Chevrolet Corvette sold out before the first one lands in Australia

The 2022 Chevrolet Corvette sports-car has become a sell-out success before the first example has even been displayed on a showroom floor.

And some buyers have agreed to pay dealer delivery fees in excess of $20,000 to secure a vehicle, in some cases pushing drive-away prices beyond $200,000.

All 250 examples in the first allocation of factory-built right-hand-drive Chevrolet Corvettes are spoken for and have customer names on them – and all were bought without a single local test drive.

General Motors Specialty Vehicles (GMSV) has confirmed to CarAdvice “the initial allocation has been accounted for”.

However, the GMSV statement added: “But this is only the first allocation”.

CarAdvice understands each dealer will only receive between three and five vehicles, with little flexibility in choice of colours or options. 

However, dealers – and it seems customers – are taking all they can get in the historic first shipment of factory-built right-hand-drive Corvettes.

For the first time in the 58-year history of the Corvette, General Motors will manufacture a right-hand-drive version of its iconic sports car – North America’s answer to Porsche and Ferrari.

The latest generation is the first time the engine has been mid-mounted (behind the driver’s seat), making a right-hand-drive conversion more economical and less of an engineering challenge.

As reported earlier, there will initially be five versions of the 2022 Chevrolet Corvette, starting with a model called the 2LT priced from $144,990 plus on-road costs, a mid-grade 3LT priced from $160,500 plus on-road costs, and a flagship Carbon Edition, priced from $189,990 before on-road costs (more details here).

A convertible version of all the 2LT and 3LT models will also be available for an additional $15,000 each – bringing the total line-up at launch to five models.

The first batch of right-hand-drive Chevrolet Corvettes is due to roll off the production line in Bowling Green, Kentucky, USA in the second half of this year before local deliveries commence either just before Christmas or early next year.

When asked if there will be continuous supply of the Chevrolet Corvette – or if the model will be sold periodically and in batches – a statement from GMSV said:

“There will be some further Model Year 2022 allocation, with Model Year 2023 to follow when production commences for right-hand drive,” said GMSV.

Left unsaid for now are any plans for the even faster Chevrolet Corvette Z06 version, which is yet to be unveiled.

However CarAdvice understands that model is also a chance to come to Australia eventually, albeit in limited numbers.

When asked about industry claims some GMSV dealers were quoting between $20,000 and $40,000 in dealer delivery fees – in addition to the dealer’s profit margin – given the popularity of the vehicle and the initial tight stock allocation, the statement from GMSV said: “Delivery fees are at the discretion of the dealer”.

The latest Chevrolet Corvette is the fastest of its breed, after switching to a mid-engine layout (for better weight distribution) and a fast-shifting eight-speed automatic transmission.

Powered by a 6.2-litre V8 (369kW/637Nm) paired to an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic that drives the rear wheels, Chevrolet claims the Corvette can accelerate from 0-100km/h in a Porsche-quick 3 seconds.

Overseas media have reported 0 to 60mph (96kmh) times of 2.8 seconds.

For the first time in the history of the Corvette, a manual transmission is not available.

Note: All prices exclude on-road costs.

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