Developing an affinity for racing at the tender age of 14, Rick Hendrick is arguably the biggest name in modern-era NASCAR. Establishing Hendrick Motorsports in 1984 (formerly called All Star Racing), Rick Hendrick is now the winningest team owner in NASCAR’s arsenal with a total of 14 Cup Series championship wins. While the world knows Mr. H as a successful businessman and a NASCAR team owner, Rick Hendrick is also a famed car collector.

Boasting of 220 cars in his private collection, Mr. H made headlines this year when he won the 2023 Barrett-Jackson action, adding a pre-production Corvette to his collection.

Rick Hendrick collects the world’s first electric Corvette

Doing his bit to combat climate change, the automotive world too has taken a step toward going green. With electric vehicles now becoming the rave, Chevrolet too has chosen to walk down the electric path. In a bid to update its C8 Corvette line-up for the 2024 season, Chevrolet fabricated a one-of-a-kind hybrid, naming it the Corvette E-Ray. Far from being mass-produced, the 1 of 1 Corvette was put up for auction at the 2023 Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach on 15th April 2023.

Fascinated by the thrilling ride offered by the Chevrolet Corvette, Rick Hendrick developed an obsession with the brutish machine. Owner of one of the biggest private car collections in the world, Mr. H’s obsession was on full display as he added 121 Corvettes to his garage.

Upon learning of the rare Corvette E-Ray Barrett Jackson auction, Rick Hendrick pounced upon the opportunity, shelling out $1.1 million for the electric Corvette. Speaking to the Detroit Free Press post the auction, Mr.H said,

“From electrified all-wheel drive to being the fastest Corvette ever made, the E-Ray is a true first-of-its-kind supercar. Before I even had a driver’s license, I fell in love with the Corvette and daydreamed of owning one. For people like me who have watched its evolution across seven decades and eight generations, this represents a new chapter. As a Corvette enthusiast, it’s a piece of history.”

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With Rick Hendrick adding the pre-production Corvette E-Ray to his stable, General Motors is now gearing up to start production 143 days after the Barrett-Jackson auction.

GM to commence mass production of the Corvette E-Ray

Selling off the 1 of 1 Corvette E-Ray to Rick Hendrick in April, the Kentucky-based GM Bowling Green plant commenced production of the E-Ray in the month of May, albeit for testing and media ride purposes. But a new report from GM Authority suggested consumer units will soon be rolling off the production line starting from 5th September 2023.

Sharing the same 6.2L V8 with its C8 Stingray counterpart, the new Corvette E-Ray will also reportedly host a 1.9 KW battery-powered electric motor in the front. While the C8 Corvette churned out 490 HP from its gasoline engine, the new E-Ray will put out 655 HP owing to the addition of the electric motor.

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With General Motors ushering in a new era for Chevrolet’s Corvette lineup, enthusiasts all around the world wait with bated breath for the E-Ray to hit the streets.