Skip to main content

First Ford GT and Corvette ZR1 sell for big bucks at auction

2019 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1
Image used with permission by copyright holder
January may not be a great time for most people to drive a supercar, but apparently it’s a good time to buy one. The first production examples of the current-generation Ford GT and Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 crossed the block at the same auction over the weekend to raise money for charity. Both cars were sold at the Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottsdale, Arizona, for considerable sums.

The GT was particularly noteworthy, since buying one at auction is easier than going through Ford’s stringent application process. That application process was meant to prevent owners from turning around and selling their cars for a profit, although Ford probably didn’t mind that the owner of this car, businessman Ron Pratte, donated it to be sold for charity.

Recommended Videos

The GT sold for a cool $2.5 million, with proceeds from the sale benefitting the Autism Society of North Carolina and the Autism Alliance of Michigan. In addition to the GT, the first 2019 Ford Mustang Bullitt crossed the block at $300,000. Money from that sale went to  the Boys Republic charity, which runs a school for troubled youth in Chino Hills, California.

Unlike the Ford GT, the Corvette ZR1 hasn’t actually started production yet, so the winning bidder will be able to spec the car however they want. That includes choices of coupe or convertible body styles, and seven-speed manual or eight-speed automatic transmissions. The winning bid was $925,000, with proceeds benefitting the Stephen Siller Tunnel to the Towers Foundation, which supports injured first responders. The buyer was Rick Hendrick, owner of NASCAR team Hendrick Motorsports. Hendrick previously scooped up the first examples of the current-generation Acura NSX and Chevy Camaro ZL1 1LE.

The two cars take the classic Ford versus Chevy rivalry to new extremes, and offer two very different approaches to performance. The GT was designed to race at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, something that’s reflected in a design that is lightweight and aerodynamically efficient, but light on creature comforts. The ZR1 takes the existing C7-generation Corvette platforms to new extremes, adding more serious aerodynamic features like a massive rear wing, and more power. The Ford packs a 647-horsepower twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6, while the Chevy sports a more traditional 6.2-liter supercharged V8, which churns out 755 hp. We’ll take both, please.

Both cars ended up selling for considerably more than their list prices (around $400,000 for the Ford and $119,995 for the Chevy). But at least the new owners will be helping out good causes. Since the purchases count as charitable donations, they’ll be able to use the cost of the cars as tax write-offs.

Updated: Added the amounts the cars sold for.

Stephen Edelstein
Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…
Tesla and Elon Musk sued over use of AI image at Cybercab event
tesla and spacex CEO elon musk stylized image

Tesla’s recent We, Robot presentation has run into trouble, with one of the production companies behind Blade Runner 2049 suing Tesla and its CEO, Elon Musk, for alleged copyright infringement.

Tesla used the glitzy October 10 event to unveil its Cybercab and Robovan, and also to showcase the latest version of its Optimus humanoid robot.

Read more
Qualcomm wants to power your next car with the Snapdragon Cockpit and Ride Elite platforms
Qualcomm Snapdragon Cockpit Elite and Ride Elite automotive platforms

It’s been a big year for Qualcomm. Alongside its massive launch into laptop chips through the Snapdragon X Elite series, Qualcomm is now entering the automotive space. The company has announced the new Qualcomm Snapdragon Cockpit Elite and Snapdragon Ride Elite platforms at its annual Snapdragon Summit, which it flew me out to attend.

The two platforms are designed for different purposes, and can be used togetheror separately. The Snapdragon Cockpit Elite is built for in-vehicle infotainment systems and services, while the Snapdragon Ride Elite is built to power autonomous vehicle systems, including all the cameras and sensors that go into those systems.

Read more
Scout Traveler and Scout Terra forge a new path for EVs
Scout Traveler and Scout Terra.

Electric vehicles are inseparable from newness, whether it’s new tech, new designs, or new companies like Rivian, Lucid, and Tesla. But the Volkswagen Group’s new EV-only brand also relies heavily on the past.

Unveiled Thursday, the Scout Traveler electric SUV and Scout Terra electric pickup truck are modern interpretations of the classic International Harvester Scout. Manufactured from 1961 to 1980, the original Scout helped popularize the idea of the rugged, off-road-capable utility vehicle, setting the stage for modern SUVs.

Read more