One-Off Corvette ZR1X Sells for $2.6m at Scottsdale
On Saturday, 24 January, a bespoke one-off Stars & Steel-inspired Corvette ZR1X, based on the fastest car from an American manufacturer to lap the Nürburgring Nordschleife, sold at the Barrett-Jackson 2026 Scottsdale Auction for $2.6 million.
The Tunnel to Towers Foundation will receive 100 per cent of the hammer price of this Corvette ZR1X. Chevrolet selected Tunnel to Towers to recognise its mission to provide mortgage-free homes to Gold Star families and families of fallen first responders with young children. The charity also builds custom smart homes for catastrophically injured veterans and first responders, and it provides housing and services for homeless veterans. This mission reflects the American pride that Chevrolet celebrates with the Stars & Steel collection to honour the 250th anniversary of the United States.
“To honour those who serve, Chevrolet created a 1-of-1 edition of America’s quickest production car, the Corvette ZR1X,” said Scott Bell, vice president, Global Chevrolet. “We’re proud to know the winning bid will go directly to supporting first responders and veterans in need across the United States through the Tunnel to Towers Foundation.”
Rick Hendrick, chairman and CEO of Hendrick Automotive Group and owner of Hendrick Motorsports, won the auction. He will receive the one-off Stars & Steel-inspired Corvette ZR1X, which experts at General Motors’ Design Fabrication shop hand-painted in a custom Dark Satin Steel finish. The car features blue accents throughout, including blue brake callipers, a Santorini Blue interior, and blue accents on the Carbon Aero rear wing. He will also receive the chance to build the twin-turbo V8 engine that powers the ZR1X’s rear wheels, take delivery in the first-ever Corvette handover at the GM Design Dome, and receive curated memorabilia.
GM and Chevrolet have maintained a long-standing relationship with Tunnel to Towers. Together, they have raised more than $11.6 million in support of wounded veterans over the 12 years leading up to today’s auction.
"General Motors and Chevrolet have proudly stood with Tunnel to Towers in honouring those who serve and sacrifice for our nation,” said Tunnel to Towers Foundation Chairman and CEO Frank Siller. “This incredible gift will help us continue delivering on our promise never to forget the families of our fallen heroes and to ensure our catastrophically injured veterans can live their lives with the dignity and independence they deserve. My brother Stephen ran through the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel on 11 September to give his life for others – and today, through the generosity of Chevrolet, Barrett-Jackson, and this winning bidder, we carry forward that spirit of selfless service. On behalf of the Gold Star families, first responder families, and veterans we serve, we are deeply grateful."
For more than 15 years, Chevrolet has worked with Barrett-Jackson’s charity auction programme and has generated millions in donations for great causes. This auction takes the total amount Chevrolet has raised at Barrett-Jackson charity auctions through the sale of eighth-generation Corvettes to $15.5 million.
“The Chevrolet Corvette has proudly represented American performance and engineering for over 70 years,” said Craig Jackson, chairman and CEO of Barrett-Jackson. “I have some beautiful Corvettes in my collection, and recognise that this 1-of-1 Stars & Steel-inspired Corvette ZR1X is a very special opportunity to not only own a rare collectable, but help raise more money and awareness to benefit our first responders and veterans. The winning bidder has purchased a truly amazing car that is sure to be a very special piece of automotive history.”
This sale also marks the return of the popular Build Your Own Engine programme, which last appeared on Corvette in 2019. With the programme's return, Chevrolet becomes the only automotive brand to offer customers a factory-guided engine build experience.
From this spring, customers who order a new Corvette Z06, ZR1 or ZR1X can add the Build Your Own Experience option to their order. This exclusive experience lets them work alongside master builders at the Performance Build Centre at Bowling Green Assembly to assemble and sign the V8 that will power their Corvette.
