Autoblog

First production 2014 Corvette Stingray Convertible auctioned for a cool million

Michael Harley — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 21:24:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Auctions, Chevrolet

Barrett-Jackson auctioned off the first production 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Convertible in Palm Beach this evening, with the open-top two-seater commanding a huge winning bid of $1,000,000 from Rick Hendrick, owner of NASCAR team Hendrick Motorsports.

While the Geneva Motor Show C7 prototype is pictured above (it also was shown at Barrett-Jackson), Hendrick won rights to the first retail production model (VIN undetermined at this time), allowing him to choose both color and options before his V8 sports car rolls off the assembly line in the near future. Hopefully, by the time that happens, we will all know more about its soft convertible top, double-bubble tonneau and the mechanism that opens and lowers the fully automatic roof at speeds upwards of 30 mph.

It is worth mentioning that proceeds from the sale of this first C7 droptop will benefit the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer institute, one of 40 National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer centers in the United States that strives to prevent, detect and eradicate all forms of cancer. The General Motors Foundation is a longtime supporter of Karmanos, with nearly $6 million in support over the last 15 years.

First production 2014 Corvette Stingray Convertible auctioned for a cool million originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 05 Apr 2013 21:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chevy might've pulled out of NASCAR if it weren't for new Gen 6 car

Chris Paukert — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 13:31:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Chevrolet, GM, Racing

We've been on the fence with NASCAR for some time now. On one hand, it's some of the closest racing anywhere in motorsports, with actual passing and door-handle-to-door-handle action as a matter of course. But on the other, it's become template racing - a personality-driven sport more about the drivers than any sort of loyalty to a particular automaker. The Car Of Tomorrow format really rammed that message home, with a racecar's identity coming down to little more than headlamp stickers slapped on the nose. That's not necessarily a bad thing in and of itself, but we've wondered for some time what's in it for the automakers, who pay big money to stay in a series that has had little increasingly little do with street car sales, let alone innovation.

Apparently General Motors was beginning to wonder the same thing. In a new ESPN report, Rick Hendrick, team owner of Hendrick Motorsports, suggests that GM would have seriously considered leaving NASCAR if it wasn't for the move away from the COT to the new Gen 6 racer. According to Hendrick, GM North America boss Mark Reuss spearheaded the charge away from the 2007 COT and toward a racecar with clearer automaker ties - cars like the new Chevrolet SS racer shown above. Learn more about the fight for a closer-to-production look in the ESPN story at the link.

Now, if we could just get more rear-wheel drive V8 coupes into showrooms....

Chevy might've pulled out of NASCAR if it weren't for new Gen 6 car originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 20 Feb 2013 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NASCAR team owner Rick Hendrick shaken up in plane crash [w/video]

Noah Joseph — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 10:59:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Safety, Videos

Good brakes may be less important in stock car racing than in other forms of motorsport, but on a plane, they're pretty darn important. That's what Rick Hendrick found out - the hard way - last night when his private jet crashed off the runway in Key West, Florida.

Hendrick's Gulfstream G150, registered to Jimmie Johnson (one of Hendrick's star drivers), slid straight off the runway and almost into the water when its brakes apparently failed upon landing. On board together with the NASCAR team owner were his wife Linda and two pilots. Fortunately, CNN reports that no one was seriously injured.

The incident must have been especially traumatic for the Hendricks, who lost seven members of their family - including their son Ricky who drove for and ran the team with his dad - in a 2004 plane crash. However, the Hendricks aren't the only ones to have been affected by plane crashes: Fellow NASCAR team owner Jack Roush has survived two such incidents, while off-road racer Rick Huseman and his brother Jeff were killed in a small plane crash in California a couple of weeks ago.

Click past the jump to watch an Associated Press report on the crash.

Continue reading NASCAR team owner Rick Hendrick shaken up in plane crash [w/video]

NASCAR team owner Rick Hendrick shaken up in plane crash [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 Nov 2011 10:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Barrett-Jackson 2011: Rick Hendrick's 2002 Ferrari 360 Modena F1 Spider *Update: w/video

Jeff Glucker — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 18:50:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Auctions, Videos, Ferrari

Rick Hendrick's 2002 Ferrari 360 Modena F1 Spider - Click above for high-res image gallery

Are you playing Speed's Online Fantasy Bid Game? If not, this is the perfect chance to start, as it's just about to hit the auction block - Bid away, you could end up winning a prize, such as an Apple iPad. These Ferrari 360s can typically be had for anywhere from $75,000 to $95,000... but this is Mr. Hendrick's personal low-mileage car and it's on the Barrett-Jackson stage, so our guess is that a $100,000+ winning bid is certainly possible.

With that out of the way, let's take a look at this particular machine. Saying that Rick Hendrick owns a couple of cars is like saying the crowd at the 2011 Barrett-Jackson auction likes to throw back a couple of drinks. As an auction night marches on, the bartenders tip jars fill up faster and prices start to climb. Rick Hendrick is hoping they don't cut anyone off because a few of his cars will be rolling across the stage... including his 2002 Ferrari 360 Modena F1 Spider.

Looking splendid in its traditional red paint, the drop-top Italian sports car shows just 1,936 miles on the odometer. Only 379 convertible paddle-shift cars were built and this one was kept inside when the weather was anything other than sunny. We're guessing it drove it a little more aggressively than he plans to drive his new Chevrolet Volt.

Check out the official auction listing here, and head on over to Speed to watch live streaming coverage of all the festivities.

*Update: Click past the jump to watch the Ferrari go across the block.

Gallery: 2002 Ferrari 360 Modena F1 Spider at Barrett-Jackson 2011

Continue reading Barrett-Jackson 2011: Rick Hendrick's 2002 Ferrari 360 Modena F1 Spider *Update: w/video

Barrett-Jackson 2011: Rick Hendrick's 2002 Ferrari 360 Modena F1 Spider *Update: w/video originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 22 Jan 2011 18:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rick Hendrick wins first retail Chevy Volt for $225,000

Autoblog Staff — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 10:01:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Etc., Hatchback, Chevrolet, GM, Electric

When General Motors decided to auction off the first available production Chevrolet Volt to benefit the Detroit Public Schools Foundation, it probably envisioned someone with deep pockets and a strong connection to the Bowtie brand coming through with the winning bid. Well, when the dust settled and the auctioned Volt sold for $225,000 to bidder ChargeOn, it became clear that someone willing to dish out nearly a quarter of a million dollars had won Chevy's plug-in. But who is ChargeOn?

The man that bid under the screen name of ChargeOn is none other than Rick Hendrick, a longtime Chevrolet dealer and owner of Hendrick Motorsports, the American racing juggernaut established back in 1984. It turns out that Hendrick, an avid car collector, just had to have a Volt to add to his collection and felt compelled to aid the Detroit Public Schools. After winning the auctioned Volt, Hendrick stated:

This was an opportunity to own a piece of history while giving back to the community. I have been a Chevrolet dealer for more than 30 years, and the Volt is one of the most exciting and important new cars since we opened our first dealership in 1976.

Our congrats go out to Mr. Hendrick for winning the auction and, more importantly, for supporting a good cause. Click past the jump to learn more in the official press release. Thanks to all for the tips!

[Source: General Motors]

Continue reading Rick Hendrick wins first retail Chevy Volt for $225,000

Rick Hendrick wins first retail Chevy Volt for $225,000 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 17 Dec 2010 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dale Earnhardt Jr. signs 5-year contract with Hendrick Motorsports

John Neff — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 14:07:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports

Dale Earnhardt Jr. became the most coveted free agent in sports when he announced last month his departure from Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Today Junior announced at a press conference that he has signed a 5-year deal with Hendrick Motorsports, the current team to beat in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series with 10 wins in the last 14 races. Hendrick, however, was very fortunate that one of its four current drivers, Kyle Busch, asked to be released from his contract with the team, which opened up a spot to sign Junior. The young Earnhardt will get his wish to continue driving Chevys, though his sponsorship, paint scheme and number are yet to be determined.

Follow the link to SpeedTV for a full report on Junior's move, and check out our gallery of the press conference below

[Source: SpeedTV, Photos - Grant Halverson/Getty]

Gallery: Dale Earnhardt Jr. joins Hendrick Motorsports

Dale Earnhardt Jr. signs 5-year contract with Hendrick Motorsports originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 Jun 2007 14:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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