The first production Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 will probably also be the most expensive, after it has been sold at an American auction for an eye-watery US $ 3.7 million (A $ 5.92 million).
The new flagship sports car from Chevrolet has not yet reached the showrooms, but the most successful teamowner and car collector of Nascar Rick Hendrick paid the Exorbitant sum for the right to possess ZR1 VIN 001 at the annual Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottsdale, Arizona.
The Black ZR1 that was displayed in Barrett-Jackson was a pre-production-temporary place, so Mr Hendrick gets the opportunity to specify the first production ZR1 for he receives.
Hendrick is an avid follower of the Corvette name plate with more than 150 examples in his collection, including the first production C8 Z06, Stingray and E-ray.
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A good premium was paid for each, Mr Hendrick who came out a combined US $ 5.7 million (A $ 9.1 million) to secure the trio of new models – and that is before he offered the ZR1.
As was the case with those earlier purchases, all proceeds from the sale of the first ZR1 will be donated to charity – this time the American Red Cross.
“We were lucky to help many charities, and I really respect (Craig Jackson, chairman and CEO of Barrett-Jackson) because he is about the only man I know an auction that gives all the money to The charities we represent, “said Mr. Hendrick.
“North Carolina was in fact destroyed in the western part of the state and now the fires in California, it is something that we have tried to support all those years.
“There is a lot of need in the western part of our state and I am a Chevrolet man and a Corvette man, so it will be good to have it in the collection.”
The C8 ZR1 is not only the most powerful Corvette ever made, it also contains the most powerful production V8 ever from an American car manufacturer.
Under the hood is a Twin-Turbo 5 5.5-liter flat-plan crank V8 engine devised the ‘LT7’, with up to 783 kW at 7000 rpm and 1123 Nm torque at 6000 rpm. Chevrolet claims that it pulls up to 346 km/h.
The ZR1 will introduce production in 2025, although Australia is not in line to receive it. The price starts with US $ 175,000 (AU $ 280,000), 21 times less than the amount paid for VIN 001.
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