This is the rarest of finds: a Bloomington Gold Benchmark, unrestored and original, 39,000-mile 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 equipped with its original matching-numbers Fuelie engine. There were only 199 1963 Z06s produced, and this is the actual car that Chevrolet featured in its promotional literature relaunching the Z06 fixed-roof coupe in 2001. Prior to recently receiving its Bloomington Gold Benchmark designation, this stunner received the coveted Bloomington Gold and Survivor certification and an NCRS Top Flight award. There’s no question that few Corvettes ever built are more desirable, from all the well-deserved accolades to the split-window body style and Z06 performance goodies that all combine to make this one special ride. This Riverside Red with dealer-painted white racing stripe Z06 was purchased new on August 14, 1963 from Jack Schwirtz Chevrolet by Tom Atchison of Elizabeth, Illinois, who owned the car for an astounding 43 years. Amazingly, this was Atchison’s second 1963 Z06; he ordered the first one, a Riverside Red coupe, in October 1962 and took delivery in March 1963. Two weeks later, during a long drive home late on Good Friday, he fell asleep at the wheel and crashed, totaling the car, his life saved by the seat belts he had ordered at a cost of $18.55. By then, it was very late in the 1963 production schedule; after the imposition of an internal racing ban by GM management, Chevrolet had stopped taking orders for the Z06 in February. Atchison sent a letter to Chevrolet telling them of his misfortune and his wish to replace the written-off Corvette with another. After a bit of a wait, Atchison’s big wish was granted with a nearly identical Z06. One unique feature is a one-off set of nickel-plated steel wheels with custom two-bar spinner center caps. Those wheels have remained with the car ever since. Delivered a full six months after the February 1963 production cut-off date, Atchison’s Z06 is quite likely the last one built and is also most certainly the most thoroughly documented. Not only did Atchison keep virtually every piece of paper generated by the car during his ownership, including dealer invoices, trade-in and financing agreements, letters from GM, the owner’s manual packet, complete maintenance and fuel fill-up records—the latter including the price of gas on the day of each purchase—period photographs, and even parking receipts and the original license plates; he also kept most every part that was ever removed from the car, including the original headlights, water temperature gauge and spare tire lock boot, most of which were replaced under warranty. In addition to appearing in the 2001 Z06 promo materials, the Tom Atchison 1963 Z06 was displayed at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky, through 2000 and 2001. It is highly decorated, winning Bloomington Gold Benchmark status in 2013, Bloomington Gold and Survivor Certification in 2013, the NCRS Top Flight Award in 2002 and the NCRS Bowtie Award in 2000. An affirmation by CCAS/Al Grenning supporting the legitimacy and originality of the engine, stamp pad and stampings is included. Most significantly, this car is widely regarded as the best original, unrestored and legitimate Z06 in the world.
