Automotive
If you read our previous post about the one-of-one Stars & Steel Corvette ZR1X headed to Barrett-Jackson for charity, here’s the big follow-up: the car just crossed the block at the Barrett-Jackson 2026 Scottsdale Auction and hammered for $2.6 million. Better yet, 100% of that hammer price is going straight to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, turning a headline-grabbing Corvette moment into real support for Gold Star families, fallen first responder families, catastrophically injured veterans and first responders, and homeless veterans.
Chevrolet positioned the bespoke ZR1X as a rolling celebration of American pride tied to its Stars & Steel theme, created in honor of the United States’ 250th anniversary. The brand also notes the one-off is based on the fastest car from an American manufacturer to lap the Nürburgring Nordschleife, which helps explain why this wasn’t just another charity car with a wrap and a plaque. It was a legit collector-grade spec built around the idea that modern performance can still serve a bigger purpose.
The winning bidder was Rick Hendrick, chairman and CEO of Hendrick Automotive Group and the owner of Hendrick Motorsports. Along with the keys, he’s getting a serious list of once-ever perks, including a hand-finished Dark Satin Steel paint treatment from GM’s Design Fabrication shop, blue highlights throughout, Santorini Blue interior touches, and blue accents on the carbon aero rear wing. Chevrolet is also sweetening the deal with an opportunity to build the twin-turbo V8 that powers the ZR1X’s rear wheels, plus what’s being called the first-ever Corvette delivery at the GM Design Dome and curated memorabilia to match the moment.
This sale also adds another big number to the scoreboard for Chevy and its long-running charity presence at Barrett-Jackson. GM and Chevrolet say their partnership with Tunnel to Towers has generated more than $11.6 million in support over the past 12 years, and the brand’s Barrett-Jackson charity sales of eighth-generation Corvettes have now totaled $15.5 million. In a world where “special edition” can sometimes feel like marketing fluff, it’s refreshing to see a one-off that’s actually moving the needle for people who need it.
One more enthusiast-friendly detail worth calling out: this auction marked the return of Chevrolet’s Build Your Own Engine program, last seen for Corvette in 2019. Starting this spring, buyers ordering a new Corvette Z06, ZR1, or ZR1X can add the Build Your Own Experience, working alongside master builders at the Performance Build Center at Bowling Green Assembly to assemble and sign the V8 that will power their car. For the faithful, that’s the kind of story you tell for decades, and now it’s back on the menu.
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Darryl Taylor Dowe is a seasoned automotive professional with a proven track record of leading successful ventures and providing strategic consultation across the automotive industry. With years of hands-on experience in both business operations and market development, Darryl has played a key role in helping automotive brands grow and adapt in a rapidly evolving landscape. His insight and leadership have earned him recognition as a trusted expert, and his contributions to Automotive Addicts reflect his deep knowledge and passion for the business side of the car world.
