It's that time of the year again. The winter auction season is about to kick off and one of the biggest events will be the Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottsdale, Arizona, slated to get underway on January 22. Of course, there will be a star auction that will certainly end up selling for several million dollars. The famed auction house has announced the first 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 will go under the hammer on January 29.
Powered by a naturally aspirated 5.5-liter LT6 V8 with 670 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque, this engine, featuring a new flat-plane crankshaft design, revs all the way to 8,600 rpm. There will probably never be another NA V8 like it, at least from GM.
The Z06 in question has not been built yet, meaning whoever wins the auction - and we're pretty sure we know who that'll be - gets to choose from 12 exterior paint options and seven interior colors and wheel packages.
A few key unique options we highly recommend are the carbon fiber-wrapped steering wheel and the gorgeous Adrenaline Red interior. The Z07 Performance Package is another must-have, as it'll provide 734 pounds of downforce at 186 mph. This is a Barrett-Jackson charity auction so 100 percent of the proceeds will be donated to a good cause, this time to the benefit of Operation Homefront, a nonprofit that provides financial relief to military families in need.
So, who will be that likely auction winner? Probably none other than Rick Hendrick, owner of the NASCAR team Hendrick Motorsports and co-owner of JR Motorsports and founder of the Hendrick Automotive Group. He's a true gearhead who's turned his passion into a very lucrative career. Hendrick previously purchased a number of VIN #001s examples of anticipated new vehicles. He previously paid $3 million for the first C8 Corvette Stingray and $250,000 for the first Camaro ZL1 1LE. Most recently, he bought the first Acura NSX Type S for $1.1 million. His private garage is no doubt beyond impressive.
Like all C8s, the C8 Z06 will be assembled in Bowling Green, Kentucky and will be offered to customers in three trim levels and two body styles, coupe and convertible. Pricing has not been announced but should begin in the mid-$80,000 range.