Newly Discovered '63 Z06?

[Sydney G.]

I noticed on the Proteam website that there is a new 'barnfind' 1963 Z-06 Tanker.
I'm very very far from being a pro at telling the many differences associated with a Z06 but there are some interesting pictures to view.

Anyone know this car and it's story? Where was it found??

Syd

[Harry S.]

Re: Newly Discovered '63 Z06?

Syd, can you post a link to the site?

[Dick C.]

Re: Newly Discovered '63 Z06?

http://proteamcorvette.com/cars/1002C.htm

Syd, can you post a link to the site?

[Mike L.]

Re: Newly Discovered '63 Z06?

The body number seems to me not in sequence. If the Mickey Thompson car is Vin. #6844 Body #3447 they how could this be Vin#6669 and Body #3621??Both cars are big tank cars.

[Sydney G.]

Re: Newly Discovered '63 Z06?

The body number seems to me not in sequence. If the Mickey Thompson car is Vin. #6844 Body #3447 they how could this be Vin#6669 and Body #3621??Both cars are big tank cars.

Hi Mike,

Good point.
But from what I can tell, this Coupe #6,669 - Body #3,621, is the car that has it's body number in sequence and the M. Thompson car does not.

For comparison,
Coupe #6,643 - Body #3,605
Coupe #6,690 - Body #3,633
This car #6,669 fits right in.

I've always wondered about the Thompson car and why it didn't fit into sequence?? Was it held back in production for extra work or modification etc. due to it being a Z-06?

If it were in sequence, it's Body number would suggest Vin #6,380 or there about.

Syd

[David S.]

Re: Newly Discovered '63 Z06?

Weren't all 63 VIN and Trim tags spot welded not rivetted to the birdcage?

-Dave

[Philip C.]

Re: Newly Discovered '63 Z06?

Weren't all 63 VIN and Trim tags spot welded not rivetted to the birdcage?

-Dave

Hi Dave the trims were rivetted and the vins were spot welded in 63. That looks like a real tanker to me, but the rear bulk head looks like it was removed/ replaced? for some reason, thats one hurt puppy. Hear terry turn down two hundred for it. Phil 8063

[David S.]

Re: Newly Discovered '63 Z06?

Hi Dave the trims were rivetted and the vins were spot welded in 63. That looks like a real tanker to me, but the rear bulk head looks like it was removed/ replaced? for some reason, thats one hurt puppy. Hear terry turn down two hundred for it. Phil 8063

Thanks for clarifying.

Dave

[James G.]

Re: Newly Discovered '63 Z06?

Hi Mike,

Good point.
But from what I can tell, this Coupe #6,669 - Body #3,621, is the car that has it's body number in sequence and the M. Thompson car does not.

For comparison,
Coupe #6,643 - Body #3,605
Coupe #6,690 - Body #3,633
This car #6,669 fits right in.

I've always wondered about the Thompson car and why it didn't fit into sequence?? Was it held back in production for extra work or modification etc. due to it being a Z-06?

If it were in sequence, it's Body number would suggest Vin #6,380 or there about.

Syd

The Mickey Thompson Corvette in question is one of six 1963 Z-06 Stingrays ordered to race at Riverside in October 1962. This car, and one like it, never saw Riverside. 4 cars made it to that Riverside race, and only the Doug Hooper winning car at Riverside was a Mickey Thompson car. It was a pilotline very early production example, and possibly the second Z0-6 BIG TANK car made.

That very car and three otherZ0-6's in Mickey Thompson control were destined to compete in a different sort of race for sports cars, a NASCAR sanctioned event on the famous Daytona Oval, which was called the "3 hour Continental", and was initially the 1st race for Prototype FIA International race cars that in 1966 became the 24 Hours of Daytona. This meant the cars needed to be prepared to a different set of rules, the same as those for the big Grand National stock cars. The chassis was modified extensively and an experimental 427 "MYSTERY MOTOR" engine installed. The car was lightened in every way possible and weighed just over 2800 pounds. Extra fuel was carried in a specially fabricated 50 gallon tank occupying the area behind the driver.

Junior Johnson a week before the race, qualfied one of these special cars and was the fastest qualifier at over 162 mph. Plagued by rain on race day, Junior said "NO, the car is way to squirley at speed on dry pavement" so substitute driver Billy Krause took over the controls and finished third behind Paul Goldsmith's 63 Pontiac Tempest special with the 421 HO engine pushing it around the oval. A.J. Foyt in another standard Z0-6 Fuel injection 327 Corvette came in 2nd. The other 427 "Mystery Motor" Corvette special was driven by Rex White.

Special features of the two Mickey Thompson NASCAR Corvettes include: * Special 427 engine * Adjustable front sway bar * Three speed Grand National transmission * Adjustable rear suspension * Magnesium differential * Flat aluminum floors * Two shocks per wheel * Special exhaust system * Special axles * Lightweight fiberglass seats * 4 wheel disc brakes * 50 gallon gas tank * Engine oil cooler * Plexiglas windows * Differential oil cooler * Full roll cage * Fully welded frame * Aluminum instrument panel.

After Daytona, at least three of the the Mickey Thompson Z0-6 race Corvettes were returned to California. The 427 engines were removed, (possibly at Smokey Yunick's shop in Florida and original 327 engines reinstalled) and the cars were sold to a Southern California road racer, Merrle Brennan. History of each car is "cloudy", but we know that the Mystery engine car was again driven by Billy Krause in the Los Angeles Times Grand Prix in October of 1963, and also Santa Barbara. Billy actually raced two cars at Daytona, a factory 327 fuel car and the driver substitute Mystery motor car. He told me in 2008 that he does not remember which car he raced at Santa Barbara and Riverside when back home after DAYTONA and the end of Stingray racing.

Both Krause and Hooper were entered as drivers in the Mickey Thompson car at 1963 LeMans, which was canceled after Daytona. Doug said, "NEVER QUITE YOUR DAY JOB, if you want to be a race driver"

In 1976, Tom McIntyre purchased one of the early cars and began the slow process of figuring out exactly what it was.

Years later, Chevrolet engineers divulged that the car was originally powered by an experimental 427 Mk II "Mystery Motor" Thanks to Smokey Yunick, one of the Mickey Thompson Corvette and its special engine have been reunited. The car has been raced across the country in historic events since 1983.

Mickey also had a street Z0-6 car he drove daily, and the trim tag question is on that car. It was a back-up car originally for racing, but never used in early 63.

So yes, there are many questions to be answered about these special cars.

ERIC GILL and TOD OSAID are giving a special seminar at the NCRS FLORIDA REGIONAL in two weeks. Race driver Tony DeLorenzo will be there also. Wish I could join them all

[Steven B.]

Re: Newly Discovered '63 Z06?

[quote=James Gessner (943);531782]The Mickey Thompson Corvette in question is one of six 1963 Z-06 Stingrays ordered to race at Riverside in October 1962. This car, and one like it, never saw Riverside. 4 cars made it to that Riverside race, and only the Doug Hooper winning car at Riverside was a Mickey Thompson car. It was a pilotline very early production example, and possibly the second Z0-6 BIG TANK car made.

Somewhere I have a '63 magazine with pic. of the 421 Tempest and Corvette at '63 Daytona. Entry list is at:

www.racingsportscars.com

[James G.]

Re: Newly Discovered '63 Z06?

THANKS STEVE. THE RESULTS I HAD ARE FROM THE QUALIFING RACE ON FEB 10, 1963. HERE IS THE ACTUAL RACE RESULTS ON FEB 17, 1963. CORVETTES DID NOT DO WELL THAT WEEKEND. NICE TRY.......BUT SEE BELOW.

Did not finish:
No. Drivers Car Entrant Laps Time Distance Km/h Reason Gr. Div.
71 Mauro Bianchi Abarth-Simca 1300 Bialbero Abarth 49 DNF GT1.3 GT II
98 Dan Gurney Shelby Cobra 260 Mk I Shelby American 48 Ignition GT5.0 GT III
63 Jere Mosiman TVR Grantura Russell Beazell 46 Engine GT2.0 GT II
10 Don Yenko Chevrolet Corvette Grady Davis 44 DNF GT+5.0 GT III
4 Bill Krause Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray Mickey Thompson 41 Engine GT+5.0 GT III
17 Bob Johnson Chevrolet Corvette Nickey Chevrolet 41 DNF GT+5.0 GT III
1 Ed Cantrell Chevrolet Corvette Ed Cantrell 32 DNF GT+5.0 GT III
6 Jef Stevens Chevrolet Corvette Dixie Motor 28 DNF GT+5.0 GT III
7 Jerry Grant Chevrolet Corvette Alan Green 26 DNF GT+5.0 GT III
3 Doug Hooper Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray Mickey Thompson 14 DNF GT+5.0 GT III
9 Ralph Salyer Chevrolet Corvette Ralph Salyer 6 DNF GT+5.0 GT III
25 Innes Ireland Ferrari 250 GTO Rosebud Racing Team 4 Accident GT3.0 GT III
50 Paul Goldsmith Pontiac Tempest Ray Nichels 3 Fuel pump GT+5.0 GT III
41 Bob Brown Chevrolet Corvette Robert Ryan Brown 2 DNF GT+5.0 GT III
42 Tom Kneebone A.C. Ace Bristol Tom Kneebone 1 Spin GT2.0 GT II
Did not start:
No. Drivers Car Entrant Reason Gr. Div.
8 Dick Lang Chevrolet Corvette Dick Lang GT+5.0 GT III
12 Delmo Johnson Chevrolet Corvette Delmo Johnson GT+5.0 GT III
35 Don Evans Chevrolet Corvette Bill Eve GT+5.0 GT III
Practiced:
Pos. No. Drivers Car Entrant Laps Time Distance Km/h Reason Pos. Gr. Pos. Div.
3T Bill Krause Chevrolet Corvette Mickey Thompson GT+5.0 GT III
4T Doug Hooper Chevrolet Corvette Mickey Thompson GT+5.0 GT III

[William L.]

Re: Newly Discovered '63 Z06?

Here's a couple of pictures of the Corvette Service Co. 1963 Z06 driven by Mickey Thompson at Bonneville in 1964. I think that it was M/T's street driven Corvette and not one of his race cars. It appears NOT to be heavily modified like the mystery motored cars or road raced prepared like his small block cars but to have some Mickey Thompson and Fritz Voit touches.
Many of the modifications were still on the car when we restored it.
These are some of the modifications to the car I found in these pictures.
1 A simple one loop roll bar
2 Car to be made to look like a 64 Corvette. Split window removed and a 64 hood.
3 Washers welded to core support for easy removal
4 Stock door panels with all window cranks and hardware
5 Electric cranking signal valve
6 Oil fill breather
7 Most likely an adjustable front sway bar
8 Stock Corvette rear end on the ground (salt)
9 Simple straight through exhaust exiting in front of the rear wheel.
Besides the Mickey Thompson Chevron Credit Card with a good through date of Nov 1964 found in the car by Mike Pillsbury there were other small modifications made to the car that were consistent with other M/T cars.
That's why I believe that vin 6844 was the car that M/T used at Bonneville in 1964.
Like Jim said there a re many questions to be answered about these special cars.
Bill

[William L.]

Re: Newly Discovered '63 Z06?

[quote=Steven Brohard (5759);531834]

The Mickey Thompson Corvette in question is one of six 1963 Z-06 Stingrays ordered to race at Riverside in October 1962. This car, and one like it, never saw Riverside. 4 cars made it to that Riverside race, and only the Doug Hooper winning car at Riverside was a Mickey Thompson car. It was a pilotline very early production example, and possibly the second Z0-6 BIG TANK car made.

Somewhere I have a '63 magazine with pic. of the 421 Tempest and Corvette at '63 Daytona. Entry list is at:

www.racingsportscars.com

Steve in a letter to Corvette Fever magizne Aug. 1999 Doug Hooper wrote
" Mickey had 5 Z06 Corvettes. There was a Daytona Blue one that I drove, a silver one that Al Gunner, and later Billi Krause, drove, another silver one (427ci) for Junor Johnson, and a white one (427ci) for Rex White. There was another white one Mickey used as his personal driver. That was left stock."
Here's a picture of the winning Tempest.

[Philip C.]

Re: Newly Discovered '63 Z06?

Hi Bill you gotta love that, Mickey and his guys with the shelby shirts on! What ball breaker he was. Phil 8063

[Richard M.]

Re: Newly Discovered '63 Z06?

Great stuff here.....Interesting barn find. Does anyone know where Terry found it?

Jim, loved that story, thanks for sharing.

Bill, your top photo..... Did they cut out the split window and put in '64 glass on that car?

Rich