Bonhams Cars will auction this historically significant 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray Z06, once driven by Bob Bondurant, on August 15 without reserve. Estimated at $500,000–$700,000, this car is part of the legendary first batch of six Z06 “tankers” developed by Zora Arkus-Duntov for Chevrolet’s covert racing efforts. Though General Motors had officially withdrawn from racing, these cars were quietly distributed to dealers who supported motorsports, including Washburn Chevrolet of Santa Barbara, which fielded Bondurant’s car.
Bondurant raced this car successfully throughout 1963, achieving victories at Santa Barbara and Riverside, and podium finishes at Pomona, Candlestick Park, and Dodger Stadium. Later that year, he was recruited by Carroll Shelby to join the Shelby Cobra program, marking the start of his international racing success and future founding of the Bondurant driving school.
Bob Joehnck initially prepped the Corvette and later passed to Mark Dees, who fitted it with a supercharged V8 and raced it at Bonneville, surpassing 200 mph. Vic Edelbrock Jr. later acquired the car in rough condition—essentially a bare frame with cutouts—and restored it using a correct 1963 body. He began racing it in 1988, though a crash at Palm Springs required further restoration, including replacing the over-lightened original frame with a proper 1963 unit.
The car retains its HMSA logbook, the original VIN ‘30837S113864, and verification from the National Corvette Restorers Society. As a rare, first-batch Z06 with a rich racing pedigree, it remains a prized example of early American GT racing history, although it requires light recommissioning to return it to vintage racing.
Source: Bonhams Cars
