2014 Corvette C7.R - Chassis #003 - s/n C7RGT-003

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Below is the sale listing for 2014 Corvette C7.R Chassis #003 - s/n C7RGT-003 listed for sale by Fantasy Junction in Emeryville, CA in December of 2020.

Description

2014 Corvette C7.R by Pratt & Miller
s/n C7RGT-003
Factory Yellow and Black Racing Livery

State-of-the-art technology, superlative engineering, and a dedicated team with years of racing experience are what it takes to build a formidable competitor capable of consistently winning in a highly competitive motorsports field. But it takes a truly exceptional car to earn the victories that chassis #003 captured in 2014 and 2015, achieving the singular distinction of having won both the prestigious Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona and the Mobil1 Twelve Hours of Sebring in the 2015 campaign, while also having been campaigned in the 24 Hours of Lemans as part of the factory Corvette Racing program.

Unveiled at the 2014 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan and later at the Rolex Motorsports Reunion at Laguna Seca Raceway, this Corvette C7.R was the third of seven cars built during an impressive five-year span of motorsports competition racking up numerous racing victories, with this car, chassis #003, winning its class and placing 4th overall the year it won Daytona. Engineered and constructed by twenty-year veteran Chevrolet racing partner Pratt & Miller Engineering, their top-level racing Corvettes have achieved multiple victories. No other Corvette has been as technically sophisticated and aerodynamically advanced as the C7.R and no other individual car has achieved so much in GTLM and GTAM as chassis #003. In 2017 and 2019 the car was campaigned at the Daytona 24 Hour Classic with assistance from Pratt & Miller engineers. The future owner of #003 should find comfort in the opportunity to work with Dan Binks Racing Services, who has recently retired from Team Captain of Corvette’s Factory Team in favor of maintaining customer-owned teamcars on the historic racing circuit.

To build such an impressive machine, the engineering team began with a C7 production aluminum frame, which benefited greatly from advanced production assembly techniques including, laser welding, Flowdrill-machined fasteners, and GM-patented aluminum spot welding, all of which made for a robust but lightweight frame that was 40% stronger than the previous C6 version. For the engine, direct fuel injection greatly improved fuel economy (a 3% gain over previous C6 results) and offered more precise throttle control while, although restricted, still delivered approximately 500 hp despite the LS7 engine being de-bored to 5.5 liters. Critical for endurance racing, additional fuel saving benefits were achieved via extensive wind tunnel tests developing enhanced aerodynamics for functional hood and quarter panel vents, rear transmission and differential cooling intakes, and downforce improvements via front splitters, enhanced rocker panels, and front/rear brake cooling ducts. Among the many notable aerodynamic gains, the wider front splitter features a stepped turning vane as a dive plane, while larger diffuser tunnels underneath the car create more efficient downforce.

Known for their attention to detail and dedication to motorsports performance, the Pratt & Miller team is one of the most respected and hardest working teams in the racing paddock, particularly for how effectively their team is able to continually advance the technology of front mounted, V8 powered, tube frame race cars. The list of modifications from the standard C7 architecture radically alter the exterior body dimensions, which are markedly notable when studying the C7.R in person. The roofline is dropped a shocking three and a half inches from the stock height and the overall width is increased to over 80 inches, a whopping seven inches more than the production C7. Wider 12.5” front and 13” rear tires further deliver a sinister presence to the wicked hunkered down stance of these impressive race cars. Inside the car, a vast array of key technological advances fills the cockpit allowing the driver significant advantages understanding racing conditions with real-time feedback. The highly advanced cockpit features three Bosch digital displays with detailed digital readouts and a steering wheel inspired by F1 technology, with traction control, engine maps, and other system controls all at the driver’s fingertips.

Today this remarkable racecar presents as a stunning example of state-of-the-art design and engineering. Unlike so many race cars that are run hard, sold to privateers, altered, and restored, chassis #003 has been delivered directly from Pratt & Miller to Fantasy Junction for consignment. Rarely does a factory campaigned race car with top-tier preparation and a winning history coming directly from the builder. In addition to being a premier-level professional grade factory car, the fresh engine currently installed in the car has been dyno tested at Pratt & Miller, putting out approximately 574hp, the GM in-house built engine offers more than enough power to compete at the front of the pack.

Finished in the 2014/2015 winning livery, this vivid yellow C7.R commands a striking visual presence, accented by black and red features, carbon fiber body trim and black wheels. The massive front and rear views envelope the wide tires with the lightweight composite body wrapped tightly around the formed aluminum frame. The finishes are of high quality, certainly better than typical race car cosmetics, with excellent graphics, fine detailing, and just minor evidence of use on the body panels. Wearing Michelin Pilot Sport tires, the painted rims show some chafing along the bead edges, and the bottom edges of the front and rear air splitters show minor scraping on the underside lip. The side exit exhausts are buried in the black rocker panels but become quickly evident when the car is fired up, barking out eruptive thumps from the powerful V8 engine. The SiriusXM branded adjustable (16 precision points) rear spoiler spans the entire length of the 80+ inches that make up the rear width of this amazing Corvette C7.R.

Under the hood, the carbon fiber shrouded engine has been developed using a specially selected engine map and uniquely ground camshaft, benefited from recent Katech efforts and dyno testing. All cosmetic features in the engine compartment are very well prepared with clean components, race-prepped hardware and lines, and enhanced engineering specifically employed for racing use. The engine is linked to a six-speed manual gearbox with gearing specifically selected for use in the racing program. The rear of the car is removable, displaying the triangulated roll cage and composite rear bulkhead, fortified for safety and engineered to be lightweight, yet structurally robust. Throughout the car carbon fiber components have been specially designed and fitted to lighten the car and improve efficiency.

Opening either of the two lightweight hollowed carbon fiber doors, reveals lightened hinge construction, robust roll bar protection, and a near overwhelming array of technological features that make up the controls and features offered for maximum data intake and driver input. The driver’s side entrance is enhanced with further side impact protection, a contoured Recaro racing seat, and an array of switches and controls that offer amazing levels of information to an astute driver and their dedicated team. Every aspect of the interior has been prepared to facilitate the highest levels of effective driver interface.

In addition to the exceptional engineering, accommodating a wide range of drivers, the Pratt & Miller chassis tends to be set up slightly on the softer side, relying on the car’s immense mechanical grip, so as not to be too sharp-edged from the cockpit. This allows some ease of management for gentleman drivers versus other manufacturer’s cars which are often configured with a narrower set up, requiring a tighter driving style window. This is particularly important as the expanding Masters Endurance Legends Series will allow this car to share the track with Prodrive Ferrari 550 Marnellos, RLL Works BMWs, Aston Martins, etc. many of which are campaigned in events by top level drivers. Unlike the Ferrari and BMWs however, the Corvette is comparatively easier to run using the durable and easy to manage V8 in historic racing formats without the required flood of team members scurrying around every pit stop with exotic laptops.

The car is accompanied by a substantial number of important spares valued in excess of $150,000.00. Each of these specific parts are noted in a parts listing included with the car. Also included with the car is a confirmation letter from Pratt & Miller Engineering stating that this car, chassis #003, is the car that won the reported races as built and prepared by Pratt & Miller for the Chevrolet race program.

This is an exceptional opportunity to acquire one of the most technically advanced race cars ever constructed for the GT Le Mans series. Leveraging the massive resources of giant General Motors, the aerodynamic engineering, endurance racing expertise, race-proven engine development, and data-management systems for vehicle telemetry and dynamic control, have resulted in a jaw-dropping performance machine capable of running at the front of the pack with confidence, race after race. With a fresh 574hp Pratt & Miller installed in-house GM engine, nearly fresh transaxle, massive spares, and documented Daytona and Sebring wins, this phenomenal C7.R is both a remarkable competition machine and a worthy ambassador to the ongoing legacy of Corvette racing history.