Corvette 427 Convertible Collector Edition (United States of America, 2012)

Chevrolet is celebrating 60 years of Corvettes with two special edition models. The 60th Anniversary Corvette comes in Arctic White with a blue leather interior and 60th anniversary badges. There is nothing too special there. However, the other car to celebrate Corvette's diamond anniversary is the 427 Convertible Collector Edition that will be the fastest Corvette Convertible ever made by Chevy. 

To create the 427 Convertible, Corvette is dropping the 7.0 liter (427 cubic inches) LS7 engine with 505hp and 470lb-ft of torque. It will only be available with a six-speed manual gearbox. The LS7 is the same engine installed in the Corvette ZO6. The 427 Convertible will borrow the entire driveline and rear axle from the Z06, which means the car will get have a rear-mounted battery and Magnetic Selective Ride Control. It comes standard with 19in wheels in the front and 20in wheels in the rear and will have the same wheels that come as an option on the Corvette Z06 and ZR1. There are also optional Black Cup wheels and chrome wheels. 

Clearly, the 427 Convertible Collector Edition is more than just stuffing a huge engine into the Corvette. It will also get carbon fiber hood, fenders, and floor panels as standard.  A carbon fiber front splitter and rocker panels will be optional. 

Chevy says it will be able to accelerate to 60mph in 3.8 seconds and have a top speed of 190mph. It claims that the 427 Convertible will be capable of 1.04g of lateral grip. The car will weigh 3,355lbs. That will give it a better power-to-weight ratio than a Porsche 911 Turbo S Cabriolet, Audi R8 RSI Spyder and Ferrari California. 

Chevy has not announced the price for the 427 Convertible Collector Edition or when specifically it will be available for sale. The first one was sold at the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale car auction on January 21 by $600.000 with the proceeds going to the Drive to End Hunger food relief program.