Articles | Barrett-Jackson Auction Company - World's Greatest Collector Car Auctions

January 16, 2020

Posted By : Barrett-Jackson

Written By : independent automotive journalist Chris Griggs

AMERICA’S SPORTS CAR: Barrett-Jackson’s epic history with the beloved Corvette

January 16, 2020
Posted by Barrett-Jackson

Written by independent automotive journalist Chris Griggs

Lead shot Corvettes

In late 1951, Harley Earl and his team at General Motors had been given the green light to develop a new two-seater sports car, with the goal being to produce a vehicle that was lightweight, stylish and fun to drive. In less than two years, EX-122 made its debut at the 1953 General Motors Motorama in New York. The public’s reaction was so strong, the car was rushed into production as soon as possible and has grown into one of the most beloved American cars still produced today.

1953 Chevrolet Corvette #003 – sold for $1.1 million at the 2006 Scottsdale Auction.

America has had a long love affair with the Corvette, and it has deep ties in history and pop culture. Whether you grew up seeing celebrities like Farrah Fawcett or the Apollo astronauts pose with their cars, or heard Prince sing about a Little Red Corvette, everybody has at least one Corvette memory. With it being such an important car, it comes as no surprise the Barrett-Jackson auction block has seen some of the most significant Corvettes over the years.

Let’s start with the 2006 sale of a Polo White 1953 Corvette, VIN 003 – the earliest surviving production Corvette. If the history alone wasn’t enough, it was also a winner of some of the most prestigious Corvette awards. With the history and proven pedigree, this car ultimately sold for $1.1 million. To bookend that sale, 10 years later the very last 1953 Corvette produced, No. 300, crossed the block, selling for $533,500. Lasts of other generations have made appearances as well, with the “Last Stingray,” a 1967 427/390hp coupe, selling for $660,000 in 2007 and even the last seventh-generation ’Vette, a black 2019 Corvette Z06 coupe, which sold for charity at the 2019 Northeast Auction, raising $2.7 million.

Sold for $1.76 million at the 2008 Scottsdale Auction: 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe “Rondine” concept car.

Numerous other historically significant Corvettes have starred on the Barrett-Jackson auction block as well, such as the 1963 “Rondine” concept car. Starting with a stock Corvette chassis, Chevrolet commissioned noted coachbuilder Pininfarina to create a unique piece for the 1963 Paris Auto Show, and the result was simple yet elegant, functional yet fashionable. It incorporated features like fixed double headlights with horizontal chrome bars in the grille in the front and a “swallowtail” design rear with wraparound rear glass. Under the hood, it was still all-American, with a fuel-injected 327 V8 and 4-speed manual transmission. When this car went up for auction in 2008, it brought an impressive $1.76 million.

Perhaps one of the most interesting pieces of Corvette history to cross the block wasn’t actually a complete car. Starting as a roadworthy production vehicle, Chevrolet transformed a 1965 coupe into a show display car that would allow onlookers to see its inner workings. It was placed on a display stand with rams to lift the body nearly two feet off the chassis, giving a detailed look into the mechanical components, which had been strategically cut to show the mechanical bits inside. The only showpiece of its kind, it sold for $1.1 million in 2018.

1967 Chevrolet Corvette L88 – sold for $3.85 million at the 2014 Scottsdale Auction.

Performance has always been part of the Corvette DNA. There have been some legendary ultra-high-performance variants to take center stage on the auction block, but perhaps none mightier than the one-of-20 1967 L88 sold in 2014. Documented as the only red-on-red L88 built that year, it is one of the rarest and most valuable Corvettes, commanding $3.85 million. A pair of third-generation L88 race cars left strong impressions as well, with the most winning Corvette in history – the 1968 Owens/Corning car, selling for $1.1 million at the 2013 Scottsdale event, and the 1971 IMSA champion #57 Rebel Corvette selling in 2014 for $2.86 million.

With so many high-profile Corvettes crossing the block over the years, it’s no surprise that the biggest Corvette collectors, experts, and fans are always in attendance. Recognizing this, Chevrolet and Barrett-Jackson have partnered up numerous times over the years to reward those loyal fans with unique opportunities, as well as a chance to give back to the community through charity.

Sold for $1 million at the 2008 Scottsdale Auction – the first retail 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1.

In 2008, the very first retail 2009 Corvette ZR1 was sold for $1.1 million to benefit the Karmanos Cancer Institute. Then, when Chevrolet unveiled the seventh-generation Corvette, the first coupe and convertible were sold to Barrett-Jackson bidders at 2013 events in Scottsdale and Palm Beach. The coupe brought $1.1 million, with the entire sale price going to Detroit’s College for Creative Studies, and the convertible raised another $1.1 million, again benefiting the Karmanos Cancer Institute.

Beyond first-production cars, Chevrolet has also offered special-edition cars like the 2018 Carbon 65 Z06 coupe, which sold at the 2018 Scottsdale Auction. Built to celebrate 65 years of Corvette, production was limited to just 650 units, and making the sale even more special was an appearance by former President George W. Bush. The surprise presidential visit led to a bidding frenzy, culminating with the auctioneer emphatically saying “Mr. President, sell that car!” for a whopping $1.4 million, which all went to the George W. Bush Presidential Center’s Military Service Initiative.

1962 Chevrolet Corvette Custom Convertible “Elegance” – sold for $401,500 at the 2012 Scottsdale Auction.

In addition to the many significant original and restored Corvettes that have appeared at Barrett-Jackson over the years, there have been countless high-end customs and Resto-Mods, too. It’s no secret that the trend of Resto-Mods has been going strong for the better part of the decade, so when you mix that with the existing popularity of the Corvette, you get some truly outstanding results. Ranging from mild to wild, the best of the best have seen their time on the auction block.

One of the first examples is a 1962 convertible sold in 2012 that was the recipient of a 10,000-hour build, earning it the name “Elegance.” Powered by an LS7 and riding on a custom chassis, it was a Great 8 contender in the 2011 Detroit Autorama and sold for $401,500. Fast forward to 2018, when a 1958 custom Corvette rolled across on stage sporting a sleek black paint job with silver coves and a red interior, powered by a 6.2-liter LT1 engine. The car also featured one-off wheels made to look like oversized originals and sat on an Art Morrison C7 chassis, all of which and more contributed to the sale price of $440,000.

Sold for $440,000 at the 2018 Scottsdale Auction: 1958 Chevrolet Corvette Custom Coupe.

Although each car listed above is significant and unique, they all highlight the love that a passionate group of collectors and enthusiasts share for the Corvette. The marque has been a mainstay at Barrett-Jackson for decades, with several hundred getting their time to shine on the block every year. Of course, the cars mentioned are just a handful of the greats; to detail them all would result in a book thick enough to rival “War and Peace.” For as many special Corvettes that have crossed the block so far, the passion and love for this American icon will ensure plenty more for decades to come.

For a look at a very special Corvette that will sell for charity at the 2020 Scottsdale Auction, click HERE – and check out the gallery below of these very special Corvettes that have graced the Barrett-Jackson auction block in the past.