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Exclusive: Is The C8 Stingray Wholesale Corvette Market Stinging Or Stinking In 2026?

In our CorvSport original, two high-mileage C8 Stingrays steal the spotlight as Dallas heats up early, revealing why wholesale demand remains strong and how 2026 is already defying the cooling-market narrative

Will this high-mileage 2025 Stingray sell? Photo Credit: Manheim

We wanted to kick off CorvSport’s exclusive wholesale Corvette market coverage in 2026 with purpose—and what better way to step into the 73rd year of the Corvette than with a dedicated Stingray edition focused squarely on the latest mid-engine chapter. This marks our 49th installment since February 2024, and once again, we’re taking readers inside a world most enthusiasts never see: the dealer-only wholesale auction lanes, where real Corvette values are decided long before a car ever earns a window sticker on a retail lot. With our full 2025 wholesale year-in-review analysis coming soon, today’s report sets the tone for what the new year may bring.

This week’s episode is a true C8 Stingray used-market heat check. All seven spotlighted Corvettes are Chevrolet’s mid-engine marvel, and a few of them tell especially compelling stories. Two Stingrays arrive with some of the highest-mileage examples we’ve tracked to date—a 2021 with 44,371 miles and a 2025 with nearly 23k miles, proof that these cars are being driven and enjoyed, not just parked and polished. We also get a familiar heavyweight matchup, as GiveMeTheVin (GMTV) and Texas Auto Value (TAV) square off once again in our Top 7 spotlight. Anchoring the entire report is CorvSport’s in-house market authority—a retired used-car dealership owner with 17 years of frontline buying and selling experience—delivering dealer-level insight after each featured Corvette. Add in our expanded Dallas deep dive tracking 39 total Corvettes, and this installment becomes essential reading, with the full breakdown and expert takeaway waiting just below today’s Top 7.

The Eighth-Generation Heat Check

Spend enough time on social media, and you’ll hear it: the C8 market is crashing… the hype is gone… prices are falling fast. Rather than speculate, we went straight to the source. This installment deliberately puts seven C8 Stingrays under the wholesale microscope, where pricing reality lives and breathes. With GMTV bringing four Stingrays and TAV countering with three, this Top 7 becomes a clean test of demand, mileage tolerance, and dealer confidence. These lanes don’t deal in opinions—only bids—and this is where true Corvette values quietly take shape before retail ever gets involved.

The Bigger Dallas Picture Sets The Tone

Beyond the Top 7, the Dallas lanes offer an even wider lens. This week, 39 Corvettes crossed the block at the nation’s most influential wholesale venue, raising the question: Will Dallas open 2026 hotter than it closed 2025? Last year’s data tells a story of momentum swings—71.4% on 10/23, 59.3% on 11/06, a surge to 82.8% on 11/20, followed by a winter cool-down at 46.9% on 12/04, and a partial rebound to 59.5% on 12/19. That puts Dallas at a 63.3% success rate overall across 158 Corvettes offered and 100 sold. Today’s results will tell us whether the market is stabilizing, heating up, or still finding its footing as the calendar turns.

Dealer Instincts Top Internet Noise

What continues to separate CorvSport’s exclusive coverage is perspective earned the hard way. Our resident dealer doesn’t just track hammer prices—he decodes intent. Why a high-mileage Stingray still finds a buyer. Why one car stalls while another sparks a bidding war. After each Top 7 Corvette, you’ll see how a seasoned professional weighs mileage, spec, timing, and resale risk when real money is on the line. Whether it’s an early C8 with heavy seat time or a lightly driven 2025 model, the fundamentals remain the same—and understanding those fundamentals is invaluable for anyone navigating today’s Corvette market.

Why The Wholesale Market Still Leads The Story

For enthusiasts who want more than headlines, the wholesale lanes remain the ultimate early-warning system. These results often preview what retail pricing will look like weeks—or even months—down the road. They expose real dealer margins, reveal which Stingrays dealers are actively chasing, and highlight where confidence is building or fading. With 48 installments now in the books and today’s expanded Dallas coverage added to the archive, CorvSport continues to offer the most transparent, enthusiast-first look at the Corvette market anywhere. The stage is set, the data is in motion—now let’s see how 2026 really begins.

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

[1/09/2026 Edition]

Top 7 Spotlight: Wholesale Dealer-Only Auction Activity Report

#7 — 2021 C8 Stingray Coupe 3LT

44,371 Miles

Condition Report: 4.5/5.0

Autocheck History Report: 2 owners, 0 accidents

Announcements:

MMR: $55,700

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

Historical Wholesale Averages

  • Past 30 Days: $57,800 (30,336 average miles)
  • 6 Months Ago: $64,100 (20,333 mi)
  • Last Year: $61,900 (24,181 mi)

Estimated Retail Value: $57,200

(Based on Cox Automotive retail transactions)

Auction Results: Sold for $57,250

(Dealer Insights: At nearly $30k below MSRP, Superseller GMTV started off 2026 with a bang. The high miles didn’t scare off bidders because a $60k price point on a near-$90k Stingray is what will move this C8 off the lot. Although according to Manheim’s numbers, the margins are tight, but the end retail buyer will be getting some serious value.)

#6 — 2023 C8 Stingray Coupe 2LT

12,383 Miles

Condition Report: 5.0/5.0

Autocheck History Report: 1 owner, 0 accidents

Announcements:

MMR: $62,100

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

Historical Wholesale Averages

  • Past 30 Days: $60,300 (14,023 average miles)
  • 6 Months Ago: $66,100 (12,872 mi)
  • Last Year: $64,800 (8,156 mi)

Estimated Retail Value: $66,600

(Based on Cox Automotive retail transactions)

Auction Results: Sold for $63,000

(Dealer Insights: This Stingray was well bought, especially considering those desirable HRE wheels fetch around $1,000 a wheel. And that’s before we get into the popular high wing and lowered stance. Not to be outmatched, TAV comes out of the gate strong with a hammer.)

#5 — 2023 C8 Stingray Convertible 3LT

3,847 Miles

Condition Report: 4.8/5.0

Autocheck History Report: 1 owner, 0 accidents

Announcements:

MMR: $74,300

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

Historical Wholesale Averages

  • Past 30 Days: $72,600 (9,112 average miles)
  • 6 Months Ago: $78,200 (8,689 mi)
  • Last Year: $76,000 (3,887 mi)

Estimated Retail Value: $77,300

(Based on Cox Automotive retail transactions)

Auction Results: Sold for $73,750

(Dealer Insights: Another one that was bought nearly right on the money, leaving some good margin for the dealer at the retail end. Winter didn’t scare dealers away from this loaded, low-mileage 3LT Convertible!)

#4 — 2023 C8 Stingray Coupe 3LT

3,171 Miles

Condition Report: 5.0/5.0

Autocheck History Report: 2 owners, 0 accidents

Announcements:

MMR: $69,600

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

Historical Wholesale Averages

  • Past 30 Days: $67,100 (8,249 average miles)
  • 6 Months Ago: $72,500 (8,539 mi)
  • Last Year: $71,500 (3,776 mi)

Estimated Retail Value: $72,900

(Based on Cox Automotive retail transactions)

Auction Results: Sold for $70,750

(Dealer Insights: 2026 is on fire so far, with TAV hammering its second Stingray. With low miles and a perfect condition report, this C8 likely had multiple dealers vying for her. And despite that, the wholesale price only exceeded MMR by $1,150.)

#3 — 2024 C8 Stingray Convertible 3LT

4,792 Miles

Condition Report: 4.6/5.0

Autocheck History Report: 1 owner, 0 accidents

Announcements:

MMR: $74,000

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

Historical Wholesale Averages

  • Past 30 Days: $72,700 (7,357 average miles)
  • 6 Months Ago: $81,500 (3,559 mi)
  • Last Year: $79,000 (3,813 mi)

Estimated Retail Value: $79,900

(Based on Cox Automotive retail transactions)

Auction Results: Sold for $72,750

(Dealer Insights: At $1,250 under MMR, this may be the deal of the day, but GMTV hammered it away to a retail lot. The carbon bits likely attracted bidders, while that 4.6 condition report may have turned some off.)

#2 — 2024 C8 Stingray Coupe 3LT

2,869 Miles

Condition Report: 5.0/5.0

Autocheck History Report: 1 owner, 0 accidents

Announcements: None

MMR: $70,900

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

Historical Wholesale Averages

  • Past 30 Days: $68,700 (4,864 average miles)
  • 6 Months Ago: $74,400 (7,635 mi)
  • Last Year: $66,200 (3,456 mi)

Estimated Retail Value: $72,600

(Based on Cox Automotive retail transactions)

Auction Results: NO SALE

(Dealer Insights: This was a surprise no-sale from TAV, because this Stingray looked great on paper. Perhaps it was the outside pictures with shadows or lack of specific announcements, which would turn off dealers who buy solely online.)

#1 — 2025 C8 Stingray Coupe 2LT

22,846 Miles

Condition Report: 4.9/5.0

Autocheck History Report: 1 owner, 0 accidents

Announcements:

MMR: $63,300

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

Historical Wholesale Averages

  • Past 30 Days: $63,800 (22,846 average miles)
  • 6 Months Ago: $72,400 (2,949 mi)
  • Last Year: Not available due to limited transactions

Estimated Retail Value: $67,200

(Based on Cox Automotive retail transactions)

Auction Results: Sold for $63,750

(Dealer Insights: The first owner definitely enjoyed putting some miles on this 2025 Stingray, and it was hammered right on the money. It’s worth noting that the $63,300 MMR took a $4,000 mile hit for the high miles, and that value will trickle down to the second owner.)

The CorvSport Takeaway

The answer to our sting or stink question came back loud and clear from the dealer-only lanes: it’s stinging—in a good way. This installment closed with 6 of our 7 highlighted Stingrays sold, an 86% success rate that comfortably outperformed Dallas’s already-solid broader result. Superseller GiveMeTheVin (GMTV) was perfect, selling all four of its Stingrays, while Texas Auto Value (TAV) landed two of three. Zoom out further and the signal gets even stronger—28 of the 39 Stingrays offered in Dallas sold, a 71.8% sales ratio, well above the 63.3% Dallas average we tracked across late 2025. For a new year “heat check,” the message is clear: demand is still here, and dealers are still buying.

High Miles, Real Money, And A Reality Check

One of the most important storylines this week came from the two highest-mileage Stingrays we’ve ever spotlighted—and both sold. The 2021 C8 Stingray Coupe 3LT with 44,371 miles hammered for $57,250, right in line with MMR and nearly $30,000 below its original MSRP. As our dealer put it, “the high miles didn’t scare off bidders,” because a near-$90K Stingray at a $60K price point is exactly what moves metal. Likewise, the 2025 C8 Stingray Coupe 2LT with 22,846 miles sold for $63,750, essentially “hammered right on the money.” That car absorbed a $4,000 MMR high-mileage hit, a reminder that mileage still matters—but not enough to stop a clean, well-priced C8 from finding a buyer. For 2026, this is a key takeaway: usage doesn’t kill value—mispricing with a high reserve does.

When “Perfect On Paper” Isn’t Enough

The lone no-sale tells an equally important story. The 2024 C8 Stingray Coupe 3LT—with just 2,869 miles, a 5.0 condition score, and an MMR of $70,900—checked every box on paper. Yet it failed to sell. Why? As our dealer insight noted, “this Stingray looked great on paper,” but subtle factors likely worked against it. “Perhaps it was the outside pictures with shadows or lack of specific announcements,” which can cool bidding when dealers are buying entirely online. In a market where buyers are selective and fast-moving, presentation still matters—even at wholesale. This wasn’t a red flag for Stingray values; it was a reminder that execution matters as much as equipment.

How 2026 Really Began For The C8 Stingray

When you connect the dots, this installment delivers one of the clearest signals yet about the early 2026 C8 Stingray market. Strong sell-through, confident bidding on high-mileage cars, and Dallas-wide Stingray performance beating last year’s average all point in the same direction. Dealers aren’t panicking—they’re prioritizing value, mileage-adjusted pricing, and clean stories. Or as our resident pro summed it up in action rather than words: the right C8s still sell, and they sell efficiently. With 49 installments now in the books, CorvSport’s wholesale archive continues to show where the Corvette market is headed before most people even realize it’s moved. And if this Stingray-only kickoff is any indication, 2026 didn’t stumble out of the gate—it launched cleanly, confidently, and right on the money.

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%
Total 197 128 65.0%

Total Dallas Sales By Generation (Since 10/23/2025):

  • C8: 55
  • C7: 46
  • C6: 18
  • C5: 2
  • C4: 2
  • 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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