First Corvette ZR1 will be auctioned to benefit wounded veterans

(November 30, 2017) DETROIT — GM and Chevrolet will offer the fastest, most powerful production Corvette ever built for auction to benefit the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation and the work it does to support wounded veterans through the Building for America’s Bravest program.

On Jan. 20, the first retail production 2019 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 will hit the auction block at Barrett-Jackson in Scottsdale, Ariz.

“GM and Chevrolet are proud to honor and support the brave men and women of our armed forces,” said Steve Hill, GM vice president of U.S. Sales and Service. “With the proceeds from the auction of the Corvette ZR1, we will be able to offer additional support to some of our most severely wounded veterans through the Building for America’s Bravest effort.”

With more than 6,000 veterans employed at GM and more than 50,000 GM retirees who are veterans, GM and Chevrolet are committed to helping those who have given so much for their country.

The Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation is named for a New York City firefighter and first responder who died during the attacks of Sept. 11. The foundation builds mortgage-free smart homes for the most catastrophically injured service members through its Building for America’s Bravest program.

These smart homes feature automated doors and lighting; wider halls and doorways; special showers to accommodate wheelchairs; automatic door openers; cabinets, counters and stove tops that can be raised and lowered; backup generators; and central heating and air conditioning systems that can be controlled by tablets. Each home is built with the goal of enabling the most severely injured heroes to live better, more independent lives.

The Corvette ZR1’s exclusive LT5 supercharged engine, which is rated at an SAE-certified 755 horsepower and 715 lb-ft of torque, is establishing a new benchmark in performance. The ZR1 elevates Corvette’s track capability with two wind tunnel-honed aerodynamics packages, including an available High Wing that provides an estimated 950 pounds of downforce.

Seven-speed manual and eight-speed paddle-shift automatic transmissions are available with the LT5. It’s the first time an automatic transmission has been offered in a ZR1.