Last C7 Corvette auctioned for charity
Listed for Barrett-Jackson’s ‘4th Annual Northeast Auction’ on 26-29 June, the last C7 is actually yet to be built (an identical model was present at the auction), but will be a Z06 in black with a supercharged 6.2 V8, 7-speed manual and the 3LZ interior package of Adrenaline Red leather trim, a Performance Data Recorder and satnav.
Donated by Chevrolet, the Z06 was being auctioned to raise money for the Stephen Siller Tunnels to Towers Foundation Smart Home Program that supports first responders and severely injured US military veterans by building homes compatible with their disabilities. The Foundation is named after a New York City firefighter killed in the September 11 terrorist attacks.
Given this cause, it was expected the charity Z06 would sell well, but the final price was a staggering US$2.7 million (AU$3.5 million approx.). Considering the showroom price of this model normally starts at US$80,900, that’s a huge premium.
“Thanks to everyone’s participation and efforts, we hit incredible milestones as we wrote new pages in automotive history,” said Craig Jackson, chairman and CEO of Barrett-Jackson.
“Chief among those was a new charity auction record set by the last-built C7 Corvette. This special moment closed an era for Corvette and also raised critical support for our nation’s heroes.”
The US$2.7M winning bid was a new record for a Corvette auctioned for charity and for a vehicle donated by a carmaker, but not for a Corvette sold at auction generally.
The overall record, also achieved at a Barrett-Jackson auction, is US$3.85 million (AU$4.3M approx.) paid for a 1967 Corvette L88 coupe in 2014.
Rare – only 20 were built in 1967 – the L88 spec Corvette was essentially built for racing, with a high-performance 427ci V8 with aluminium heads, 850cfm 4-barrel carburettor, hi-lift cam and posi-traction rear end, as well as a ‘Rock Crusher’ 4-speed manual transmission and heavy-duty radiator, clutch and brakes. Officially rated at 430hp (320kW), in reality the L88 was thought to be closer to 560hp (417kW).
For comparison’s sake, the stock C7 Corvette Z06 auctioned this past June produces 650hp (484kW).
Behind the US$3.85M Corvette, the next two top-selling Corvettes at auction are also L88-spec examples, selling for US$3.4 million and US$3.2 million respectively.
