We’ve seen the likes of NBA stars, YouTubers, automotive historians, and race car drivers themselves get excited for the Z06 the moment of its reveal last October. Even Jay Leno got in on the action, becoming the first non-GM citizen to give it a test drive, and of course he was rather amazed. While that is all fine and well, nothing speaks to the quality of a product more than when industry legends and subject matter experts come together to share a collective admiration for a vehicle. This is the case for the 2023 Z06 and the Corvette panel of legends that took place at the 50th anniversary Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottsdale last month, a day before the first production model racked up a record $3.6 million crossing the block.
The Legends
The Corvette panel of legends consisted of five people; CEO and chairman of Barrett-Jackson Craig Jackson, Corvette Product Marketing Manager Harlan Charles, Corvette Chief Engineer (the man responsible for the Z06) Josh Holder, The winningest driver in Corvettes history Oliver Gavin, and Corvette Assembly Plant Director Kai Spande.
2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06
Talking Points
Barrett-Jackson CEO Criag Jackson, who introduced the panel, explains his long standing history with Corvette sharing one of his first rides was a 1968 Corvette 427 he “blew up” four times. He also shares that he is in possession of a C8 stingray. Harlan Charles shares with the crowd in attendance that the Corvette nameplate is 70 years old, making it the longest running nameplate out there and that the very first 2023 C8 Z06 to be sold will be a 70th Anniversary Edition model, which at the time of this writing we know was sold for a record breaking 3.6 million to NASCAR race owner Rick Hendrick.
In the YouTube video above uploaded by user Marque Media, one of the most enlightening speakers was Oliver Gavin, his explanation of the Z06, its Flat-plane crank LT6 engine, handling around the Nürburgring, and exhaust sounds, paint the perfect picture of what it’s like to experience driving a 2023 Z06. There might be one coming your way soon however as Chevrolet announced the Z06 will partake in a dealer tour roadshow leading up to its production.
Production of the 2023 C8 Corvette Z06 isn’t expected until summer of this year.
Image via Chevrolet
