[PICS] Corvette Z06’s Shine in the Gold Collection at Bloomington Gold

Jun 14, 2023

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[PICS] Corvette Z06's Shine in the Gold Collection at Bloomington Gold

Photo Credits: Steve Burns

Each year the team at Bloomington Gold hand picks select, special Corvettes to be included in the exclusive Gold Collection. They can be amazingly restored examples or unrestored originals. They can be factory racecars or GM styling or engineering cars. If it’s a unique or special Corvette and fits the current year’s theme, an owner can apply to show their car.

For 2023, the Gold Collection saluted the Z06 Corvettes. The Z06 option code first appeared in 1963. It was THE option package for racers looking to dominate the competition. The new option package combined heavy duty brakes and suspension, the 360hp fuel injected 327ci engine, and a 4-speed transmission. A 36-gallon fuel tank was available for a portion of the production run. No radio was available with RPO Z06. The pricey option package added $1,818.14 (42%!) to the base Corvette price of $4,252. Just 199 Z06’s were built in 1963.

Corvette Z06's Shine in the Gold Collection at Bloomington Gold

RPO Z06 lasted one year before returning in 2001 on the 5th generation Corvette. In C5 form, owners got a more rigid hardtop body style with a 405hp LS6 engine, upgraded suspension, and a mandatory 6-speed manual transmission. From there, the tradition continued on in the C6 Corvettes with the monster 7.4 liter, 505hp, LS7 engine and fixed roof body style. Later, in the 7th generation, Z06-equipped Corvettes came in coupe or convertible form and were powered by the supercharged, 650hp LT4 engine. Buyers also had their choice of manual or automatic transmissions. Of course today, Z06 is once again front and center with the 670hp 2023 version.

The 2023 Gold Collection was located once again inside the Bone Student Center on the campus of Illinois State University. It was revealed to attendees prior to the show Thursday evening at the Gold Gala.

Upon entering the room, visitors were greeted by 10(!) 1963 Z06 Corvettes. Additionally, look to your right to see the white and blue Dave MacDonald Z06. Then, look to your left to see the legendary Gulf 1 Z06. Just beyond that in the corner was a fantastic display featuring an unrestored barn find Z06 adorned by track photos and documentation of its vivid racing past. We don’t recall ever seeing that many C2 Z06 Corvettes together in one location before.

Further back in the room, the later model Z06’s received their due as well. The C5 generation included a 2004 Commemorative Edition with its Lemans Blue paint, racing stripes, polished wheels, and carbon fiber body panels. The 6th generation Z06 represented in the form of a Ron Fellows Edition and a Z07 equipped, Ultimate Performance Z06. Two rare birds led the C7 Z06 brigade. We were big fans of the Sterling Blue Z06 coupe as well as the 2016 Callaway-boosted coupe.

Lastly, Bloomington Gold did not forget the all new 2023 Z06. Corvette Chief Engineer Josh Holder hosted walkarounds of a new red/red convertible both show days and 2 more 2023 Z06’s sat inside. We loved the spec on the Amplify Orange car with its Edge Blue stripes, Tension Blue interior, and red engine intake. The Elkhart Lake Blue Z06 was recently born and travelled to Bloomington Gold straight from the NCM where the owner had taken delivery just days earlier.

As you can tell, the 2023 Gold Collection at Bloomington Gold was a well-rounded gathering of the complete history of the Z06 option code. Some of the early Z06’s had never been seen before while others hadn’t been seen in many years. We probably say this every year, but we’re not sure we’ll see such a comprehensive gathering of 1 Corvette model again any time soon. Our hats off to the Bloomington team for assembling such a fine showcase of Corvette history. Now off to our gallery of the 2023 Gold Collection.