Testing a 1963 Corvette Z06 Prototype at Sebring

It’s time for Throwback Thursday where we feature vintage photos of Corvettes. Today’s picture features a 1963 Z06 Mule and Chief Corvette engineer Zora Arkus-Duntov.

Here’s an interesting photo we pulled from our Zora photo archive at Pinterest.

This 1963 Corvette Z06 prototype has an early midyear front clip but the doors have coves which were such a prominent design feature of the 1956-1962 Corvettes. The hard top looks to come from a C1 as does the gauge cluster which you can see through the windshield. As a frame of reference, the Michigan manufacturer’s license plate is dated 1961.

Holding the helmet is Corvette chief engineer Zora Arkus-Duntov.

According to Super Chevy, the Corvette is an early 1963 Z06 Prototype and the location is Sebring International Raceway.

The 1963 Corvette Z06 was part of Zora’s two-pronged effort to get Chevrolet back in the factory-supported racing game. Chevrolet built 199 Corvette Z06s which were essentially race-prepped sports cars direct from the factory. You could say that part of the plan was successful. Of course, the second part of his plan hinged on building 125 homologated lightweight Corvette Grand Sport racers, but that project was killed by GM management after just five were built.

We love these old photos which are such an essential part of Corvette’s history.