1963 Z06 Convertible?

[Rick A.]

Folks,

Was told by several folks who were at the NCRS last week in Hershey, that there was a gentleman there who had a 1963 black/red convertible that he swears is a Z06!!!!!! Anyone on this forum see the car and can comment on how it was equipped? This gentleman supposedly is going to put the car up for auction at the January Barrett-Jackson show in Scottsdale.

[John H.]

Re: 1963 Z06 Convertible?

If it's the car that was shown at the Zion Regional, it has a saddle interior; had all the right hardware on it that appeared to be original to the car, but there was no documentation to support it being built that way. Was bought from the estate of a recently-deceased 92-year-old Chevrolet engineer after decades in storage. Haven't heard anything about it since it was shown.

[Rick A.]

Re: 1963 Z06 Convertible?

John,

that is probably the one folks were talking about - could very well have gotten the color combination wrong - just thought all of the "documented" Z06's were coupes - but, you never know, we always find an odd ball here and there - latest rumor I have heard is that there was a SIXTH Grand Sport build!

[Duke W.]

Re: 1963 Z06 Convertible?

Years ago it was my understanding that there was a sixth GS that was completely destroyed in a fire, but that was wrong. I wouldn't put much faith in a rumor of a sixth GS at this point as they have been very thoroughly researched and documented over the past 20+ years.

With the second iteration of Z06, released in Feb. '63, that unbundled the big tank and KOs, it was acceptable to order Z06 on a convert. So far no one has actually produced documentation as far as I know, but the car John referred to sounds legit from appearance and known history, but it would sure be nice if the estate could find some documentation. Being as how the original owner was an engineer and kept the car all those years, I can't imagine that he didn't keep any paperwork.

Duke

[John H.]

Re: 1963 Z06 Convertible?

Rick -

The latest issue of AutoWeek magazine included an interview with John Mecom, who bought the Grand Sports when Zora "cut them loose"; he claims in the interview that he bought six cars, but nobody has ever seen or heard of the "sixth" car he thinks he remembers buying. As Duke said, these are probably the best-documented and researched cars in history, and John Mecom is the only one of all the many people who were involved with the Grand Sports who "thinks" there were six of them. I spent two years of research myself before I built my tube-frame replica of Chassis #003 in 1995, and there was never any mention from anyone about a "sixth" car; I got the "Mecom Racing Team" stickers for the doors directly from John Mecom himself, and he never mentioned a "sixth" car during any of our conversations.

[Rick A.]

Re: 1963 Z06 Convertible?

John,

thanks for the response! I thought I had remembered someone on this Forum (turns out that was you) had built a GS replica and documented everything!

[Chas Kingston]

Re: 1963 Z06 Convertible?

Spoken like a true engineer.

Geezer

P. S. Or is that injunere? (I can still work a slide rule)

OLD Geezer