First Corvette ZR1s land in the UK
Left-hand drive, sure, but don't forget more than 1,000hp...
Right-hand drive Corvettes most definitely count as A Good Thing for PHers. The V8s, whether 6.2 or 5.5, are brilliant, the driving experience is sorted, and they look like nothing else on the road. All three variants offered here - the standard Stingray, the hybrid E-Ray, and the 8,600rpm Z06 - could have made it to our PH Favourite Cars of 2025 shortlist. They really are a very welcome addition to a shrinking sports car sector.
But we always want what we can't have, so it’s impossible to watch the 233mph, rear-drive ZR1 torch drag strips and obliterate lap records and not crave one. And while there’s no confirmation yet of official right-hand drive cars (it seems unlikely), it’s not impossible to get a 1,078hp Corvette in the UK - because they can be imported. As it has done with plenty of examples over the years, Clive Sutton is bringing over ZR1s to London, prepping them for UK roads and selling them to customers brave enough. Two are already spoken for, with the Competition Yellow 3LZ example still available. It would certainly be one way to stand out at a supercar meet.
It comes from the first 200 ZR1s made last year, specced with the carbon aero package. Even by crazy Corvette standards, it’s a properly wild thing - look at it among normal cars in the petrol station. And the standard Michelins are fitted, rather than those better suited to warmer climes, so you could set about using it immediately. If gingerly. Especially given what it’ll cost; add Competition Yellow and the carbon to a ZR1 in its home market and it’s a $210,000 car - or £155,000.
Once import duty, VAT, transport, homologation and whatnot is sorted for here, Sutton suggests a ZR1 in the UK will be £365,000-£425,000 - this one is right at the top end. Which obviously puts the ZR1 right in amongst the very finest mid-engined European exotica that exists, from Revuelto to SF90. But then it is more powerful than both - and surely likely to be even rarer, too…
- Watch 1,078hp Corvette ZR1 set five US lap records
- Chevrolet Corvette Stingray (C8) | PH Favourite Cars 2025
This Vette at about £150k would be a lot more popular. At twice that it is pretty much a non starter despite performance equivalent to fancy stuff.
This Vette at about £150k would be a lot more popular. At twice that it is pretty much a non starter despite performance equivalent to fancy stuff.
a quick calculation suggests £50k in tax (£16k customs, 35k vat) so this should be about £215k all in. The rest is just profiteering.
that’s GT2 RS territory, albeit with a few miles on the clock! Shipping - £2,000
Various port surcharges - £1,000
Insurance 1% - £2,000
Shipping to US port - £1,000 (depending where purchased)
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Import duty 10% - £15,700
V.A.T. 20% - £34,400
So £41,000 over whatever you paid (GBP equivalent)
Then there's lighting & IVA test which could be very nasty too...
There are, probably, a few things I've forgotten
TX.
Jay Leno speaks about this here: https://youtu.be/VUPOvcolNZg?si=HOObLToHLSSLXHgC
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