- A 1957 Corvette SS prototype broke records, selling for $7.7 million USD (~$12 million AUD) at auction.
- Designed by legendary engineer Zora Arkus-Duntov as Chevrolet’s first serious attempt to compete at Le Mans.
- SS model has a revolutionary design that includes a magnesium body and factory-tuned V8 with Ramjet fuel injection.
In a world where electric cars silently rocket to 100 kph in under three seconds and AI-driven vehicles navigate rush-hour traffic with precision, there’s still something undeniably appealing about classic cars. And for die-hard enthusiasts, they’re worth every last penny — sometimes even millions of them.
That sentiment hit an all-time high last week when a piece of American racing history changed hands for a price of $7.7 million USD (~$12 million AUD). The 1957 Corvette SS — which is a Chevrolet prototype that once aimed to challenge the titans of European motorsport — became the most expensive Corvette ever sold, breaking the previous record of $3.85 (~$6 million AUD) set by a 1967 L88 Corvette in 2014.
The Birth of an American Racing Legend
This wasn’t just any old Corvette. Internally known as Project XP-64, the Corvette SS was Chevrolet’s long shot at international motorsport glory. Zora Arkus-Duntov — the man who transformed the Corvette from a stylish cruiser into a true performance machine — was the one leading the charge and Chevy set its sights on Le Mans, hoping to take on Ferrari and Porsche on their own turf.
Engineering Marvel
The SS was a marvel of engineering and had a lightweight tubular frame with an impossibly futuristic magnesium body. Under the hood, it had a 283-cubic-inch, factory-tuned V8 with Ramjet fuel injection that sent power through a four-speed manual transmission. It was America’s boldest attempt yet to take on the best in the world.
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But while the ambition was sky-high, the execution was complicated. The SS made its competition debut at the 1957 12 Hours of Sebring, piloted by John Fitch and Piero Taruffi. But, dreams of endurance-racing glory were cut short because just 23 laps in, the car succumbed to overheating issues. And if that wasn’t enough, the Automobile Manufacturers Association soon banned factory-backed racing, relegating the SS to a life of exhibition instead of competition.
Since 1967, it has been a prized showpiece at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum, where it has been admired by generations of racing fans. But as part of the museum’s collection downsizing, this legendary machine finally found its way back to the auction block.
Then, on February 28, the Corvette found its place not just in racing history but in financial history as well after being sold as the most valuable Corvette ever. A car that never quite had its moment on the podium, but decades later, still managed to win where it mattered: in the hearts (and wallets) of those who revere the golden age of American motorsport.
