When will my mid-engine Corvette actually arrive?

GM’s high-profile launch of the long-awaited mid-engine Corvette was a roaring success, resulting in a ton of positive press (and a whole lot of pre-orders). Fear not, C8 hopefuls, we have an inside track on pertinent dates related to 2020 Corvette deliveries. While GM has thus far done a lackluster job answering our probing questions on this subject, it has kept Chevy dealers informed.  Here’s the most trustworthy timeline info we’ve gathered tapping the inevitable factory-to-dealer leakage:

July 1, 2019:  Barrett-Jackson auctioned the last-ever C7 Corvette, a black Z06 coupe, to Daniel Snyder for $2.7 million, with proceeds going to the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation for the benefit of emergency responders killed or injured responding to the 9/11 terrorism event.

July 18:  GM execs including chairwoman and CEO Mary T. Barra hosted 1300 journalists, Corvette owners, and ne’er-do-wells to unveil the C8 at a Tustin, California, dirigible hangar.

July 24: Quick order info released.

August 15:  Factory pricing released.

September 5:  Chevy dealers informed of their Corvette allocations.

September 12: “Run, Pass” constraints defined by the factory (what trim levels and equipment are available for ordering). GM begins accepting orders of cars for the first two weeks of production with 2LT or 3LT trim and Arctic White, Black, Torch Red, Shadow Gray, Sebring Orange, or Ceramic Matrix Gray paint.

Week of September 23:  Final C7 will be manufactured at Bowling Green, Kentucky, assembly plant.

October:  Orders accepted for C8s painted Elkhart Lake Blue and Long Beach Red. Production allocated for weeks 3-5.

November: Orders accepted for Corvettes with 1LT trim for weeks 6-9 of production; Blade Silver, Zeus Bronze, and Accelerate Yellow added to available color palette.

December 2:   C8 manufacturing will commence. All 12 exterior colors will be available for ordering. Some LPO (limited production option) equipment will be shipped directly to dealers for installation. 

January 6, 2020:   Manufacturing resumes following GM’s two-week holiday break.

Mid-January:  Early production 2020 Corvettes held in impound for retrofit of updated parts begin leaving Bowling Green, Kentucky, for shipment to dealers.

February-March:  2020 model year price adjustments are likely.

September:   End of 2020 model year.

There you have it. By the looks of it, even the earliest orders (like mine) won’t be delivered until February. Like all well-laid plans, the ones listed here are subject to change (read: delays). For those impatiently waiting for their 2020 C8 to arrive, Chevy dealers are well stocked with tide-me-over C7 Corvettes.