dealer invoice
  • One owner for first 43 years, receipts date back to 1963
  • Featured in the 2001 GM Z06 relaunch brochure