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Douglas Barton·
Auctions
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The Corvette Z06 Wholesale Market Revealed: Inside The Real Z06 Battleground

In our 50th exclusive CorvSport installment, we track 7 Z06s through the dealer-only lanes while our expanded Dallas coverage reveals how the wholesale market is setting the retail tone for the year ahead

Check out our special Z06 edition! Photo Credit: Manheim

Today marks a milestone moment for CorvSport. With this 50th installment of our exclusive wholesale Corvette market reports, we’re shifting focus to one of the most revered nameplates in Corvette history—the Z06. We first opened the doors to this dealer-only world back in February 2024, and nearly two years later, we’re still pulling back the curtain on a place most enthusiasts never get to see: the wholesale auction lanes where real Corvette values are established well before a car ever receives a window sticker on a retail showroom floor.

Anchoring this milestone report is CorvSport’s resident market authority, a retired used-car dealer with 17 years of hands-on buying and selling experience inside the wholesale lanes. His perspective goes beyond the hammer price, breaking down why each Z06 landed where it did—and what that result really means for dealers and enthusiasts alike. After every Top 7 spotlighted Corvette, his dealer-level insight helps translate raw auction data into real-world market clarity.

Inside The Z06-Only Spotlight

This week’s report is purpose-built for performance fans. Our Top 7 Spotlight is dedicated entirely to the modern Z06, featuring five C8 Z06s and two C7 Z06s—a direct comparison between generations that redefined American supercar performance. Superseller GiveMeTheVin (GMTV) leads the charge with three of our seven spotlighted Z06s, while heavy hitter Texas Auto Value (TAV) only brings one to the table. It’s a tightly focused lineup, and every car in this group carries serious weight inside the lanes. Just two weeks ago, our dedicated C8 Stingray edition posted an 86% sales ratio—a tough act to follow.

Dallas Sets The Stage

Beyond the Top 7, we’ve expanded the lens with our Dallas market coverage, where 28 Corvettes cruised across the block this week. The big question looms early: how many will actually sell? After the dust settled on installment 49, nearly 72% of the Dallas Vettes were off to a new dealer. Whether installment #50 can deliver a similar level of momentum with higher-dollar, higher-stakes Z06s is one of the most intriguing storylines heading into today’s results.

Mileage, History, And Market Reality

Not every Z06 arrives at auction under ideal circumstances, and this installment proves it. We’re tracking a 2017 Z06 with 35,594 miles, paired with a less-than-stellar condition report, six owners, and one accident on its history—exactly the kind of car that tests dealer appetite in real time. On the newer side, we also have a 2023 Z06 showing 21,352 miles, a noteworthy figure for the 670-horsepower flat-plane-crank machine that reset expectations for what a Z06 could be. These are the details dealers scrutinize, and the lanes don’t forgive them.

C8 Z06 Momentum Under The Microscope

Five of our seven spotlighted Corvettes are C8 Z06s, which makes this report a timely pulse check. With the C8 Z06 fire-risk recall and stop-sale still part of the broader conversation, the question isn’t theoretical—it’s immediate. Are those concerns lingering in dealer behavior, or is demand overpowering hesitation as 2026 gets underway? The answers start forming right here, hammer drop by hammer drop.

Why This Matters To Enthusiasts

The wholesale market remains the clearest signal beneath the noise. These dealer-only results often shape what retail pricing looks like weeks—or even months—before enthusiasts see it online or on showroom floors. They reveal true dealer confidence, expose margin realities, and show exactly which Corvettes buyers are leaning into—and which ones give them pause. With 49 installments already behind us and today’s Dallas Z06-focused deep dive added to the archive, CorvSport continues to build the most transparent, enthusiast-first record of the Corvette market anywhere. The lanes are loaded, the Z06 takes center stage, and installment #50 is ready to show us how 2026 is really unfolding.

This exclusive feature is free, and you can enjoy an ad-free experience, get exclusive content, and support CorvSport for only $2.92/month!

[1/22/2026 Edition]

Top 7 Spotlight: Wholesale Dealer-Only Auction Activity Report

#7 — 2015 C7 Z06 Coupe 2LZ

14,734 Miles

Condition Report: 4.9/5.0

Autocheck History Report: 2 owners, 0 accidents

Announcements:

MMR: $64,500

(MMR=estimated wholesale value, based on vehicle, miles, condition, and recent auction sales)

Historical Wholesale Averages

  • Past 30 Days: $64,200 (14,269 average miles)
  • 6 Months Ago: $62,300 (50,070 mi)
  • Last Year: $51,200 (36,359 mi)

Estimated Retail Value: $67,700

(Based on Cox Automotive retail transactions)

Auction Results: Sold for $63,250

(Dealer Insights: GMTV comes out of the gate strong, hammering its first Z06. The miles were right, the condition was near perfect, the history report was blemish-free, and the new dealer did well at $1,250 under MMR.)

#6 — 2017 C7 Z06 Coupe 2LZ

35,594 Miles

Condition Report: 4.3/5.0

Autocheck History Report: 6 owners, 1 accident

Announcements:

MMR: $58,100

(MMR=estimated wholesale value, based on vehicle, miles, condition, and recent auction sales)

Historical Wholesale Averages

  • Past 30 Days: $62,300 (31,344 average miles)
  • 6 Months Ago: Not available due to limited transaction data
  • Last Year: $68,200 (12,876 mi)

Estimated Retail Value: $65,100

(Based on Cox Automotive retail transactions)

Auction Results: Sold for $59,500

(Dealer Insights: This C7 Z06 could not have looked worse on paper, with 6 owners and an accident, a low condition report–for a Vette–and higher miles. Yet, against all odds, GMTV came ready to hammer its second C7 Z06! At $1,400 over MMR, the buying dealer is banking that this black beauty, with all her flaws, will attract a retail buyer.)

#5 — 2023 C8 Z06 Coupe 2LZ

21,352 Miles

Condition Report: 4.6/5.0

Autocheck History Report: 1 owner, 0 accidents

Announcements: None

MMR: $85,900

(MMR=estimated wholesale value, based on vehicle, miles, condition, and recent auction sales)

Historical Wholesale Averages

  • Past 30 Days: Not available
  • 6 Months Ago: $100,000 (11,828 mi)
  • Last Year: Not available

Estimated Retail Value: $99,600

(Based on Cox Automotive retail transactions)

Auction Results: NO SALE

(Dealer Insights: Aside from the lowish condition report, this C8 Z06 looked good on paper. It’s likely the seller, who we didn’t recognize, was overly optimistic with his reserve and what dealers were willing to pay today.)

#4 — 2023 C8 Z06 Convertible 2LZ

18,790 Miles

Condition Report: 4.6/5.0

Autocheck History Report: 3 owners, 0 accidents

Announcements: Silver Certified

MMR: $93,700

(MMR=estimated wholesale value, based on vehicle, miles, condition, and recent auction sales)

Historical Wholesale Averages

  • Past 30 Days: $97,500 (10,940 average miles)
  • 6 Months Ago: $114,000 (1,087 mi)
  • Last Year: Not available

Estimated Retail Value: $102,000

(Based on Cox Automotive retail transactions)

Auction Results: Sold for $94,750

(Dealer Insights: Another Z06 hammers for above MMR, an indication that dealers came ready to pay today. This “resell red” example wasn’t perfect, but as we used to say in the biz, “she has eyes.”)

#3 — 2023 C8 Z06 Coupe 3LZ

11,612 Miles

Condition Report: 4.8/5.0

Autocheck History Report: 1 owner, 0 accidents

Announcements:

MMR: $98,900

(MMR=estimated wholesale value, based on vehicle, miles, condition, and recent auction sales)

Historical Wholesale Averages

  • Past 30 Days: $99,000 (11,612 average miles)
  • 6 Months Ago: $112,000 (9,737 mi)
  • Last Year: $123,000 (5,708 mi)

Estimated Retail Value: $113,000

(Based on Cox Automotive retail transactions)

Auction Results: Sold for $99,000

(Dealer Insights: With a $150k MSRP and “insane” aftermarket addons, the next retail owner of this modified C8 Z06 will realize some serious value. The Corvette resell market used to be fickle with aftermarket modifications, but this buying dealer was unfazed.)

#2 — 2024 C8 Z06 Coupe 1LZ

3,506 Miles

Condition Report: 5.0/5.0

Autocheck History Report: 1 owner, 0 accidents

Announcements: 1LZ package, NAV, Clean Carfax

MMR: $98,800

(MMR=estimated wholesale value, based on vehicle, miles, condition, and recent auction sales)

Historical Wholesale Averages

  • Past 30 Days: $98,800 (3,506 average miles)
  • 6 Months Ago: Not available
  • Last Year: $104,000 (1,557 mi)

Estimated Retail Value: $102,000

(Based on Cox Automotive retail transactions)

Auction Results: Sold for $98,750

(Dealer Insights: Finally, our first perfect 5.0 out of 5.0 condition report, and TAV’s only spotlighted Z06 hammers off to a new dealer. The margin between the wholesale hammer and estimated retail value would keep me up at night.)

#1 — 2024 C8 Z06 Coupe 3LZ

975 Miles

Condition Report: 4.8/5.0

Autocheck History Report: 1 owner, 0 accidents

Announcements: None

MMR: $105,000

(MMR=estimated wholesale value, based on vehicle, miles, condition, and recent auction sales)

Historical Wholesale Averages

  • Past 30 Days: $105,000 (8,811 average miles)
  • 6 Months Ago: $114,000 (3,440 mi)
  • Last Year: $124,000 (2,127 mi)

Estimated Retail Value: $114,000

(Based on Cox Automotive retail transactions)

Auction Results: NO SALE

(Dealer Insights: The Z06 buyers were out in Dallas today, so the likely explanation for this no-sale was a reserve that was too high. This no-sale proves the “resell red” theory, nor near perfect condition, doesn’t always yield results–the dealer can’t be heavy in their unit.)

The CorvSport Takeaway

Our takeaway begins exactly where this milestone report started—inside the lanes, where reality trumps reputation. Dallas showed real strength this week, with 21 of 28 Corvettes sold for a 75% success rate, well above our 197-Corvette running average of 65%. That’s not noise—that’s momentum. More importantly, the Z06 story we teased in the intro came into sharp focus: buyers showed up, money was real, and the market made clear distinctions between price, pedigree, and presentation as 2026 gets rolling.

When Paper Looks Ugly—But The Hammer Disagrees

The most telling sale of the day might have been the 2017 C7 Z06 Coupe with 35,594 miles, six owners, one accident, and a 4.3 condition score—a car that, on paper, “could not have looked worse.” And yet, GMTV leaned in and hammered it home at $59,500, $1,400 over MMR. As our dealer put it, the buying dealer is betting that “this black beauty, with all her flaws, will attract a retail buyer.” That’s wholesale reality in action: condition reports and history matter, but desirability and price still move metal when the numbers make sense.

Where Optimism Met Resistance

Not every Z06 found a home, and that contrast mattered. The 2023 C8 Z06 Coupe with 21,352 miles, a clean history, and a respectable 4.6 condition score surprisingly stalled at no sale. Dealer insight cut straight to the point: “It’s likely the seller… was overly optimistic with his reserve and what dealers were willing to pay today.” This wasn’t market weakness—it was pricing discipline. In fact, both Top 7 no-sales came from unfamiliar dealers likely buried in their trades, a reminder that wholesale lanes punish emotion and reward realism.

The Z06 Market Speaks Loudly In 2026

Zooming out, the message is hard to ignore. GMTV sold all three of its C8 Z06s, TAV moved its lone C8 Z06, and three of the five C8 Z06s in our Top 7 spotlight sold—strong enough evidence to finally put lingering recall fears in the rearview mirror. Overall, a 71% sales ratio—not scorching hot like the 86% from our C8 Stingrays last episode, but respectable.

The unsold cars weren’t rejected by the market; they were mispositioned within it. As our dealer insight made clear, those sellers are better served retailing them off their own lots than forcing the issue wholesale. Taken together, this Dallas result answers our headline question clearly: the C8 Z06 wholesale market isn’t stinging—or stinking—it’s stabilizing, selective, and very much alive as 2026 begins.

The Bigger Picture, NEW Expanded Dallas Data:

Date Corvettes Offered Corvettes Sold Successful Sales Ratio
10/23/2025 28 20 71.4%
11/06/2025 27 16 59.3%
11/20/2025 29 24 82.8%
12/04/2025 32 15 46.9%
12/19/2025 42 25 59.5%
1/09/2026 39 28 71.8%
1/22/2026 28 21 75.0%
Total 225 149 66.2%

The 149 Breakdown–Total Dallas Sales By Generation (Since 10/23/2025):

  • C8: 66
  • C7: 52
  • C6: 21
  • C5: 2
  • C4: 3
  • C3: 5
  • C2: 0
  • C1: 0

See All Our Exclusive Dealer-To-Dealer Wholesale Transactions

Successful Sales Tracker (click date for report archives):

Thanks for riding alongside us during this exciting Corvette journey. See you in two weeks! We invite you to become a part of the CorvSport movement in 2026.

*All images and information are credited to Manheim Auctions

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