The arrival of the Corvette Sting Ray in 1963 marked a dramatic turning point for America’s sports car.

With its four-wheel independent suspension, available fuel-injected 327 V-8, and unmistakable Split-Window Coupe styling, the new Corvette was as technically advanced as it was visually arresting.

Its competition potential was immediately apparent, particularly in Z06 form, and the model quickly became a formidable presence in SCCA racing.
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The Corvette presented here, chassis 30837S102899, was completed in November 1962, finished in Riverside Red with a black interior, and equipped with the desirable L84 fuel-injected 327/360 hp V-8.

Its original owner, Southern California racer Gary Pickens, was associated with Harry Mann Chevrolet, the prominent Los Angeles dealership that advertised itself as America’s largest Corvette dealer.
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When the first Z06 Corvettes made their competition debut at Riverside in October 1962, the limited initial allocation left Pickens without one of Ch...