While Improvements are made, the 1991 Corvette saw less than Desirable Results
The 1991 Corvette was riding high on the fact that the 1990 Corvette ZR-1 was tops in the sports car world both here in the states and overseas as well and hoped to ride another amazing year on the coat tails of the super Vette for an overall increase in production. But that was not to be as the best of the best came down a peg or two and sales of the mighty sportster would suffer as a result.
The outside of the 1991 Corvette was changed for the better and the changes were easily picked up by many enthusiasts. For the 1991 year the Corvette changed up most notably its nose by making it slimmer. The nose featured wrap around parking, cornering, and fog lights and the bodyside moldings were made wider and were now colored according to the Vette’s body. The wheels also received a full makeover for a sportier overall look. The back section of the 1991 Vette saw it get squared off tail lights just as the ZR-1 had which disappointed those who wanted the 1991 Corvette ZR-1 to look unique.
Inside the most easily recognizable feature to change on the 1991 Corvette wasn’t a change at all but rather an addition. The 1991 Corvette featured a power delay, which was new for the year, on the audio system that would allow the radio to stay on for an extra 15 minutes even after the ignition key was cut off. With the new technology, the radio would play up to 15 minutes or until the driver opened their door.
GM was successful at combining the previous Z51 handling package with the FX3 selective ride for a new handling package dubbed the RPO Z07. This new package included heavy duty suspension upgrades and offered the driver a choice between firm and very firm in regards to the ride as opposed to previous packages that allowed drivers to choose between soft and firm.
However the disappointment of the 1991 Corvette year was that of the ZR-1. It looked too much like the regular Corvette for anyone to say that it was worth the astronomical amount of money needed to claim one of these rockets. Even though the car was worth every cent, buyers didn’t see it that way and were less impressed with its power than the previous year’s buyers were. And at an additional cost of almost $32,000 to add the ZR-1 package who could blame the buyers for not jumping at the opportunity to own one of these special Vettes?
While the ZR-1 sold for well above what the invoice said just one year earlier, in 1991 Chevy was having a problem finding buyers. The total sales for the ZR-1 in 1991 fell to 2,044 units which was about a third of what they sold in their first year. The bleeding wouldn’t stop there as the 90s continued their early year decline and total sales for the 1991 Corvette fell to only 20,639 units making the Chevy Corvette 0 for 2 in the 1990s. While brighter days were on the horizon for the 1991 Vette things couldn’t have looked bleaker.
