Want a Chevrolet Corvette Stingray? You have 11 days to bid for one getting auctioned off by the General Services Administration. And odds are good it comes with a pretty sordid history.
There are some caveats probably worth noting. The 1974 vehicle, which has a modest 37,245 miles on it, doesn’t run. Its key is stuck in the ignition. The interior seats are worn and torn. Pretty much all upholstery is stained. The driver’s-side door won’t open. And the paint is oxidized, translating to that white powdery residue that will have to be removed.
But remember, this is a Corvette Stingray. Surely it’s worth the reno? After all, McLean-based National Automobile Dealers Association just named the 2014 Corvette Stingray Coupe as its top pick for retaining its value. One would think the parts alone must be worth something. I mean, it does have custom rims.
And then there’s what we figure is a pretty sinister back story. GSA doesn’t provide much info, but does note that it’s auctioning the car off for the U.S. Marshals Service — and that it’s working with the departments of Justice and Homeland Security to ensure any confidential holds are removed prior to sale.
So why would the Marshals Service have a sports car? It gets its hands on quite a few, actually, thanks to its role apprehending wanted fugitives and, in particular, managing assets seized from criminal enterprises. It often holds public auctions, in fact. One in September 2014 in New Jersey was dubbed the “Blood Money” muscle car auction and netted nearly $2.5 million, according to Fox News. Those cars, nine of them in total, were seized from convicted felon David Nicoll, who made close to $33 million by bribing physicians to order unnecessary blood tests and other lab work for patients from his former company.
As of Friday morning, the current bid for the Corvette was $6,896 — but GSA’s reserve had yet to be met.
Not a muscle car fan? Well, you also have until 2 p.m. Friday to bid on a 1979 American General Wrecker military truck, if that’s more your thing. And while none are available now, GSA has in the past auctioned off Chinook helicopters.
