We have a varied and eclectic mix of Corvettes for the 45th installment of our exclusive market series. It’s that time of year when many enthusiasts are taking their last ‘Vette cruises before they park them for the season. Will this translate into slower wholesale activity, indicating that dealers’ retail sales are calming down? We have your answers here, with insights from a retired used-car dealership owner with 17 years of experience.
Not only do we have our featured 7 Corvettes — an interesting mix of C7 and C8 Stingrays and Z06s — but we now have expanded wholesale market coverage. In addition to detailed data from our Top 7, we take the analysis a step further by including the total sales for the Dallas, Texas, wholesale market. And because this wholesale auction is the largest in the country, dealers from around the U.S. use its online portal to buy used Corvettes at one of the hottest auctions available — and Dallas’s sales results prove it.
Why is the wholesale market activity important to the Corvette enthusiast?
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When wholesale auctions are buzzing with Corvettes moving quickly down the lanes, it usually signals a lively retail market. In this kind of active used car environment, your room for negotiation may shrink—a key consideration if you’re in the market to buy.
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These reports also offer a behind-the-scenes look at the profit margins dealers operate with. Surprisingly, the gap between what dealers pay and the final retail price is often smaller than most people assume.
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Ultimately, knowledge puts you in the driver’s seat. The next time the market comes up in conversation with fellow enthusiasts, you’ll have the facts to impress.
What to look for at today’s wholesale auction:
- How many Corvettes will our powerhouse sellers—Texas Auto Value (TAV) and GiveMeTheVin (GMTV)—move at today’s auction? TAV has four cars in the lineup, while GMTV is sending two across the block.
- How do successful sales trends stack up between Florida and Texas—the two markets we track and compare? You’ll find our complete sales tracker, covering all 44 installments, just below today’s Top 7.
- Will both of our C8 Z06s find buyers? Are the aftershocks from the fire-risk recall and stop-sale still casting a shadow on sales? We’ll be watching closely to see how these factors play out at today’s auction.
- The Bigger Picture, NEW Expanded Data: Alongside our Top 7 Corvettes, we’re sharing the complete sales tally from today’s featured Dallas market. Out of the 27 Corvettes crossing the block at this major Texas auction, how many will find new homes? Which generation leads the pack? We break down all the details for you.
A Quick Review Of The Process:
CorvSport’s resident retired used-car dealership owner/operator handpicks the top Corvettes and draws on his 17 years of experience and industry access to provide market insights. The search is focused on the nation’s largest dealer-only wholesale auction, and all the Corvettes featured to date are from the Texas or Florida market. Why do Corvettes end up at the wholesale auction? Most are trade-ins that the dealer has decided not to retail on their lot. Some may also be repossessions or coming off leases. It’s also common for dealers to dump problem (or slow-selling) units at an auction. Lastly, there are popular wholesale super sellers who offer purchase services like Carmax, where they will buy the vehicle directly from you.