Buying & Selling Archives - Page 83 of 85

December 22, 2013

Corvette Stingray Sales Expand to All Certified Chevy Dealers

Santa is bringing Corvette enthusiasts an early present.

Chevrolet has announced that all 3,000 of its dealers in the United States are now eligible to sell the 2014 Corvette Stingray â€“ if they want to meet certain rules laid down by the automaker.

That number is up considerably from the 900 dealers who were originally allowed to sell the Stingray starting back in September.

But it remains to be seen how many of the 2,100 dealers who just became eligible to sell the car will be willing to step up to the plate and meet the rigid criteria Chevrolet is demanding.

Chevrolet spokesman Monte Doran told Edmunds.com that to sell the Stingray, a dealer must agree to certain rules, including sales and service training requirements.

All dealers â€“ no matter whether they sell one Stingray or 10,000 â€“ face the same criteria, which includes a training session at Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch in Nevada at a cost of $2,000 per participant, plus travel expenses.

Making all the dealers eligible to sell the Stingray probably won’t impact sales that much, since the original 900 dealers accounted for 80 percent of Corvette sales last year. Originally, a dealer had to sell four Corvettes during the 2012 calendar year to sell the car when it was introduced in September.

Those 900 dealers have been pretty successful so far with the Stingray, selling 7,000 of the new seventh-generation Corvette already.

More than likely, a dealership that hasn’t sold many Corvettes in the past won’t sell many Stingrays either, perhaps because of demographics in their area that lessen the demand for a two-seater sports car.

Still, the lure of an exciting new Stingray could help drive traffic to any dealership, Doran believes.

“Even if they don’t have huge numbers for Corvette, they may want to get one just because people want to see it,” Doran said. “It is an opportunity to get people to come into the showroom, obviously to see the new Stingray, but also to see all the other products in the lineup.”

Source:
Edmunds.com

December 6, 2013

1967 Corvette Sting Ray Convertible Sold by the Only Owner its Ever Had

1967 Corvette Sting Ray Sold By the Only Owner its Ever Had

Here’s a pretty cool story via our friends at All Vette in West Chester, PA. They recently acquired a 1967 Corvette Sting Ray Convertible from the car’s original owner who bought the car when he was in high school.

In 1967, Robert Mumma’s father had told him to go pick out a car for a high school graduation present and like many young men at the time, he was smitten by the 1967 Corvette Sting Ray. Robert had good taste as he ordered a Goodwood Green Convertible with a 427/390 hp V8 engine, air conditioning and side exhaust from Sutliff Chevrolet in Harrisburg, PA.

Robert has been the car’s only owner for the last 46 years. Over that time, the Corvette racked up just 50,000 miles, making this original Sting Ray one heck of a time capsule. After transfering the car to Lou at AllVette, he signed a certificate saying he was the original owner who had ordered the Corvette with the current configuration that it has today.

At one point in the late seventies or early eighties, the car was returned to the dealership where it was tuned by NHRA Funny Car driver/mechanic Bruce Larson who did the tune as a favor to the owner of Sutliff Chevy as he once worked at the dealership. Larson not only tuned the Corvette, but he signed the car on the rear valance behind the license plate and his signature is still visible today.

Documentation includes the original protect-o-plate as well as a letter from Mumma’s father to Robert with the surprise that the Corvette was tuned by Larson. It also has an original, 70′s-era, PA License Plate.

The specs on the car are impressive. It features the correct color code 983 Goodwood Green with 421 Saddle Leather with a white convertible top. This Corvette was ordered with the following RPOs:

A01 Soft Ray Tinted Glass all windows
C07 Auxiliary Hardtop
C60 Air Conditioning
L36 427/390 hp Engine
4-Speed Manual Transmission
N14 Side Mount Exhaust System
N40 Power Steering
U69 AM-FM Radio

Here’s the photos of the this one-owner 1967 Corvette Sting Ray including several that show Robert’s “last ride” in the Goodwood Green Convertible:

This Corvette has spent its entire life in Central PA! A 1967 Big Block Corvette is only original once and this example is the REAL DEAL in every way. AllVette.net has the car listed on their website for $96,900. Visit them online to see even more pictures of this time capsule and if you’re interested in learning more about the car, call Rick at 215-280-4204 for more info.

Source:
AllVette.net

November 5, 2013

[VIDEO] 2013 SEMA: Interview with John Fitzpatrick

At the Chevrolet Media Preview for the 2013 SEMA show in Las Vegas, we had the opportunity to talk with Corvette/Camaro’s Marketing Manager John Fitzpatrick. We spoke about the 3 new Stingray Concepts, 2014 Corvette Stingray production and we asked John about the rumors of the one year wait for the Z51 option.

Regarding those constraints, Fitzpatrick says it’s a matter demand and supply. Where they thought that the Z51 performance package would be ordered on around 50% of Corvette Stingrays, the popular option is running at 85% on initial orders. So while it’s true that there might be an increased wait time to order a Z51-equipped Corvette Stingray, those reports of it being up to a year are false according to Fitzpatrick.

John also tells us that the Convertible Corvette Stingray Model is still a go for late 2013 and they believe that once production starts, that will help ease the demand they have seen for the visible carbon fiber roofs.

Finally, John tells us that the ability to order the Corvette from any Chevrolet dealership instead of the initial 900+ dealers selected for the rollout will be happening soon. Dealers still must complete the training and have the service tools to be eligible to place orders for the new car.

Here is John Fitzpatrick from the Chevrolet SEMA Preview:

October 29, 2013

Corvette Stingray Precision Drive Event Comes to South Florida

One of the innovative ways that Chevy is marketing the all-new Corvette Stingray is by getting people behind the wheel to experience the car for themselves on a racetrack. That’s the goal of the invitation-only Stingray Precision Drive Event which held its second event over the weekend in Palm Beach, Florida.

The Stingray Precision Drive Event is a collaboration between Chevy and Conde Nast, publishers of magazines including Golf Digest, GQ, Wired and Architectural Digest. These magazines data-mined their subscribers to come up with a list of potential new buyers of the Corvette Stingray and they were invited to come out to Palm Beach International Raceway to experience the C7 Corvette for themselves.

Over 40 Corvette Stingrays in different configurations and trim levels were assembled for the Stingray Precision Drive Event and the participants had the opportunity to experience the sports cars in three different modules set up on the racetrack.

The first module was set up to demonstrate the drive mode selector and participants followed a lead driver through a slalom course in each of these four modes: Eco, Touring, Sport and Track.

The Second driving module was held on the small but tight go-cart track. Again using the lead and follow format, drivers could select any of the driver modes to experience the capabilities of the Corvette on the tight and twisting track.

Finally, the third driving module allowed the participants the opportunity to experience the full power of the 460 hp LT1 V8 on the full racetrack. The 1.5 mile track gave drivers the opportuniy to go full throttle on the two straights up to 120 mph.

The Stingray Precision Drive Event kicked off its eight city track tour at New York’s Monticello Raceway earlier this month and Palm Beach was the second stop for the driving event. We think this is a great way for potential buyers to experience the full bandwidth offered by the Corvette Stingray in its natural habitat.

Here are some photos we found on Tumblr from the event:

Have you received an invitation for the Stingray Precision Drive Event? Let us know!

Source:
Examiner.com
Photo Credit: Tumblr

October 25, 2013

Own a COPO 1966 Corvette Coupe Built for a Corvette Hall of Famer

If you’re not in the market for a 2014 Corvette Stingray, you may be interested in this unique 1966 coupe currently being offered by our friends at ProTeam Corvette Sales.

The Silver Pearl on Blue C2 was specially built for Corvette Hall of Fame member Joe Pike on April 7th, 1966.

Joe Pike was the National Sales Promotion Manager for Chevrolet. It was his responsibility to create a market for the Corvette. He stressed the Corvette lifestyle and created the National Council of Corvette Clubs (NCCC) to provide a way for Corvette people to unite. Today, the NCCC has roughly 15,000 members. In addition he was the editor of Corvette News which would later become Corvette Quarterly. Ever wonder who first had the idea to name Corvette colors after race tracks? Joe Pike did that.

Pike passed away in 1994 and rightfully took his place in the Corvette Hall of Fame in 1998. He’s also a member of Bloomington Gold’s Great Hall.

Joe Pike’s 1966 Corvette is powered by the 327/350hp engine. Like most COPO cars, it’s decked out with almost everything from the 1966 Corvette menu including air conditioning, M21 4 speed, side exhaust, power brakes and windows, power antenna, leather seats, AM/FM radio, tinted glass, and knock off wheels among several other items from the options list. Documentation on the Silver Pearl on Bright Blue Sting Ray includes the car shipper, dealer order, delivery inspection and adjustment report, and NCRS/GM Shipping Data Report. The car was initially delivered to the Chevrolet Central Office in Detroit.

So how much for a great looking second generation Sting Ray formerly owned by a Corvette legend? The for sale price on the ProTeam website is $69,995.

Source:
ProTeam Corvette Sales

October 15, 2013

Strong Demand for the C7 Corvette Stingray Creates Opportunities for Sellers

Strong Demand for the Corvette Stingray Creates Opportunities for Sellers

Last week, reports of a 6 month wait for your new C7 Corvette swirled around the internet. Since then the topic of Corvette Stingray demand has been talked about all over the interwebs. With that in mind we decided to take a look around the â€˜net and see what we could find for sale. Read on to see what we came across.

Naturally, our first stop was eBay. As we assemble this dynamic prose there are 12 2014 Corvette Stingrays on the â€˜bay. You have your selection of colors including Velocity Yellow, Lime Rock Green, Night Race Blue, and pretty much every hue on the Corvette color palette. The cars are located all across the US spread between California, Texas, and all the way to Massachusetts.

Over 2,000 Corvettes have been assembled so far and theyâ€™ve been arriving at dealers for about a month now. Back in college Economics 101 we learned about basic supply and demand â€“ when supply is low and demand is high, the price goes up. Like any new Corvette model we know that demand will be high and ads listing prices above MSRP are inevitable.

With that in mind weâ€™ll take a look and see what the C7 market is looking like right now. One of the first cars we found was in the DuPont Registry, rather than eBay, where a relatively bare bones 1LT, non-Z51 Stingray is listed at $75,999. Pending options, we built a similar car on the Chevrolet website and came up with roughly $55,000 for our Stingray.

Back on eBay, all but one of the listed C7â€™s has a Buy-it-Now price. All of the cars that also have a bidding option have received numerous bids. One car has 21 bids already. The BIN prices range from $66,900 all the way up to $85,000 for a Cyber Gray car with a $67,000 sticker price. Compare that with a $66,000 car that has a $69,500 BIN. Or thereâ€™s a red/red Z51 with a $70,780 MSRP and a Buy-it-Now of $78,500. It is nice, however, to see a few sellers actually posting photos of the window sticker for potential buyers to review and compare to the Buy-it-Now prices.

Since they’ve only been out for retail sale for a limited time, we’ve got a pretty small sample size to look at as far as sales prices go. Based on all the positive reviews that we see for the C7, we expect that the demand will continue to be high for the foreseeable future. And like any Corvette purchase new or used, we always recommend that you do your homework before plunking down cash on your new sports car.

If youâ€™re in the market for a 2014 Corvette Stingray be sure to check out our great sponsors Kerbeck, Mike Furman at Criswell Corvette, and Sport Chevrolet.

October 14, 2013

2014 Corvette Stingray Sales Soar

When all is said and done, the ultimate goal of the 2014 Corvette Stingray is to make money for the company that manufactures them and the dealers who sell them.

Based on the early returns, we’d have to say, “Mission Accomplished!”

Edmunds.com reports that the new Stingrays are doing a burnout on the 950 Chevrolet sales floors where they are available across the nation, with the cars being sold within an average of five days after arriving at the dealer.

“We get several truckloads a week that are very quickly delivered,” says Scott Montgomery, delivery sales manager at Les Stanford Chevrolet in Dearborn, Mich. “They don’t last long at all. The public is going nuts for this car.”

Chevrolet spokesman Monte Doran pointed out that the first wave of Stingrays will go to the top Corvette-selling dealers of the past year for the first six to nine months. The other 2,000 or so Chevy dealers will finally be able to order Stingrays in November, but they won’t arrive at those dealerships until late 2013 or early 2014.

Doran also cleared up a story that has been published on this site and just about every other automotive site in the U.S. He says reports of six-month waiting lists for the new Corvette aren’t accurate. GM doesn’t have a centralized waiting list for the Corvette; dealers handle their own waiting lists.

However, Stanford Chevy does have a waiting list for those enthusiasts who want to order a Stingray with the options they want.

One such customer is Ken Lingenfelter of Lingenfelter Performance Engineering. He picked up his new Stingray about three weeks ago after placing his order with Stanford Chevy months ago.

“It’s a winner,” Lingenfelter says of the new C7. “It’s got style, comfort, a lot of new electronics. The interior is much upgraded from what it was. The way it handles on the race track is very, very good. This is just an absolutely incredible car.”

His, by the way, is what he described as a “drop-dead gorgeous” cyber gray metallic Stingray with red interior.

When the final totals are in for the 2014 model next year, Stanford expects to have sold as many as 400 of the new Stingrays. Already, the dealer has sold 200-plus this year.

And, in a related note, apparently some folks don’t mind wearing last season’s fashions if they can get a good enough deal on them.

Stanford’s Montgomery says the 2013 Corvettes are also selling fast now, with discounts cutting the price of some cars by as much as $20,000.

“People have ordered ’14s and took the ’13s because there’s such a good deal on them,” Montgomery said.

Source:
Detroit News

October 11, 2013

2014 Corvette Stingray Not Included in GMâ€™s Military Discount Program

2014 Corvette Stingray Not Included in GM's Military Discount Program

GMâ€™s recently upgraded Military Discount Program gives our men and women in the Armed Forces incentives to buy many different kinds of vehicles from General Motors, including Chevrolet, Buick, and GMC.

But soldiers who have their hearts set on a 2014 Corvette Stingray are going to be disappointed because GM has decided to leave the new C7 out of the discount program thanks to its overwhelming popularity.

The program, however, does allow servicemen to just pay invoice for most other Chevy, Buick, or GMC vehicles. That could account for thousands in savings over the MSRP price. Furthermore, the discount can also be combined with existing dealer incentives, including bonus cash, consumer cash, and trade-in allowance.

â€œGM has long supported the military and military families, and we hope this simplified and enhanced discount will show our appreciation for their service and help make it easier for them to own one of our great new vehicles,â€ said Chuck Thomson, general manager of GM Retail Sales and Marketing Support.

The new GM program is open to Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, National Guard and Coast Guard, including active duty, reserve members and military retirees and their partners.

Our soldiers have to leave their families behind for long periods of time and risk their life and limb every day, so we appreciate GMâ€™s willingness to offer a nice discount to these brave men and women.

It would have been nice if the Stingray was included in that program, but with some ordinary Americans paying at least sticker price and in some cases thousands over MSRP because of the old supply-and-demand, we understand why GM had to make its decision.

Source:
GM Authority

October 9, 2013

Corvettes on Craigslist: Barn Find 1961 Corvette Fuelie

We’re not sure why these barn find Corvettes with psychedelic paint jobs are all of a sudden being found after years of storage, we’re just glad they are! After posting the 1965 Corvette Coupe from California yesterday that’s still available on ebay for $22K, we now have this Craigslist ad for a 1961 barn find Corvette Fuelie that was parked in 1984.

There’s not much info given in the ad, which seems to be the norm with craigslist. Here’s all it says:

This car was last driven and parked in 1984 in semisheltered storage and not driven since. Front clip appears to have never been hit, still very straight. This is an obvious “period car”. Call if interested and thanks for looking. 605-368-5188

Browsing through the photos, our first thought is that this would make a great candidate for a restomod. After all, it has no interior, a t-bar shifter (which makes us suspect the transmission may not be original either) and incorrect wheels. But if that fuel injected unit is correctly numbered, scratch the restomod idea and do a straight NCRS-worthy restoration.

Judging by the “barn” picture in the gallery, we think this 1961 Corvette is remarkably preserved.

The seller is asking $27,000 which is a very reasonable price for a mostly complete fuel injected 1962 Corvette. The car is located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and you can see the full ad Craigslist.

Source:
Craigslist via Hot Rod Magazine

October 4, 2013

Is the 2014 Corvette Stingray Killing Sales of the SRT Viper?

Photo Credit: Edmunds.com

Could it be that the new Corvette Stingray is already putting a major hurt on one of its competitors on the salesroom floor?

While customers may have to wait up to six months for the honor of putting the 2014 Corvette in their garage, they could head to their favorite SRT dealer right now and pick up a brand new Viper. In fact, some 565 of them are currently available across the nation.

SRT originally had planned to sell 2,000 of the new generation Viper, but sales have been so slow that production has just been cut by a third, and still there remains a 289-day supply (565 unsold cars) at dealers in the United States.

Meanwhile, Chevrolet’s assembly plant in Bowling Green, Ky., has already built 2,700 Stingrays, and the public is clamoring for more, many more.

A combination of factors could be causing the problem for the Viper. For instance, we found an ad on the Internet for a 2014 Viper GTS that lists for $136,080. To find out the actual sales price, which we hope is much lower, we would have had to give our name and phone number, and we didn’t really care enough to do that.

Not when the much more favorably reviewed Stingray starts out listing for just $51,995 and even loaded out just goes into the low to mid 70k range.

As Edmunds.com reported in a test between the 2014 Stingray and a 2013 Viper just a few weeks ago: “Because of its much lower price, manners that are easy to live with in daily use and still astonishing performance, the Corvette takes a narrow win here. It is the one car you can drive comfortably every day and still use to dominate a track day. Built around an impregnable structure, overstuffed with technology that actually improves the driving experience, and so easygoing you can commute in it with one finger on the wheel, it’s this year’s great leap forward for the entire breed of sports cars.”

In the last eight months, only 426 Vipers have been sold in the U.S. Automotive News reports that SRT CEO Ralph Gilles is still bullish on the Viper and believes that sales will pick up next spring. That remains to be seen with the Stingray showing such vibrant sales right now, with no end in sight.

Source:
Automotive News via InAutoNews.com