Summer 1965, a Friday night, my buddy and I (he had a driver's license, I didn't) headed downtown Waterloo to cruise 4th Street. But first, a bee-line to Schukei Chevrolet's lot to look for cool stuff. In the middle of the used lot, all by itself, was a white '63 Impala, black rims with no caps, and a nose up stance. In the driver's window were lists describing the details of a Z-11. Holy Crap!!! I got to see and touch a real Z-11!! My 15 year old brain was fully blown :shocked:

I've always wondered where it went from there?? - Bill W

I can listen to these stories all day!! Thanks for sharing Bill.

Also some great stories about the 63 Z-11 cars in the book "Super Stock: Drag Racing the Family Sedan" by Larry Davis. If you love cars from that era, you REALLY need to have that book :3gears:

63 z11
 

When I was born, my dad (RIP Pops) brought me home from the hospital in his black 63 Z11.

He used to tell me whenever he took me out for a ride, I used to crack him up constantly saying "Car go wheeeee!!...."

Unfortunately, he wasn't big on pics- but I have two that I will share.
Pics of pics- from a couple of old Kodaks that I treasure.

He did race it- Pops was an avid drag racer at New England Dragway.
But its primary duty was as a street car.

He bought it used in 1964 from some dealer in MA (around Newton I believe) that had advertised it as a 409- but they apparently had no idea what it really was.

Pops, fortunately, knew exactly what it was- and after he bought it, found some old gas slips or something in the car somewhere with the previous owner's name on them.
Pops managed to contact the guy- who told him that it was just a terrible car- a real piece of crap- and that's why he traded it in.
He told Pops that it was always loading up, stalling and not starting.

One story I can remember him telling me related to the engine compression.

My dad was at work, and my mom was borrowing the car out running errands in "The Black Chevy".
She was stopped getting gas at one of my dad's buddies station.

Apparently, the car wouldn't start back up after the fill- so my dad's buddy offered to push start it with the wrecker.
When my mom let out the clutch- it stalled the wrecker...

Dad told me he sold the car & engine separately-must've been around 1967 or 1968. He told me he put a regular 409 engine back in it.

I took this photo of the Jack May Z11 (tuned by Ronnie Sox) at the York show in 2007. I think there were four other Z11s at that show.

Bob Tucker from Florida in his "Thunder" Z11.

We don't have Verne's expertise to lean on anymore (RIP) but I believe power brakes did not come on the '63 Z11s and all of them had the plenum air cleaner so it would stand to reason that there should be a hole in the firewall for that or at least a plate covering it up.

I have Rusty Symmes "Project Z-11" book and when I get a moment I will look through it and see if there is any reference to that. Perhaps Rusty may know the answer.

No Z11’s had power brakes or front bumper guards and every one of them was an assembly line cowl plenum firewall. That is not a Z11 motor in the photo either but a 409/425.