I still think about the Laguna Blue Stingray I let slip away. Back in 2016, I bought a 2015 Corvette convertible in that color — black wheels, black soft top, the whole look just worked. In two decades of owning Corvettes, it might have been one of my favorites. I only kept it for two years, and that decision feels worse with time, especially now that low mileage C7s continue to bring strong money.
This 2014 Premiere Edition Stingray on Bring a Trailer brings all those memories back. Same Laguna Blue Tintcoat, same presence, but with a spec sheet that makes my old convertible feel almost ordinary. It’s one of just 500 Premiere Edition coupes that celebrated the arrival of the seventh generation, and this one — No. 177 — shows only 976 miles. Add the seven-speed manual, Z51 package, 3LT interior, and pristine condition, and it’s no surprise the bidding has already climbed to $50,500 with five days still on the clock.
The listing reads like a checklist of everything enthusiasts hunt for: Brownstone leather and microsuede, carbon fiber interior trim, transparent roof panel, five spoke alloy wheels, heated and ventilated GT seats, Bose audio, MyLink infotainment, and the LT1 V8 rated at 460 horsepower. Even the Corvette branded luggage set is still with the car. The Carfax shows no accidents, three previous owners, and two service records — plus one open recall still lingering.
Bring a Trailer commenters didn’t waste time weighing in. Denniec, a longtime voice on the site, summed up the design in one line: “Such a beautiful design. If only GM had stayed with this classic Corvette instead of the complete redesign.”
The seller, Shopexoticars, jumped in early to talk color: “Laguna Blue Tintcoat has so much depth… rich blue in the dark, bright and vibrant in the sun.” They also confirmed the Premiere specific wheels and noted what many purists already believe — that the C7 represents the last front engine Corvette and the last generation with a manual transmission. With mileage this low, they expect interest in cars like this to rise.
Other commenters echoed the sentiment. Gary_T1 called the coupe “drop dead gorgeous,” even naming it his favorite Corvette of all time. cmount3665, who owns the same model, said Laguna Blue might be the best color GM ever sprayed on a Corvette. And HorseCollector asked about maintenance history, prompting the seller to confirm the tires are original and the car was recently inspected.
The thread eventually turned into a small celebration of the C7 era — the last manual, the last front engine layout, and one of the most balanced designs the Corvette has ever worn. For me, it was also a reminder of the Laguna Blue convertible I shouldn’t have sold. This Premiere Edition coupe feels like the version of that car I never had: rarer, cleaner, and preserved almost exactly as it left the factory.
With nearly a week left in the auction, the bidding will almost certainly climb. And if the market keeps trending the way it has, someone may look back one day and realize they should have bought this one — the same way I still think about the Laguna Blue Stingray that got away.
Source:
Bring a Trailer
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Every single color of blue seems to have its own brand of die-hards. Closing price on this will probably be near the new price of a C8SR. Nostalgia and the zealotry of “connecting to the car” will drive people to pay unholy amounts of money for a 12 year old car with far inferior amenities.
FWIW, there are still plenty of front-engined, manual cars available. And you’ll probably spend half as much on a new GR86 as you will on the nostalgia-addled prices on C7’s like this. So what if the engine isn’t a V8? Every manual owner already insists that rowing gears isn’t about peak performance. GR86 is also 400 lbs lighter than a C7SR. EveryDayDriver already gave major props to the GR86 over the C8SR.
It’s long past time to admit that Corvette is no longer the car for purists. Technology has advanced and the Corvette’s north-star has always been peak performance at an affordable price. C8 is still very much that–and in spades. It’s just not the cup of tea the purists want any longer.
[…] Corvettes for Sale: 976-Mile 2014 Corvette Stingray Coupe Premiere Edition with 7-Speed Manual […]
I guess I’m probably in the minority about the wide, bulbous, blowfish, front end look that started with C4. The cars sold anyway. Glad that the C8 got us away from that.