Barrett-Jackson Auctions First 2014 Corvette C7 Stingray

While the Batmobile was definitely the crowd favorite of the Barrett-Jackson 2013 Scottsdale auction, I was looking forward to seeing a different car. On Saturday January 19th, they auctioned the first production model (VIN #0001) of the seventh-generation 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray.

When Chevrolet says the 2014 Corvette is “all-new,” they aren’t kidding around! The Corvette has a new exterior look, a brand new engine, and a completely redone interior. Even the sacred round taillamps have been redone! With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the changes.

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1969 Chevrolet Camaro 454SC by Stuban Concepts

The words “pro-touring” and “resto-mod” are thrown around a lot these days, but I don’t think that either of those terms adequately describe the amount of work that has gone into this car. “Re-engineered” might be a better way to describe it.

I first spotted this car at the 2012 SEMA Cruise. I didn’t see it on the show floor and I had no idea who had built this incredible car. Imagine my surprise when 3 months and 300 miles later, I found myself standing in front of the same car once again at Barrett-Jackson 2013! Now that I’ve identified it, let me tell you a little more about the car.

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Barrett-Jackson 2013: 2012 AC 378 GT Zagato

South Africa is famous for a lot of things: soccer, diamonds, and Nelson Mandela. But it’s definitely the last place on Earth that comes to mind when I think about supercars. And yet, that’s exactly what I saw at Barrett-Jackson 2013: a South African supercar.

Designed in Italy by Zagato, the car was first seen in 2009 and was called the “Perana Z-One.” It disappeared for a while and now it’s back, with a new name and a new set of badges. The car is entering production as the AC 378 GT Zagato, and it is truly a global effort.

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Big Block 1969 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu 454

While I was wandering around at Barrett-Jackson 2013, I happened upon this matte black beauty of a car. This 1969 Chevelle Malibu 454 is the ultimate street/strip machine: a fusion of metal and testosterone so manly that hair sprouted from my knuckles as I walked past.

Everything about this car awakens the senses, from the smooth black exterior to the deep rumble of the big-block V8 that you can feel in the soles of your shoes. This is a car that makes stock Corvettes and Mustangs slink back into the shadows. It makes junkyard dogs cower with fear and street thugs look the other way when they see it roll through their ‘hood. It rides on a set of Weld racing wheels and massive rear tires that don’t just grip the pavement, they pin it down and make it say ‘Uncle!’ This is one Chevelle you really don’t want to mess with.

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1961 LS3 Pro-Touring Corvette Convertible

One of the cars that caught my eye at Barrett-Jackson 2013 was this gleaming red 1961 Corvette Convertible. Like a bald eagle or a baseball game, the sight of a first-generation Corvette is one of those symbols that should fill any red-blooded American with a sense of pride. It certainly caught my attention, and I went in for a closer look.

This car is built in the “Pro-Touring” style, which means it is an older car (roughly from the 50s to the 70s) that has been upgraded with today’s technology. I have a fondness for pro-touring cars, and this one was absolutely perfect.

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The Chimera That You Can Sleep Inside

What has the face of a Ford, the ass of a Dodge and the name of a Chevrolet? Apparently this Recreational Vehicle.