Corvette Stingray Coupe

Make
Chevrolet
Segment
Coupe

From the moment order books opened, thousands of eager customers lineup up to be the first to get their 2020 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray. It quickly became difficult to get an allocation for the car and due to the United Auto Workers union strike, production of the C8 Vette was delayed, meaning these customers are still waiting for their cars to be delivered. But before any of these people get their cars, the first C8 will be delivered to Nascar team owner and car collector, Rick Hendrick.

Hendrick placed the highest bid for VIN 001, spending $3 million on the very first mid-engined Corvette ever built. The proceeds will go to the Detroit Children's Fund and Hedrick will also receive artwork of the car with a certificate of authenticity but in terms of the driving experience, that $3 million basically bought a stationary sculpture.

Hendrick told The Detroit Free Press, "I won't ever drive it. I'll put it away." The Nascar team owner has a collection of 210 cars, 120 of which are Corvettes. C8 VIN 001 will just be another addition to Hendrik's massive collection, which is open to invitation only. As part of the auction, Hendrick will be given a tour of Chevy's Bowling Green, Kentucky factory and the official Corvette Museum nearby, both of which he has likely visited on numerous occasions.

"I'll go to the plant and watch it come off the line," said Hendrick. "They have an unbelievable Corvette museum there in Bowling Green and I'll put it in there for a few days and then bring it home."

"I've been going to those auctions for 25 to 30 years and I've bought a lot of number ones at auction for charity. But nothing like this car. This had bidders from all over the world. It was so much drama. When you have the CEO of General Motors on the stage, that's a big deal."

Hendrick has a close personal connection with the Corvette, having taken his wife out on their first date in one nearly half a century ago. "This is a car many people had their eye on," he said. "I was hoping I could get it and it didn't get out of my price range. It was close to my limit." It is cool to see VIN 001 enter such an impressive Corvette collection but we hope the rest of the C8 buyers actually drive and enjoy their cars out on the road.