Rick Hendrick has built a reputation for snapping up some of the rarest and most desirable General Motors vehicles ever offered at auction. But this weekend, the longtime NASCAR team owner added something very different to his collection — a military-grade transport truck never before sold to a private buyer.
At the Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach Auction, Hendrick paid $1 million for a special edition GM Defense M1301 Infantry Squad Vehicle, making it one of the most unusual purchases in his already legendary garage.
A First for Private Ownership
Unlike the performance cars and collector Corvettes Hendrick is known for buying, this was no sports car. The M1301 Infantry Squad Vehicle, often called the ISV, is designed for military operations and troop transport.
Built by GM Defense, the vehicle is based on the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 platform and uses a turbodiesel engine. It also borrows the ZR2’s advanced off-road suspension setup, giving it the ability to tackle harsh terrain with ease.
The vehicle is lightweight enough to be carried by helicopter and can be configured for multiple battlefield roles. While it is not armored, it is engineered for speed, mobility, and rapid deployment.
Special Charity Edition Draws Attention
The unit sold at auction was not a standard military version. It was an ISV-Utility model configured as a five-passenger pickup with a cage-style rollover protection system.
To mark America’s upcoming 250th anniversary, GM Defense created a one-off commemorative version with exclusive graphics and presented it as a charity lot. Proceeds from the sale were directed to the Medal of Honor Foundation.
Bidding moved quickly, climbing to seven figures before Hendrick secured the final bid at $1 million.
Hendrick’s Long History of Big Bids
Rick Hendrick is no stranger to headline-making auction purchases. Over the years, he has spent millions on first-production and milestone GM vehicles, often in charity sales.
One of his most famous buys came when he paid $3.7 million for the first mid-engine Chevrolet Corvette ZR1, with proceeds also supporting charitable causes.
That pattern continued here — a rare machine, a meaningful cause, and Hendrick once again raising the paddle.
What Happens Next?
Hendrick owns one of the most extensive private vehicle collections in the United States, featuring hundreds of cars, trucks, and race machines. Many of his latest acquisitions are first displayed at his dealerships in the Charlotte area before being moved into private storage.
This newly acquired ISV is expected to draw major curiosity from enthusiasts. After all, it’s not every day a military squad vehicle ends up in a private collector’s hands.
For Hendrick, though, it’s just another extraordinary addition to an already extraordinary collection.
