C8 Corvette Zr1 Auction

The First Retail 2025 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 Was Sold For A Staggering Amount

The 2025 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 has made its debut in dramatic fashion, with the first retail production model selling for a staggering amount at the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction on Saturday. The winning bidder? None other than Rick Hendrick, famed Chevrolet dealer and NASCAR team owner, who is no stranger to acquiring milestone Corvettes. All proceeds from this high-profile sale are headed to the American Red Cross, continuing Barrett-Jackson’s tradition of supporting charitable causes.

2025 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1

Starting Price (MSRP) $174,995
Engine/Motor Twin-Turbo 5.5-Liter V8
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An Eye-Watering $3.7 Million 2025 Corvette ZR1

The 2025 Corvette ZR1 that crossed the auction block was a showstopper. Presented in a sleek black finish, this split-window coupe featured an aero package highlighted by a High Wing in visible carbon fiber. Blue forged aluminum wheels and Edge Blue dual racing stripes added a striking contrast, ensuring the car turned heads even in a room full of automotive brilliance. Corvette Chief Engineer Josh Holder was on hand to introduce the vehicle, describing it as “an exceptional car for an exceptional charity.”

2025 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 Key Specs

5.5-liter Twin-Turbo LT7 V8

Ahead of the sale, a promotional video showcased the ZR1’s standout features and the American Red Cross’s impactful work. The car’s styling and performance, combined with the charitable cause it supports, made it a centerpiece of the auction.

Hendrick will have the chance to customize his new ZR1, choosing between the split-window coupe or a convertible configuration. While the final specifications are up to him, it’s expected that the car will mirror its auction configuration in black, aligning with Hendrick’s tradition of customizing his VIN 001 Corvettes.

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Rick Hendrick’s Legacy Of Charity Car Purchases

Hendrick’s purchase of the 2025 Corvette ZR1 adds to his impressive collection of first-production Corvettes from the C8 era. In recent years, he has acquired the first 2023 Corvette Z06 for $3.6 million, the 2024 Corvette E-Ray for $1.15 million, and the first 2020 Corvette Stingray for $3 million, among others. His dedication to supporting charitable auctions is unmatched, with a total of 38 cars purchased for over $28 million at Barrett-Jackson events alone.

The bidding for the ZR1 kicked off at $1 million and quickly escalated, reaching $3 million before Craig Jackson, chairman and CEO of Barrett-Jackson, announced the final sale to Hendrick.

The 2025 Corvette ZR1’s Regular Pricing

The 2025 Corvette ZR1 will be available in two trims, 1LZ and 3LZ, with coupe and convertible options. Pricing starts at $174,995 for the base 1LZ coupe (including $1,695 for destination) and rises to $195,995 for the top-tier 3LZ convertible. Production is set to begin in Q2 at the Bowling Green Assembly Plant, with orders opening in mid-February.

[VIDEO] 2025 Corvette ZR1 Sells for $391K at Manheim Dealer Auction

Yes, we are talking about pricing of the 2025 Corvette ZR1 on the secondary market. We previously found what we believed to be the first ZR1 flipped last month. That car was VIN 044 which was delivered to a California dealer, and one week later it was offered for sale at an exotic car dealership in New York with a selling price of $450,000. We don’t know the exact selling price but suffice to say the dealer likely got what they were asking for.

Now we got another flip with a 2025 Corvette ZR1 Convertible offered at the dealer-only Manheim auction in Atlanta.

Interestingly, one of those options was a custom interior plaque for $295 which is something you don’t usually order if you’re planning on flipping the car. Perhaps the seller may have had intentions when getting the car but had to sell it do to circumstances. We’ll probably never know the reason, but one thing is readily apparent: You could make a killing right now if you wanted to part with yours.

As for this flipped Corvette ZR1, it will be offered by another dealer, and we can’t wait to see what kind on selling price they will be asking on a car they paid $391,000 for. Hey, their kids got to eat, right?

Thanks to Matt Beaver of Kinley Chevrolet in Mount Joy, PA, we have a video of the auction. It looks like the reserve was set for $370,000 as the live chat shows the seller saying the car will be sold after the $370K bid. The winning bidder was Status Auto Group in New York with their bid of $391,000. And yes, they are the same exotic dealer that sold the other flipped ZR1 for $450K.

The First C8 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 Makes Bugattis Look Cheap

Barrett-Jackson has concluded this year’s Scottsdale auction and the star of the night was this: the very first production 2025 Chevy Corvette ZR1. Identifiable by its VIN 001 designation, the Corvette ZR1 was sold at a hammer price of $3.7 million, bought by none other than Rick Hendrick, NASCAR team owner and a prominent car collector.

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Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 Coupe

Base: $183,300
Base Trim Engine 5.5L Twin-Turbo V8, Gas
Base Trim Transmission 8-Speed DCT Automatic
Base Trim Drivetrain Rear-Wheel Drive
Base Trim Horsepower 1,064 hp
Base Trim Torque 828 lb-ft
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This isn’t Hendrick’s first winning bid for the mid-engined version of America’s sports car. In 2020, the owner of Hendrick Motorsport became the owner of the first C8 Corvette Stingray for $3 million, then paid another $3.6 million for the first C8 Corvette Z06 after two years. He clearly has a thing for modern Corvettes, though he does sometimes deviate, like when he bought the first 2017 Acura NSX for $1.2 million.

Over $28 Million Spent For Charity

As with Hendrick’s previous overpayment for special cars, 100% of the first C8 Corvette ZR1’s sale went to charity, specifically the American Red Cross. Barrett-Jackson Chairman and CEO Craig Jackson, along with President Steve Davis, stated that the funds will offer vital support to people impacted by the California wildfires and hurricanes in the southeastern US. Of note, Hendrick has raised over $28 million for various charities through 39 vehicles bought via the Barrett-Jackson block over two decades.

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Based on Barrett-Jackson’s video of the auction, Hendrick’s C8 Corvette ZR1 looks unassuming with glossy black paint, wearing a set of wheels painted in Edge Blue. Of course, it’s powered by Chevy’s amazing twin-turbo 5.5-liter LT7 V8, capable of producing up to 1,064 horsepower and 828 lb-ft of torque. These numbers make the new ZR1 the most powerful production Corvette, and officially the fastest and quickest Corvette ever made.

A Multi-Million Dollar Auction Block

While the ZR1 that crossed the lot was a fairly basic black spec, it’s simply a placeholder, and the winning bidder will get to specify their own options, from paint and wheels to interior upgrades. Hopefully, Hendrick chooses something more exciting than the monochromatic spec seen below.