Rare Mickey Thompson ‘Big Tank’ ‘Vette Headed to Auction
Racing Legend’s 1963 Z06 Corvette on the Docket at Barrett-Jackson Auction in Scottsdale
With every Barrett-Jackson auction, we see our fair share of rare and desirable Corvettes. But the 2017 Scottsdale event, which runs through January 22, might just top them all. Alongside a host of fiberglass wonders sat Mickey Thompson‘s very own 1963 Z06 Corvette “Big Tank,” one of the rarest cars Chevrolet has ever built.
This fully restored example of a C2 Z06 is one of five assigned to Thompson by GM in 1962. Of the five, this one was Thompson’s personal car. Only 63 Big Tank 1963 Z06 coupes were produced, with fewer than that existing today. The only difference between these and the other factory racers was a long range, 36-gallon fuel tank.
Otherwise, all came equipped with everything an aspiring racer might want in a car. The suspension came fortified with beefy shocks, springs and an anti-roll bar. Big vented brakes with high-spec lining, a brake booster and dual master cylinders slowed things down quickly.
But the heart of the beast lies under the hood: the L84 327 ci V8 producing 360 hp. A sophisticated (for the era) Rochester mechanical fuel injection system feeds the small block. Inside, a lumpy solid lifter cam boosts power, with high flowing heads on top. The only transmission offered was a Muncie 4-speed manual, with a posi-traction rear end out back.
A total of 2,610 1963 Corvettes came equipped with the L84 engine, but only 199 of those also had the Z06 Special Performance Equipment package. That makes this rare factory racer even rarer. Couple that with the fact that it was driven by one of the most legendary racers of all time, and it won’t come cheap. But even if you don’t have pockets deep enough to bid, it’s still nice to see such a legendary car live to see another day.
