--- title: "This 1971 Corvette ZR2 Convertible Headed to Auction Is One of Only Two" description: "At the upcoming Mecum auction in Indianapolis, an extraordinarily rare and beautiful Corvette ZR2 Convertible will hit the auction block." date: "2022-05-01" modified: "2022-05-01" authors: - name: "Nico DeMattia" job_title: "Contributing Writer" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/nico-demattia" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/this-1971-corvette-zr2-convertible-headed-to-auction-is-one-of-only-two" categories: - "Chevrolet News" - "Culture" - "For Sale" - "News" - "News by Brand" tags: - "Chevrolet" - "Convertible" - "Corvette" - "sports car" --- # This 1971 Corvette ZR2 Convertible Headed to Auction Is One of Only Two ![]() I have an uncle who's an absolute [Corvette ]()fanatic and every other week he tells me about another uber-special vintage Corvette that hit the Mecum auction block. It's getting to the point where I almost don't believe how rare his 'Vettes are because, honestly, how many "only one" and "one-of-a-kind" Corvettes can there really be? Apparently many and this one that's headed for the [Mecum auction ]()in Indianapolis May 13 could be one of the most special of all -- a 1971 one-of-two Corvette ZR2 Convertible. This absurdly rare Corvette ZR2 Convertible comes from the Ed Foss collection and it's not only one of only two ZR2 convertibles ever made, it's one of only 12 ZR2 package-equipped Corvettes period. This specific car is also the lowest-mileage ZR2 known in existence, with only 8,702 miles on the odometer, and is completely unrestored. So it's no surprise the estimated sale price is between $1,000,000-$1,200,000. ![]() *Mecum Auctions* The Corvette ZR2 was nicknamed "Zora's Racer" after Zora Arkus-Duntov, often called the "Father of the Corvette." It was a mysterious car back in its day, as Chevy didn't really do any press for it prior to its release, nor did it host any press drives for journalists. And because it was so expensive, priced at $7,243 (the ZR2 package was $1,747 on top of the [C3 Corvette's]() $5,496 starting price), so few people actually bought it. The ZR2 package came with a 454 cubic-inch LS6 V8, a four-speed Muncie "Rock-Crusher" manual transmission, bigger brakes, a higher-capacity radiator, and upgraded suspension. What makes this ZR2 Convertible even more special is its color combo, a stunning Brands Hatch Green over a black leather interior with wood trim. I don't think there's ever been a prettier C3 Corvette from the factory. It's absolutely stunning. And if there was any question about its originality or condition, this '71 Corvette ZR2 Convertible has won the MCACN Triple Diamond Award and the NCRS Top Flight Award 2017. The only other ZR2 Convertible in history ironically also sold at a Mecum auction back in 2019 but it's had a body-off restoration, which makes it less desirable than this all-original green one headed to auction later this month. I'll be sure to watch the upcoming Mecum auction with my uncle so I can watch his brain explode over this ZR2 convertible. ## Author Nico is a writer and reviewer from New Jersey who probably thinks he’s a lot funnier than he actually is. His love of cars began when he was just a kid playing Gran Turismo 3, grinding out enough race wins with a Mazda Miata to save up for an in-game RUF 911. That passion for small, lightweight sports cars drove his desire to learn more about the industry, get his hands on as many cars as he could, and bring those experiences to life on the page. He cut his teeth writing about BMWs, Volkswagens, and Audis, mostly, and has owned far too many of each. He’s on his fourth 3 Series sedan, but all of his old, cheap German cars have forced him to learn more about car maintenance than his mechanical capability can handle. Too many late nights have been spent scrambling to get a car running by morning so he could get to work. For some reason, he never seems to learn that old Bimmers probably aren’t the best daily drivers. But he loves more than just old German cars. He’ll gladly drive and discuss anything with four (or even three) wheels. Cars aren’t his only passions, though. Nico is also a big nerd and loves movies, video games, comic books, and cares far too much about the New York Giants. So don’t be surprised if you see football references or dumb, obscure movie quotes in any of his car reviews. ### Author social links [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()