Has Corvette traditionally made a profit?

[Robert R.]

Re: Has Corvette traditionally made a profit?

Wayne,
Is there a front view of that design?

[Wayne W.]

Re: Has Corvette traditionally made a profit?

Wayne,
Is there a front view of that design?

I would use roll up head lights and make the grille a little more like the midyears, but here is Larry`s design.

[George C.]

Re: Has Corvette traditionally made a profit?

Although there may not be a C7 in the pipeline, I heard from a reliable source that the next Corvette model change will be the division of the Corvette into two models. The new vehicle will be a Chevy Stingray, which will be a less expensive version of the current Corvette. I heard that, along with the introduction of the Stingray, the Corvette will stay in the line up but will be a higher priced, performance oriented vehicle.

This, of course, was GM's pre-financial ruin plan. Has anyone else heard this?

I remember a time pre C5 Z06, the FRC was going to be a "lower cost base model" Corvette. GM found out making a "lower cost base model" Corvette was going to cost more. We just have to worry about ...........Corvette staying alive. Could they possible combine production up in Oshawa with Camaro ? Don't think GM isn't thinking about this. GM is fighting for it's life right now. Say a prayer for GM.Save the Wave.>George

[John H.]

Re: Has Corvette traditionally made a profit?

Paul,

Despite Pontiac's demise, the Solstice plant has survived the latest round of plant closures.

That's temporary - GM has already announced that the plant's products (Solstice and Sky) will both disappear permanently at the end of the current model year, and will not be re-badged.

[Gary G.]

Re: Has Corvette traditionally made a profit?

You may want to check this out:

http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/forums/news-announcements-forum/113694-gms-henderson-corvettes-future-secure.html

[Joe L.]

Re: Has Corvette traditionally made a profit?

GM (or, any other automaker, for that matter) rarely, if ever, disclose the profitability of any particular model. These are among the most "tightly held" corporate secrets. Any information "out there" on this subject is entirely speculative and/or "the stuff of rumors".

However, my GUESS would be that the Corvette has always been, AT BEST, marginally profitable.

[Ron L.]

Re: Has Corvette traditionally made a profit?

I agree with the statement that back around '55 GM didnt want to drop the Corvette and let Ford run un opposed in the 2 seater market. Back in those days it was a TOTAL Pi$$ing contest between the big three to be King of Detroit. No expense was spared to shove it up the other guys hind end and take market share with whatever it took. Big engines, outrageous designs (i.e. 59 Eldorado) over the top commercials, etc.

Basically the Corvette has been GM's "Business Card", and nobody had one like it (after '57). Didnt matter if it made money, it was a bit mysterious, fast, sexy looking, and you HAD to order one to get one. None of this 25 on the lot stuff, just pick one. All the neat gadgets first came on the vette, and then on to luxury cars , and down the line.

Ford royally assed up the Thunderbird in '58 and beyond as far as competition for the Corvette.

If I had to bet on it, id say maybe some years it made a bit of $$$, but it wouldnt shock me if it never made any.

[Robert R.]

Re: Has Corvette traditionally made a profit?

It figures that the design was from Larry Shinoda. By the date, it looks like he was still very active in his love for the Corvette right up until his passing.
I like that design. And by looking at the lines, your call for Roll up lights (ala '63-'67s) could be worked in.

[Stewart A.]

Re: Has Corvette traditionally made a profit?

Joe Lucia is right we will never know how much profit is made on the sales of a Corvette.
Measuring profit is a difficult thing. How can you measure profit when the Corvette may pull people into a Chevrolet dealership for a look and may see something that catches the eye next to it. It might not be a sale then an there but it's in the mind of the person. Bingo you have a side sale, they might not buy a Vette but the more people that walk in the door you have more lookers. My mate used to put Lotus Esprits in his window to draw attention. He sold Benzes like they were going out of fashion, never sold a Lotus. People were always coming in looking at the Lotuses then they would look around at all the other stuff. He got rid of the Lotuses and sales went down. It could of been a coincidence but my mate said when the Ferraris went in business went up again, with no sales on the Ferrari !! It's very hard to measure sales. It could be a draw card. Stewy

[Chris E.]

Re: Has Corvette traditionally made a profit?

I remember hearing at one time about 27k a year was break even for the plant. Don't remember when that was

Close, from the book "All Corvettes are Red", breakeven on the $241M investment for the C5 project was to produce 25K cars per year over 7 years.

Well, since GM made 248,715 C5s over a an 8 year period (a flat average of 31,089 cars per year), I'd say the C5 generation was profitable. However, the profit was back loaded. In other words, Chevy only sold 9,752 coupes in the 97 model year, so they were REALLY not profitable the first year. By the end of the run though, they sold 73,715 more cars past the break even point. Figure a GUESS at a DROP DEAD NET profit per car of $5K, and Chevy made roughly $369M on Corvette throughout the C5 years or roughly $46M per year. Not a huge sum in the automotive world.