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Records Roll Through The Corvette Wholesale Lanes: 1st ‘63 Split-Window Restomod, Z06s, & Market Trends

CorvSport dives into episode 57 of our exclusive series with milestones and firsts, including a historic ’63 Split-Window Restomod appearance, red-hot Dallas sell-through rates, and fresh insight into the evolving C8 Z06 market

Will dealers be interested in this Split-Window Restomod? Photo Credit: Manheim

CorvSport is back with another installment of one of our most-watched and closely followed series—our exclusive wholesale market reports. Episode 57 arrives carrying a theme that practically jumps off the screen: records, milestones, and firsts that have unfolded since we launched this series on February 29, 2024. And today’s headline moment may be the biggest “first” yet. For the first time in series history, a 1963 Split-Window Restomod crosses the wholesale dealer-only lanes.

Seeing high-end Restomods cruise under the bright lights at auctions like Barrett-Jackson is nothing new, but our resident dealer—armed with 17 years of experience in the wholesale trenches—had never witnessed a Restomod, especially an iconic Split-Window Coupe, appear at a dealer-only auction. Not once in nearly two decades. Not once in the 57 episodes of this series. Until now.

Dallas Continues To Set Records & Rewrite The Narrative

The Dallas market has become the center of gravity in our wholesale analysis, and over the last four episodes, it has been nothing short of scorching hot. Sell-through rates, mostly C8s, have averaged an eye-opening 86%, delivering the kind of bigger-picture Corvette market analysis nobody else is bringing to enthusiasts. That number becomes even more staggering when placed beside where this journey started. Back in February 2024, our in-house pro focused on his home territory of Central Florida, where the first 16 episodes of this series averaged only a 30% sell-through rate. The contrast is dramatic, painting a very different picture from the tired narrative claiming the used C8 market is running out of steam.

Our Curated Top 7 Keeps Delivering

The milestones don’t stop with regional performance. Our curated Top 7 Corvettes have become a market force all their own, and the results over the last several months prove it. Since moving away from the Florida lanes, the Top 7 selections have produced eight perfect 100% sales ratios. Even more impressive, four consecutive perfect runs were delivered between February 20, 2026, and April 3, 2026. And after the fire-risk recall and stop-sale fallout was over, we’ve seen nearly every featured C8 Z06 hammer off to a new dealer. We have four teed up for you today.

Those kinds of streaks don’t happen by accident. They happen when demand remains strong, buyers stay aggressive, and the right Corvettes continue finding eager bidders in the dealer-only lanes. Our curated Top 7 archives are below.

17 Years Of Wholesale Perspective

Helping guide readers through the chaos and excitement of the wholesale market is our aforementioned resident dealer expert, who joined the CorvSport team in 2023 and brought his 17 years of firsthand retail and wholesale experience with him. He understands exactly why these dealer-only auctions matter to enthusiasts beyond the automotive business itself. While most consumers see only polished retail listings and asking prices, the wholesale lanes reveal the market’s pulse in real time—where dealers put actual money on the line and establish tomorrow’s pricing trends.

Why The Wholesale Market Matters To Enthusiasts

For Corvette enthusiasts, these dealer-only lanes are far more than industry business transactions. They are a front-row seat to where the market is headed next. Watching wholesale results unfold provides context that retail listings simply cannot offer. Strong wholesale performance often tightens retail inventory, raises asking prices, and reduces buyers’ negotiating room in the public market. In many ways, enthusiasts watching these lanes are effectively seeing tomorrow’s retail market today.

Time To Dive Into Episode 57

With records falling, milestones stacking up, and a historic Split-Window Restomod officially entering the wholesale conversation, Episode 57 was overdue for a little hype. The numbers, trends, and firsts we’ve witnessed over the last several months have elevated this series into something far larger than bi-weekly auction recaps. This is real-time Corvette market intelligence built for enthusiasts who want to stay ahead of the curve. Now enough with the buildup—it’s time to dive into today’s wholesale market analysis and make you the smartest enthusiast in the room.

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[5/12/2026 Edition]

Top 7 Spotlight: Wholesale Dealer-Only Auction Activity Report

#7 — 2021 C8 Stingray Coupe 3LT

31,274 Miles

Condition Report: 4.3/5.0

Autocheck History Report: 2 owners, 0 accidents

Announcements:

MMR: $60,400

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

Historical Wholesale Averages

  • Past 30 Days: $62,400 (20,761 average miles)
  • 6 Months Ago: $60,400 (16,428 mi)
  • Last Year: $65,500 (20,640 mi)

Estimated Retail Value: $62,700

(Based on Cox Automotive retail transactions)

Auction Results: NO SALE

(Dealer Insights: We open with a surprising no-sale from SuperSeller Texas Auto Value–TAV–who has been setting records of its own over the last few months. The high-dollar add-ons, including those wheels, apparently weren’t enough to overcome the higher miles and low condition report.)

#6 — 2023 C8 Z06 Coupe 3LZ

13,379 Miles

Condition Report: 5.0/5.0

Autocheck History Report: 2 owners, 0 accidents

Announcements:

MMR: $105,000

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

Historical Wholesale Averages

  • Past 30 Days: $112,000 (7,176 average miles)
  • 6 Months Ago: $110,000 (5,606 mi)
  • Last Year: $114,000 (14,980 mi)

Estimated Retail Value: $110,000

(Based on Cox Automotive retail transactions)

Auction Results: Sold for $104,500

(Dealer Insights: TAV strikes success on its second offering, hammering this Z06 nearly right on the MMR money. Once considered pseudo-collectible, I’ve been seeing more of these 70th anniversary editions at the dealer-only lanes, which is not a good sign for collectibility.)

#5 — 2024 C8 Z06 Coupe 3LZ

1,542 Miles

Condition Report: 4.9/5.0

Autocheck History Report: 1 owner, 0 accidents

Announcements:

MMR: $115,000

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

Historical Wholesale Averages

  • Past 30 Days: $111,000 (5,081 average miles)
  • 6 Months Ago: $113,000 (1,892 mi)
  • Last Year: $121,000 (2,774 mi)

Estimated Retail Value: $120,000

(Based on Cox Automotive retail transactions)

Auction Results: Sold for $114,000

(Dealer Insights: We haven’t talked much about the historical averages today, but you’ll notice the values are creeping up for this Z06 trim. This one looked great on paper and in pictures, and was well bought at $1,000 under MMR. The selling dealer will have some good retail margins to work with.)

#4 — 2025 C8 Z06 Coupe 1LZ

3,071 Miles

Condition Report: 5.0/5.0

Autocheck History Report: 1 owner, 0 accidents

Announcements:

MMR: $101,000

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

Historical Wholesale Averages

  • Past 30 Days: $100,000 (3,303 average miles)
  • 6 Months Ago: $103,000 (1,993 mi)
  • Last Year: $109,000 (5,979 mi)

Estimated Retail Value: $105,000

(Based on Cox Automotive retail transactions)

Auction Results: Sold for $102,000

(Dealer Insights: Another sale from TAV that is a fair deal for both parties. These estimated retail values are just that, estimated, so this dealer should have no problem blowing this front-line-ready low-mileage black beauty off its lot for a margin the dealer principal can live with.)

#3 — 2025 C8 Z06 Coupe 2LZ

2,171 Miles

Condition Report: 5.0/5.0

Autocheck History Report: 1 owner, 0 accidents

Announcements:

MMR: $107,000

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

Historical Wholesale Averages

  • Past 30 Days: $109,000 (3,956 average miles)
  • 6 Months Ago: $108,000 (3,372 mi)
  • Last Year: $122,000 (372 mi)

Estimated Retail Value: $113,000

(Based on Cox Automotive retail transactions)

Auction Results: NO SALE

(Dealer Insights: Well, TAV was on a bit of a roll until this perfect-looking Z06 failed to hammer. Interestingly, though, this unit appears to have been sold for $107,000 at the Palm Beach Manheim on 3/19/26. Given that data, it’s highly likely it failed to meet TAV’s reserve.)

#2 — 2026 C8 Stingray Coupe 2LT

176 Miles

Condition Report: 5.0/5.0

Autocheck History Report: 1 owner, 0 accidents

Announcements: 2LT pkg, NAV, Clean Carfax

MMR: $79,000

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

Historical Wholesale Averages

  • Past 30 Days: $75,000 (4,731 average miles)
  • 6 Months Ago: Not available due to limited transaction data
  • Last Year: Not available

Estimated Retail Value: $79,100

(Based on Cox Automotive retail transactions)

Auction Results: NO SALE

(Dealer Insights: The numbers on this one illustrate how wonky the estimated retail values from Manheim can get, with only a $100 spread between MMR wholesale and their retail estimate. The 2026 models have been doing fairly well, so this no-sale from TAV is surprising.)

And, drum roll…

#1 — 1963 C2 Split-Window Coupe Restomod

1,250 Miles

Condition Report: 5.0/5.0

Autocheck History Report:  Not available due to age

Announcements: None

MMR: Not Available Due to Age

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

Historical Wholesale Averages

  • Past 30 Days: Not available
  • 6 Months Ago: Not available
  • Last Year: Not available

Estimated Retail Value: Not Available

(Based on Cox Automotive retail transactions)

Auction Results: Sold for $161,500!

(Dealer Insights: To get some context on whether this 1963 Split-Window Restomod was a “wholesale deal”, we went to the king of no-reserve Restomod/Custom auction sales, Barrett-Jackson. As you can see with the six most recent BJ comps below, the numbers are all over the place, ranging from $68,200 to $330,000. Given the condition of this one, with that C7 LT1 shoehorned in her, I’d say it was right on the money.)

Barrett-Jackson: Most Recent 1963 Restomod/Custom Sales

The Final Word

Dallas Delivers A New All-Time Record

Just when it felt like the Dallas market couldn’t get any hotter, it delivered the strongest sell-through ratio we have ever documented in this series. Out of 30 Corvettes offered, an astonishing 29 found new dealer homes, producing a blistering 96.7% sales ratio. That officially eclipses our previous record of 91.4%, set back on 3/6/2026, and further strengthens the growing narrative that Dallas has become the undisputed heavyweight of our wholesale analysis. For a series that began in the sluggish Central Florida lanes, averaging just 30% sell-through over its first 16 episodes, watching Dallas flirt with perfection feels almost surreal.

Did The Top 7 Finally Cool Off?

But while Dallas as a whole was busy setting records, our curated Top 7 Corvettes suddenly hit a wall. Did we finally jinx ourselves after months of celebrating near-perfect performances? Only four of our seven featured picks hammered sold today, producing a 57% sell-through ratio—the lowest Dallas Top 7 result we’ve seen since 1/31/2025. Even so, the C8 Z06 once again stepped in to save the day, with three of the four Z06s successfully finding buyers. In a market increasingly separating elite inventory from the ordinary, the Z06 continues to prove it remains one of the most desirable modern Corvettes in the wholesale lanes.

The Z06 Market Quietly Keeps Climbing

One of the best examples came from our #5 pick, a 2024 C8 Z06 Coupe 3LZ showing just 1,542 miles alongside an outstanding 4.9/5.0 condition report. Backed by a clean one-owner, zero-accident history, the car carried an MMR value of $115,000 before ultimately selling for $114,000. At first glance, that may look like a routine wholesale transaction, but the historical averages tell a bigger story.

Thirty-day wholesale averages currently sit around $111,000 despite vehicles averaging over 5,000 miles, while six-month averages were $113,000, and last year’s numbers were sitting closer to $121,000. As our dealer expert pointed out, “We haven’t talked much about the historical averages today, but you’ll notice the values are creeping up for this Z06 trim. This one looked great on paper and in pictures, and was well bought at $1,000 under MMR. The selling dealer will have some good retail margins to work with.” In other words, the Z06 market may be stabilizing, but the strongest examples are quietly gaining momentum again.

A Split-Window First We Won’t Forget

And finally, the moment that perfectly tied together today’s theme of milestones, firsts, and records—the 1963 Split-Window Coupe Restomod. Crossing the wholesale lanes showing just 1,250 miles, a flawless 5.0/5.0 condition report, and a modern C7 LT1 tucked under the hood, this car instantly became one of the most fascinating wholesale Corvettes we’ve ever covered.

The hammer finally dropped at $161,500, a number that initially sounds massive until you step back and examine the wildly unpredictable Restomod market. As our in-house dealer explained, “To get some context on whether this 1963 Split-Window Restomod was a ‘wholesale deal’, we went to the king of no-reserve Restomod/Custom auction sales, Barrett-Jackson. As you can see with the six most recent BJ comps below, the numbers are all over the place, ranging from $68,200 to $330,000. Given the condition of this one, with that C7 LT1 shoehorned in her, I’d say it was right on the money.” And with that, Episode 57 gave us exactly what this series has become known for—market insight, historical context, and another unforgettable Corvette first.

The Bigger Picture: 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%
3/06/2026 35 32 91.4%
3/19/2026 34 28 82.35%
4/03/2026 38 32 84.2%
4/17/2026 34 29 85.29%
5/12/2026 30 29 96.7%
Total 467 354 75.8%

♦ The 354 Breakdown

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

  • C8: 188
  • C7: 106
  • C6: 31
  • C5: 6
  • C4: 9
  • C3: 11
  • C2: 2
  • C1: 1

See All Our Exclusive Dealer-To-Dealer Wholesale Transactions

♦ Successful Sales Tracker (click date for report archives):

The CorvSport team appreciates having you with us, and we invite you to join the CorvSport movement in 2026. See you in two weeks!

*All images and information are credited to Manheim Auctions

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