5 Corvettes That Will Break the Bank

1. 1963 Grand Sport

The most expensive, and arguably iconic Corvette ever made is the one and only 1963 Grand Sport. Designed to take on Carroll Shelby in the GT production car circuit, the program was cancelled with only 5 of the planned 125 cars being produced. The numbers are incredible, to say the least - 550 horsepower from a 377 cubic inch aluminum small block, a 1,900 pound curb weight, and a current value of around $6-8 million dollars.

2. 1967 L88 Coupe/Convertible

The L88 option was a special one back in 1967, essentially turning the Corvette into a street legal race car. Grossly underrated at 430 horsepower, the L88 also featured a heavy duty transmission, suspension, and brakes. Race fuel was required for this legendary track beast, of which only 20 were produced in 1967. That rarity, along with the purpose built nature of the car, means that you'll need $3.2-$3.8 million to get in the driver's seat.

3. 1969 ZL1

The ZL1 took the extreme, factory racer specs of the L88 and turned it up a few notches. Featuring an all aluminum version of the L88's V8, the engine was much beefier inside. It had a bigger camshaft and the ability to convert to a dry sump oil system as well, making it a perfect car for weekend track duty. Unfortunately, all that goodness meant that the ZL1 option cost more than twice what the L88 option did. Only two people opted to spend the extra cash, making this one of the rarest Corvettes ever built. The last time one sold at auction, it commanded a cool $1.4 million.

4. 1969 L88

Taking back seat to the much rarer 1967 L88, the 1969 version is no less special. The beastly 427 big block was rated at only 435 horsepower, but real world output was closer to 540-580 ponies. This allowed the L88 to run the 1/4 mile in a pretty amazing (even by today's standards) mid to high 11 seconds. And it wasn't just a drag strip king - the '69 came with a heavy duty M22 transmission, special brakes and suspension, and ignition. Pricing hasn't reached the lofty standards of its predecessor, however, as these go for around $500-$600,000.

5. 1963 Z06

The famous split window Corvette of 1963 brought in a completely new design for America's sports car, and it was also a one year only body style. Even regular 1963's are valuable and desirable in their own right, but the Z06 option makes them even more so. The Z06 represented the first performance equipment package to be offered on the Corvette, giving racers everything they needed for the track right off the showroom floor. This included a 360 horsepower L84 V8, a close ratio 4-speed manual, and a Positraction rear end. Only 199 Z06 Corvettes were built in 1963, and only 63 had the "big tank" option - a 36.5 gallon fiberglass gas tank. The tanker cars are currently selling for between $600,000 and $700,000.

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