Car Profiles

The Super Tanker—1963 Corvette ZO6 Tanker

Jim Richardson··
Last updated:

Corvette’s contemporary ZO6 is enough to strike terror into the hearts of those who drive slower cars, such as Ferraris at the Nürburgring. Well, okay,  perhaps not terror, but certainly a modicum of frustration. That’s because today’s ZO6 offerings have blown the doors off of competition that costs many times more, thus making them sought after machines.

However, more coveted than the contemporary ZO6 is the original 1963 ZO6; which was actually a one-year-only split window Sting Ray with the ZO6 performance package. This original ZO6 was developed primarily for racing almost 60 years ago, and the classic combination can still make the hair on the back of your neck stand up today.  Plus, this high performance package was installed in one of the most sublimely beautiful ‘Vettes ever built. Incidentally, the 1963 Sting Ray eventually morphed into what was dubbed the Stingray (all one word) for the 1968 model year.

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