New "Fixed Top" Corvette For 1999 Expected To Boost Foreign Sales

Agence France-Presse
Friday, Dec 12 1997

DETROIT, Michigan, Dec 12 (AFP) - The Corvette convertible, introduced to international audiences at the Tokyo Motor Show, has barely had time to attract international buyers and already Chevrolet has another new model on the horizon.

The third version of Chevrolet's fifth generation Corvette, due out as a 1999 model, will be a "fixed roof" coupe. The model is expected to appeal to buyers in colder climates such as northern Europe or northern US states where summers are short.  The new version of Chevy's self-proclaimed dream car is one step in a planned unending progression of new models, according to General Manager John Middlebrook. "We want to be at least one (model) short all the time, and we expect to keep it that way," he said.

A fixed roof, permanent hard top is not a first for Corvette -- the long-lived fourth generation version retired in 1996 had one. But its presence on the new generation model is, according to Chevrolet spokesman Dave Barthmuss. The 'Vette's attraction is global, winning fans from the Middle East, Japan and Germany among foreign countries, in addition to the United States, he said.

"There's a cachet about it," Barthmuss explained. Collectors fantasize about details such as what celebrity previously owned a particular vehicle and even what serial number it has, perhaps "the last of the previous model off the (assembly) line." The Corvette "transcends practicality," Barthmuss added. "For some people, being in a convertible is the big thing -- even if they only have the top down two weeks out of the year."

In a global market where even smaller US vehicles often are viewed as large, luxury models, Chevrolet officials hope the new hard-top Corvette can capitalize on its image as a cultural icon of the United States.
Chevrolet's international product mnager for the Corvette, Patrick Walsh, is optimistic. Since the new generation version came out, first as a T-top, followed by the convertible, international sales of the limited production specialty car have increased tenfold, he said.

In Europe, whee only 80 of the previous version were sold in 1996, Chevy will send more than 800 of its 1998 models, although that still will not keep up with demand there.

In Japan, which should receive about 200 of the 1998 model Corvettes prior to the fixed roof introduction, part of the attraction appears to be its left-hand drive since there is no right-hand drive Corvette, Walsh said. "That seems to be part of the mystique," he said.


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