If you are a racing fan, no doubt you’ve heard the name Mickey Thompson. He achieved so much throughout his career, such as inventing the slingshot dragster, being the first driver to reach a speed of 120 mph in the quarter-mile, and being the first ever to exceed 400 mph in the Challenger I, a four-engine car he built and designed himself. A 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 formerly owned by Mr. Thompson heads to auction at Mecum Auctions Kissimmee as its feature attraction.
Corvette Z06 Introduced
While most linked with recent Corvette generations, the Z06 was actually introduced in 1963, the base C2 Corvette’s first year. Designed by legendary engineer Zora Arkus-Duntov, the Z06 is a split-window Corvette purpose-built to race right out of the box with features like a thicker anti-roll bar, heavy-duty springs and shocks, a larger front sway bar, 3.70 Positraction rear end, and a dual circuit, power vacuum brake master cylinder.
It was propelled by a 327/360 small-block L84 V-8, highlighted by a fairly high 11:1 compression ratio, a solid-lifter camshaft, and Rochester mechanical fuel injection instead of a carburetor and a high-flow exhaust system. The stock L84 made up to 360 horsepower and was guided by a Muncie M20 four-speed manual transmission connected to a rear-wheel-drive powertrain.
The Z06 also had sintered metallic brakes with air scoops, finned aluminum drum brakes, cooling fans, and a heftier suspension in addition to the beefed-up powerplant. This particular vehicle was one of only 79 made with the larger 36-gallon fuel tank, leading the way to its nickname of Tanker.
Mickey Thompson’s Z06
Only 199 total Z06 models were manufactured in 1963, many of which were allocated to race teams. Thompson ended up with five of these Z06s, although this particular one, number 6844, was left largely stock and served as his daily driver. This particular one was modified with Rader Tri-Ribb wheels designed by Thompson himself.
Corvette Collector Mike Pillsbury purchased and restored this vehicle in the 1980s, winning many awards on the car show circuit. However, at the time, the Mickey Thompson connection hadn’t been confirmed; it wasn’t until Pillsbury and fellow Corvette specialist Mike Scott found an expired Chevron credit card in the driver’s door belonging to Mickey Thompson. Pillsbury contacted Thompson himself and was able to verify its origins and has been part of the car’s documentation since. And yes, the card is still included in the sale.
This Z06 has been restored to pristine condition in Ermine White over a Black interior. Corvette expert David Burroughs has researched this vehicle, verifying its connection to Thompson. Three years ago, this vehicle garnered $247,000 at the Scottsdale auction in 2017, and its value has only increased since then, some would say significantly, perhaps as high as half a million dollars.
With so few produced, a 1963 Z06 is a rare find to begin with, but this one, with its rich history and ties to a legend of the automotive sports world, makes it even more special. A lucky someone will have the opportunity to own this piece of automotive history.
Connect with us
