A rare 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray split-window coupe equipped with the Z06 performance package sold for $1.1 million at the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction, marking one of the highest prices ever paid for a small-block Corvette.
Barrett-Jackson’s Scottsdale event featured dozens of Corvettes spanning every generation, but the spotlight fell on this particular C2 model due to its specification and recent pricing history. Finished in Sebring Silver over a black interior, the coupe was fitted from new with Regular Production Option Z06 and the desirable 36.5-gallon fuel tank, commonly referred to by collectors as the “Big Tank” or “Tanker” configuration.
When the redesigned Corvette debuted for 1963, it represented a major leap forward. Sharp-edged styling, independent rear suspension, and a range of powerful 327-cubic-inch V8 engines helped push Corvette sales up 50 percent from the previous year. Within that lineup, the Z06 package was developed quietly to appeal to serious performance-minded buyers. Though not publicly advertised, the option bundled the most powerful fuel-injected small-block engine available, a four-speed manual transmission, upgraded suspension components, heavy-duty brakes, and a limited-slip differential.
Only 199 Z06 Corvettes were produced for 1963, and just 63 were built with the oversized fuel tank intended for endurance racing. That rarity has long separated Big Tank cars from their Small Tank counterparts in the collector market.
The Scottsdale example reportedly sold new in Georgia and does not have documented racing history. It underwent a comprehensive restoration in 2015 by Houston-based Corvette specialists Naber’s Motors and retains its original drivetrain. The car has earned Bloomington Gold certification and Top Flight recognition, and the restoration continues to present well more than a decade later.
This Corvette has appeared at auction before, selling for $310,000 in 2017 and $511,500 in 2024, values that aligned with market guides at the time. Its $1.1 million result significantly exceeds the current top-tier valuation for the model and follows a nearly identical sale of another Big Tank Z06 last week for just over $1.04 million.
While seven-figure prices for second-generation Corvettes have typically been reserved for ultra-rare big-block models, these recent results suggest growing recognition of the Z06’s historical importance and scarcity. Together, the back-to-back sales point toward a meaningful reassessment of where the most exceptional small-block Corvettes now stand in the market.
About the Author
