Last C7 Corvette to be Auctioned This Summer for Charity
The last of the front-engine Corvettes to roll off the factory line will be serving a good cause.
End of an era
The Corvette as we all know it is changing. After almost 60 years of rumors, the American supercar fighter is finally moving its engine layout to midship. It was also rumored that the current C7 generation would continue on in production alongside the new C8, but GM CEO Mary Barra has squashed those rumors by announcing that the last ever C7 Corvette is going to be auctioned off at Barrett-Jackson Northeast on June 28th to benefit the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation.
Going to a good cause
The car is expected to bring in big numbers, as most charity car auctions do. Even if the last C7 Corvette just goes to some wealthy CEO that puts it in a garage, at least the money will be going to a great cause. The Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation raises funds to provide housing and support to both severely injured veterans and families of veterans and civilian first responders that passed in the line of duty. They even work with the disabled veterans to build smart houses that cater to their specific need.
The need for change
The Corvette has followed the same basic formula for almost the entire lifespan of the nameplate. Big pushrod V8 in the front, two seats, power to the rear wheels. But as all cars have been getting faster and faster, it is now getting difficult to put the power down. This is evident in the latest generation ZR1 being a bit of a handful when pushed to its limits.
Still time left
If you were in the market for a C7 and this news is making you anxious, don’t fret. Apparently, C7 sales have slowed to a crawl and dealers have them sitting on their lot while the general public waits it out for the C8 generation to launch. So while this C7 will be the last C7 produced, it will be far from the last C7 sold as dealers move through their stock.
The wait is almost over
If you were in the market for an affordable mid-engine supercar, then your wait is almost over. This news means we are one step closer to the release of the C8, which has had a bit of a bumpy development. GM doesn’t have a ton of recent experience in mid-engine car production, which comes with unique challenges. The C8 needs to be a hit out the door, so delays are a good thing while bugs get sorted.
The everyman supercar
We will be sad to see the C7 leave. Many consider it to be the best looking Corvette since the C2. Plus, the amount of performance that Chevrolet has managed to squeeze out of the platform is truly staggering, especially at the price point. That being said, we are more excited to see an American manufacturer bring out an affordable mid-engine performance car. The only other car that is even close to a competitor, assuming the C8 price stays about the same as the C7, is the Lotus Evora 400, which the C8 should dominate with no problem.
Out with a bang
It is the end of an era for the Corvette. Some people are going to be sad to see it change, while others are very excited to see what comes next. We can’t think of a better way to celebrate the transition than by having an auction at Barrett Jackson. It’s going to be an exciting event, and we can't wait to watch all the commotion and see how much money it brings.
