Back when Bugatti presented the new Tourbillon hypercar as a successor for the great Chiron with its brand-new hybrid V16 mill and 1,775 horsepower plus a sizeable 24.8-kWh battery pack, I thought to myself, this new model is all "fine and dandy." Still, I would rather have a yet-unreleased C8 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1, thank you.
Sure, it's going to be a while until July 25 when the General Motors subsidiary officially presents the flagship C8 version, and there could be some surprises along the way - but not from the hybrid V8 assembly with around 800 to 850 horsepower - that's an open secret already.
Instead, the nasty surprise might not come from the possibility of making it a hypercar killer. It's more like the bad news will surround the MSRP for the C8 Corvette ZR1. After all, the latest iteration has steadily gone more expensive over the model years – and now even the 2024 Stingray kicks off at $68,300, followed by an abrupt jump to $104,900 for the first-ever E-Ray with a hybrid powertrain and eAWD, or the $112,700 Corvette Z06.
So, let's say that you want to enjoy the Corvette experience this summer but don't have over $70k lying around. Well, if you're willing to go for a classic Chevy that's a lot cheaper, PC Classic Cars, a Sherman, Texas-based old-school dealership, has an interesting proposal for the enthusiasts of the C3 Chevrolet Corvette. This is a 1976 Chevrolet Corvette with 67,147 miles ("actual mileage cannot be verified," says the dealership) on the odometer and a numbers-matching 350ci V8.
The aforementioned mill is mixed with a Turbo 350 three-speed automatic transmission, so you don't have to row your own cogs while enjoying a summer road trip, and the additional features include a tilting and telescopic steering wheel, powered windows with manual locks, powered steering and front disc brakes, manifolds, dual exhaust with aftermarket mufflers, and a factory air-conditioning system.
Unfortunately, the latter needs to be diagnosed and repaired, but the dealership claims that the rest of the car is in 'running and driving great' condition, even the factory IRS rear suspension. Also, the code '13' Silver metallic paint is the original, repainted shade mixed with an original code '642' Buckskin interior that also includes the factory tachometer. Last but not least, the 15-inch Rally wheels are shod with 255/60 tires, and the entire shebang costs 'just' $22,500.
So, what do you think – is this the right Corvette for you? If not, may we recommend that you start saving all the pennies you can because if you want the upcoming C8 Chevy Corvette ZR1, it's going to be an amazing supercar that also costs an arm and a leg!
Aurel has aimed high all his life (literally, at 16 he was flying gliders all by himself) so in 2006 he switched careers and got hired as a writer at his favorite magazine. Since then, his work has been published both by print and online outlets, most recently right here, on autoevolution. Full profile
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