One-Of-Two 1971 Chevrolet Corvette ZR2 Convertible Is Headed to Auction

This incredibly rare 1971 Chevrolet Corvette ZR2 convertible has just 8k original miles and has won every prestigious award out there.

The Corvette world is full of rare cars, packages, options, features, and even paint colors, all of which never fail to make collectors swoon. But while those items make certain Corvettes one of a few thousand or perhaps a few dozen in some cases, few can claim to be as rare as the 1971 Chevrolet Corvette ZR2 convertible. After all, just two of these particular cars were ever built, and now, one of them is going up for grabs at Mecum’s upcoming Indianapolis auction.

The 1971 Chevrolet Corvette ZR2 is a machine conceived by none other than the father of the iconic model, Zora Arkus-Duntov, intended to be the spiritual successor to the famed and also rare L88. The RPO ZR2 Special Purpose LS6 Engine Package followed the L88’s formula of transforming the road-going Corvette into a race car for the street thanks to its 454 cubic-inch, 425 horsepower Mark IV big-block V8, which sent power to the rear wheels via a Muncie four-speed manual transmission.

The ZR2 also featured a host of additional goodies that fortified it for track use, including a transistorized ignition, a high capacity aluminum radiator with a shroud delete, heavy-duty power disc brakes, and GM’s F41 Special Suspension with specific springs, shocks, and front and rear sway bars.

Ultimately, however, GM produced just 12 of these special cars, of which only two were convertibles, mostly due to the fact that they were incredibly expensive. This one has just 8,702 original miles and remains in remarkably original and unrestored condition. As a result, this C3 ZR2 has also racked up a ton of awards over the years, including the MCACN Triple Diamond Award, Bloomington Gold Certification, an NCRS Top Flight Award, MCACN Concours Gold, Bloomington Gold Benchmark Certification and Survivor Certification, NCRS Chapter Top Flight honors, and a Great Hall Medallion.

Given how truly special this car is, the current auction estimate of $1-$1.2 million actually seems somewhat low, particularly in today’s market. Thus, we’ll certainly be tuning in to see how much someone is willing to pay for this historically significant and exceedingly rare Corvette when it crosses the block later this month.

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Photos:Mecum Auctions