Dealers Are Slapping $100,000 Markups on the 1,000-HP Corvette ZR1

America’s Most Powerful Production V8 Comes With a Price

It really says something about the confidence GM has in the 1,000+ horsepower Corvette ZR1 and ZR1X that they put these supercar-slayers in the hands of its own engineers, not pro racecar drivers, when it came time to set lap records tumbling at the Nürburgring. The ZR1’s twin-turbo 5.5-liter V8 is already the most powerful engine in a production Corvette and the most powerful V8 to roll off an American production line. With a sticker price starting at $184,000 for the ZR1, it’s also got the dubious distinction of being the most expensive Corvette ever. 

Some Chevy dealers are taking that confidence in the most powerful Corvette a little too far, tacking on markups of $100,000 or more. Multiple dealerships are listing ZR1s with six-figure markups, including a convertible at one dealership with a $120,000 markup, bringing the total to $340,000. The markup alone could cover the cost of an entire Corvette Z06, or a base C8 Stingray with cash left over for upgrades. Is being first really worth the asking price?

The Markup Situation Is Getting Wild

Reddit is full of horror stories from buyers who contacted every dealer within 300 miles only to find astronomical markups everywhere. There was even a yellow ZR1 listed for $500,000, though that particular listing may have involved a reseller trying his luck. 

Unfortunately, this is usually the case with hot new performance cars. When the C8 Z06 launched, dealers were asking $90,000 to $100,000 over MSRP, with some markups reaching as high as $170,000. Even the base C8 Stingray saw significant markups when it first dropped.

How to Avoid Markup Mayhem

Your best bet is patience and research. Several Chevy dealerships have historically sold Corvettes at MSRP. It’s worth traveling to these dealers or waiting for the 2026 model year when hype cools and supply increases. For example, Z06 prices eventually leveled off around or below MSRP once availability caught up with demand.

At an MSRP of around $220,000 for a loaded ZR1, adding a $100,000 markup puts you at $320,000. For that money, you could buy two fully loaded Z06s at around $140,000 each, or three base Stingrays starting at $69,995. One for you, one for your buddy, and one for track duty. At these markups, a record-setting Corvette may not be all it’s cracked up to be.