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Douglas Barton·
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C8 Corvette Chaos Inside The Dealer-Only Wholesale Lanes: Dallas Turns Red Hot

In this CorvSport original, Dallas delivered one of its hottest sales days of 2026. We unpack the hammer prices, dealer psychology, and what this heat wave means for C8 momentum

Will this Z06 with all the carbon fiber goodies sell? Photo Credit: Manheim

Episode 52 of CorvSport’s exclusive Wholesale Market Report brings us right back into the dealer-only lanes, where Corvette values are negotiated long before a retail buyer ever scrolls a listing or walks a showroom. This week delivers another C8 Dallas heat check in our Top 7 Spotlight, featuring two C8 Z06s and five C8 Stingrays—a concentrated look at the eighth-generation market from both sides of the performance spectrum. Adding fuel to the fire, our familiar SuperSeller showdown returns: GiveMeTheVin (GMTV) rolls in with three Corvettes, while Texas Auto Value (TAV) answers with four. Seven modern mid-engine Vettes. Two aggressive sellers. One big question: how many will hammer sold?

The 2026 Trend Line: Momentum With Muscle

If early 2026 has taught us anything, it’s that Dallas doesn’t sit still for long. On 1/09/2026, we saw an impressive 86% sell-through rate. Two weeks later, on 1/22/2026, momentum cooled slightly to 71%, only to surge back to 86% on 2/05/2026. That kind of fluctuation isn’t weakness—it’s volatility within strength. The market is active, responsive, and price-sensitive. Now, with two Z06s and five Stingrays under the microscope, Episode 52 becomes another data point in what’s shaping up to be a competitive, dealer-driven first quarter.

Dealer Insights From The Inside

Every result in today’s Top 7 will once again be filtered through the perspective of CorvSport’s in-house retired used car dealer, a 17-year veteran of frontline buying and selling. He’s written the checks, absorbed the losses, and capitalized on the wins in these exact lanes. His commentary goes beyond the hammer price—he explains why certain cars draw bids, why others stall, and how reserve strategy, mileage, and presentation can swing thousands of dollars in seconds. That dealer interpretation is what transforms raw auction data into meaningful market intelligence.

Dallas By The Numbers: Trending Up or Leveling Off?

Zooming out, the broader Dallas story remains compelling. Since 10/23/2025, Dallas has offered 264 Corvettes, with 182 sold, for an overall success rate of 68.9%. But that headline number hides the recent acceleration. After a low point of 46.9% on 12/04/2025, the market rebounded to 59.5% on 12/19, then climbed into the 70s and mid-80s through early 2026. The 84.6% sell-through performance on 2/05/2026 ranks among the strongest showings in our tracking period. The trajectory suggests increasing dealer confidence, particularly in newer-generation inventory like the C8. Dallas isn’t drifting—it’s recalibrating upward. How many of Dallas’s 32 Corvettes will sell this week?

Why This Matters to Corvette Enthusiasts

For enthusiasts watching from the retail side, these dealer-only lanes function as a preview window into the future. Wholesale outcomes often shape pricing trends weeks before retail listings adjust. Strong sell-through rates signal dealer confidence and tighter inventory; softer weeks hint at negotiation leverage for buyers. Episode 52 isn’t just about seven spotlighted Corvettes—it’s about reading the larger market’s pulse in real time. With two Z06s, five Stingrays, two SuperSellers battling it out, and 32 Vettes packed into the Dallas lanes, today’s results will tell us whether 2026’s C8 momentum continues to build—or takes another strategic pause.

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[2/20/2026 Edition]

Top 7 Spotlight: Wholesale Dealer-Only Auction Activity Report

#7 — 2020 C8 Stingray Coupe 3LT

14,935 Miles

Condition Report: 4.8/5.0

Autocheck History Report: 2 owners, 0 accidents

Announcements:

MMR: $60,700

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

Historical Wholesale Averages

  • Past 30 Days: $57,700 (28,761 average miles)
  • 6 Months Ago: $61,200 (22,369 mi)
  • Last Year: $61,300 (12,604 mi)

Estimated Retail Value: $62,200

(Based on Cox Automotive retail transactions)

Auction Results: Sold for $62,500

(Dealer Insights: This was a sharp-looking Stingray, loaded up with all the desirable options, with custom wheels to boot, so it’s no surprise she fetched above MMR. TAV comes out of the gate strong.)

#6 –2022 C8 Stingray Coupe 1LT

30,216 Miles

Condition Report: 5.0/5.0

Autocheck History Report: 2 owners, 1 accident

Announcements: 1LT pkg, Z51 pkg

MMR: $53,200

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

Historical Wholesale Averages

  • Past 30 Days: $55,900 (18,966 average miles)
  • 6 Months Ago: Not available due to limited transactions
  • Last Year: $54,500 (27,418 mi)

Estimated Retail Value: $56,400

(Based on Cox Automotive retail transactions)

Auction Results: Sold for $56,000

(Dealer Insights: Despite the higher miles, lower trim, and an accident on the history report, multiple dealers duked it out to take this Stingray to their lot. This hints that the retail market can still handle a not-so-perfect Stingray in the 60s. TAV is two for two!)

#5 — 2022 C8 Stingray Coupe 2LT

11,425 Miles

Condition Report: 5.0/5.0

Autocheck History Report: 2 owners, 0 accidents

Announcements:

MMR: $61,700

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

Historical Wholesale Averages

  • Past 30 Days: $61,500 (10,773 average miles)
  • 6 Months Ago: $60,600 (20,014 mi)
  • Last Year: $61,300 (15,905 mi)

Estimated Retail Value: $64,800

(Based on Cox Automotive retail transactions)

Auction Results: Sold for $62,500

(Dealer Insights: The dealers don’t appear to be using MMR much as a guide this week. TAV brought another perfect 5.0 to the lanes, and it pays off with a strong hammer price, but tight margins for the new dealer if that estimated retail is accurate.)

#4 — 2023 C8 Stingray Convertible 3LT

3,541 Miles

Condition Report: 5.0/5.0

Autocheck History Report: 1 owner, 0 accidents

Announcements:

MMR: $76,000

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

Historical Wholesale Averages

  • Past 30 Days: $72,700 (11,494 average miles)
  • 6 Months Ago: $75,300 (9,194 mi)
  • Last Year: $74,200 (10,102 mi)

Estimated Retail Value: $77,300

(Based on Cox Automotive retail transactions)

Auction Results: Sold for $77,000

(Dealer Insights: We have another rare 70th Anniversary Edition showing up at the wholesale lanes — at one point in enthusiast circles, these were speculated to be collector cars. However, examples showing up at a dealer-only auction is not a good sign. Nevertheless, TAV hammers its last Vette, another 5.0, and we are red hot today.)

#3 — 2024 C8 Stingray Coupe 3LT

7,368 Miles

Condition Report: 4.4/5.0

Autocheck History Report: 2 owners, 0 accidents

Announcements:

MMR: $67,900

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

Historical Wholesale Averages

  • Past 30 Days: $69,900 (4,037 average miles)
  • 6 Months Ago: $73,600 (6,002 mi)
  • Last Year: $72,400 (3,449 mi)

Estimated Retail Value: $69,900

(Based on Cox Automotive retail transactions)

Auction Results: Sold for $69,500

(Dealer Insights: Another C8 Stingray that blew right past the estimated wholesale/MMR. Despite a lower condition report, GMTV hammers its first. With that nearly 6-figure MSRP, there is still some value for the end consumer.)

#2 — 2024 C8 Z06 Coupe 2LZ

3,259 Miles

Condition Report: 4.7/5.0

Autocheck History Report: 1 owner, 0 accidents

Announcements:

MMR: $100,000

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

Historical Wholesale Averages

  • Past 30 Days: $100,000 (5,358 average miles)
  • 6 Months Ago: Not available
  • Last Year: $115,000 (776 mi)

Estimated Retail Value: $108,000

(Based on Cox Automotive retail transactions)

Auction Results: Sold for $99,750

(Dealer Insights: We finally have our first “deal” of the day, with this Raptide Blue Metallic Z06 hammering just under MMR. GMTV sells its second, and came ready to move them, as always.)

#1 — 2025 C8 Z06 Convertible 3LZ

897 Miles

Condition Report: 4.8/5.0

Autocheck History Report: 1 owner, 0 accidents

Announcements:

MMR: $122,000

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

Historical Wholesale Averages

  • Past 30 Days: $121,000 (6,925 average miles)
  • 6 Months Ago: $136,000 (3,279 mi)
  • Last Year: $145,000 (65 mi)

Estimated Retail Value: $127,000

(Based on Cox Automotive retail transactions)

Auction Results: Sold for $138,500

(Dealer Insights: That hammer price looks a bit high until you see the $184k MSRP — look at all those carbon fiber bits! The “resell red” helps as well. We can definitely chalk up the sale price, which blew past MMR by $16,500, to all these factors. GMTV sells its third, and on a finishing note, did you ever think we’d see the days where brand-new Z06s were approaching $200k?!?)

The CorvSport Takeaway

Dallas didn’t just warm up — it scorched the lanes. For just the fifth time since we launched these exclusive wholesale reports on 2/29/2024, every single one of our Top 7 spotlight Corvettes hammered off to a new dealer. That’s not normal. That’s momentum. The SuperSellers showed up locked in, and when the dust settled, Dallas proved once again that when the right Corvettes hit the right lanes, dealers step up and swing hard.

Shocker #1: The “Not So Perfect” Stingray That Dealers Fought Over

The 2022 C8 Stingray Coupe 1LT with 30,216 miles and a 1-accident history didn’t read like a headliner on paper. Lower trim. Higher miles. Imperfect Carfax. Yet it carried a flawless 5.0 condition report and came equipped with the Z51 package. MMR pegged it at $53,200. It hammered at $56,000, nearly retail money.

As our retired dealer put it: “Despite the higher miles, lower trim, and an accident on the history report, multiple dealers duked it out… This hints that the retail market can still handle a not-so-perfect Stingray in the 60s.” That’s the tell. Dealers aren’t scared of stories — they’re confident in turn rates. TAV is now two-for-two, and the retail runway for C8s with real-world miles looks sturdier than expected.

Shocker #2: The 70th Anniversary That Shouldn’t Be Here

A 2023 C8 Stingray Convertible 3LT 70th Anniversary Edition with just 3,541 miles and a clean history doesn’t typically appear in dealer-only wholesale lanes. At one point, these were whispered about as future collectibles.

Our insight nailed it: “Examples showing up at a dealer-only auction is not a good sign.” And yet — it still hammered strong at $77,000, right at retail expectations. The takeaway? Even if the “collector speculation” has cooled, the retail appetite hasn’t. Another 5.0 car. Another decisive sale. TAV closes its book red hot.

Shocker #3: The Z06 That Nuked MMR

Now this is the one that made the lane pause. A 2025 C8 Z06 Convertible 3LZ with just 897 miles. MMR: $122,000. Estimated retail: $127,000. Hammer price? $138,500. That’s $16,500 over MMR.

As our dealer insider said: “That hammer price looks a bit high until you see the $184k MSRP — look at all those carbon fiber bits! The ‘resell red’ helps as well… did you ever think we’d see the days where brand-new Z06s were approaching $200k?!?”

This wasn’t an emotional buy — it was a calculated one. High-spec carbon cars still command attention. When MSRP pushes into rarefied air, wholesale psychology shifts. GMTV sells its third, and the Z06 narrative just got louder.

Generation Breakdown: Why The C8 Keeps Dominating

Since 10/23/2025, Dallas has sold 204 Corvettes, and the breakdown tells a clear story. With 96 examples across the dealer-only lanes, the C8 leads — and it’s not close. Why?

  1. Retail liquidity. Dealers know the C8 turns.
  2. Broader buyer pool. Mid-engine appeal pulls in new demographics.
  3. Financing comfort. Newer cars = stronger bank appetite.
  4. Spec variance. From 1LT drivers to carbon-packed Z06s, there’s a lane for every strategy.

The C7 remains a steady second — value play territory. But the C8 is the wholesale heartbeat of Dallas right now.

The Big Dallas Picture — And The CorvSport Edge

With today’s update, total Dallas wholesale activity since 10/23/2025 now sits at 296 Corvettes offered, 204 sold, holding strong at a 68.9% overall sales ratio. Here’s the kicker: our Top 7 spotlight cars went 7-for-7 today — outperforming Dallas’ overall sell-through rate. That’s not a coincidence. That’s curation meeting conviction.

So we circle back to the questions from our intro:
Is the wholesale market cooling? Are dealers pulling back? Is the C8 wave cresting?

Not in Dallas.

If anything, 2026 is kicking off with sharper bids, stronger confidence, and selective aggression — especially on the right specs. Two shocker Stingrays started this narrative. A Z06 blowing past MMR just accelerated it. Heat check complete. Dallas? Still red hot.

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%
2/05/2026 39 33 84.6%
2/20/2026 32 22 68.8%
Total 296 204 68.9%

The 204 Breakdown–Total Dallas Sales By Generation (Since 10/23/2025):

  • C8: 96
  • C7: 71
  • C6: 22
  • C5: 5
  • C4: 5
  • 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 being 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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