A bespoke, one-of-one 2026 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X sold for $2.6 million on Saturday, Jan. 24, at the Barrett-Jackson 2026 Scottsdale Auction, with all proceeds benefiting the Tunnel to Towers Foundation. The sale marked one of the highest charity results for a modern Corvette and reinforced Chevrolet’s long-running commitment to philanthropic causes tied to American service members and first responders.
The Stars & Steel–inspired ZR1X was developed from the fastest car produced by an American manufacturer to lap the Nürburgring Nordschleife. Chevrolet created the vehicle as a singular example to reflect national pride and to coincide with the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States. The charity beneficiary was selected based on its focus on supporting Gold Star families, families of fallen first responders with young children, catastrophically injured veterans and first responders, and homeless veterans in need of housing and services.
The winning bidder was Rick Hendrick, chairman and chief executive officer of Hendrick Automotive Group and owner of Hendrick Motorsports. The ZR1X will be finished in a custom Dark Satin Steel exterior applied by General Motors’ Design Fabrication team. Blue accents will appear throughout the car, including the brake calipers, Santorini Blue interior, and highlights on the Carbon Aero rear wing.
Beyond the vehicle itself, the purchase includes a series of exclusive experiences. These include the opportunity to participate in assembling the twin-turbo V8 engine that powers the ZR1X, a first-ever Corvette delivery inside the GM Design Dome, and a curated collection of memorabilia tied to the project.
General Motors and Chevrolet have collaborated with the Tunnel to Towers Foundation for more than a decade, raising more than $11.6 million for wounded veterans prior to this auction. Chevrolet’s partnership with Barrett-Jackson’s charity auction program now spans over 15 years. With the sale of this ZR1X, total funds generated through eighth-generation Corvette charity auctions have reached $15.5 million.
The auction also marked the return of Chevrolet’s Build Your Own Engine program, which had last been offered on Corvette models in 2019. Beginning this spring, customers ordering a new Corvette Z06, ZR1, or ZR1X will be able to add the factory-guided experience, allowing them to work alongside master builders at the Performance Build Center in Bowling Green to assemble and sign the V8 engine destined for their vehicle.
The record-setting sale highlighted how high-performance automotive engineering continues to serve as a platform for meaningful charitable impact.
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