The first C8 Corvette Z06 has sold at auction for a whopping US$3.6 million

The first production model of the highly anticipated 2023 C8 Corvette Z06 has fetched a whopping US$3.6 million (AU$5m) at Barrett-Jackson’s Scottsdale auction.

The winning bidder was Rick Hendrick, owner of the NASCAR Hendrick Motorsports team and also winner of the first ever production C8 Corvette – which sold at the 2020 auction for US$3 million (AU$4.2m).

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Just like the first production C8 (a Stingray), the first C8 Z06 was donated to the auction by GM, with all the proceeds from the sale going towards the Operation Homefront charity which specialises in aiding military families.

The C8 Z06 has been a hot topic for Chevrolet since the launch of the C8 Stingray, thanks largely in part to the Z06's 499kW, 5.5-litre flat plane crank LT6 V8 – which takes heavy influence from the engine used in the C8.R race car.

The LT6 is the most powerful naturally-aspirated V8 ever fitted to a production car, and is also GM's first production DOHC V8.

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The C8 Z06 was officially launched in October 2021, with production said to start in winter this year. Pricing in the US is expected to begin at around US$90,000 (AU$127,265).

GMSV has already confirmed to MOTOR a RHD version of the Z06 will be coming to Australia, with more details expected to be announced mid-2022.