If You Ever Wanted a 2008 Split Window Z06, Here Is Your Chance
A real split window Z06 will cost you about a million dollars, but you can have this more powerful 2008 tribute for much less.
Seeing this 2008 split window Z06 reminds me of the opening line from A Tale of Two Cities. “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…” On the one hand you have a Corvette with far more power than an original 1963 Z06. And while as of this writing the Bring a Trailer auction offering this car is not finished, it will likely sell for only a tiny fraction of what a real split window Z06 would sell for. And while, GM only made 199 Z06s in 1963, this 2008 custom tribute has been built in far fewer numbers, so it is technically even rarer. This custom car also has more modern features with equipment such as air bags, and antilock brakes.
On the other hand, this car has led a rough life. It was first sold in Alaska, then it was wrecked in Missouri, the clutch had to be replaced and transmission rebuilt at less than 12,000 miles. And while the custom body work does a reasonable job of pulling off C2 Z06 vibes, it is clearly not an original car. This is not going to appeal to most Corvette purists. But could it be a fun car to just rip around in? Would it turn heads at car shows? Is it much quicker than the original car? The answer to all those questions is a resounding yes. So, would you spend your hard-earned money on it? That question you have to answer for yourself.
The Best of Times
The 2008 Z06 makes 505 horsepower. When new, these cars could hit 60 mph in about 3.5 seconds and top speed was damn near 200 mph. This custom split window Z06 can probably still get reasonably close to that performance. A 360 horsepower 1963 Z06 would take over 5 seconds to hit 60 mph and the top speed is over 50 mph lower. On pure performance, this custom car destroys the original. And this car just looks cool. Not that the original doesn’t, but a lot of work went into making this 2008 car look like a 1963. It is not an exact replica obviously, but for the price you will pay for this car, you are getting something that is truly unique.
The Worst of Times
A ton of work went into making this car look like a split window Z06. However, the LS7 powering this car has a known weak spot. And there is no mention in the auction listing of any work being done to address the dropped valve problem. Why do all this work and not make sure the engine is reliable? And according to the Carfax report, in April of 2009 the driver of this car ran out of talent. The car ran off the road, hit a concrete barrier, and a guardrail. The front, left front, left side, right front, right side and undercarriage were all damaged. The car also needed a new clutch and a rebuild of the transmission with less than 12,000 miles on the clock. This car seems like it was ridden hard and put away wet.
Your Call
So, what do you think about this car? At the time of this writing, the high bid is $23,456. A clean, original 2008 Z06 will cost you between $40K and $50K. A 1963 Z06 is a million-dollar car. If you could bring this custom 2008 split window Z06 home for around $30K, that would be good value. A cool looking car, with a checkered past, but solid performance. But once you start creeping up into the $40K+ range, it becomes a tougher sell. How much would you spend on this custom Z06?
Images: Bring a Trailer
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