The first-production 2019 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 will go up for auction at Barrett Jackson’s 47th Annual Scottsdale Auction on January 20 at WestWorld Arena in Scottsdale, Arizona. Joining at as an auction headliner is a Ford GT that’s the first of its kind to be donated for a charity auction. You don’t need to tell me that bids are going to fly once these two prized exotics hit the stage. The only question is, “how much will each car fetch?”

Have you recovered from your holiday expenses? You’re going to have to if you have a shot at owning either one of these two cars.

Chevrolet Corvette ZR1

Let’s dive into the 2019 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 first. Introduced just last November, the Corvette ZR1 is the fastest and most powerful Corvette ever made. Actually, it’s also the most powerful production model Chevrolet has ever made so that counts for a lot when you’re talking about superlatives. Beyond the fact that the Corvette ZR1 is dripping with aerodynamic bits and pieces, the sports car also features a new 6.2-liter V-8 engine that produces a staggering 755 horsepower and 715 pound-feet of torque. To put that in perspective, those numbers are 105 horses and 65 pound-feet of twist more than the Corvette Z06 and an incredible 300 ponies and 255 pound-feet of torque more than the standard Corvette. The supercar-level power figures help the Corvette ZR1 accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 2.8 seconds before peaking at a top speed of “over 210 mph,” 25 mph faster than the Z06.

With that kind of ability at its disposal, don’t expect the Corvette ZR1 to come cheap at the auction. The fact that it also some provenance — a first-production unit — attached to it is going to make it even more attractive in the eyes of collectors. A base version of the ZR1 sells for $119,995, but you’re kidding yourself if you think the bids will fall around that number.

For some perspective, consider how much the last few first-production Corvettes sold for when they went up for auction. Two years ago, the first-production Corvette Z06 sold for $800,000, coincidentally at the same Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction. Before that, the first-production Corvette Stingray sold for an incredible $1.05 million, while the first-production Corvette Stingray Convertible fetched $1 million on its own. Given the recent history of first-production Corvettes setting auction prices on fire, it’s reasonable to think that the first-production Corvette ZR1 will easily eclipse $1 million.

Ford GT

Now let’s talk about the Ford GT that’s headed to Barrett-Jackson. It’s not the first-production GT, but it is the first GT to be donated to a charity auction. That counts for something too.

We already know about the history behind the GT. It’s the successor to the legendary Ford GT40 supercar that Ford launched a decade ago. But more than just being the follow-up to one of the Blue Oval’s most important cars, the GT also serves as the unquestioned halo car of the Dearborn, Michigan-based automaker. The GT is a technological showcase from Ford. It features state-of-the-art aerodynamics and makes use of materials that have never been used in the industry before. One of these materials is the gorilla glass on the windshield. For those who are unfamiliar, gorilla glass was developed by Corning Inc. and is characterized for being thin, light, and damage resistant. It’s actually the same material used as cover glass for portable devices, so if you’re reading this on your iPhone or iPads, chances are you’re touching gorilla glass now.

In addition to being a technological masterpiece, the Ford GT is also a powerhouse on four wheels. It's powered by Ford's new 3.5-liter, EcoBoost turbocharged V-6 that produces 647 horsepower and 550 pound-feet. It may not approach the output of the Corvette ZR1, but it’s still potent enough to help the car accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in under three seconds before setting the road ablaze on its way to a top speed of 216 mph.

Like the Corvette ZR1, you’re going to need to break the bank if you have any hopes of acquiring this Ford GT. A seven-figure bid seems inevitable considering that the GT already costs around $400,000, to begin with. Fortunately, winning this car removes the hassle of having to apply for a chance to buy one and hope that Ford approves your application, which, by the way, could take a few years from happening. You can cut all those corners by bidding on this Ford GT!

All for a good cause

If it helps, the proceeds from the sale of both the Chevrolet Camaro ZR1 and the Ford GT won’t go to Chevrolet and Ford, respectively. Instead, proceeds from the sale of the ZR1 will go to directly to the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation, an organization that supports seriously injured emergency first responders. Meanwhile, proceeds from the sale of the Ford GT will go to the Autism Society of North Carolina.

References

Chevrolet Corvette ZR1

Read our full review of the 2019 Chevy Corvette ZR1

Ford GT

Read our full review on the 2017 Ford GT.