For the first time in several years, the 1989 model year would actually see an increase in the total sales numbers of the Chevrolet Corvette. Even with the knowledge that the ZR-1 Corvette’s arrival was certain in 1990, Chevrolet sold a total of 26,412 Corvettes in 1989, of which nearly 10,000 units were convertibles.
Read more: 1989 Corvette Research Center.
1989 Production Volumes by Model Variant
The coupe accounted for 63% of production at 16,663 units while the convertible accounted for 37% of production volume at 9,749 units made. The Callaway twin-turbo option, which now carried an additional cost of $25,895 over the Corvette’s base price, accounted for a mere 69 Corvette sales in 1989.
| Model Variant | Production | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Coupe | 16,663 | 63.09 |
| Convertible | 9,749 | 36.91 |
| Total | 26,412 | 100.00 |
1989 Production Volumes by RPO Codes & Colors
Below, we have broken out the 1989 Corvette production builds by RPO codes and options so you can see how popular or rare certain options were.
| RPO | Grouping | Description | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| L98 | Engine | 5.7 Liter, V-8 Engine, TPI | 0 |
| K05 | Engine | Engine Block Heater | 2,182 |
| KC4 | Engine | Engine Oil Cooler | 20,162 |
| Z51 | Package | Performance Handling Package (coupe) | 2,224 |
| ZR1 | Package | ZR1 Pilot/Prototype Vehicles | 84 |
| MD8 | Transmission | 4-Spd. Auto. Transmission, Turbo Hydramatic 700-R4 | 0 |
| B2K | Callaway | Callaway Twin Turbo | 69 |
| AC1 | Seats | Power Passenger Seat | 20,578 |
| AC3 | Seats | Power Driver Seat | 25,606 |
| AQ9 | Seats | Leather Sport Seats - U.S. | 1,777 |
| AQ9 | Seats | Leather Sport Seats - Canada Export | 1,174 |
| AQ9 | Seats | Leather Sport Seats - Europe Export | 201 |
| AQ9 | Seats | Leather Sport Seats - Japan Export | 110 |
| AR9 | Seats | Base Leather Seats | 23,364 |
| CC2 | Roof | Convertible Hardtop | 1,573 |
| CC3 | Roof | See-Thru Roof Panel | 12,790 |
| C2L | Roof | Dual Removable Roof Panels | 5,274 |
| 24S | Roof | Removable Roof Panel, blue tint | 8,748 |
| 64S | Roof | Removable Roof Panel, bronze tint | 4,042 |
| CF7 | Roof | Non-Transparent Removable Roof Panel | 0 |
| FX3 | Handling | Selective Ride and Handling System | 1,573 |
| G92 | Rear Axle | Performance Axle Ratio, 3.07:1 | 10,211 |
| FE1 | Suspension | Soft Ride Suspension | 0 |
| FE7 | Suspension | Heavy Duty Suspension | 0 |
| GH0 | Rear Axle | 3.54 Rear Axle Ratio | 0 |
| GM1 | Rear Axle | 2.59 Rear Axle Ratio | 0 |
| GU2 | Rear Axle | 2.73 Rear Axle Ratio | 0 |
| GW4 | Rear Axle | 3.31 Rear Axle Ratio | 0 |
| G44 | Rear Axle | 3.07 Rear Axle Ratio | 0 |
| JL9 | Brakes | Anti-Lock Brakes (Front/Rear) | 0 |
| MD8 | Transmission | Automatic Transmission | 22,299 |
| MN6 | Transmission | 6-spd, Manual Transmission | 4,113 |
| UU8 | Radio/Stereo | Delco Bose Stereo System | 24,145 |
| UM6 | Radio/Stereo | Stereo Radio w/ Cassette, Electric Tuned | 0 |
| UQ4 | Radio/Stereo | Bose Speaker System | 0 |
| XAU | Wheels/Tires | Front Tire: P275/40ZR17 | 0 |
| YAU | Wheels/Tires | Rear Tire: P275/40ZR17 | 0 |
| B4P | Other Options | Radiator Boost Fan | 20,281 |
| C68 | Other Options | Electronic Air Conditioning | 24,675 |
| DL8 | Other Options | Twin Remote Heated Mirrors (convert.) | 6,582 |
| D74 | Other Options | Illuminated Driver Vanity Mirror | 17,414 |
| NN5 | Other Options | California Emission Requirements | 4,501 |
| UJ6 | Other Options | Low Tire Pressure Warning System | 6,976 |
| V01 | Other Options | Heavy Duty Radiator | 20,888 |
| V56 | Other Options | Luggage Rack (convertible) | 616 |
| AS8 | Other Options | Manual Restraint System | 0 |
| C49 | Other Options | Electric Rear Defogger | 0 |
| C60 | Other Options | Manual Control Air Conditioning | 0 |
| DL8 | Other Options | Twin Electric Remote Heated Sport Mirrors | 0 |
| D3X | Other Options | Speedometer Driven Gear (25513049) | 0 |
| D4D | Other Options | Speedometer Driven Gear (25513047) | 0 |
| D7B | Other Options | Speedometer Driven Gear (25513050) | 0 |
| D7C | Other Options | Speedometer Driven Gear (25513043) | 0 |
| D9A | Other Options | Speedometer Sensor (25007224) | 0 |
| D9B | Other Options | Speedometer Sensor (25007308) | 0 |
| K68 | Other Options | 105 Amp Generator | 0 |
| na5 | Other Options | Leaded Fuel Emission System | 0 |
| NK4 | Other Options | Sport Leather Steering Wheel | 0 |
| QA1 | Other Options | 17x9.5 Aluminum Styled Wheel | 0 |
| T93 | Other Options | Special Tail and Stop Lamps | 0 |
| T85 | Other Options | Left Rule of Road Headlamps | 0 |
| U19 | Other Options | Instrument Cluster, Kilometers/Miles | 0 |
| U52 | Other Options | Cluster, Electronic | 0 |
| Z6A | Other Options | Rear Window and Side Mirror Defogger System | 0 |
| 10U | Exterior Colors | White | 5,426 |
| 20U | Exterior Colors | Medium Blue Metallic | 1,428 |
| 28U | Exterior Colors | Dark Blue Metallic | 1,931 |
| 31U | Exterior Colors | Arctic Pearl | 27 |
| 35U | Exterior Colors | Yellow | 8 |
| 41U | Exterior Colors | Black | 4,855 |
| 68U | Exterior Colors | Dark Red Metallic | 3,409 |
| 81U | Exterior Colors | Bright Red | 7,663 |
| 90U | Exterior Colors | Gray Metallic | 225 |
| 96U | Exterior Colors | Charcoal Metallic | 1,440 |
| 19C | Interior | Black Cloth | 871 |
| 60C | Interior | Saddle Cloth | 400 |
| 192 | Interior | Black Leather | 9,038 |
| 212 | Interior | Blue Leather | 1,483 |
| 602 | Interior | Saddle Leather | 4,385 |
| 732 | Interior | Red Leather | 7,139 |
| 902 | Interior | Gray Leather | 3,096 |
| N/A | Convertible Top | Black | 0 |
| N/A | Convertible Top | Saddle | 0 |
| N/A | Convertible Top | White | 0 |
| RPO | Grouping | Description | Total |
I am considering buying a 1989 Corvette and am puzzled. Stats say the Z51 handling package was only available with 6-speed trannies. Yet, the one I’m looking at has an automatic. The Z51 emblem is on the tail and the car has the rear spoiler. Is it possible a special order was made with the Z51 package and an auto tarns?