The Five Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold at Auction
The Chevrolet Corvette is a brand that fits into three categories so neatly that it’s a brand that stands alone. It’s a beloved muscle car that bears a name that has become an icon among drivers who love the feeling of power and speed, yet have a side that embraces the elegance and prestige of a high-end vehicle. You’re either a fan of the Corvette or not and there doesn’t seem to be a lot of room in the middle.
The American made automobile has a huge fan base and the most valuable examples have all come from the 1960s era. We know that they hold their value when kept in pristine condition, but it was a bit surprising to find out how much some of them have sold for at auction. Here are the five most expensive Corvettes that have been sold at auction.
5. 1969 Chevy Corvette ZL-1 – $1.4 million
The ZL-1 Corvettes that were made in 1969 is a rare collectible because there were only two of these special editions ever made. If you’re fortunate enough to have the opportunity to bid on one of these, you can expect to pay a high price to walk away the winner.
One of these extremely limited edition cars was sold in very good condition and the victor of the bidding competition laid out a cool $1.4 million for the privilege of ownership. While this is an impressive price to pay for the classic, it’s not the most expensive that has been sold at an auction. The 1969 Chevy Corvette ZL-1 is actually the fifth most expensive model in the brand that has been sold. Wait until you find out what the rest went for.
4. 1969 Chevy Corvette Rebel Convertible Race Car – $2.86 million
The Rebel Convertible Race car sold for more than twice as much as the rare ZL-1 edition made in the same year. There were very few of this special racing edition of the Corvette made. This particular example of the Rebel was kept in mint condition and the member of the L88 production fetched an unbelievable price of $2.86 million at auction. This model is high on the wish lists of Corvette collectors. If you see another come up for sale and it’s in excellent condition, you can expect that the bidding will drive it at least to this cost and maybe even more.
3. 1967 Chevy Corvette L88 – $3.2 million
The 1969 special edition Corvettes are extremely valuable collector’s items, but we now drop down two years and find that with just a few years in age difference, the price tag for mint condition collectibles rises yet higher. This 1967 Corvette L88 sold for a massive $3.2 million at auction in 2013. We’re pretty certain of the fact that it hasn’t lost a dime of its value in five years and if anything, it’s probably increased.
What makes this individual example so impressive is that it is a racer that had been totally destroyed. Auto restoration professionals completely restored the vehicle using the original panels and the job was completed in accordance with the National Corvette Restorers Society’s specifications and is why the restored vehicle is worth so much money.
2. 1967 Chevy Corvette L88 Corvette Convertible – $3.4 million
The second most expensive Chevy Corvette ever sold at auction is the 1967 L88 Convertible model. When it sold for $3.4 million in September of 2013, it held the record for being the most expensive Corvette that had ever been sold, but it would only hold this title for a few months, because there was a yet more valuable member of the family that would soon make its appearance on the auction block.
What makes this example so valuable is that only 20 of these fabulous editions were ever produced, add the fact that it’s a convertible that was modified for track racing and you have a winning combination for increasing the worth. This specific car has won its share of races but was retired as a collector’s car in the ’70s.
1. 1967 Chevy Corvette L88 Coupe – $3.85 million
The most expensive Corvette ever sold at auction is the 1967 Chevy Corvette L88 Coupe, and it went for a whopping $3.85 million at a collectible car auction in 2014 in Scottsdale. There were only 20 L88s in total that were built by Chevrolet and it’s unknown just how many of them have survived through the years. This increases the value of those that resurface and make their way to auction. This L88 Coupe unseated the L88 Convertible model that had sold for $3.4 million and took its place as the most expensive Corvette ever sold.
You can also read:
- Remembering the 1990 Corvette ZR-1
- Remembering The 1968 Chevy Corvette Sportwagen
- The History and Evolution of the C5 Corvette
- 20 Cars Similar to the Corvette
