A Quick History of the Corvette Z06

Another Zora Arkus-Duntov creation, GM revived the Corvette Z06 trim during the C5 generation for dominating road courses.

The first time that the Z06 name was used with the Chevrolet Corvette came back in 1963, when Zora Arkus-Duntov created the Z06 package for the then-new Sting Ray. The package began with a 327-cubic inch, fuel-injected small-block V8 that delivered 360 horsepower. That power was sent towards the rear wheels by means of a 4-speed manual transmission and a posi-traction rear differential.

The package also added heavy-duty shocks and springs for improved handling and power brakes featuring finned drums, helping to keep the stoppers cool while on the track. Of course, a road racer back then needed to hold plenty of gasoline, so the 1963 Corvette Z06 came with a 36.5-gallon fuel tank. Only 199 examples of the original Z06 were built, including the one shown below, courtesy of General Motors, as are all of these Z06 images.

C5 Z06

The next Corvette Z06 wasn’t introduced until the C5 generation. The 2001 Corvette Z06 was designed to dominate a road course and it did just that, becoming one of the first American production road car to get around the Nurburgring in the 7-minute range. This package was built on fixed-roof hardtop chassis with a unique LS6 V8 with 405 horsepower and a unique 6-speed manual transmission. The C5 Z06 also included lightweight glass, a lighter titanium exhaust system, lighter wheels, and the high-performance FE4 suspension package. A total of 28,388 C5 Z06s were built between 2001 and 2004.

C6 Z06

The C6 Corvette Z06 was introduced for the 2006 model year with the lowest curb weight of all then-new models and the biggest small block V8 ever produced by General Motors. The C6 Z06 weighed just 3,130 pounds while the 7.0-liter LS7 delivered 505 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque. Of course, like past Z06 models, the C6 version featured package-specific suspension components, a big brake package, wide front and rear tires on lightweight wheels, functional front and rear brake cooling ducts, a unique front fascia and an array of smaller weight-saving measures.

The C6 Z06 also had the Z07 package, which added carbon ceramic-matrix brake rotors, Michelin Pilot Sport Cup tires, Magnetic Selective Ride Control suspension, and carbon fiber body bits to help bring weight down further. A C6 Corvette Z06 with the Z07 package lapped the Nurburgring in just 7 minutes and 22.68 seconds.

Finally, the C7 Corvette Z06 was introduced for the 2015 model year with a supercharged V8 that delivered 650 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque. Like previous models, the latest Z06 has higher performance braking and suspension components than the C7 Stingray, high-performance tires, and unique body components that offer superior aerodynamics. There is also a Z07 package for this Z06, adding more extreme aero, Michelin Pilot Super Sport Cup tires, and carbon ceramic-matrix brakes.

Editor’s note: this content was originally published in a longer singular post about four Corvette trim level histories. We’ve divided them up to help people find them easier. 

Glossary

A Quick History of the Corvette Stingray
A Quick History of the Corvette Grand Sport
A Quick History of the Corvette Z06
A Quick History of the Corvette ZR1

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