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Auctions

1963 Corvette Grand Sport Becomes the Most Expensive Corvette Ever Sold at Auction

The 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport has just rewritten the record books. One of only five Grand Sport race cars ever built has sold for an astonishing $18.7 million at auction, making it the most expensive Chevrolet Corvette ever sold publicly.

Offered by RM Sotheby’s, the ultra-rare C2 Corvette was widely expected to challenge the existing auction record for a Corvette. Few, however, could have predicted just how far bidding would go. The final price of $18.7 million eclipsed the previous Corvette auction record by nearly $15 million, underscoring the extraordinary appeal of Chevrolet’s legendary factory-built racing machine.

For collectors, this was never simply another classic Corvette. Chassis No. 003 represents one of the most important chapters in American motorsport history—and perhaps the ultimate expression of Zora Arkus-Duntov’s vision for the Corvette.

The Most Expensive Corvette Ever Sold at Auction

Before the 1963 Corvette Grand Sport crossed the auction block, the record for the most expensive Corvette sold at public auction belonged to a 1967 Corvette L88 Coupe.

That car achieved $3.85 million in 2014, establishing a benchmark that remained untouched for more than a decade. Several Corvettes subsequently crossed the $3 million threshold, but none came close to challenging the L88’s record.

The recent auction completely changed the picture.

The $18.7 million sale price is almost five times the previous Corvette auction record. It also places this Grand Sport among the most valuable American automobiles ever sold at auction.

The current top three Corvette auction results include:

  • 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport – $18.7 million
  • 2025 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 VIN 001 – $3.7 million
  • 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 70th Anniversary Edition – $3.6 million

The scale of the new record is particularly remarkable because the Grand Sport is more than six decades old. Its value comes not from modern performance or technology, but from rarity, competition history, provenance and its place in Corvette history.

Only Five Corvette Grand Sports Were Ever Built

The extraordinary value of this Corvette begins with one simple fact: Chevrolet built only five original Grand Sport cars.

The Grand Sport program was conceived in 1962 by legendary Corvette engineer Zora Arkus-Duntov. His objective was straightforward but ambitious—to create a lightweight, purpose-built Corvette capable of taking on Ford-powered competition such as the Shelby Cobra.

At the time, General Motors had decided to withdraw from official factory-supported racing programs. That decision, however, did little to stop Duntov and his team from pursuing their own vision.

The Grand Sport was developed largely in secret, with engineers working on the project outside their regular responsibilities.

Duntov originally intended to build 125 examples, which would have been enough to satisfy homologation requirements for international Grand Touring competition.

General Motors management eventually discovered the program and ordered it to be stopped.

Only five cars had been completed.

Those five Corvettes subsequently became some of the most coveted American racing cars ever produced.

Chassis No. 003 Has a Serious Racing Pedigree

The Corvette that achieved the $18.7 million auction result carries chassis number 003, making it one of just five original Grand Sports.

Its competition history adds another layer of significance.

The car was raced by Dick Doane during the 1963 season, winning three SCCA races. It later competed at the legendary 12 Hours of Sebring, finishing second in class in 1964 and third in class in 1965.

Its cockpit also saw some of the biggest names in American racing.

Drivers associated with the car include A.J. Foyt, Jim Hall, Augie Pabst and Dick Thompson.

That combination of rarity and documented competition history is exactly what serious collectors look for. Unlike many expensive classic cars, this Corvette is not valuable merely because it is old or attractive. It has genuine motorsport credentials and a direct connection to one of the most important periods in American racing.

A Corvette Designed to Fight the Shelby Cobra

The original Grand Sport was radically different from an ordinary Corvette.

Rather than simply adding more horsepower to the production C2, Chevrolet engineers focused on reducing weight and improving the car’s ability to compete on a race track.

The Grand Sport program was developed around a lightweight construction philosophy and a dedicated racing specification. The goal was to create a Corvette that could challenge lighter and highly competitive sports cars of the era.

The Shelby Cobra was one of the primary targets.

That rivalry helped create one of the most fascinating chapters in the history of American performance cars. The Grand Sport ultimately never received the opportunity to fulfill its original homologation program on the scale Duntov envisioned, but the five cars that survived became automotive legends.

More Than 600 Horsepower From a Period-Spec V8

Under the hood of chassis No. 003 is an all-aluminum 6.2-liter V8 built to period specifications.

The engine is equipped with four original Weber 58 DCOE carburetors, an arrangement that immediately identifies this Corvette as a serious competition machine rather than a conventional road-going C2.

The engine is estimated to produce more than 600 horsepower and approximately 530 lb-ft (813 Nm) of torque.

Those numbers are remarkable even by modern standards. In a lightweight race car developed in the early 1960s, that level of power transforms the Grand Sport into something far more intimidating than the average classic Corvette.

The combination of low weight, substantial power and racing-focused engineering was precisely what Duntov and his team intended.

Restored to Its 1964 Sebring Appearance

The Grand Sport’s history continued after its racing career.

Collector Larry Bowman acquired the car in 2004 and subsequently commissioned a restoration designed to return it to the appearance it carried when it competed in the 1964 24 Hours of Sebring.

That approach is particularly important for a historically significant competition car. Rather than simply restoring it to an attractive showroom condition, the objective was to preserve and recreate its racing identity.

The result is a Corvette that represents a specific moment in its competition history while retaining the authenticity that collectors demand from a car of this importance.

The Second Grand Sport to Appear at Public Auction

The $18.7 million sale is even more remarkable when considering how rarely an original Grand Sport has been offered publicly.

This was only the second Grand Sport to appear at a public auction.

The first was offered in 2009. Although bidding reached $4.9 million, the car failed to meet its reserve and did not sell.

It was later sold privately for an undisclosed amount believed to have exceeded $4 million.

Another original Grand Sport changed hands privately in 2002 for approximately $4.2 million.

Those earlier transactions provide an interesting perspective on the explosive appreciation of the Grand Sport. A car that was already considered exceptionally valuable more than two decades ago has now reached a completely different level of collectability.

Why Did This Corvette Sell for $18.7 Million?

The answer is a combination of factors rather than a single feature.

First, there is extreme rarity. Only five original Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sports were produced.

Second, there is provenance. Chassis No. 003 has a documented racing history that includes SCCA victories and multiple appearances at the 12 Hours of Sebring.

Third, the car is directly connected to Zora Arkus-Duntov, one of the most influential figures in Corvette history.

Fourth, it represents a factory racing program that General Motors never allowed to reach its intended production target.

And finally, there is the Grand Sport’s place in American motorsport history. It represents a rare moment when Chevrolet engineers attempted to transform the Corvette into a lightweight international racing weapon.

For collectors, that combination is extraordinarily difficult to replicate.

The Grand Sport Is Now One of America’s Most Valuable Cars

At $18.7 million, the 1963 Corvette Grand Sport is not only the most expensive Corvette ever sold at auction. It is also the third most expensive American car ever sold publicly.

Only two American automobiles have achieved higher auction prices.

A 1964 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe recently sold at Pebble Beach for an extraordinary $42.9 million, setting the American-car auction record.

Second place belongs to a 1935 Duesenberg SSJ, which sold for $22 million.

The Corvette Grand Sport therefore occupies an extraordinary position alongside two of the most valuable and historically significant American automobiles ever produced.

A Record That Could Stand for Years

The $18.7 million sale dramatically changes the landscape for collectible Corvettes.

The previous record of $3.85 million had stood since 2014. The new benchmark is so far beyond that figure that another Corvette would need to be something truly extraordinary to challenge it.

That does not mean the market has reached its ceiling. The five original Grand Sports remain among the most desirable American racing cars, and the history of the remaining examples could eventually produce another headline-making transaction.

For now, however, chassis No. 003 sits comfortably at the top.

The 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport was born from a secret racing project that General Motors ultimately shut down. Only five examples escaped into the world.

More than 60 years later, one of those five has become an $18.7 million automotive icon.

And in the process, the Corvette has entered an entirely new level of collector-car value.

1963 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport: Key Facts

Model: Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport
Year: 1963
Chassis: No. 003
Production: 5 original examples
Engine: 6.2-liter all-aluminum V8
Induction: Four Weber 58 DCOE carburetors
Estimated output: More than 600 hp
Estimated torque: 530 lb-ft (813 Nm)
Auction house: RM Sotheby’s
Sale price: $18.7 million
Previous Corvette auction record: $3.85 million
Previous record holder: 1967 Chevrolet Corvette L88 Coupe

Source: RM Sotheby’s

Auctions

Ayrton Senna’s Honda NSX Is Going to Auction—and It Could Be Worth Nearly $1 Million

Few road cars are as deeply connected to Formula 1 legend Ayrton Senna as the first-generation Honda NSX. Now, one of the most significant examples is heading to auction, offering collectors a rare opportunity to own a sports car that was personally driven by the three-time Formula 1 world champion.

The red Honda NSX with a black roof, chassis number T000233, is scheduled to cross the auction block on October 31. With documented ties to Senna, appearances in films and documentaries, and a remarkable history spanning Portugal, the UK, Japan and Italy, the car could become one of the most valuable Honda NSX models ever sold at public auction.

RM Sotheby’s estimates the value of Senna’s Honda NSX at between £500,000 and £800,000, equivalent to approximately €584,000 to €934,000.

The Honda NSX Ayrton Senna Helped Develop

Senna’s relationship with Honda began in 1987, when the Japanese manufacturer supplied engines to Team Lotus. In 1988, Senna moved to McLaren-Honda and immediately won his first Formula 1 world championship.

At roughly the same time, Honda was working on a project that would dramatically change the perception of Japanese performance cars: an all-new mid-engine sports car designed to challenge established European supercars such as the Ferrari 328 and Porsche 911.

That car would become the Honda NSX.

Senna was much more than a celebrity associated with the project. Honda gave him access to development prototypes, allowing the Brazilian driver to test the car and provide detailed feedback.

During testing, Senna reportedly criticized the rigidity of the NSX prototype’s body structure. His comments prompted Honda engineers to substantially increase structural rigidity, with the final development reportedly gaining around 50 percent more rigidity than the earlier prototype. Suspension tuning was also revised.

The result was a sports car that became famous not only for its performance, but also for its balance, precision and everyday usability.

Senna’s Famous NSX Test at Suzuka

One of the most famous pieces of footage associated with the Honda NSX shows Senna driving the car aggressively around Suzuka Circuit.

Rather than treating the NSX as a publicity prop, Senna explored the limits of the car, demonstrating the handling characteristics that would eventually become one of the model’s defining qualities.

The footage has since become an important part of the NSX’s mythology. Senna can be seen driving the car hard while wearing casual clothing and loafers—a fitting reminder that the NSX was conceived as a supercar that could be driven on the road rather than simply displayed in a garage.

For Honda, having a driver of Senna’s caliber involved in development was invaluable. For enthusiasts, his involvement has become an integral part of the first-generation NSX’s legacy.

The NSX Senna Drove in Portugal

The NSX heading to auction is particularly significant because it was not merely one of the prototypes Senna tested during development.

Chassis number T000233 was imported by Honda into Portugal, where Senna owned a home at the Quinta do Lago resort.

The car was registered on March 22, 1991, carrying Portuguese license plate SX-25-59. Whenever Senna was in Portugal, Honda made the NSX available to him.

Unlike many celebrity-owned cars that spend much of their lives hidden away, this Honda NSX was reportedly used regularly by Senna.

He even drove it to the Portuguese Grand Prix at Estoril. At that race, Senna qualified third and ultimately finished second, adding another remarkable connection between the car and his Formula 1 career.

Senna Used the NSX Like a Supercar Should Be Used

The car also appeared in the documentary “Ayrton Senna: Racing Is In My Blood,” where Senna can be seen putting the NSX through its paces.

The footage captures the rear tires spinning as smoke pours from behind the car, offering a glimpse of Senna’s character away from the Formula 1 paddock.

But perhaps the most famous images of the car have nothing to do with a racetrack.

A series of photographs shows Senna washing the red NSX with a garden hose while wearing jeans and a casual shirt. The seemingly ordinary scene became one of the most recognizable images of Senna away from Formula 1.

Those photographs helped establish the particular red NSX as an automotive icon in its own right.

What Happened to Senna’s Honda NSX After 1994?

Following Senna’s death at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix at Imola, the NSX remained in Portugal for a period of time.

Registration records and Honda certification documentation provide evidence supporting the car’s history and connection to Senna.

The NSX eventually changed hands several times. In 2013, it moved to the United Kingdom before returning to Japan in 2024.

Its history did not end there.

In 2019, the car returned to Imola to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Senna’s death. Former Minardi team principal Giancarlo Minardi drove the NSX as part of the tribute.

For its latest chapter, the current owner brought the car back to the UK ahead of its upcoming auction.

Why This Honda NSX Is So Valuable

The first-generation Honda NSX is already one of the most collectible Japanese performance cars of its era. But this particular example combines several factors that make it exceptionally desirable.

First, there is the direct connection to Ayrton Senna, one of the most celebrated drivers in Formula 1 history.

Second, the car has a documented history supported by registration records and Honda certification.

Third, it has appeared in film and documentary footage, including material showing Senna himself driving the car.

Finally, it is connected to one of the most important engineering stories in Honda’s history. Senna’s feedback during the development of the NSX helped influence the production car’s structural rigidity and chassis characteristics.

That combination of provenance, celebrity ownership, motorsport history and engineering significance is extremely difficult to replicate.

A Nearly $1 Million Honda

RM Sotheby’s estimate of £500,000 to £800,000 places the Senna NSX in a completely different category from an ordinary first-generation NSX.

At the top of the estimate, the car could approach £800,000, or roughly €934,000.

That figure illustrates just how much provenance can transform a collectible automobile.

A standard NSX is already regarded as one of the defining Japanese sports cars of the 1990s. An NSX that was personally used by Ayrton Senna, appeared in famous photographs and documentaries, and can be traced through official documentation represents something much more significant.

It is effectively a piece of Formula 1 history on four wheels.

The Ayrton Senna Honda NSX Could Become a Collector-CAR Icon

The original Honda NSX was created to challenge the world’s best sports cars while delivering the reliability and usability associated with Honda. More than three decades later, the model has become a modern classic.

This particular NSX takes that story to another level.

It is not simply a rare Japanese supercar. It is the car associated with one of Formula 1’s greatest drivers, a driver who played a meaningful role in shaping the NSX during its development and later used an example on the roads of Portugal.

When chassis T000233 goes under the hammer on October 31, collectors will be bidding not only on a Honda NSX, but on a documented piece of Ayrton Senna’s life outside Formula 1.

If the car reaches the upper end of RM Sotheby’s estimate, it could become one of the most expensive Honda NSX examples ever sold—and potentially one of the most historically significant Japanese cars to reach the collector-car market.

Source: RM Sotheby’s

Auctions

2012 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG sold for $775,000

The collector car market has a habit of rewriting its own rules, but every so often a sale comes along that makes even seasoned enthusiasts question what they’re looking at. That’s exactly what happened when a virtually untouched 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Coupe sold for an astonishing $775,000 on Bring a Trailer, setting a new high-water mark for the iconic gullwing.

The numbers alone are enough to grab attention. This particular SLS had covered just 250 miles since leaving the factory, making it about as close to a brand-new example as collectors are ever likely to find. Still, few expected bidding to climb anywhere near three-quarters of a million dollars.

As the auction unfolded, the price steadily climbed before reaching an already eye-opening $575,000. Another bidder nudged the total to $576,000, suggesting the sale was nearing its conclusion. Then everything changed. A newly registered account submitted a massive $775,000 bid, instantly ending the contest and leaving observers wondering whether someone had accidentally added an extra digit.

Speculation spread quickly across enthusiast forums and social media. Many believed the bidder had intended to type $577,000, while others questioned whether the transaction would ever be completed.

Bring a Trailer wasted little time addressing the rumors. According to the auction platform, the winning bidder manually entered the amount and then confirmed it through an additional verification screen, making the commitment deliberate rather than accidental.

Even so, skepticism remained until the sale received multiple independent confirmations. The dealership representing the vehicle later announced that payment had been received in full, while Hagerty Price Guide publisher Dave Kinney confirmed he had personally reviewed documentation verifying that the wire transfer had successfully cleared. At that point, any lingering doubts disappeared—the $775,000 sale was real.

Whether this transaction establishes a new market benchmark is another question entirely.

Before this auction, the most expensive Mercedes-Benz SLS sold on Bring a Trailer was a Black Series, which achieved $755,000 in 2022. Standard SLS AMG models have typically traded for substantially less, with one notable example bringing around $401,000. That makes this latest result remarkable not only because of its record-setting figure, but because it was achieved by a standard coupe rather than the more exclusive Black Series variant.

Of course, this wasn’t just any SLS. Ultra-low mileage examples occupy a unique corner of the collector market, where originality often carries more weight than drivability. Cars with delivery mileage are increasingly viewed as investment-grade assets, and buyers willing to pay a premium for the best examples continue to push prices into uncharted territory.

That said, the SLS AMG has more going for it than an odometer reading.

Developed as the first AMG model engineered largely in-house, the SLS arrived as the spiritual successor to the legendary 300 SL Gullwing while forging an identity entirely its own. Beneath its impossibly long hood sits AMG’s naturally aspirated 6.3-liter V8, producing 571 horsepower and 650 Nm (479 lb-ft) of torque. It’s an engine celebrated for its thunderous soundtrack, razor-sharp throttle response, and old-school character—qualities becoming increasingly rare in today’s era of turbocharging and electrification.

Performance remains impressive even by modern standards, but perhaps more importantly, the SLS represents the end of an era. It combines dramatic styling, iconic gullwing doors, a naturally aspirated V8, and rear-wheel drive into a package that’s unlikely to be repeated by Mercedes-AMG.

The question now is whether this sale signals the beginning of a new pricing era or simply reflects what one determined collector was willing to pay for an almost untouched example. History suggests that singular auction results don’t always redefine the market overnight, but they often reveal where demand is heading.

Either way, one thing is clear: the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG is no longer simply a modern performance car. It’s rapidly cementing its place among the most desirable modern classics—and after a $775,000 hammer price, collectors everywhere will be watching the next auction a little more closely.

Source: Bring a Trailer