2017 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Convertible

This magnificent machine is a one-owner-from-new car.

And the owner in question has been a devotee and aficionado of American muscle cars for many years, having owned, from new, a Mustang, Charger, F150, Dodge Viper, C6 coupé ‘Vette (which he kept for 10 years), and now this C7 Convertible.

All of his cars were imported new from the USA, and all came through the same UK importer/homologator.

Having expertly pursued and fulfilled his passion for American muscle, he now feels he has finally scratched that particular itch – hence the sale of this vehicle, which he considers to be the best of the bunch by some margin.

Rest assured, people who see this ‘Daytona Sunrise’ metallic orange road weapon coming will stop and stare.

And people who hear it at the last minute will dive headlong into the nearest hedge while making the sign of the cross.

The noise it makes in Sport mode is as memorable as anything we’ve ever experienced.

We didn’t dare try Track mode, which comes with launch control and is reputedly capable of hurtling the car to 62mph in a bonkers 2.8 seconds.

It sounds like the climax of some Wagnerian thunderstorm, a violent symphony of barks, pops and shrieks, all delivered at an ear-splitting volume that tears the air apart and makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up.

If you didn’t know better, you’d think you were being attacked by a gang of velociraptors with serious and wholly unresolved anger management issues.

It’s just fabulous.

What’s more, it drives superbly and has all the balance, poise and grip you would hope to find in a car from one of the very few American marques with the heart and know-how to take on and beat the Europeans at Le Mans and other venues.

With just 10,900 miles on the clock and an owner who has fastidiously kept the car warm, dry, properly maintained and kept away from salty, wet surfaces, this car is unsurprisingly free of whistles, groans, creaks, sighs and whimpers.

Those noises (and possibly the odd expletive) will be coming from the passenger, particularly if the driver has opted to press on a bit.

The car is spec’d to the max and comes with a comprehensive build sheet. There are too many options to list here, but highlights include the following.

• LT4 6.2-litre supercharged V8 DI/VVT engine
• Z07 ultimate Performance package
• Competition Sports Seats
• Premium Audio w/surround
• Performance Data and Video Recorder with Navigation
• Curb View Cameras, Front
• 6 pot Brembo ceramic brakes
• 8-speed auto box
• Carbon-fibre package
• Z07 suspension
• Magnetic ride control
• Heated and ventilated seats
• Heads-up display

The car’s in-cockpit computer system can address its attention to all manner of things, not least 5 different driving modes, two of which allow for the car to run on just 4 cylinders if required, and 5 settings of volume/tone for the exhaust system.

It has 4 cameras, one on each corner. You can plug a dongle into one of the USB ports and the cameras will record a track run, and combine it with all manner of stats - speed, oil pressure - etc. You can then play it all back on a laptop whenever you feel like reliving the moment.

It's clever stuff.

The spec sheet today is the same as when it left the factory, except for a few entirely beneficial changes.

Firstly, the vendor very wisely changed the car’s slick run-flat tyres for far more useable, comfortable and normally pneumatic Michelin P2s with plenty of tread and grip.

Secondly, he has fitted an after-market wind deflector bearing the legend ‘Made in the USA’. It comes with its own battery pack and can light up in a variety of colours (in case you were worried that, otherwise, this car wouldn’t be sufficiently eye-catching).

The vendor tells us that the wind deflector works very well – an opinion confirmed by our driving experience.

Thirdly, and this goes some way to explaining the car’s exceptional condition, one of the first things the vendor did was have the car professionally wrapped with an invisible 3M stone chip film around the front, haunches and door mirrors.

Finally, the mandatory homologation process carried out by the vendor’s tried and trusted import specialists required the fitting of side-turn signal repeaters and a high-visibility rear fog light – both objectives having been achieved effectively and very discreetly with LED units.

One anomaly to mention is a warning display that reads ‘brakes worn’. Don’t worry – they’re not worn and are good for around 50,000 miles. This is just some errant sensor getting twitchy for no good reason.

The condition of the bodywork is pretty much beyond reproach and entirely in keeping with a car that’s been used very sparingly and has lived a rather cossetted life.

There are no dinks, dents or creases of any significance whatsoever that we can see, aside from the small stone chips mentioned in the section above, and below.

The paintwork and various carbon-fibre inserts are in excellent condition all round, as are the wheels, roof (which works as intended), badging and exterior trim.

The pictures in the gallery were taken on a fairly dull day. Rest assured that, in the sunshine, the colour really comes to life.

In fact, on a fine summer’s day, you could probably see this car from space.

The panel gaps and shut lines are consistent and even.

There are one or two small stone chips around the front valance and the ‘nose’ of the car (these have been successfully caught by the 3M protective film), another on the n/s/f wing, and a couple of tiny chips (nowhere near MoT-bothering) on the windscreen.

In short, the car looks dazzling and minty-fresh in every respect and, we can vouch, it attracts headlight flashing, horn tooting and thumb-upping from your fellow road users like moths to a flame.

It’s an equally impressive story on the inside.

The black leather, top spec' and rarely seen, Competition seats are supportive, comfortable and fully functional.

There is no creasing or other signs of use or wear that we can see.

Everything is in remarkable condition, even for a car that’s covered fewer than 11,000 miles, let alone one that’s 6 years old.

The door cards are untroubled by the passage of time.

Ditto the carpets, mats and roof lining.

The carbon-fibre inserts on the facia and centre console are following the same script of squeaky-clean unimpeachability.

We didn’t press every button or tweak every toggle, knob or switch but, as far as we can tell (and from what the vendor says), everything does precisely what it’s supposed to do.

Everything in the engine bay is as clean, dry, right and proper as you would hope and expect to find in a car that’s covered so few miles.

The undersides of the car appear to have plenty of structural integrity.

All servicing and maintenance has been carried out by respected Corvette (and other automotive Americana) specialists, Ian Allan Motors of Virginia Water, Surrey.

You’ll find invoices and receipts in the documents gallery and there is, of course, an online collection of virtual ‘service stamps’ through Ian Allan.

It has been serviced very recently and had a new battery fitted in February.

This one-owner car is barely acquainted with rain, doesn’t know what salt is, and naturally assumes that all cars live their lives on trickle chargers in dry, heated garages.

The car’s MoT certificate is valid until 01.03.24.

It comes with two keys/fobs, a manual, a spec sheet and its original ‘window sticker’.

In the UK at least, VET 77T is as rare as teeth on a particularly endangered breed of hen.

You’ll be a very long time waiting to park next to another with this spec at your local Waitrose.

This particular example has been expertly sourced, kept, maintained and curated by a man who has been enjoying the visceral thrills of American muscle for over 40 years.

Frankly, we can’t imagine how or where you could possibly find a better low-mileage example than this.

We’re confident to offer this fine car for auction with an estimate of £70,000 - £90,000.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; we are open weekdays 9am-5pm, to arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.