Click the image above for a high resolution photo gallery
The automotive world waited what seemed like forever to get its first look at the 2009 Corvette ZR1, but one lucky bidder won't have to wait any longer to get into the driver's seat. The "first retailable unit built" ZR1 was snapped up with a final bid of $1,000,000, not including auction fees. The winning bidder, Dave Ressler, also bought the oldest available 1953 Corvette just a couple years ago at Barrett-Jackson for the exact same price. While the ZR1 on stage was not the actual one purchase, Ressler will get a one-of-one Le Mans blue version that no one else will get. All of the proceeds from the sale benefited The United Way, and everything over the $99,999 list price of the ZR1 will be tax deductible. Not a bad way to spend a million bucks!
Saleen makes new value-oriented Racecraft brand official
Officially Official: 2009 BMW 7 Series
Officially Official: 2009 Ford Focus RS
I want my FPV: Super sedans hit the desert in new TV spot
Happy Independence Day from Autoblog
Track Test: 2008 Roush 427R Trak Pak Mustang
In the Autoblog Garage: 2008 Porsche Cayman S
First Drive: 2009 Chevrolet Traverse
In the Autoblog Garage: 2008 Mazda MX-5 Miata Retractable Hard Top
In The Autoblog Garage: BMW 128i Convertible
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Keith Cornett @ Jan 20th 2008 1:08AM
What a great auction to watch. Leno did an awesome introduction as only he can deliver as a car guy. Ressler was awesome donating the extra money to United Way.
I think dealers will be upsizing their Market Adjustments when ZR1 arrives this summer.
I uploaded the video of the auction if anyone missed it. You can see it at http://www.corvetteblogger.com/index.cfm/2008/1/19/BarrettJackson-08-VIDEO-1st-2009-Corvette-ZR1-Sold-for-1-Million
A great night for Corvette!
HotRodzNKustoms @ Jan 20th 2008 1:22AM
Fantastic
Mobius_1 @ Jan 20th 2008 1:22AM
King of the Hill!
tankd0g @ Jan 20th 2008 1:22AM
Does GM get that money? Maybe if they just keep making new models and selling the first one off the line at BJs they'll be profitable!
RLQ @ Jan 20th 2008 2:02AM
LOL, but not a bad idea.
Nick @ Jan 20th 2008 1:58AM
The entire sale was done at no profit for anyone, all money went to the charity.
Derek @ Jan 20th 2008 9:03AM
Wow, only six sentences in the article and people still don't read all of it? Next to last sentence has your answer. I will say that is an interesting idea though, however I don't think the first production 2008 Aveo will fetch quite as much...
tankd0g @ Jan 20th 2008 5:17PM
Ok Derek, does GM get the write off (what's the difference?)
why not the LS2LS7? @ Jan 20th 2008 2:05AM
I find it sad that sites keep giving free publicity to those blood suckers at B-J.
Overpaying for cars like this just makes it tougher for actual car guys to buy good old cars, and brings more boneheads whose only notable attribute is the size of their wallets.
CW @ Jan 20th 2008 2:41AM
Bloodsuckers at BJ? Boneheads with fat wallets?
First of all, you've obviously never been, because even as a non bidder, the auction itself is an AMAZING car show. As a bidder, it gives you access to vehicles from across the country that you otherwise would not find.
I would hardly call any of these people boneheads, much less Dave Ressler. I think most, if not every, Carrol Shelby auction donates all proceeds to charity, as well as every "new model" auction this year.
BJ, even on TV, is great entertainment. Thinking that high rollers with fat wallets drive up the price of vehicles for average joe is ridiculous. The QUALITY of [most] of the vehicles up for auction make them far and above out of average joe's price range, not the people buying them.
why not the LS2LS7? @ Jan 20th 2008 3:37AM
It doesn't matter if the money soaked from these people goes to charity.
And if you think these high-dollar prices isn't jacking up the cost of these cars to the average joe, what do you attribute the ridiculous rise in the price of these cars to?
Yes, the quality may be up, but these very well-restored cars have to be purchased un-restored from someone, this also works to cut down the availability of affordable cars.
CC @ Jan 20th 2008 2:34AM
now that's a fine looking car
Dave @ Jan 20th 2008 2:44AM
Considering that the car was purchased at market value (an auction certainly demonstrates market value), the IRS could (and probably should) question the deductibility of the price.
It is GM that is entitled to the tax deduction.
Ben @ Jan 20th 2008 3:02AM
Yes, but it is explicitly stated that all profits will go to charity. The ZR1 was sold with a listed base price, and the fact that most of them will sell much closer to the base price than the auction price, it shouldn't be contested. Both the GT500KR and SRT-8 were only the rights to buy those cars at sticker price. So even after they pay $400,000 for the Dodge Challenger, they still have to pay the sticker price to own the car.
Calling these three "auctions" is a bit difficult. It is contest to show who can make the biggest donation, go without $XXX,XXX dollars for a few months, and then get it back in a deduction.
Mr. Oak @ Jan 20th 2008 2:56AM
To the haters near and far. This car is absolutely georgeous. Quit whining about the window in the hood, it was well executed and looks great. It is now a characteristic of this car, like it or not.
I especially loved when Jay Leno, a man who can afford to buy any car on the planet, or have any car he cannot buy built, spoke so beamingly about his Z06. His ultra reliable daily driver. Basically he said, that when it came to high performance sports cars there is Corvette and Porsche. Expect trouble from everything else.
Excellent job by the General on this a$$ kicking wonder. No other car manufacturer could have put this package together, especially at this price.
chris @ Jan 20th 2008 3:21AM
I think you accidentally typed 'georgeous' [sic] instead of 'completely rice'. This is easily the worst looking of all versions of the C6, the wheels and that window thing are an absolute joke.
Derek @ Jan 20th 2008 9:03AM
Chris, you're sure looking good in your self portrait/avatar.
Matt @ Jan 20th 2008 9:19AM
Yes! Hi-five Chris! They put way too much extra crap on this car.
Franz @ Jan 20th 2008 3:17AM
If you've got a million to spend on a car, then more than likely there's plenty more where that came from. If you haven't, don't bitch about it. To each his own. I think it's cool... especially since the money went to charity. But even if it didn't, I could care less. No one on this earth can tell me how to spend my money, so I don't think I'd try to tell anyone else how to spend theirs.
ansky @ Jan 20th 2008 3:04PM
yeah...grrr.
you tell em.