Corvette Sales & Production Numbers
Covid and supply chain issues did nothing to slow down the demand for the Corvette. The real question is whether there were lasting impacts from these big global events that impacted just how many Corvettes are produced and sold. The good news is that the Corvette continue to win awards and it is in high demand. Let’s take a look at the total Corvette sales volumes for the last few years and see just how it stands up against the sales figures of Corvette’s of yesteryear. What kind of sales did the Corvette’s of the ’50s, ’60s or ’80s compare? Over the years this is a question we get a lot. How many Corvette’s sold in 1968? (answer =28,566) Which was Corvette’s highest selling year? (1979 @ 53,807 Corvette’s sold)?
You get the idea. We decided to put this online for people to be able to check out. Below are the Corvette Sales & Production Numbers by Year. We included a cool chart too and even broke out Corvette sales by body type too.
To see monthly splits, check out Corvette Sales by Month.
Total Corvette Sales Numbers (by Year)
Corvette Sales & Growth Chart
Corvette Sales Notes
C1 Sales & Production Numbers
The first Corvette (known as the C1 generation) began production on June 30 1953. Sales started slow at 300 units that first year. In 1955 there was both an inline-6 and V8 engine option available. 1956 saw the introduction of the updated body style with roll-up windows, no inline 6 option (V8-only) with 3-speed manual transmission standard. Optional 4-speed manual and fuel injected engine option added in 1957 which led to sales volumes of 6,339 units. A number of face lifts and new styles were added in subsequent years that drove big increases in Corvette sales to 21,513 in 1963.
C2 Sales & Production Numbers
1963 the second generation Corvette (known as the C2 generation) was launched. Featuring a totally new coupe body style introduced the the iconic split rear window (it only lasted one year). These cars are the first Corvettes to feature independent rear suspension, optional 4-wheel disc brakes, a big-block V8 engine option and the use of the “Stingray” designation. Their limited production years and iconic design have meant they are hugely popular amongst collectors. Production volumes hovered between 22,000 and 28,000 units between 1963 and 1968.
C3 Sales & Production Numbers
The C3 Corvette was the workhorse in terms of number of units and sheer number of years in products. In production from 1968 till 1982 it was redesigned and refreshed a number of times over the years. It started out with the “chrome bumper” stage from 1968-1972 periodically until the final, lower production (in anticipation of the C4) 1982. Notable models during this generation include the competition-ready 1968-69 L88, the well-balanced 1970-72 LT-1, the last convertible model until the introduction of the C4 (1975), the base model 1976 Corvette with only 165 emissions-controlled horses, the Silver Anniversary (pictured) and Indianapolis Pace Cars of 1978 and the hatchback-glass equipped 1982 Collector Edition. Sales started modestly at around 17,000 units in the early years and peaked around 1979 at 53,807 units.
C4 Sales & Production Numbers
The C4 generation Corvette cars should have begun selling in 1983, but they didn’t. Development and quality control issues prevented the introduction of the C4 Corvette until March of 1983, 6 months beyond the typical September new model introduction. In short, no 1983 Corvettes were ever offered to the public; the C4 was introduced as a 1984 model. As GM was still struggling with ever-increasing emissions regulations, the focus for early C4 Corvettes was on handling and chassis dynamics.
While the C4 was known as a good handling car it wasn’t until the additional of a lot more power in 1992 with the second-generation LT1 (300HP) that the Corvette became embedded in American sports car history. Notable C4 Corvettes are the early models with the unique Doug Nash “4+3” overdrive manual transmissions, the 1988 35th Anniversary model (pictured), the incredible and highly anticipated ZR-1 supercars of 1990-95, and the Grand Sport and Collector Edition models from 1996, which sported a one-year only 330HP LT4. Production volumes were huge in 1984 due to the essentially 1.5yrs of selling the 1984 model and steadily declined every year from that point onward until 1997 when the new generation was released.
C5 Sales & Production Numbers
The Corvette C5 was a better car across every function than its predecessor. Performance, quality, handling, packaging and functionality improved across the board, this was the best Corvette so far. The 5th generation marked the return of three distinct body styles: coupe, convertible and hardtop coupe, the latter being the basis for the Z06 track monster that was introduced in 2001.
The Corvette team was given a clean slate to design the new car, resulting in innovations like a rear mounted transaxle for better weight distribution, different diameter wheels (front/rear) and, for the first time since 1962, a trunk in the convertible and hardtop that could easily accommodate a full size golf club bag. Last but not least, the LS series of engines made their debut in the C5’s, ranging from 345HP in the base model to 405HP in the later Z06 models. Notable C5 Corvettes include the 50th Anniversary model, the 1998 Indianapolis 500 Pace Car, the Fixed Roof Coupe of 1999-2000 and 24 Hours of LeMans Commemorative Edition (pictured). Production volumes were consistent at between 30,000 and 35,000 units per year during that time.
C6 Sales & Production Numbers
The C6 was an impressive sports car. Coming out of the the gate with a sub-4.5 second 0 to 60mph and 187 mph top speed this was one quick car. And it was cheaper than the 2004 C5 model it replaced. Wow. Since its 2005 introduction, the base Corvette received first a 400 HP LS2 engine (2005-2007( and later, an even more powerful 436 HP LS3 engine (2008-2013) which provided awesome levels of performance. The well-sorted chassis prompted Corvette engineers to develop enhanced Corvette models, including the 505 HP Z06 (2006-2013), 638 HP ZR1 (2009-2013) Grand Sport (2010-2013), and the 427 convertible (2013) models. Speaking of the Grand Sport, Chevrolet produced more of these in 2010 than the base model coupes and convertibles. Production volumes started strong in the 30,000 units + range and then fell during (and beyond) the 2007-2009 financial crisis to a paltry 11,647 in 2012.
C7 Sales & Production Numbers
When the C7 Corvette Stingray was introduced in 2014, it was a complete departure from its predecessor. Though unmistakably a Corvette, the new Stingray was developed around the “form follows function” mantra. More than that, it was developed in conjunction with the C7.R. At the core of the base coupe and convertible models (2014-2019) was the all-new LT1 engine. This 6.2L V8 produced approximately 460 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque. Joining the base model Stingrays was the seventh-generation Z06 (2014-2019). This track-capable, street-legal counterpart to the Corvette race car produced a staggering 650 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque. Recognizing that some consumers wanted the look and improved handling capabilities of the Z06 without its hefty pricetag, Chevrolet introduced the seventh-generation Grand Sport in 2017 (2017-2019). The Grand Sport featured many of the track upgrades (better brakes and suspension, wider stance, etc.) of the Z06, but continued to utilize the LT1 engine found in the base coupe and convertible models. In 2019, as the swan song to the most-powerful Corvette to-date, General Motors introduced the ZR1 as a single-year option. The 2019 ZR1 Corvette featured a supercharged LT5 engine that produced an unprecedented 755 horsepower and 715 lb-ft of torque. With a 0-60 time of just 2.85 seconds and a documented top-speed of 212 miles per hour, this thing is FAST! In fact, it’s the fastest, most-powerful production Corvette ever built by Chevrolet.
C8 Sales & Production Numbers
Although just getting started in 2020, the new mid-engine Corvette Stingray is already wowing the world with it’s incredible performance specs, its cool looks and, of course, its mid-engine configuration. Looking at the numbers, the 2020 C8 Mid-Engine Corvette features a 6.2-liter LT2 engine that produces 495 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque (naturally aspirated.) The car has a sub-three second 0-60 mph time and an alleged top speed of 194 miles per hour. Production of the 2020 Mid-Engine Corvette was limited due first to a UAW strike at the start of 2020 followed by the arrival of the Coronavirus in the U.S., which caused production to shut down for several months. Currently, both coupe and convertible models are available, and most automotive (and Corvette) enthusiasts believe that a Z06 version is in the work.
Total Corvette Production By Type
Total Corvette Production By Type Chart
Notes:
- 2016 and 2017 Corvette Z06 models (both coupe and convertible) are counted under Z06 category.
- 2013 production total includes 2,552 427 Convertible models
- For 1965, originally there is a total of 23,562 Corvettes produced according to the Official Chevrolet production figures, but was changed to 23,564 in March of 1991.
- 1978 production total includes 40,274 standard coupes and 6,502 Pace Car models.
- 1982 production total includes 18, 648 standard coupes and 6,759 Collector Edition models
