If you’re in the market for a very rare Corvette and money is not an issue, then look no further than this 1956 Corvette SR-2 Sebring Racer, on sale for “just” $6.885 million (€5.65 million).
Offered for the first time to the general public, the 1956 Corvette SR-2 is the very first GM “purpose-built” Corvette race car and only one of three ever made. This particular car was raced by Jerome C. Earl, the son of Harley Earl, the parent of the Corvette. The other two cars were built for Bill Mitchell, then assistant to Harley Earl, and Harlow “Red” Curtice, president of GM who had a show car version built.
In the spring of 1956, Harley Earl and Zora Duntov built Jerry Earl a road racing custom Corvette to compete with Ferrari, Jaguar and Porsche at the highest levels of motor racing. The first SR-2 started out life as a production 1956 Corvette #2522 from the St. Louis Plant and went straight to the GM Styling Studio in Warren, Michigan for styling and race modifications.
These included special windscreens for each driver and passenger, a low fin adapted in the middle of the trunk, a lengthened front end, special side cove stainless steel and unique parking lamps. Sebring Racing (SR) brakes and suspension completed the changes.
After its racing debut on June 23-24, 1956, the Corvette SR-2 received further upgrades, including a new special 331 cubic inch (5.4-liter) fuel injection engine and an all-new 1957 four speed transmission. It also went through a weight reduction program that made it 300 lbs (136 kg) lighter.
The car is sold by Corvette Mike and will be displayed at Scottsdale Sport and Classic Autocars on January 12-14, 2015.
Via: DuPont Registry
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