Corvette Owner Demographics and Stereotypes
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Time to read 4 min
Most of today’s Corvette owners grew up wanting America’s favorite sports car. But when they finally saved enough money, their hair got gray, and they lost interest in driving fast or taking road trips in the Vette. Still, they bought the car they always promised themselves and now enjoy it on Sunday drives. You can see them cruising through suburbia at 35 mph, listening to a classic rock radio station and counting their days until retirement, unless they are already retired.
Corvettes are a bargain sports car with an impressive value for the buck. While they might be used as weekend track stars or just sunny day cruisers, Corvette owners are usually stereotyped as grumpy old guys who think they have the best car ever made.
Corvette Demographics
Income
The median annual household income of a Chevy Corvette C8 buyer is $76,000 higher than the equivalent figure for customers who bought the Corvette C7. This information was revealed by Steve Hill, North America Vice President, General Motors, during a call with the media attended by GM Authority.
"Corvette Owners Seek Power and Control, But Mostly Control"
Corvette Buyer Ages
Historically, the statistics and demographics for Corvette Owners pointed to an older crowd.
- The largest age group (12%) fell between the ages of 61 and 63.
- The next age group (10%) spanned over the ages of 49 to 60.
- Then individuals between 25 and 40 years old pulled up the rear (3%).
So am I missing something? That only adds up to 25%! The only thing I can conclude is I should've paid better attention in my statistics class.
More Stuff I Don't Believe
The U.S. Census Bureau reported in September 2020 that the median income for the country was $68,703 in 2019. The $76,000 difference between the two groups of Chevy Corvette buyers is therefore very significant and suggests that the mid-engine Corvette is attracting a whole new set of customers who are prepared to spend a lot more money.
We may continue to see Corvette ownership shift even further towards the younger demographic. This will likely be due to the aging baby boomer generation who will downsize over the next several years. As they continue to get older, they may pass on their cars to their children or sell them outright.
What Will I do with My Corvette?
Like the human body, I am going to let it deteriorate until it decides its “life” just isn't worth it anymore. Even now it acts like my wife, that is when I really need her to turn over, she acts like she's dead.
Perhaps a better analogy is when I am in a hurry to be somewhere with it, it “plays possum”. It stops in its tracks, sometimes in the middle of the road, loses fluid, and emits a foul odor
Where are the Corvette Buyers?
Geography also seems to play a part in Corvette ownership. Most Corvette owners live in the states of California, New York, Texas, and Florida. In fact, Florida ranked the highest in Corvette ownership in terms of total volume as well as per capita. Other popular Corvette states include Kentucky, Michigan, Tennessee, and South Carolina.
ster-e-o-type
noun
An often unfair and untrue belief that many people have about all people or things with a particular characteristic
- The way Corvette owners dress
- The way Corvette owners act
Corvette Owner Stereotypes
- 8 out of 10 times you will see the Corvette owner wearing a hat that does not fit them well.
- Corvette owners have small penis’ (or is that penii?)
- Corvette owners are rich guys with bad attitudes.
- Corvette owners wear jean shorts and New Balance tennis shoes. A white belt is optional (see above photo).
- Corvette owners wear Hawaiian shirts.(see above photo).
- Corvette owners are old men who want to fulfill their boyhood dreams.
- Corvette owners are men having a mid-life crisis who cannot afford a Ferrari or Porsche.
- Corvette owners wear gold chains.
What the Shrinks Say
Charles Kenny is a psychologist who has worked with major automakers to try to help them understand why consumers choose certain cars. As far as Corvette owners are concerned, he said the following:
“Corvette Owners Seek Power and Control, But Mostly Control”
"You will find that Corvette owners are more sensitive and refined than you would think. They're not into hoarding it over other people the way that the Hummer owners are".
“The Other Emotional Need That Can Be Fulfilled is a Desire For Immortality”
"They get real upset if the paint job gets scratched. That's very upsetting to a Corvette owner. They want these things to last forever, and they want to last forever," said Kenny. "They're never going to sell it. In fact, a lot of Corvette owners, when they buy a new Corvette, they keep the other one."
“About Other Muscle Cars”
"When Corvette owners are talking about other "muscle car" owners. They (Camaro and Firebird) and the Ford Mustang have been traditionally identified as the poor man's Corvette because of their cheaper price", but Kenny said it is more complicated than that:
"The difference is that people who own those muscle cars actually do have an impulse control problem," said Kenny. “Corvette owners have it under control. They do not get speeding tickets. They do not wreck their cars. But the Camaro and Firebird owners, those people are much more likely to be weaving in and out of traffic".
Kenny said many muscle car drivers ironically buy the cars to try and control their impulses. "But you can see that it doesn't work very well. They have impulses about drinking, sexuality, drugs, addiction, and serial marriages," said Kenny. (What?, Huh?)
In closing, being a Corvette owner, a Corvette car show goer, and a Corvette car club past president and member, I can unequivocally state that we can be a strange bunch. But we are held together like brothers-in-arms with the Corvette being the main tie that binds us all.
Now, I’d like to hear from you. Do you fit the mold of a typical Corvette owner or are you a Corvette fashion and attitude trendsetter? Either way, let me know by leaving a comment below right now.
Darrin Nepinsky
