First Corvette ZR1 Auctions for Cool Million

the money went to charity and the buyer outbid himself so the one million does not represent in anyway what this car is capable of, in the end, american cars are american cars, nothing more...

What your problem with American cars. I tired of this ignorance toward American cars. What crappy country are you from?

I cannot say that I really admire the 'Vette, but... I can say that Americans are on the right track, especially if you consider how competitive their pricing is.

bakrione Im agree whit you....we are in 2008 and they stil made a OHC engine...please, give me a break. In this days you dont need a mecanical help to have a huge power engine...whit 6.2 Lt you must have at least 600hp whit out a supercharger

And this car looks so plastic and sheap at street, sorry

i totally agree. european cars have come on soooo much further than US cars. but if you ever go to american forums all they talk about is like 3 different cars, and theyre proud of it. i think they are just really into thier old stuff like the classics and believe that new cars should have the saem characteristics i.e big metal, crap interiors and a massive engine that doesnt pump out what it should do now in relative terms and ofcourse crap handling - although this one should be good at handling but thats not the same most of the other stuff that comes out of there!

Let me explain. If an engine gets great performance (high hp and a broad torque curve) while at the same weighing less than the supposed more sophisticated competition and getting superior fuel economy, what difference does it make where the freakin' cam is located? Huh? And by the way, any engineer can design a car that it to retail for $130K to $200K USD. It takes real engineering genius to design a comparable engine that is to go into a car costing $45K.

I agree too with you guys.. With all respect, American cars area American cars.. And the reason for the price change is "just" to plug the leak of thier mistakes.. There has never been an "all rounder" American car.. Thier has to be a problem in them.. I assume the the corvette is the "ultimate" American supercar, where it was being able to act like a prper high performance car, as well as being engineered by Americans ONLY.. I totall agree woth _m7_. "ANY" american car has to have a "monstrous" engine to back up a small amount of power.. Such a shame.. Sorry for any offense, but that's the truth.

WOW! how much more ignorant can you guys get?!?! Can you atleast review a car without being insanely biased to where it was made? Yes majority of the automobiles that come from american car manufacturers are nothing to brag about. But do you know anything about this new corvette or the current Z06? i suggest you go do some reading and findout just how good the Z06 is. The blue devil is a faster more powerful version meant for the street. For the price please tell me a european car that even comes CLOSE to Z06 performance.

Its true alot of crap cars do come from the US but there are a few cars that are worthy of praise. Stop being soo bloody ignorant and grow up!

you know just for all those uninformed of the Z06 i will post some specs for you. 7 min 42.99 sec in Nurburgring vs 996 GT2 at 7 min 42 sec LS7 pumps out 505 horsepower at 6300 rpm and 470 lbft of torque at 4800 rpm with 400 lbft is available from 2400rpm The Z06's power-to-weight ratio is on a par with Ford GT and eclipses Ferrari F430 Car And Driver magazine recorded 7.9 sec at 100 mph, the same as the figure it recorded for F430 0-60 3.7s cost? Z06 costs just US$66,000 at home and £59,000 in UK .. So a car that comes close to handling as well as a GT2 and almost as fast as a F430 ... for less than half the price for a GT2 or F430 .. i guess American cars will always be american right?

"So a car that comes close to handling as well as a GT2" ... We are still waiting for that day to come.

WOW, what is with all this american hate? as i have said before on this site, WHERES THE LOVE? i like the corvette, i have seen a z06 spank a porsche 996 turbo, but i have also seen the opposite, i like all cars and i'm not gonna tear down a car based on where its from. bottom line is that i would probably take the american v8 over some v6 or v12 or something like that. but i think that even though this car is a very important peice of corvette history, a cool million is WAY too much. but c'mon people where here on this site because we love cars, and yet in almost every american car story you some people try to tear it down. LIGHTEN UP poeple.

I don’t think it’s right to classify cars by country. Having that said, one can’t help but notice that there’s a pattern with cars manufactured in the States. As a non-bias person from a country that doesn’t manufacture any cars, whenever I want to purchase a car, American cars are ruled out –along with other regions- only because safety/comfort/luxury/reliability are my key factors rather than good-bang-for-the-buck. This is not a rant, just an observation and a call for finer cars to be manufactured by American automotive companies.

It's funny how all the American haters can't spell for shit. Learn some spelling, grammar, and sentence structure and maybe people will take you seriously.

Dear JTZ, You will "never" compare a Corvette with a Ferrari or a Porsche.. I already mentioned that American cars cannot be a perfect "all rounder"!!. Corvette does not have the name of an F430, does not have the building quality of a Ferrari or a Porsche. Corvette is 1000 time less complicated than any of these cars. Corvette is 2 or 3 times more polluting than Euro cars. These are the reason that makes American cars CHEAP, coz they cant catch up in other fields.. Corvette has ONE good point as well as ALL American cars, it's the RUBBISH QUALITY.. Heres is the reason of why Americans are cheap, because they are cheap.. Porsches are made to last FOREVER, as well as ANY euro or even Japanese car.. Morover, the reason that makes European cars so expensive is beacuse they are made in EUROPE, they develope most of thier components under the nanotechnology's scope.. YOU DONT GET THE RELIABILITY, COMFORT, SAFETY, BUILDING PERCISION, PASSION IN "ANY" AMERICAN CAR.. The only thing that you people have is a HUGE engine under the bonnet, and a european suspension kit just from todays morning.. the GT-R lapped the Nurburgring Nordschliefe in 7:38 second.. Thats 5 seconds faster than your hero, with only 473 horsepower, with only "4" seats, with only a Grand tourer specs, with only a super-comfy super car, with only a 3.8 litre turbined.. And over that ALL, you get almost everything that european car has, whether its the quality or engineering.. *Head breaker, Its costs just as much as YOUR ZO6!!

I didn't know cars could last forever. Must be that new metal that was discovered on Pluto that doesn't rust or degrade with time. When the Sun turns into a red giant and blasts the Earth away, Porsches and Mercedes will be the only thing left. Totally.

Yes, the GTR is a great car. Funny how you only mentioned that it beat the Corvette with no mention that it also beat the Porsche and Ferrari.

Your babbling is so ignorant and dumb. Ok the GTR is a good car but it also beat the Euro trash your so fond of. I personally don't have a problem with European cars but when you start calling all of my countries cars cheap and crappy than your going to get a rude response. And what is with these BS about Americas are cheap in general. What POS country are u from anyway?

Please tell us your thoughts regarding the Mercedes 6.3 liter V8. Is that too much displacement for you?

HAHA, so funny!! You ignored all the euro engines and jumped to the mercedes.. First, its a 6.2. Second, at max, it pumps out 520.. Your Vettes 6.0 gives only 400, and you 7.0 has 505.. Your SRT8's 6.1 pumps out 425.. So in every kind of a word.. YOU LOST!

I know that Road & Track had a recent test with the "regular" Corvette versus the European exotics: http://www.roadandtrack.com/article.asp?section_id=31&article_id=6169

Did you know that they judged the Corvette as having the best V8 of the bunch? Also, they actually included some physical data for all of the engines. Did you know that the Corvette has the lightest engine of the group. So please tell me, what advantage is your precious low displacement engines if they weigh more and they get lower fuel economy? Please try not to strain your brain.

It's been bred with American muscle car genes. Ofcourse it needs to have an OHC engine and big displacement. Otherwise it will just not be right. Lots of Americans love to tinker with their own cars. It needs to be simple. (My AMG doesn't even have a dip stick I need to press buttons to monitor how much oil I have...to a Muscle car buyer that would be sacriligious!) Simplicity is an idiosyncracy, but one of the reasons why these cars appeal to the people that love them.

Those people bashing American cars...have you ever driven in America? American cars are tailored for American roads.

Having driven an early V-tec Integra for awhile when I was studying in the States (being a car lover I wanted to see what the hype was)...I hated having to rev the sh!t out of it when I went driving on the freeway. I don't want to be on battle mode everytime, it gets tiring. Lazy ass engines are perfect for the average motorist.

Ofcourse American car manufacturers would be more profitable if they started making cars that people would love globally...but they have European divisions for doing that. They can just concentrate on domestic consumption.

I do not drive an American car or even love them (they are never on my list of cars to buy...except the Jeep...which I think is the best American car ever)as my passion is for a German car with a three-pointed star...especially if it says AMG on the engine.

But I don't go around bashing American cars. It's a cultural difference. A car is just a method of transportation for most people. They couldn't give a crap about how many valves per cylinder it has. They just want something that is within their budget and is utilitarian. (HEY the Ford F-150 pick up has been the best selling car in the world until recently (I think) and that is all from American consumption...which goes to show you the American car preference.)

It's like the Big Mac (something I can compare globally). To an American a Big Mac is no big deal. They've been making it and eating it forever. Order a Big Mac in America and it is just slapped together and is more slanted than the Tower of Pisa. But go abroad to a less developed country and order a Big Mac and the thing is made with precision...because it is a big deal to them.

So just let it be...let them be themselves. As long as they don't invade my country I really don't care.

Just had to add the "As long as they don't invade my country" part didn't you.

This isnt about taste, or how light the engine is.. This only shows that American makers "cannot" squeeze power out of thier engines, thats what proves that Europeans and Japanese are CLEVER!! Lower fuel economy is not a financial issue!! You wont buy a car for 60K or more and you still think about fuel.. Its an ecological issue, AND THATS ALSO WHAT YOU PEOPLE DONT THINK ABOUT WHEN YOU MAKE A CAR!!! GM, Ford motor company, and Diamler Chrysler are loosing billions annually, while the reason is being knocked off by Toyota and Honda.. The main reason is feul efficiency.. and thats why you are behind now..

Once again, if the engine gets comparable horsepower and (just as important) more torque throughout the power band, is physically lighter and more fuel efficient, what advantage does your beloved low displacement Euopean engines have?

I love how people automatically assume that it's a piece of trash because it's made in America. Way to really show off your blatant stupidity and blind ignorance. You're all a shining beacon of retarded.

Thats exactly what i think. Its just ignorant.

God bless America!

American car haters, read the following and weep:

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d178/marcdevon/20080124174631_reduced.jpg

Notice how the Neanderthal Corvette's horrendously large 6.2 liter V8 still weighs less than all of the competition, gets the second most horsepower and makes more torque than any others in this field while getting the best fuel economy. In addition, this marvelous engine is in a car that cost far less than any of the competition (all of the other cars in this field cost $71K to $192K more than the Corvette). Do any of you care to explain to me what's the advantage of having that cam on top of the top engine? What good is your highly sophisticated low displacement DOHC engines if in the end the weight of the engine is greater than that of a prehistoric OHV engine with 50% more displacement. Now how do you like 'dem apples? Please keep trying to convince yourselves that you are superior to Americans.

First of all, I think you should better read the article your self.. (Without being an American reader).. Secondly, Aston, Ferrari, Audi, are made from finest materials.. NOT CHEAPEST PLASTIC!!.. Ferrari comes with 5 driving settings.. FIVE!! Corvette come with less than 1 I guess!! Audis made in GERMANY, Yours not!! Astons got an active exhaust system, yours not!! All are made with best of everything, YOURS NOT.. ALL COME with an ASTON MARTIN, FERRARI, and AUDI badge, yours come with a cheap CHEVROLET!!!!!!! EVERY 1 of them is made to last for not less than 15 years with no problem, yours is lasting for 4 years MAX(so as every American Car)!! They are the safest supercars on the PLANET, Yours is not!!.. I have mentioned that the CORVETTE might be the ultimate American Car, and I actually was going to buy 1 because of its price difference, but YOU WILL NEVER EVER compare it to its european rivals!!! This car might be good in engine, but its just CRAP in everything else... SO PLEASE, STOP BEING CHILDISH and have some sense, Ferrari is a Ferrari, and Chevrolet is a Chevrolet..

I'm sorry, I can't understand you because of all the shitty grammar.

Ha ha!!!! It looks like I got under someone's skin. I'll admit that the other cars have some pretty nice stuff. However, being that the Aston Martin cost $71K more, the Audi cost almost $77K, and the Ferrari cost $192K more, they better have nicer stuff. Obviously, Chevrolet engineers decided to target regular people with real budgets. If they wanted to target only the upper crust, I'm more than certain that they could build a car that's a dash strokers delight. But as I said, Chevy engineers target the cost of the Corvette to be within the reach of regular people and so some compromises must be made. I don't know about you but I do not feel the need to fondle the dash every time I sit in a car. I will admit that I am curious about something. It seems as though you believe that only products suitable for the budgets of the wealthy is worth owning. For your sake I hope you are a wealthy person because otherwise you must be very miserable. Don't get me wrong, I love the Aston, Audi and Ferrari. I would be thrilled own one of these fine automobiles. There is a matter of my income though. Although I make a good salary I do not make enough to have all of the things that my heart desires. Just because I can't have the best of the best, I am able to enjoy the things that I can afford. No, the interior of the Corvette isn't as posh as the other cars. But then again, if it suited me I could go to the Chevy dealership tomorrow a drive home with a Corvette. I can't say that about the other cars. I would enjoy owning and driving the Corvette. Would it be absolutely everything that I could ever want if money were no object? No, but it is a fine piece and it's features are tailored to someone with my income. I may be guessing but I think the closest you will come to owning a Ferrari, Porsche 911, Audi R8, Aston Martin is in your dreams. But hey, you would rather walk than drive a piece of crap, right?

Now you FINALLY started talking sense!!!! Thats EXACTLY what we should have agreed on!! Corvette is a spectacular car, but at the same time its in its own league, and it can never be compared to those ones. Personally, i would prefer a corvette or a GT-R on others because they are cheap to own and maintain, and gives almost the same driving experience.. I really like the Corvette, and I repeat I was going to buy one, but that doest mean it can be in the same class with Ferrari or Porsche.. Im done fights now, but I just want to tell you one thing, you did not make a well built supercar, not because you dont want, but because you cant.. You ONLY have 1 PROPER SUPERCAR.. Its the Ford GT40.. Despite the fact that all its components are european, as well as engineering concepts.. Do you disagree more???

Could an American company build a (by your definition) world class super car? Sure they could. If engineers from Ford, GM, for Chrysler LLC had been tasked to build a world class super car with a target price of around $250K to challenge Ferrari or Lamborghini, sure they could build it. The same would be true if they were tasked to build a world class luxury car to compete with Rolls Royce or Bentley. Could they do it at a profit? Probably not. The fact is that people who purchase cars in this price range purchase for more than the merits of the vehicle. They purchase for heritage, prestige and exclusivity. For that reason I truly doubt that either Ford, GM or Chrysler would build such a car. There is very little possibility that any such car would be profitable. As much as I like Corvettes, no one is willing to pay $250K for a hyper version of a relatively common car. I think much of the same could be said of the Maybach. I think that it is an excellent car but there were few people willing to pay an uber price for what appeared to be a grand version of a relatively common Mercedes Benz. If Duesenberg, Cord or Auburn had been able to survive the Great Depression, most likely they would have been America's prestige brands that would be competing with Rolls Royce, Bentley and Aston Martin. Cadillac can go out a invest as much money as they like to build a car to compete with Rolls Royce (with a RR price tag) but no matter how well it's designed or built, people will not pay $250 to $300K for a Cadillac because ....... it's a Cadillac. As such, I wouldn't anticipate GM building such a car. You brought up the Ford GT. Keep in mind that this car had a very high price tag and it did have heritage (from the 60s) so it was a bit of an exception to this rule. If the GT used many foreign engineered components it may have been due to the short time soan Ford brought the car from a concept to production. The Ford GT was a concept int he 2002 NAIAS and was put into production in fall of 2004. Also keep in mind though that this car was powered by a supercharged 5.4 liter engine that was based on Fords F-150 truck engine.

Could an American company build a (by your definition) world class super car? Sure they could. If engineers from Ford, GM, for Chrysler LLC had been tasked to build a world class super car with a target price of around $250K to challenge Ferrari or Lamborghini, sure they could build it. The same would be true if they were tasked to build a world class luxury car to comepete with Rolls Royce or Bentley. Could they do it at a profit, no. The fact is that people who purchase cars in this price range purchase for more than the merits of the vehicle. They purchase for hereitage, prestige and exclusivity. For that reason I truly doubt that either Ford, GM or Chrysler would build such a car. There is very little possibility that any such car would be profitable. As much as I like

You're right!! But the failed in cadillac and lincoln in getting them close to European cars.. So I guess same story will happen if they tried.. I had a strong fight with you.. But it was fun.. Chears!!

they*

Same here. A was a good spirited debate.

LOL its like an old married couple :OP

Americans do make the best cars in the world. Unfortunatley, they are all working for Honda, Nissan, and Toyota while doing so.