Chevy’s decision to take the Corvette mid-engine was based on a realization that they could only extract so much more out of a front-engine layout. They ended up being right, as the base C8 Stingray‘s performance ended up being quite close to that of the C7 ZR1.
However, the C7 ZR1 is still special in that it represents the most extreme front-engined Corvette that could theoretically be built, so it comes as no surprise that this Z06 for sale would want to be masquerading as one. Listed on Eric’s Muscle Cars, this 2018 Corvette Z06 has just 7,590 miles on its odometer. It also comes with the 1LZ package, and has had only one owner since new.
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The exterior is finished in a very nice Black Rose paint, but the real conversation starter is its ZR1 body kit, which is extremely convincing. There are a few giveaways, like the wheels and absence of a shaker hood, but apart from that, really the only way to reliably tell that this is not a ZR1 would seem to be by looking under the hood or in the interior.
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On the topic of the interior, it’s fairly basic, with leather upholstery in a combination of grey and black leather. But as mentioned before, it has a few things that tip you off to the fact that it’s not really a ZR1. Those come mainly in the form of Z06 floor mats, as well as the plaque near the shifter that displays the car’s equal horsepower and torque figures.
Seeing as this Corvette is in fact a Z06 and not a ZR1, under the hood is a still-impressive 6.2-liter supercharged V8 engine. It sends 650 hp (659 PS / 285 kW) and 650 lb-ft (881 Nm) of torque through its 8-speed automatic transmission to the rear wheels, which allows it to reach 60 mph (97 km/h) from a standstill in 3 seconds on its way to a top speed of 185 mph (298 km/h).
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Some may consider this car blasphemous, especially at its asking price of $82,500. But to think of it another way, you’re getting ZR1 looks and functional aero along with what is still an excellently performing car for about half the price of what the average ZR1 is going for. It just might be hard to explain the next time you go to a car show and someone asks you to pop the hood.