Chevy Corvette fans could be accurately described as fanatical. We study the cars, the history, the numbers. We have clubs like the National Corvette Restorers Society and National Corvette Owners Association. We have big gatherings to celebrate our cars like Corvettes at Carlisle, Bloomington Gold, and the NCRS National Convention. We know and love our Corvettes.
Even for the most rabid Corvette fan, there are a few Chevy Corvettes most of us have never seen, and even fewer will get to own. These are the rarest of the marque, the most desirable, or the most valuable, and some of the most collectible. This is a list of some of the most collectible Chevy Corvette models so far.
1963 Chevy Corvette Sting Ray Split Window Coupe
In 1963, the Chevy Corvette had a clean-sheet design. Gone was the Solid Axle platform of the Harley Earl dynasty. The new Corvette had a much more European look, heavily influenced by the 1957 Stingray Racer. The new Corvette had pontoon fenders, hidden headlights, a rear independent suspension with a transverse leaf spring, in-dash glove box, and a center spine that began at the windshield and arced backward, splitting the rear window of the coupe. This styling element had been present on the 1961 and 1962 Corvettes, but the 1963 model year was the first with a coupe in the lineup. The “Split Window” was not universally loved. Zora Arkus-Duntov, then Chevrolet’s Director of High Performance, hated the partition because it blocked rearward vision. Duntov was outranked by Styling Section Vice President Bill Mitchell.
The Split Window coupe lasted a single production year, as the 1964 coupe had a one piece rear glass. A bit of trivia here: a number of ’63 Split Window Coupe owners sawed the partition out of their cars when the 1964 model was released in the hopes of looking like they had the newest model. In all, 10,594 1963 Chevy Corvette Split Window Coupes were made; far fewer exist now. Hagerty Price Guide valuation for a 1963 Corvette SWC with the top-of-the-line 360-horsepower engine with Rochester mechanical fuel injection and four-speed manual transmission (the most desirable combo) in #1 condition is $235,000.
1963 Chevy Corvette Z06 Tanker Coupe
Photo credit: Barrett-Jackson
The 1963 Chevy Corvette coupe could be optioned specifically for competition use. The Z06 option included the 360-horsepower, L84 fuel-injected V-8 engine, a 36.5-gallon fiberglass fuel tank, a four-speed, close-ratio manual trans, Positraction rear end, heavy-duty shocks and springs, oversized anti-sway bars, oversized finned steel brake drums and cooling fans, a unique dual-circuit, vacuum-boosted master cylinder, and brake-cooling ducts that sent air to the front brakes. The Big Tank Z06 option was only available for the coupes, and only 63 were made. Hagerty Price Guide value for a 1963 Chevy Corvette Z06 Big Tank Split Window Coupe in #1 condition is $681,000.
1967 Chevy Corvette L88
Photo credit: Mecum Auctions
Few Corvettes are as rare as the 1967 Chevy Corvette L88, with production totaling just 20 copies. The L88 was rated at 430 horsepower, but that was at 4,600 rpm, far below the engine’s 6,400-rpm peak. True power output was somewhere between 500 and 600 horsepower after a bit of tuning. The L88 engine option had some very specific engineering intended to wring maximum performance from the 427 cubic-inch Big Block. It began with a reinforced cast-iron block, with 4-bolt mains, forged steel crank, forged rods, 12.5:1 compression, a radical solid lifter cam, Holley 850-cfm carb, transistorized ignition, and aluminum intake.
The L88 came with the Muncie M22 “Rock Crusher” transmission, power-assisted heavy-duty disc brakes, F41 heavy-duty suspension, and the G81 Positraction differential. If you selected the L88 option, you could not have a radio, heater, A/C, power steering, or electric windows. In case you happened to forget just what kind of beast you were piloting, there was a sticker on the parking brake housing that read: WARNING: VEHICLE MUST OPERATE ON A FUEL HAVING A MINIMUM 103 RESEARCH OCTANE AND 95 MOTOR OCTANE OR ENGINE DAMAGE MAY RESULT. Hagerty Price Guide value for a 1967 Chevy Corvette L88 Convertible in #1 condition is $3.25 million.
1971 Chevy Corvette ZR1 and ZR2
Photo credit: Barrett-Jackson
Much like the Z06 option package, the 1971 Chevy Corvette ZR1 was an option focused on competition use. The ZR1 Special Purpose LT1 Engine Package included the 330-horsepower 350 cubic-inch Small Block LT1 engine, Muncie M22 four-speed manual transmission , heavy-duty power brakes, transistorized ignition, special aluminum radiator, special springs and shocks, front and rear stabilizer bars, metal fan shrouds. RPOs A31 Power Windows, C50 Rear Window Defroster, C60 Air Conditioning, N40 Power Steering, P02 Deluxe Wheel Covers, UA6 Alarm System, U69 AM/FM Radio, and U79 AM/FM stereo were not available with ZR1.
The ZR2 Special Purpose LS6 Engine Package came with the 425-horsepower 454 cubic-inch Big Block engine and all the same options and restrictions as the ZR1 package. Productions numbers were incredibly low, with just eight of the ZR1 package and twelve of the ZR2 package leaving the St. Louis assembly plant. As so few of the ZR1 and ZR2s were built, pricing information is scant. However, a few of these rare Corvettes have crossed auction blocks. In May of 2017, a Chevy Corvette ZR1 coupe in Nevada Silver with only 35,000 original miles bid to $220,000 at the Mecum Indy auction, but failed to meet reserve. In January of 2019, a 1971 Chevy Corvette ZR2 convertible in Ontario Orange, with both an NCRS Top Flight and Bloomington Gold Hall of Fame certification, sold at the Mecum Kissimmee auction for $380,000.
These are just a few of the rare and collectible Chevy Corvettes models to be had. If we listed them all, it would make a decent book. Rest assured, this is far from the last collectible Corvette article!
Subscribe to GM Authority for more Corvette news, Chevrolet news, and around-the-clock GM news coverage.
Comments
would like to know about the Lumina Z34 and where to make replacement parts for this fine automobile
Nice list wish they could do one on regular guy ,gal can buy novas Corvairs monte Carlos
Make a visit to the National Corvette Museum to see many of the special and not so special Vettes. It is worth the trip to Bowling Green, KY. There is also a link to the Vette Academy on their website to learn about Vettes in detail. Worth the time and energy.
It would be good to have this as a regular article in GM Authority.
Really anyone can afford a Vette. Many are for sale at great prices…less than a used rice burner.
Yep, you’re right. When I was 16, I bought my first muscle car, a 1967 GTO. And I thought the power in that car was awesome at the time. Now a $12,000 C5 would blow it off the road. And if you’re a young kid who’s a hard worker, you could own one. You can get one cheaper than that if you can work on cars. With an LS engine, they’re worth restoring.
A couple of others, off the top of my head: any of the Rochester fuel-injected models and any of the dual-quad C1s. It’s a given, of course, that candidates are in totally original condition (either survivors or correctly-restored Corvettes); “restomods” or otherwise modified cars don’t qualify.
The Black L88 pictured above just sold on Mecum for 2.5M. BTW, it has power windows. I know, I’m being nit picky.
Realizing that the title was ‘SOME Of The Most Collectible Chevy Corvette Models Ever’ I am still amazed that there is no mention of probably the rarest Corvette ever – the 1969 ZL1.
With an aluminum block (and heads), the 427 ZL1 is basically an aluminum version of the L88, with the same restrictions on options (no heater or radio etc.) as its iron block cousin and real-world power levels approaching 600 HP and equally as astronomical cost, the ZL1 was NOT for the faint of heart.
Checking the option box would virtually double the price of a “standard” Corvette coupe, ($4781 vs. $4718 for the ZL1 option) but, when you added in the “required” options, it would more than double the base price – over $10,000 total for a 1969 Corvette !!!
Now, when you factor in that the ZL1 engine itself weighed roughly the same as the standard L46 350hp 350 small block, with well more than 1½ times the power, you could have yourself a factory made rocket-ship.
That Corvette was/is so rare that most people, especially in 1968-9, didn’t have any idea that it existed (even L88’s) – some had heard then (and most car enthusiasts now know) of the 69 documented ZL1 Camaros, but the ZL1 Corvettes were probably not even a rumor in 1969.
There are only two documented to have existed AND sold to the public.
I have read a couple articles about a third ZL1 Corvette being produced but they did not mention any verification or documentation existing for that third one.
There is some mention of more ZL1 Corvettes being produced and used solely for research and development purposes, but I have not read (or heard) that any have survived and made into the hands of collectors – if they had, I have no doubt that they would have been known about by now…
While not a “streetable” car, by any means, given the 12.5:1 compression ratio, radical solid lifter cam and NO comfort or convenience items to speak of, the 1969 ZL1 427 Corvette has to be one of, if not THE most “unicorn” American cars ever.
The reason I didn’t include the ZL1 is because there were only two built, and at one time I think one guy owned both of them. If that is still the case, they are not very ‘collectible’.
That actually makes it the most collectable as by nature we want what we can’t have.
The photo of the 63 split window didn’t show the split window.
My issue is this. I love the new C8 as it is an amazing car. But should I buy it and enjoy it or should I buy my other love the 58-62 C1. The C1 is about the same price and will increase in value going forward.
I will have to decide but either car will deliver satisfaction.
But the best deals are on C5 Corvettes now. You can find clean low mike C5 Vettes for below $20k. I passed up a C5 loaded roadster with 17k miles for $17k. Never in the rain.
C8.R-
I’ve owned a 1960 Corvette for 32 years. When I was much younger, the ride didn’t bother me. Now that I have a few more miles on me, and my navel is not as close to my spine as it used to be, its tougher to spend hours in the car. I still love it, and I will never get rid of it, but I’m not planning any road trips in her. If you want to spend time in the car, do rallies, or travel, get the C8. If you want to cruise on sunny days, go to Cars and Coffee, and have everyone in traffic wave, yell, and try to take pictures, get the Solid Axle. You don’t lose either way.
I just missed out on a cherry, 2001 w/20,000 on it. I only got to see it on the net but it looked brand new and they wanted $16,500 for it. Bummer, but the hunt continues.
Am I one of the few that’s bored of seeing vetts these days? I stopped going to Mecums and Jacksons as its turned into a sea of never ending vetts from all eras with 89% of them being nothing special. Got nothing against the cars but when they become as common as a Camry they sorta lose the appeal to me.
I was fortunate enough to have seen one of the original ZL-1 Corvette’s when I was just 15 in 1979 at a shop on Dixie Highway in Pompano Beach, Fl. It was just sitting there with some grass growing up around it and as kids we’d pass by it all the time when we were out cruising. Dixie Highway was pretty rough back then but there were tons of shops with tons of muscle cars around if you looked for them. One day we decided to stop and look at it, really knowing nothing anything other than it was a ’68 or ’69 Corvette. The hood wasn’t locked, just partially opened with a short 2X4 up towards the windshield keeping it from closing. None of my friends wanted to touch it but I walked right up and opened the hood. Must to my astonishment I saw the Tri-power and couldn’t believe my eyes until I realized that for the first time in my young hot rod life I was looking at a real set of aluminum heads! There weren’t many around in ’79 even at Miami-Hollywood Speedway off Flamingo or WPB, what later became Moroso Motorsports Park. Little did I realize that just meer seconds later that my young “gear head” would be changed forever when I looked down and saw that aluminum block. I’m 57 now and that moment still holds a place of utter reverence in my mind. Even as a young boy I knew what I was looking at. Hot Rod and Car Craft had taught me well that the fender I was leaning over was nothing short of an automotive holy grail. It wasn’t until years later that I realized just how “holy grail” it was given the generally accepted estimate that there were only 2 examples that ever graced the planet. Now I don’t know if this was truly one of the 2 “originals” or a that maybe someone had pulled the motor out of a ZL-1 Camaro and I never will but what I do know is that I had an opportunity to see something as a young kid that most never did or ever will and that was pretty cool. We passed by it countless times in our young hot rod lives and sometimes I’d drive by alone just as one of those youthful milestones until one day it was gone. Perhaps someone realized the true value of what it was and snatched it up? I’ll never know but what I do know is I had an encounter with a piece of true American automotive history and I’m way cool with that. God Bless America 🇺🇲
Not sure what you saw there but the ZL-1 came with an 850 cfm Holley four barrel like the L-88. There was an aluminum head option (L-89) for the L-71 which would have the tri-power but not the aluminum block.
No one ever mentions the ’65 with the 425 hp 396 cu. In. engine. The first big block Vette. My older sister had one when I was in my teens. Red convertible ….. was a beautiful car. I’ve never seen or heard of another one. How rare are they?
Production numbers indicate that Chevrolet built 2157 ’65 Corvettes equipped with the 396/425 L78 engine option. The bigger question would be how many still exist, especially in ‘original’ condition.
2157 built and likely more than half were Convertibles. My brother had 2 of them over the years. One was Nassau Blue/Black interior and one was Milano Maroon/Saddle interior. Both Coupes, both documented originals. Great sound with a high compression big block and sidepipes.
1971 Corvette ZR1 and ZR2 are there any labels or identifing numbers on these cars anywhere that specify that its a ZR 1 or 2 ?
Has anybody ever shopped at E-Cig Healthy Living Vape Shop in 1140 N Van Ness Ave?