Latest news with #Arkus-Duntov
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
A 1957 Corvette Just Sold for $7.7 Million, Making it the Most Expensive of All Time
A new king has risen to the throne. The stunning 1957 Chevrolet Corvette SS Project XP-64 became the most expensive 'Vette of all time after it sold for $7.7 million at RM Sotheby's ModaMiami auction late last week. The one-of-a-kind roadster was the first purpose-built General Motors race car. More from Robb Report Why the Original Ford Mustang Has Never Lost Its Swagger This Bonkers New Tuned Corvette Has Been Transformed Into a Fighter Jet on Wheels The Fiat 124 Sport Spider's Beautiful Lines and Feisty Engine Make It an Enduring Classic In becoming the most expensive Corvette, the SS Project XP-64 broke a record that had stood for more than a decade. The record had belonged to a rare L88-powered 1967 C2 Corvette that Barrett-Jackson sold for $3.85 million in August 2024. Yes, the SS Project XP-64 sold for more than double that amount, in addition to beating the auction house's high-end estimate of $7 million. It's not particularly surprising to see the SS Project XP-64 become the most expensive Corvette of all time. The gorgeous race car was the brainchild of Zora Arkus-Duntov, the 'father of the Corvette.' The engineer also liked to race, so his idea for track-only Corvette involved more than just putting a bigger engine into an otherwise stock vehicle. Arkus-Duntov and his team completely reimagined the C1 Corvette, outfitting it with a lightweight tubular chassis, a streamlined magnesium body, and a 4.6-liter V-8 with Ramjet fuel injection. The blue-and-white speed machine may look good on paper, but it didn't fare that well on the track. The car was entered in just one race, the 12 Hours of Sebring in 1957, which is failed to finish due to mechanical issues. Soon after, the Automotive Manufacturing Association, of which GM was a member, pulled its support for factory-backed racing, leaving the race car a one-off. A decade later, Arkus-Duntov donated the race car to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum, where it has remained until last week's auction. The ModaMiami auction was the third and final RM Sotheby's sale to feature cars from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway collection. Last year, the museum announced it was parting ways with 11 historic vehicles so it could refocus its collection on vehicles that have a direct connection to the racetrack and its history. The vehicles, which included a $36 million Ferrari 250 LM and a $53 million Mercedes-Benz W 196 R Stromlinienwagen, sold for a combined $130 of Robb Report The 2024 Chevy C8 Corvette: Everything We Know About the Powerful Mid-Engine Beast The World's Best Superyacht Shipyards The ABCs of Chartering a Yacht Click here to read the full article.
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Zora Arkus-Duntov's Personal Corvette Undergoing Restoration
⚡️ Read the full article on Motorious The National Corvette Museum is restoring a piece of automotive history: Zora Arkus-Duntov's personal 1974 Corvette Stingray. Despite being credited as the 'Father of the Corvette,' Arkus-Duntov did not own one until his retirement in 1975. Now, the car he cherished for 15 years is undergoing a meticulous restoration, and enthusiasts will have the opportunity to see it mid-process during the museum's annual Bash event from April 24–26. Arkus-Duntov played a crucial role in shaping the Corvette into a true performance machine. His contributions, including the introduction of the small-block V-8 in 1955 and his tenure as Chevrolet's director of high-performance vehicles, set the stage for the Corvette's evolution into an American sports car icon. However, as a GM executive, he never personally owned one—until he left the company and purchased a fully loaded 1974 big-block Stingray with a 454-cubic-inch V-8 engine. The Corvette was later customized with a two-tone blue paint scheme and Arkus-Duntov's initials on the doors. He sold the car in 1989, and after his passing in 1996, it was donated to the National Corvette Museum. Now, the museum's restoration team has taken on the task of preserving the car while maintaining its originality. The restoration process has involved stripping the frame to bare metal, repairing rust damage, and reinforcing the chassis with rust-preventative coatings. The front and rear suspension have been refreshed, and the original 454-cid V-8 has been rebuilt and reinstalled. The body, however, will retain its signature two-tone blue finish and distinctive lettering. The project is expected to be completed by August, but visitors can witness the ongoing restoration in person during the museum's annual Bash. For Corvette fans, it's a rare opportunity to see a legend's personal car brought back to life while honoring Arkus-Duntov's lasting impact on the brand.
