Australian C8 Corvettes Already Sold Out

We’ve all seen it. Tickets for a popular band, show, or even a wiz-bang cellphone go on sale, and seemingly the world lines up in anticipation of obtaining one. When it comes to the mid-engine Corvette, that eagerness has become a worldwide phenomenon.

While GM is working through many obstacles in supplying the demand for its latest supercar here in North America, allocations for right-hand drive versions of the C8 Corvette became available in Australia for the first time. As you would expect, the Aussies were all too eager to get their hands on their own version, even before the cars have strolled down the line at Bowling Green.

Reportedly, customer deliveries won’t begin until late December or early January of next year for the 2022 Corvette, but that didn’t stop Australia’s early adopters from scooping up the over 200 allocations across the pond. According to Australian publication CarExpert, buyers have agreed to “delivery fees” in excess of $14,000 to secure their new 2022 Corvette Stingray.

The right-hand variant is specially built for the market in GM’s factory here in the States alongside left-hand drive autos. This is a stark contrast to other GM vehicles historically sold in Australia, such as the Chevrolet Camaro and Silverado 1500. Both of these vehicles’ cockpits were converted once they reached Australian shores. Not so with Corvette.

Some would-be customers who placed deposits with GM’s Holden dealerships learned late last year, their place-setters would not be honored since GM pulled the plug on the division. The sporty two-seater is made available through General Motors Specialty Vehicles (GMSV), which is GM’s replacement for Holden to the Australian market. There are reportedly 57 GMSV dealerships in Australia and each one will receive between three and five vehicles, but they won’t have much say when filling those orders for color choice or options.

Buyers and dealers may not have much say in the colors or options they are offered through their allotment.

GMSV spokespeople have emphasized this is only the first allocation. Leading everyone to assume there will be more opportunities to purchase an Australian Corvette. There was no input as to whether there would be other “batches” or if ordering would become more systematic. Both right and left-hand cars would be built on the line at Bowling Green, which will most likely dictate whether a string of interior panels might be stocked up for one variant or the other.

Another question left unanswered is whether GM’s high-performance variant, the Corvette Z06, will become available in the land down-under. There is no denying the Aussie’s enthusiasm for driving their cars (a short search of Australian burnouts will clarify that) and the fact that the Z06 name has already been trademarked by GMSV in Australia. GMSV has reported that other allocations for 2022 and 2023 production will be forthcoming, leaving the door wide open the next Z-car could easily wind up in the land down under.

About the author

Andy Bolig

Andy has been intrigued by mechanical things all of his life and enjoys tinkering with cars of all makes and ages. Finding value in style points, he can appreciate cars of all power and performance levels. Andy is an avid railfan and gets his “high” by flying radio-controlled model airplanes when time permits. He keeps his feet firmly grounded by working on his two street rods and his supercharged C4 Corvette. Whether planes, trains, motorcycles, or automobiles, Andy has immersed himself in a world driven by internal combustion.
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