Buying a 2026 Corvette ZR1 for roughly half price sounds like the deal of a lifetime.

Then you pull off the cover.

The crew from the Goonzquad YouTube channel recently took delivery of what they described as one of the first wrecked C8 ZR1s to reach auction, and “wrecked” might be putting it mildly. The rear of the 1,064-horsepower Corvette suffered extensive damage, including destroyed suspension components, structural damage and cracks around the transmission.

Still, Goonzquad isn’t scared of the massive amount of work needed to bring it back.

The Arctic White 2026 ZR1 arrived without its wheels and with enough damage that the crew initially wondered just how deep they had gotten themselves. While much of the front end and its expensive carbon-fiber pieces survived remarkably well, the rear was another story.

One wheel had essentially been ripped away, suspension components were destroyed and the rear structure was damaged. Inspection also revealed cracks in a transmission mounting area and damage to the rear shock-tower structure.

“We’re joking a little bit here and there, but at the same time, I’m crying on the inside,” one of the brothers joked after discovering even more damage.

Putting the Corvette on a lift actually brought some encouraging news, though. The underbody was largely intact, with much of the serious damage concentrated from the firewall rearward. That was enough for the crew to conclude the car was worth rebuilding rather than relegating it to parts-car duty.

Then they opened the doors.

Apparently the crash wasn’t the ZR1’s only encounter with something destructive.

A rodent – apparently one with caviar tastes – had gotten inside and chewed portions of the nearly new interior, including the expensive carbon-fiber bucket seats, door trim and other pieces. Evidence of the unwanted occupant was scattered throughout the cabin.

Adding insult to injury, they later discovered chewing around a hose and some wiring.

There was some very good news, though. Once power was supplied to the Corvette, the odometer showed only about 2,100 miles. In other words, beneath all that damage is essentially a brand-new ZR1.

Now comes the expensive part.

After comparing the ZR1 with a C8 Z06, the crew discovered some components are interchangeable, potentially making used parts easier to find. Other ZR1-specific pieces will have to come from Chevrolet.

By the end of the video, they had already ordered approximately $23,000 worth of dealer parts — and that didn’t include everything the Corvette will need.

Goonzquad calls it its biggest rebuild yet.

Considering they started with a wrecked 1,064-horsepower ZR1 that even a rat had taken a bite out of, it’s hard to argue.

Source:
AutoEvolution.com

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