1963 Yenko/Gulf Oil Z06 for auction

[Ridge K.]

I just received an email notice of the Mecum classic car auction coming up on January 22nd, 23th, 24th at Kissimmee, Florida, which will have as the main attraction, Dr. Dick Thompson's 1963 Yenko / Gulf Oil Z06 on the auction block.

[Mike M.]

Re: 1963 Yenko/Gulf Oil Z06 for auction

believe this ZO6 to also be the ex-rich mason, ex-dr don blatchley SCCA race vette.

[Michael H.]

Re: 1963 Yenko/Gulf Oil Z06 for auction

believe this ZO6 to also be the ex-rich mason, ex-dr don blatchley SCCA race vette.

I thought Doc Blatchley had a silver blue coupe?? He actually had two 63 coupes. First one he rolled and destroyed so he bought a 2nd during the 63 season??

[Mike M.]

Re: 1963 Yenko/Gulf Oil Z06 for auction

mike: wasn't aware don had two 63's . he was a good friend but his memory, and mechanical abilities, left a bit to be desired. i was under the impression he bought the white ZO6, used, from grady davis/gulf oil, after the 63 season and ran the 63 till he bought a then new66 425, also from grady. he then ran a 69 sbc till he retired from scca in 1977. the 66 has been uncovered and is currently being restored. mike

[Michael H.]

Re: 1963 Yenko/Gulf Oil Z06 for auction

mike: wasn't aware don had two 63's . he was a good friend but his memory, and mechanical abilities, left a bit to be desired. i was under the impression he bought the white ZO6, used, from grady davis/gulf oil, after the 63 season and ran the 63 till he bought a then new66 425, also from grady. he then ran a 69 sbc till he retired from scca in 1977. the 66 has been uncovered and is currently being restored. mike

Thanks Mike. I spoke with Mrs Blatchley about 25 years ago and that's what she told me. Said Doc rolled the first new 63 and almost immediately bought another one.
I suppose it's possible the 2nd one was the white car?

[John M.]

Re: 1963 Yenko/Gulf Oil Z06 for auction

Very nice...

[John D.]

Re: 1963 Yenko/Gulf Oil Z06 for auction

Michael, Not so. Doc rolled the 63 several times but each time it was rebuilt in Grabiak Chev. body shop. I can remember Doc running off the track when the drive cable fell out of the FI distributor and the poor abused 63 was on it's right side.We all laughed and though it was really funny. The car was in the body shop soooo much. I had the bent side exhaust from the passenger side when Doc rolled the car completely. I need to talk to the body man that spend most of his time in the old days patching up the Grady car and maybe he can tell me some good stories.
Doc only had one 63 coupe as I worked for him as a kid. Clem knows this. But Doc did have two 65 or 66's. Right Dr. Mike?
Doc's 63 was white just like my 63 the LWC. I bought my 63 as it reminded me of the Grady/Davis car that Dr.Blatchley raced when I was a young man.. In fact I have some of the parts from that car on my 63.

That's a really nice pic of Doc's 63. Brings tears to my eyes. Only thing is that it didn't look that good when Doc had it. Didn't have all the gingerbread on it. Course the car was repainted so man times. One time the car was sent to Indiana,PA on a flat bed to have it sand blasted. Yuk. When it came back I saw it and couldn't believe what a mess it was. It sure is beautiful today though. Rich Mason brought the car to the NCRS national at Seven Springs in the early 90's. Somewhere around here I have a pic of Doc, his wife Helen, and old JD hear standing beside the car when it was up in Festival Hall.

[John D.]

Re: 1963 Yenko/Gulf Oil Z06 for auction

Thanks Mike. I spoke with Mrs Blatchley about 25 years ago and that's what she told me. Said Doc rolled the first new 63 and almost immediately bought another one.
I suppose it's possible the 2nd one was the white car?

I hate to say this but you couldn't always rely on what the old lady said. The rolled 63 was in Grabiaks body shop and it was a mess. A total mess. I couldn't believe it when Donny Hamilton (just remembered his name) rebuilt the body. Did it on shop time during the day. Just like you would pay if you brought in your car for repair. Money was no object to Dr. He just wanted to have fun. Dressed up all in white with his white helmet covering his bald head. Doc was a real trip but couldn't drive for crap. Sorry Doc.

[Clem Z.]

Re: 1963 Yenko/Gulf Oil Z06 for auction

I hate to say this but you couldn't always rely on what the old lady said. The rolled 63 was in Grabiaks body shop and it was a mess. A total mess. I couldn't believe it when Donny Hamilton (just remembered his name) rebuilt the body. Did it on shop time during the day. Just like you would pay if you brought in your car for repair. Money was no object to Dr. He just wanted to have fun. Dressed up all in white with his white helmet covering his bald head. Doc was a real trip but couldn't drive for crap. Sorry Doc.

doc's first corvette was a 1959/60 with a GMC supercharger sticking up thru the hood. donny is sam jr brother in law,sam jr is married to donny's sister. donny is still there selling cars as i buy all my cars thru him since sam jr retired. doc was a pistol no doubt about it but he was a good dermatologist as he told mrs clem what to do with #1 son forehead after he fell when he was about 18 months old,and had 14 stitches so he would not have a scar and it worked.