2023 = Corvette Production Yearly Record?

[John]

Last week was a major milestone, that over 40,000 C8’s were also completed this year. At the Bash Harlan asked out loud, will we reach 50,000 C8’s made this year?

The key question imo is whether could instead be whether GM would make more than 53,807 Corvettes this model year, which would break its earlier record setting 1979 highest production year ever. Right now imo they are on pace to over 52,000, but whether BGA would work some Saturdays, longer shifts, or extend the model year just one extra week break that could well result in 2023 being the old time forever Corvette production record???



Considering that the average annual C8 production 2020-2022 was 24,250 units and that the old time record production during the C8 generation was about just over 26,250 completed, that over 40,000 C8’s were already finished this model year is already truly a major accomplishment.

The last time that there were over 40,000 Corvettes made was 2016 — when 40,689 were made. That number was broken yesterday we believe. And for the negative nellies who have been all over GM’s case about poor Z06 production this year, 928 Z06’s were made the month of May and over 3,000 have already been made this year. Might there be over 5,000 Z06’s assembled this year? It sure looks that way; perhaps even 5,555???

Congratulations BGA for an amazing year already, and whether you break the old time production record this year KUDOS for 2023 being an outstanding Corvette yearly 50,000+ accomplishment.


Thanks to CorvetteBlogger for major assistance in creating this “maybe” all-time Corvette production record breaking question.

[dolfanlon]

Well Alright BGA and the whole Corvette Team!!!

[brad66]

Some fun facts from 1979.

1979 was the 12th year for the C3 generation which ran through 1982.

All coupes with a 350ci small block, 195hp or 225hp.

Base price was $10,220.23

Things that are standard now but were options then: air conditioning ($635), power windows ($141), power locks ($131), cruise control ($113)

There was a trailer package available for $98 and 1001 cars had it.

AM/FM was standard. Optional was AM/FM stereo, AM/FM stereo with cassette, AM/FM stereo with 8-track, AM/FM stereo with CB.

41,454 had automatic transmission which was a no cost option.

10 exterior colors were available.

A quote from the Corvette Black Book (where all of these facts are from):

Sales for 1979 reached 53,807, the all-time Corvette record. Corvette benefitted from tremendous publicity surrounding the 1978 model, the Corvette's 25th anniversary and a robust national economy.

[John]

Learned a lot from your post. TU.

[Plasboy]

Well my wife still has her one owner 79 so it will be interesting to see what happens. Go team Corvette and GM.

[Warp Ten]

Very impressive; the C8 is on its way to exceeding the 1979 record. When I was paying attention to production numbers when I owned my C4 ZR-1s ('93-'95), the annual Corvette production was only 21,590 in 1993 and 20,742 in 1995. So more than 50,000 is great--more than double that of the C4 years. --Bob

[Plentyfast]

With numbers like that, the year long wait to get a Corvette will soon be a thing of the past ... maybe

[International blue]

John, Respectfully a qualified No. Historically while the "number" achieved for 2023 could be high, the C8 production run is not even close or comparable with 1979 in quantity.

While I applaud the high numbers achieved on the car, I do think it is important to qualify the statements and production footprint. The C8 is a complex car, and the comparison is quite different as anyone can imagine. Also its production run is only equalled by the 1984 car.


C3 Corvette History: St Louis Production

1977 was almost a normal model year. Start in August, but finished in August as well, not July as was "normal in the 1960's.

Production 49,213 cars, highest month of production March 1977 4,379 made and monthly average of 3,785 cars.

1978 was an Anniversary year, with some changes to the car that was wildly popular. Price increase as well. Production September to August.

Production 46,776 cars in 12 months, with a high month of 4,349 during February 1978, Monthly Average of 3,898, the high monthly average for any year.

1979's Corvette continued the yearly price increases and ran August through September months due to the car's popularity.

Production 53,807 cars in 14 months with a high month of 4,680 October 1979. Monthly average of 3,843.

Bowling Green got production in 1982 and made the C3 first, and the 82 car was October to October, or 13 months of production. It was a transitional year as the factory was new and they were tooling for the C4 Corvette soon as well. Only 25,407 made but a normal average of 2,400 cars a month.

On to the C4/C8 Comparison.

The 1984 Corvette is very similar to the 2023 Corvette in terms of production.

1984 production began January 1983 with the first customer cars being delivered in March 1983. Production ran through June 1984, a run of 17 months.

Total production 51,547 with the monthly average of 3,032 cars per month.

2023 production is also a 17 month run, with start in May of 2022 and running through September 2023. "IF" even 54,000 cars are made the monthly total would be 3,176 cars per month, a great total to be sure, but less than 75 percent of peak production on the simpler Corvette C3.

The 2023 will be remembered as a great car, and the addition of the Z06 makes it a unique year. Congratulations on getting one!

[Foosh]

2023 was a long production year, starting 1st week of May 2022, and apparently continuing until sometime in September 2023. '20 and '22 MYs were considerably shorter, and I don't recall how long '21 was. I'd like to see a chart showing average cars built per production day, which which is the most salient statistic for productivity.

I had a 2018 C7, and I suspect that was probably the shortest production year, starting in June 2017, plant closing for refurb in August 2017 for almost 4 months, then ending at the end of January 2018. If I'm not mistaken, it was less than 5 months of production and under 10K were built.

[International blue]

Yes, 2018 is the rarest year in the last half century with just 9,686 cars made. Any Z06 Convertible is RARE with just 449 of them made. With only 512 GS convertibles and 735 2018 convertibles besides there are not many of them. Pretty unique.

[John]

Actual length of production year is important. Yet if we look back at 2019 MY, that production year that started in late January of 2018, went beyond the normal ending until mid summer of 2019, e.g., over 17 months in length, so if 2023 which started on May 16th goes even one extra week through September 8th or even ended on Friday, September 15th, it still would not be the longest production year.

[Foosh]

Yes, my 2018 C7 Sebring Orange (SO) Stingray M7 convertible was a 1 of 1, and 1 of 2 SO convertibles. The other was an A8.

[John]

Yes, 2018 is the rarest year in the last half century with just 9,686 cars made. Any Z06 Convertible is RARE with just 449 of them made. With only 512 GS convertibles and 735 2018 convertibles besides there are not many of them. Pretty unique.

It was very shortened. Did the new paint shop coming on line have anything to do with 2018 being so short?

[alton]

Great stats everyone! One question was the 1980 the only year for the 85 MPH SPEEDOMETER?

[Foosh]

The plant was closed for 4 months, and for reasons I've never heard explained, they started the 2019 MY early on January 28, 2018. My 2018 C7, was built in the refurbed plant the last 2 weeks of 2018 MY production and was painted in the new plant.

I think the early 19MY start had something to do with the intro of the ZR1. The only change from the new plant 2018s was the change to the new 0W/40 Mobil 1. 2018 brought new DIC displays and other electronics along w/ new MSRC programming, which continued through the rest of the C7 run.

It was a bit amusing. The last car that rolled off the line on Friday, January 25, 2018 was a 18MY w/ 5W/30 Mobil 1, and the first identical car that rolled off the line on Monday, January 28, 2018 was a 19MY car w/ 0W/40 Mobil 1. There were no other differences.