The 2025 C8 Corvette ZR1 May Be a Very Rare Collector’s Car

Chevy’s new Corvette ZR1 is even faster than the automaker expected and offers true hypercar performance that might even put some of Chevy’s European rivals on notice. Now, if only Chevy could make more of them.

The automaker has 310 ZR1 orders so far this year, but it has only been able to fulfill 65 of them, according to Corvette Blogger. Chevy began building new ZR1s in late April at its famous factory in Bowling Green, Kentucky. But the company is changing course rather soon: It’s planning to start building 2026 Corvettes at the facility on August 4, which means that it has just over a month to make hundreds of 2025 ZR1s.

That’s looking pretty unlikely, though, because of a scheduled two-week plant closure starting Friday, meaning that plenty of orders will go unfulfilled, and GM has already told dealers that customers with orders for 2025 ZR1s will have to ask for 2026 ZR1s instead. Those planning to snag the first new ZR1s will surely be disappointed, and they may be let down in other ways, too: Corvette Blogger says the 2026 Corvette ZR1s will cost around $7,200 more and have higher delivery charges.

In a statement, Chevy said customers who don’t get 2025 Corvette ZR1s will be near the front of the line for 2026s.

“Production volumes for 2025 Corvette ZR1s are limited and exclusive by design. We are happy to see the enthusiasm behind ZR1, however, we will convert excess MY25 orders into the MY26, but with priority status,” a Chevy spokeswoman told Robb Report. “MY26 ZR1s begin production this summer and include Corvette’s recently announced design, tech and performance updates.”

The Corvette ZR1 has a 6.3-liter twin-turbo V-8 that makes 1,064 hp and a stated top speed of 233 mph; it can also get from zero to 60 mph in 2.3 seconds. It was always likely to be a hot commodity, at least initially, with ‘Vette superfans snapping up the first models, and this production hiccup has lead buyers to speculate that the 2025 versions will be even more coveted.

As a result, there’s talk that this could push up the 2025 iterations value in the secondary market, either now or in a couple of decades, perhaps. But, as Corvette Blogger points out, the 2026 Corvettes will be getting an updated interior, which might be more attractive to buyers who aren’t concerned about relative exclusivity.

Beyond that, the car offers value considering the cars GM is trying to outdo, as we pointed out in our road test of the new launch.

“On track, the ZR1 will meet or beat exotics like the $608,000 Lamborghini Revuelto, the $525,000 Ferrari SF90, or the $245,000 Porsche 911 GT3 RS with the Weissach Package,” writer Lawrence Ulrich wrote. “Oh, and you can service this Corvette at any Chevy dealer from coast to coast.”

Click here for more photos of the 2025 Corvette ZR1.

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