FUTURE COLLECTIBLE: 2025 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1
January 14, 2025
Posted by Barrett-Jackson
Chevrolet Corvettes often command a lot of attention and attract many of the highest bids at Barrett-Jackson auctions. While some become the crown jewel of a collection, others have sold for a good cause. For example, a first retail production 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 VIN 001 70th Anniversary Edition sold at the 2022 Scottsdale Auction for $3.6 million to benefit Operation Homefront, the first retail production 2020 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray VIN 001 sold for $3 million at the 2020 Scottsdale Auction to benefit the Detroit Children’s Fund and most recently the first retail production 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray VIN 001 sold for $1.1 million at the 2023 Palm Beach Auction to benefit DonorsChoose.
What each of these Corvettes has in common – besides benefiting the hard work of incredible charities – is that each represented the pinnacle of Corvette performance when it crossed the Barrett-Jackson block, and each became an instant collectible. So what’s next for “America’s favorite sports car”?
Chevrolet has a new darling in its lineup that is sure to be an instant collectible the moment it hits the streets. It currently holds the title of being the most powerful and most capable Corvette produced to date. Let us introduce you to the 2025 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 (Lot #3005).
According to Chevrolet, the ZR1 was designed to challenge the world’s best supercars with its 5.5-liter, twin-turbocharged dual overhead cam flat-plane crank LT7 V8 engine rated with a stunning 1,064 horsepower at 7,000 rpm and 828 ft/lbs of torque at 6,000 rpm. With General Motors President Mark Reuss driving, the 2025 Corvette ZR1 reached a top speed of 233 mph at a test track in Germany. The top speed set a new record for any current production car priced under $1 million.
2020 SCOTTSDALE AUCTION – 2020 CHEVROLET CORVETTE STINGRAY VIN 001 – SOLD! $3,000,000
“Corvette ZR1 is about pushing the envelope with raw power and cutting-edge innovation,” said Scott Bell, vice president of Chevrolet. “From Stingray, to Z06, E-Ray and now ZR1, the Corvette family continues to elevate with each new iteration ‒ and challenge the best in the world.”
To achieve the record-setting speed, Chevrolet used a ZR1 coupe with a standard chassis, outfitted with an aero package, a standard spoiler with short wicker carbon-fiber ground effects and Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires on aluminum wheels. In other words, you don’t need a fully loaded ZR1 to reach similar performance.
Chevrolet engineers attained remarkable speeds thanks to their specialized Top Speed Mode, a feature developed exclusively for closed courses. This mode optimizes the chassis control systems for maximum velocity, allowing the ZR1 to reach the impressive 233 mph, hitting redline in sixth gear. Even more impressive, this speed wasn’t just a one-off feat: during testing, five engineers and both ZR1 development cars consistently surpassed 230 mph over multiple runs.
One of the most captivating elements of the ZR1 is the return of the split rear window, a design feature last seen on the Corvette in the iconic 1963 C2 model. The carbon-fiber “spine” between the rear windows serves as both a striking statement piece and a functional component, enhancing heat extraction from the engine bay. This feature works in harmony with a suite of other cooling elements integrated throughout the ZR1.
Beyond the split-window design, the Chevrolet team meticulously crafted every element of the ZR1 to enhance performance, ensuring each component played a role in cooling or aerodynamics. This attention to detail keeps the ZR1’s focus firmly on maximizing performance.
Will you see a 2025 Chevrolet ZR1 on the Barrett-Jackson auction block this January? You bet! Chevrolet was kind enough to donate the First Retail Production VIN 001 to raise funds for a great cause. Read more about the ZR1 with 100% of the hammer price benefiting the Red Cross here.