Corvettes Raise $2.325 Mil to Benefit Military Veterans

Proceeds from Barrett-Jackson auction will benefit Bush Center’s Military Service Initiative and Tunnel to Towers Foundation.

GM and Chevrolet offered two first retail production Corvette models for auction at Barrett-Jackson on Jan. 20, raising a total of $2.325 million to benefit military veterans.

First up on the auction block was the Corvette Carbon 65 Edition coupe signed by President George W. Bush, bought by John Staluppi, owner of Atlantic Automotive Group, for $1.4 million. The proceeds will benefit the Bush Center’s Military Service Initiative. The primary goal of the Military Service Initiative is to ensure post-9/11 veterans and their families make successful transitions to civilian life with a focus on gaining meaningful employment and overcoming the invisible wounds of war.

The Corvette ZR1, the fastest, most powerful production Corvette ever built, was bought by Rick Hendrick, chairman of Hendrick Automotive Group and owner of 12-time NASCAR Cup Series champions Hendrick Motorsports, for $925,000. The auction proceeds will benefit the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation and the work it does to support wounded veterans through the Building for America’s Bravest program.