How special was 1963 in the long line of Corvette achievement? Well, pretty much every car-lover is aware of the split window coupe, but there's so much more....so much more. Let's review:
- only year for split window coupe
- first year ever for a coupe body
- first year for hidden headlights
- first year for Sting Ray name
- first year for independent rear suspension
- first year for the now famous Z-06 option *
- first year for the Grand Sport Corvette **
* A special performance option was designed for the new 1963 Sting Ray (coupe only) to offer the closest thing to a real race car that the public could buy. Known as the Z-06, the option included unique dual circuit power brakes which included much larger (and sintered) metallic linings, vented backing plates, larger finned brake drums, cooling fans in the drums, and self-adjusters that work "going forward" instead of when backing up like the standard drum brakes.
Suspension modifications included heavy-duty rear transverse spring (seven leaves rather than the stock nine leaves), heavy-duty front springs and specially calibrated shock absorbers all around. A 36-gallon (U.S.) fibreglass fuel tank took up most of the area behind the seats and was covered by a carpet that sat just under the driver's shoulder height. In the early days, aluminum knock-offs were required as part of the package but they were removed from the Z-06 option list in January of 1963.
The buyer was also required to order the 360hp fuel-injected 327, a four-speed and a positraction differential. The total price was nearly $7,000 in 1963. The package was cancelled after 1963 with only 199 Z06 cars built.
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** Where to start with the 1963 Grand Sport? This was Duntov's outrageous attempt at pushing General Motors into the forefront of GT racing and he almost got away with it. He only managed to build five in the back shop, and somehow got them into the hands of real racers, but he had plans for many, many more.
For those who think of 1996 (at the end of the C4 run) as the beginning of the Grand Sport, take a detour here and be amazed - Corvette Grand Sport
For the rest of you, just run your eyeballs over these cars (some are kits), and imagine yourself behind the wheel.
Since we have permission from the boss to post from Corvette News, watch for the 5-page article that goes with this cover, right here, when the freezing rain starts.
Replica built by JohnZ...
Drivers: Dick Thompson and Dick Guldstrand
And if you think fender flares were an aftermarket invention for C2 Corvettes, you didn't look closely enough at the photos.
Where would we be without Duntov? That's easy....we'd all be driving Toyota Corollas.
- only year for split window coupe
- first year ever for a coupe body
- first year for hidden headlights
- first year for Sting Ray name
- first year for independent rear suspension
- first year for the now famous Z-06 option *
- first year for the Grand Sport Corvette **
* A special performance option was designed for the new 1963 Sting Ray (coupe only) to offer the closest thing to a real race car that the public could buy. Known as the Z-06, the option included unique dual circuit power brakes which included much larger (and sintered) metallic linings, vented backing plates, larger finned brake drums, cooling fans in the drums, and self-adjusters that work "going forward" instead of when backing up like the standard drum brakes.
Suspension modifications included heavy-duty rear transverse spring (seven leaves rather than the stock nine leaves), heavy-duty front springs and specially calibrated shock absorbers all around. A 36-gallon (U.S.) fibreglass fuel tank took up most of the area behind the seats and was covered by a carpet that sat just under the driver's shoulder height. In the early days, aluminum knock-offs were required as part of the package but they were removed from the Z-06 option list in January of 1963.
The buyer was also required to order the 360hp fuel-injected 327, a four-speed and a positraction differential. The total price was nearly $7,000 in 1963. The package was cancelled after 1963 with only 199 Z06 cars built.
====================================================
** Where to start with the 1963 Grand Sport? This was Duntov's outrageous attempt at pushing General Motors into the forefront of GT racing and he almost got away with it. He only managed to build five in the back shop, and somehow got them into the hands of real racers, but he had plans for many, many more.
For those who think of 1996 (at the end of the C4 run) as the beginning of the Grand Sport, take a detour here and be amazed - Corvette Grand Sport
For the rest of you, just run your eyeballs over these cars (some are kits), and imagine yourself behind the wheel.
Since we have permission from the boss to post from Corvette News, watch for the 5-page article that goes with this cover, right here, when the freezing rain starts.
Replica built by JohnZ...
Drivers: Dick Thompson and Dick Guldstrand
And if you think fender flares were an aftermarket invention for C2 Corvettes, you didn't look closely enough at the photos.
Where would we be without Duntov? That's easy....we'd all be driving Toyota Corollas.
