Anniversaries, in the car world but also yours, are a way for companies to celebrate themselves while also raking in cash with marked-up “anniversary” products. But if you can’t drop a few million on a car like the , there’s still hope: the Hertz 100th-anniversary Chevrolet Corvette Z06 models, which will only put you out about $100,000 each.
OK, yes, these Corvettes are approximately $20,000 more than a brand-spanking new Corvette Z06 of your choosing straight from the dealer, but these former rental cars do have the benefit of having someone else’s miles on them, AND being driven like a rental car.
Truly, a deal.
Sure, a black-and-yellow Chevy with logos from a giant rental-car company all over it might not be the exact collector’s item you had in mind, but it’s a collector’s item nonetheless—even if an odd one to boast about. Plus, it’s a Z06 modelmeaning your six-figure investment will go toward a full 650 horsepower and becoming the butt of every joke about .
Hertz last week that the Corvettes would be moving to its sales lots, about half a year after the company at a couple U.S. locations.A spokesperson for Hertz wasn’t able to give Jalopnik an idea of the average number of miles on each Z06, but said one in San Diego has 7,873 miles on it. The spokesperson also said each Z06 will go for between $90,000 and $100,000, depending on condition, which is (quick math) more than a brand-new 2019 model’s .
The company didn’t say when the cars would get to the lots for purchase, and only said to keep an eye on the website “to see if the 100th Anniversary Corvette will arrive at your closest Hertz Car Sales location.”
Only 100 anniversary Z06s were made, each coming with a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 and 650 lb-ft of torque to match its 650 HP, along with an eight-speed automatic transmission and paddle shifters, just like your regular Z06. On the inside, the cars match their exterior with black leather, yellow accent stitching and “custom Hertz interior badging”— truly, the ultimate sign of exclusivity.
The Z06 rentals in areas like Los Angeles and San Francisco almost immediately after Hertz announced them, even with a roughly $300 daily rental charge and a limit of 75 miles per day before fees began to rack up. It’ll be interesting to see how long they stay on the sales lots, then, considering the demand and their list prices that rival new Z06 models.
But, of course, these rental cars are practically new at 8,000 miles, right? It’s not like anyone would have gone out and rented a 650-HP sports car for a day to thrash it around or anything, especially considering that they wouldn’t have to bear the maintenance costs of that thrashing for themselves.
Ha! What an absurd thought that would be.