First-Ever 2017 Corvette Grand Sport Collects $170,000 at Barrett-Jackson

The 2017 Corvette Grand Sport turned heads when it was introduced at the Geneva Motor Show, but it’s the $170,000 it collected at the recent Barrett-Jackson auction that means the most when it comes to cancer research.

General Motors has agreed to donate the entire $170,000 bid to the Karmanos Cancer Research Center, which was also accompanied by a $400,000 grant from the GM Foundation. GM made a similar donation to Karmonas last year when it auctioned away the first retail production model of the Cadillac CT6 for $200,000.

VIN number 001 of the Corvette Grand Sport will come with the Watkins Glen Gray Metallic exterior color option, black racing stripes, black wheels, and a Tension Blue full leather and suede-wrapped interior.

The bid of $170,000 not only provided the winning bidder with this Collector’s Edition Corvette, but GM also threw in a two-day driving experience at the Ron Fellow’ Performance Driving Academy, as well as the right to pick up his 2017 Corvette Grand Sport at the National Corvette Museum upon its completion.

The 2017 Corvette Grand Sport is powered by a 6.2-liter V8 engine rated at 460 horsepower and each buyer will have the choice between an eight-speed automatic and seven-speed manual transmission. In addition, the Grand Sport will come standard with a high-performance Brembo brake system, limited-slip differential, and magnetic ride control.

Chevrolet claims that all of these performance features have made the new Grand Sport so fast that it came within one second of breaking the previous-generation Corvette ZR1’s fastest lap at the General Motors’ Milford Proving Ground road course.

The winning bidder also gets to choose whether VIN number 001 of the new Grand Sport will be a coupe or convertible model.

Gallery: The 2017 Corvette Grand Sport

News Sources: GM Authority, CarScoops