Back in August of last year, Michigan-based tuner Lingenfelter Performance Engineering revealed the new limited-edition 60th Anniversary Cunningham C8 Corvette. Built in recognition of the No. 3 Corvette that took the class win at the 1960 24 Hours of Le Mans at the hands of John Fitch and Bob Grossman, the 60th Anniversary Cunningham C8 Corvette features new styling, upgraded performance, and even more power. Now, the first example of this limited-edition tuner C8 has sold at auction for $187,000.
The auction in question is the recent Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale 2022 event in Arizona, where the first 60th Anniversary Cunningham C8 Corvette sold as lot number 1441.
The vehicle was previously on display at the Amelia Island and Greenwich Concours, not to mention Detroit Motor Bella and SEMA Show in Las Vegas.
Although the vehicle that sold was the first produced, it was tagged as number 33, as it was originally raffled off by the Chip Miller Amyloidosis Foundation, which specifically requested that it be number 33 given that was Chip Miller’s favorite number.
The exterior includes white body panels with red and blue accents. The aero bits were designed by Peter Stevens, who also designed the legendary McLaren F1, and includes carbon-fiber front and rear deck lids, as well as a motorsports-derived swan-neck wing and exposed carbon-fiber ground effects
Behind the cabin, Lingenfelter tuned the naturally aspirated 6.2L V8 LT2 gasoline engine to produce a claimed 600 horsepower. Speed mods include new Corsa headers and exhaust, plus a Lingenfelter Performance carbon fiber intake manifold.
The extra power is complemented by new suspension bits, Alcon Pro Sport brakes, and HRE forged aluminum Halibrand-inspired 20- and 21-inch wheels wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport 4S.
Although $187,000 isn’t exactly cheap, the final bid was actually relatively close to the price tag for each individual example of this limited-run vehicle, which starts at $159,995.
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Comments
I’d like to see the Dyno sheet on that. 600hp seems to be a stretch with just those mods.
I agree. However, wasn’t Cunningham the only vendor given the ECU crack code? I still don’t see a ~120 horsepower gain.
600 is 105 hp difference. Headers, complete exhaust and cats is a easy 30hp, Custom intake and a bigger throttle body can be 30 more for a total of 60hp. Yeah a 100 + horsepower gain is a stretch with the mentioned mods. There has to be other mods not mentioned like head work that is totally invisible.
Agree. The performance gains seem questionable but what strikes me are the ugly wheels and intake manifold cover.
On a slightly different note, I applaud Chevy for developing the new Vette, BUT….. a lot people like myself have supported the Corvette for 40+ years. Now that we’re retired or about to to be, they come out with a model that NONE OF US can no longer afford! There is such a thing as loyalty, a fading concept in American society I agree. So now we’re relegated to buying used cars if we want one. $60K is one thing, but $100+ is entirely another. I went to a Chevy dealer two weeks for a service issue and while waiting I looked at a C8 and was approached by two sales people. They had no idea of the spending potential of most customers not counting retirees. And frankly, from their remarks they didn’t give a sh_____ either. They saw nothing wrong and wanted to write me up a loan for $90,000+ after my $20,000 down payment. After all any working class guy can afford one of these. But, neither owned one. That is NOT customer loyalty. Sales of C8 seems to be trending along at similar levels to older models, but upon checking most are being shipped for dealer inventory. Perhaps GM is looking for a new audience and leaving past customers in the dust? As a result, I am looking in other directions for my next fun machine.
Agree. On another post, I had a mini rant about this…GM could appeal to their loyal customers while also creating excitement in the brand from different/younger demographics…instead they chose against the loyal crowd. Sadly, it seems to be working for them so far…
The way I see it, The C8 has a very large appeal to the older demographics as well as the younger/different demographics. I have never seen such a diverse group of interest as I have seen in the C8
I don’t know about the working part. I checked GM sales numbers and thus far it’s too early to say as most orders are being shipped to fill dealer inventory. But, that being said they shipping 200 month which is only 10 more than the older models. There’s always a rush when a new model appears then it settles down to a normal flow. My guess is that it will be about the same as the C7. GM has chosen to apple to a new crowd. I am going to settle for a used Vette, There’s plenty to chose from……..
I have had 2 C8s. Wonderful cars. I traded a Audi R8 for one from Dallas a 2020 and had a Corvette Museum C8 2021 I special built and trailered to Tampa and flipped it for 29k. The 2020 I just traded in on a MCLAREN and let me say I have a 2023 Z06 coming and can’t wait. I have a new NSX, rare Lambo Huracan, and the MCLAREN all at home, but nothing satisfied me more than the C8. They are just fast but not bowel movement making..haha…so I sold them and waiting for 670+ HP.
Love those wheels.
I was going to say it ought to be against the law to put that type of wheels on a car so good , and then weary said he loves them . I guess why we have a few options.
To each his own. That’s what makes the world go round! BTW, the car is soooo edgy, it softens up the design (IMHO)