Las Vegas

With nearly 70 years of production to choose from, Corvette fans have literally hundreds of model variants to keep straight. To help organize them, enthusiasts divide Corvettes into series, from the very first C1 of 1953 through today’s mid-engined C8. Of them all, the C2 series from 1963 through 1967 comprise the true icons of the Corvette lineage.

Long before the C2 came to market, it began as a design study initiated in 1959 by Bill Mitchell, GM’s vice president of styling at the time. Called the Corvette Stingray Racer, it was based on a sketch by designer Pete Brock and developed further by Larry Shinoda. It’s difficult to argue that the C2 Corvette isn’t the most influential and enduring US car design ever. The coupe’s perfect proportions and timeless lines are as inspiring today as they were when new, and during its brief production lifespan, the C2 saw success not just in the showroom but on the track as well.

This 1963 Corvette Z06 will be presented at Barrett-Jackson’s Las Vegas auction, running from June 30 through July 2. 

Barrett-Jackson

As with other Corvette series, there were numerous C2 variants, generally based on engine displacement and state of tune. A 327 ci V-8 engine was offered throughout the run, while the biggest change came in 1965 with the introduction of a 396 ci big block. The latter was replaced by a 427 ci V-8 in 1966 and 1967. These cars were monsters, and while they assumed bragging rights for horsepower claims and for straight-line performance, they were, practically speaking, a bit heavy and not nearly as balanced and fun to drive as the small block ’Vettes.
It’s sometimes said in business, “The first offer is the best offer.” That’s definitely the case with the one-year-only 1963 Corvette Stingray. For starters, it’s the only model year to feature the brilliant “split” rear window, an element that Mitchell loved. Customers, however, complained about poor rearward visibility, and the feature was eliminated for the remaining years of C2 production. That distinguishing design detail may be reason enough to want a ’63 coupe, and of them all, the version with the fuel-injected 327 ci V-8 and rare Z06 performance package is the one to covet.

The low-mileage example is fit with an M20 four-speed manual transmission. 

Barrett-Jackson

Barrett-Jackson, the auction house that garnered 203.2 million in sales at its Scottsdale auction back in January, is bringing a pristine silver 1963 Corvette Z06 to its three-day event in Las Vegas, which will run from June 30 through July 2. A star lot of the sale, the car is also offered at no reserve, certain to attract bidders for that fact alone. The 1963 Corvette was notable as the first coupe in the Corvette family, as all previous iterations were two-seat convertibles. It was also the first ’Vette with independent rear suspension and, important for track competitors, the first to offer the race ready Z06 package as a Regular Production Option (RPO).

Offered on all subsequent generations of Corvettes, the Z06 package was the work of engineer Zora Arkus-Duntov, known to the faithful as the “Father of the Corvette.” Checking the Z06 option on the order sheet delivered a Stingray coupe with a host of performance enhancements. These included a thicker front stabilizer bar, larger-diameter shocks, stiffer springs and upgraded brakes. Snazzy aluminum knock-off wheels added an external cue that this was no regular ’Vette, as did a sticker price nearly 40 percent higher than the base model.

One of the distinguishing design details is the “split” rear window, only offered on the 1963 version of the Corvette Stingray. 

Barrett-Jackson

The Z06 package wasn’t advertised per se, and was only available with the highest-output engine, the L84-code 327 ci V-8 with mechanical fuel injection. An M20 four-speed manual transmission and posi-traction rear end helped deliver the 360 hp to the pavement. A total of only 199 examples were equipped with the Z06 package, making it a very rare C2. About the only choice left to the Z06 buyer was choosing the size of the fuel tank. This is one of 136 small-tank cars made; the remaining 63 being, you guessed it, big-tank models.

A fuel-injected 327 ci V-8 engine gives the ‘Vette 360 hp. 

Barrett-Jackson

Importantly, this car retains its matching-numbers engine and transmission, which is unusual since so many classic Corvettes saw frequent motorsport duty in period, making engine replacement common. Assiduous collectors will also appreciate the original jack and set of brake air scoops. Remarkably, the consignor states that the vehicle has only 4,295 miles since new.

The car is a two-time winner of the Top Flight award, given by the National Corvette Restorers Society (NCRS). 

Barrett-Jackson

Despite the low mileage, this Corvette has been the recipient of an open-checkbook, body-off restoration by Andy Cabral. It subsequently received Bloomington Gold Certification and is a two-time winner of the Top Flight award, an accolade given by the National Corvette Restorers Society (NCRS). A luminary in any serious sports car collection, this rare and desirable Corvette is one we’d file under the category “What’s not to like?”

No Las Vegas automobile auction could be complete without one of Sin City’s premiere entertainer’s prized possessions hitting the block.

A custom 1981 Mercedes-Benz 380SL roadster belonging to Wayne Newton, a.k.a. Mr. Las Vegas himself, will go under the hammer at Barrett-Jackson’s latest sale in the Entertainment Capital of the World next month. And not only did the car once belong to one of the desert city’s most beloved residents, it looks unlike any other SL before or after.

Few cars more loudly trumpeted success at the beginning of the ’80s than the SL roadster. Which is why it makes complete sense that Newton was driving one up and down the strip right around the time he was cementing his place as a Vegas legend. But this isn’t any old, off-the-lot 380SL, as Newton commissioned Long Island-based coachbuilder and artisan Niko Soko to radically reimagine the vehicle.

1981 Mercedes-Benz 380SL roadster 

Barrett-Jackson

The resulting car is a true one-of-kind convertible. The black and gold Mercedes features a naval theme inspired by classic wooden boats from the ‘40s, according to the auction house. In addition to its new sweeping profile, there are hand-fabricated moldings on the side, a retractable hardtop with engravings reminiscent of Egyptian hieroglyphics and the spare tire compartment has been moved to the rear deck lid like a classic Chrysler from the ‘50s. Finally, the factory wheels were swapped out for a gorgeous set of 16-inch gold BBS cross-lace wheels.
Soko didn’t modify the entire car, though. The 380SL’s black leather interior looks just as it did when the car originally left the factory. Also untouched is the 3.8-liter fuel-injected V-8 engine underneath the hood. Although Newton’s car is 40 years old now, it remains in pristine condition, with less than 2,000 miles on the odometer. That’s because it has spent much of the last three decades on display at the “Danke Schoen” singer‘s museum at his former Casa De Shenandoah ranch outside Las Vegas.
If you’re a Wayne Newton stan or just want to add something outside the box to your collection, the car is set to go up for bid during Barrett-Jackson’s Las Vegas 2021 event, which runs from June 17 to 19. The custom SL is being offered without reserve, so you might even be able to score yourself a one-of-a-kind bargain.

Looks like the Las Vegas strip has some underground competition. The Boring Company, Elon Musk’s other brainchild, began offering free rides through its futuristic, neon-lit tunnel system in Sin City this week ahead of the official launch in June.

The company sent a few dozen Teslas along the twin tunnels that it’s constructed underneath the Las Vegas Convention Center. The complimentary rides, which were offered to Las Vegas residents last week, were designed to test the traffic capacity of the tunnels prior to rollout.

To recap, the Las Vegas Convention Center loop comprises roughly 1.7 miles of tunnels that are 30-feet deep. It has a total of three stops: The two stations at either end are above the ground while the middle stop sits below.

Adult Disneyland AF 🎉 #Tesla #VegasLoop #ElonMusk pic.twitter.com/bwpCYiMzXj
— Melissa Vegas (@themelissavegas) May 27, 2021

Frustrated with LA traffic, Musk established the Boring Company in 2016 to execute his vision of a fleet of autonomous vehicles that could be easily summoned via an app and soar through the tunnels at 150 mph. As a result, convention-goers will be able to navigate the grounds at speed. In fact, the company claims that eventually, the loop will turn a 45-minute walk into a two-minute ride.
Videos of the test runs have surfaced on social media, offering the first real glimpse at the literally groundbreaking infrastructure since the tunnels were opened to the press in April. By the looks of it, there’s still a little fine-tuning required.
For the trial, the company enlisted an array of Tesla vehicles, including a handful of Model 3 sedans plus a few Model Y and Model X SUVs. Passengers didn’t appear to use an app; instead, they just walked up to the next available Tesla. In one video, a test rider said they had to wait three to five minutes for a car, and there definitely appeared to be a little congestion.

The Las Vegas Loop is running a capacity test today & will be smashing speed records for A-EVs 😁.
The speed to beat is 116 mph 🐌 !!!!!#BoringCompany_ pic.twitter.com/TL1XFwZ6tR
— A Boring Revolution (@BoringPrufrock) May 25, 2021

Once aboard, passengers were shuttled between stations and most testers took between seven to 12 rides, as reported by The Verge. What they experienced, though still impressive, was not an autonomous fleet moving at high speeds. Instead, trained drivers piloted the EVs through the tunnels at limited speeds with the majority of clips showing the cars sitting at 40 mph. While this is a far cry from Musk’s end game, one video does appear to show a Tesla hitting 116 mph.
The goal of The Boring Company’s $52.5 million project is to eventually transport 4,400 people per hour through the convention center’s loop tunnels. The company has also expressed interest in building underground loops in several other major cities, including Miami. There are, of course, regulatory hurdles that the company must clear first. But if the Vegas trials are any indication, Musk’s dream appears to be at least one step closer to reality.

Giorgio Armani is doubling down on Las Vegas retail.
The Italian designer has opened a boutique at The Shops at Crystals on the Las Vegas Strip, joining Louis Vuitton, Prada, Hermès, Gucci, Fendi and other luxury players in the Daniel Libeskind-designed, faceted, crystalline 500,000-square-feet shopping center.
The Armani store covers 1,246 square feet, with the designer’s signature sleek and minimalist aesthetic, fine-textured wall-coverings, galvanized metals and marble-effect flooring.
It stocks men’s and women’s collections, including ready-to-wear and made-to-measure, has an Armani Beauty nook and features the brand’s La Prima handbag collection. Two La Prima styles are exclusive to the Crystals location, a silver crystal-embellished shoulder bag and blue crystal-embellished clutch.

The Crystals shop is the second Las Vegas location for the designer, who also has a boutique at The Forum Shops.

Giorgio Armani’s exclusive La Prima bag for The Crystals at Las Vegas.  Courtesy