When is a ~$90,000 Corvette worth more? How about if it's Number 1 of the build.
The first of 500 retail 2011 Corvette Z06 Carbon Limited Edition coupes will go to the highest bidder at Barrett-Jackson in Palm Beach, Florida, on April 3.
This continues Chevrolet’s tradition of offering potentially rare – or at least collectible cars -through Barrett-Jackson.
At the Scottsdale, Arizona, auction in 2008, the first retail production 2009 Corvette ZR1 sold for $1,000,000. The first retail 2010 Chevrolet Camaro was also sold for $350,000 at a Barrett-Jackson auction last year.
More recently, a limited edition Corvette Z06 – number 427 of 427 produced – raised $200,000, which was donated to Red Cross relief efforts in Haiti.
The winning Carbon bidder can tour GM’s Performance Build Center in Wixom, Michigan, where the hand-built LS7 and LS9 engines used in the Z06 and ZR1 respectively are assembled. The winner will also have the opportunity to watch her car going down the line at the Corvette Assembly Plant in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
“The Corvette Z06 Carbon will surely be an instant collectible,” claims Jim Campbell, U.S. Vice President, Chevrolet Marketing. “For that reason, we see Barrett-Jackson as the premiere venue to sell the first retail Z06 Carbon.”
The Corvette Z06 Carbon was designed as a tribute to the 50th anniversary of Corvette’s first race in the 24 Hours of LeMans. As such, it continues the technology transfer between the production Corvette and racing. (Click Here: First Look: 2011 Corvette Carbon Fiber Z06)
Notable features of the Z06 Carbon include Brembo carbon ceramic brakes, Michelin PS2 tires, Magnetic Ride Control and enhanced cooling. Black headlamps and mirrors, a ZR1-style body color spoiler, body color door handles, carbon fiber raised hood, and black carbon fiber rockers and splitter tweak the Z06’s design, and reduce mass and aerodynamic lift.
The Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach auction runs from April 1 to April 3. The carbon fiber Corvette will be priced somewhere between the base Z06, which starts at $74,285 and the fire breathing and Porsche eating ZR1, which starts at $106,880.