First 2018 Corvette Carbon 65 Heads to Auction for Charity

Sale of the first-VIN 65th Anniversary Corvette bears George W. Bush’s signature and will benefit the Bush Center’s Military Service Institute.

Chevrolet will send the very first 2018 Corvette Carbon 65 to auction for charity at Barrett-Jackson’s Scottsdale 2018 auction.

George W. Bush, the 43rd President of the United States, signed the vehicle’s airbag cover on the steering wheel. That should add some value to VIN #001 of the 65th Anniversary Corvette. You can watch more on this unique ‘Vette right here on Vimeo.

Bush’s signature punctuates the charity aspect of the January 20 auction. All money from the sale will go to the Bush Center’s Military Service Institute in Dallas, Texas. That institution works to help veterans and their families transition to civilian life. This includes helping vets find employment and offering a wellness center.

GM doesn’t just talk that talk, either. The company currently employs more than 6,000 veterans. An additional 50,000-plus GM retirees also served in the armed forces.

Carbon 65 Corvette

The Carbon 65 Corvette sports unique fender stripes and door graphics on its Ceramic Matrix Gray finish. The design incorporates carbon-fiber accents on the spoiler, ground effects elements, rear-quarter air intakes, hood, and roof (Coupe) or tonneau inserts (Convertible). Carbon also adorns the badges, outside mirrors, sill plates, and the center caps of the black wheels.

The interior includes more carbon-fiber on the steering wheel and some trim, all of which offsets the Jet Black suede interior with blue stitching. Competition Sport seats complete the Carbon 65, which is available only on Grand Sport 3LT and Z06 3LZ trims.

The package costs $15,000 over the normal 3LT and 3LZ prices. Chevy will build only 650 of the Carbon 65 Corvettes.

VIN #001 Auctions

This is the most recent of many “First Retail Edition” Corvettes sent to auction for charity. Here are some of the others:

• 2017 Grand Sport VIN #001 sold at Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach 2016 for $170,000. That benefitted The Karmanos Cancer Institute in Michigan.
• 2016 Z06 C7.R Edition VIN #001 sold at Barrett-Jackson Las Vegas 2015 for $500,000. That benefitted the College of Creative Studies in Detroit.
• 2013 C6 Z06 60th Anniversary Edition VIN #001 sold at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale 2012 for $600,000. That benefitted the AARP’s Drive to End Hunger
• 2011 C6 Z06 Le Mans Anniversary Edition VIN # 001 sold at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale 2011 for $210,000. That sold to raise money for the NCM Motorsports Park in Bowling Green, Kentucky.