- February 17
- Universal Pictures releases the film The 'Burbs in the USA. A gray 1984-89 Corvette Sport Coupe gets its driver side window shot out. [792]
- February
- Over the past two months, 33 production-quality 1989 model ZR-1 Corvettes were produced. [834.18]
- Chevrolet ships a special Corvette ZR-1 show car to the Geneva Auto Show in Switzerland. [131.29]
- (month unknown)
- A 1967 L88 Corvette sells for US$325,000. [572.16]
- March 7
- In Geneva, Switzerland, the Geneva international auto show is held, over eleven days. Chevrolet introduces the 1990 Corvette ZR-1 and LT5 engine. [94.42] [164.79] [443.30] [454.172] [522.50] [585.51] [716.51] [898.5]
- March
- March Motor Trend magazine presents its list of Top 10 Sports Cars of All Time (post-1945, open top, two-seat, limited price, production). Included is the 1989 Corvette. [657]
- In Montpelier, France, Chevrolet gives a press preview of the 1990 Corvette ZR-1. [164.79] [172.34] [231.69] [898.5]
- March 18
- At the Sebring International Raceway in Sebring, Florida, the 37th Running of the 12 Hours of Sebring International Grand Prix of Endurance is held. This is round 3 of the IMSA GTO championship series.
- Placing 9th in GTO class and 38th overall is the Thomas Sapp #44 Corvette driven by Tim Morgan, Marcus Opie, Peter Morgan, and Charles Bair. The car is not running at the finish due to electrical problems.
- Placing 11th in GTO class and 43rd overall is the Powell Equipment #2 Corvette driven by John Jones, Hunter Jones, and Richard Andison. The car is not running at the finish due to transmission failure.
[423]
- March 23
- Corvette platform manager Carlisle (Cardy) Davis presents the case for a US$250 million budget for a new model 1993 Corvette, at a Concept Initiation meeting in General Motors. The panel approves the plan. [137.58]
- (month unknown)
- In Mexico, the Panamerican Road Race (La Carrera Panamericana) is held, over ten days, covering 2000 miles. Steve Forristall and Jim Hurtubise participate in a 1955 Corvette. [660.72]
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- April 8
- The SCCA Corvette Challenge race series begins its second season, at the Dallas Grand Prix, in Texas. [19.95] (April 9 [29.26]) (Phoenix International Raceway in Arizona [29.26])
- April
- At Chevrolet, Scott Leon begins moving a 454-ci engine from the 1986 "Big Dog" test Corvette to a 1989 convertible with a six-speed manual transmission. [230.77]
- Car and Driver magazine features the Callaway Corvette on the front cover of the May issue. [715.1]
- April 19
- Chevrolet advises its dealers that the ZR-1 option would be postponed to the 1990 model year, due to development delays in producing engines. 84 test ZR-1 Corvettes have been built for testing. [148.90] [172] [453.140] [454.174] [488.70] [871.119]
- (month unknown)
- AMT/Ertl releases its 1989 Corvette ZR-1 1/25-scale model kit No. 6277. [157.70]
- Monogram releases its 1989 Corvette ZR-1 1/24-scale model kit No. 2785. [157.70]
- May
- Car and Driver magazine features the Corvette ZR-1 on the front cover of the June issue. [715.1]
- The June issue of Motor Trend magazine presents Flat Out Fastest American Cars II, the Sequel. Of ten cars, 1st is the Corvette ZR-1 at 181 MPH, 2nd is the Pontiac 20th Anniversary Trans-Am at 162 MPH, 3rd is the Corvette (L98) at 153 MPH. [659.42]
- General Motors postpones introduction of a redesigned Corvette from 1993 to 1994. [137.68]
- June 13
- Zora Arkus-Duntov sells his 1974 Corvette for a six-figure price to Les Bieri. [22.44]
- June 17
- At the Detroit Grand Prix auction, of Vintage Sports and Racing Cars, CERV I and CERV II are put up at auction. The CERV II is bid up to US$525,000, not high enough for the reserve of US$750,000 set by owners K.D. James and Steve Hendrickson. [14.8] [28.20]
- June 23
- Bloomington Gold / Corvettes USA is held over four days, with 30,000 attending. A 1967 with 435-hp 427-ci engine sells at auction for US$90,000. [167.44]
- (month unknown)
- Jack Boxstrom buys the No. 48 Corvette (1970?) raced by John Greenwood in the early 1970s. [214.30]
- Revell releases the 1/25-scale model kit of the Corvette Indy, based on the second Corvette Indy, the running prototype. [311.14]
- Chevrolet asks three engineering groups to investigate the possibility of creating a four-wheel drive production Corvette. [210.40]
- July 13
- MerCruiser begins production of LT5 engines for the Corvette ZR-1. [223.53] [454.172] (June [218.52])
- July
- General Motors management orders the next-generation Corvette introduction delayed from 1994 to 1995. [137.70]
- Chevrolet announces it is delaying introduction of the ZR-1 Corvette until the 1990 model year, in order to create a new interior design. [104.113]
- July 16
- In Cocoa Beach, Florida, a parade celebrates the 20th anniversary of the flight of Apollo 11 and man's first steps on the Moon. Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Edwin Aldrin ride in Corvettes in the parade. [758.A12]
- (month unknown)
- John Heinricy returns to Corvette Development Group, as manager. [127.13]
- Planning begins on the "C5", the next generation Corvette to follow the 1984+ model. [38.38]
- At the Watkins Glen International speedway, Chevrolet gives a media preview of 1990 models, including the ZR-1 Corvette. The ZR-1 is designated model 1YZ, with the regular Corvette designated 1YY. [173.72] [453.144]
- Ed Mueller sells his 1969 Corvette ZL-1 to Craig Priest. [283.20]
- August 7
- General Motors applies for a registered trademark for "ZR1". [146]
- August 12
- American music video station VH-1 starts taking entries in its Corvette sweepstakes. For a $2 call to a 1-900 number, the caller has a chance to win 36 Corvettes, one of each model year made. [20] [21] [24.28] [891.60]
- August
- General Motors' Advanced Concepts Center in California displays a full-size clay model of their Sting Ray III show car. [137.101]
- The Rick Mears edition Corvette ZR-1 debuts, introducing Competition Yellow paint. [24.11]
- At the Corvette Challenge race at Road Atlanta, Andy Pilgrim wins. [169.88]
- August 27
- The three-day Corvettes at Carlisle event completes, with attendance at 25,000, and about 2,000 Corvettes on display. [22.12]
- August 30
- Production of the 1990 ZR-1 begins, at Bowling Green, Kentucky. [12] [30] (mid-August [22.75])
- September
- At the Corvette Challenge race at Mid-Ohio, Boris Said III wins. [169.88]
- At the Corvette Challenge race at Road America, Shawn Hendricks of the Valley Chevrolet team wins. [169.88]
- At the Corvette Challenge race at Mosport Park, Peter Lockhart wins, in the Sony #11 Corvette. [169.89] [325.67]
- (month unknown)
- The December issue of Hot Rod magazine features the Best of Hot Rod of the 1980s decade.
- In Top Ten Hot Rods of 1989 is Reeves Callaway 1988 Sledgehammer Corvette (254.75mph).
- In Baddest Engine is the John Lingenfelter 980hp 358ci twin-turbocharged Chevrolet engine for the Reeves Callaway Sledgehammer Corvette.
- In Top Ten Cars of the Decade is the Rick Dyer 1959 Corvette (467ci engine).
- In Baddest Hot Rods is the Callaway & Lingenfelter 1988 Sledgehammer Corvette (1012hp, 254.76mph).
- In Most Awesome Race Cars is the Juris Mindenberg A/Grand Touring Sports Corvette (270mph).
[918.5]
- October 11
- The VH-1 Corvette sweepstakes closes. 2.2 million entries were received during the contest. [21] [24.29]
- October 13
- At the Road Atlanta raceway in Braselton, Georgia, the Valvoline Runoffs final races of the SCCA Club Racing series are held, over three days. Finishing 1st in GT-1 class is Morris Clement Jr. driving a Corvette. [261.101] [394.4,9] [446.34] [665.43]
- October 14
- Eckler's Corvette Parts holds its 10th anniversary open house, with over 3,000 attending. [24.20]
- October
- The November issue of Motor Trend magazine presents its Bang for the Buck! article.
- By performance points: 1st is Pontiac 20th Anniversary Trans-Am with 97.67 points, 2nd is Corvette with 97.18 points.
- Corvette ranks first in two tests, second in two tests, and third in two tests.
- When price is considered, in the Bang for the Buck list, Corvette is 17th place.
- Top 10 New Car Buys, Domestic 2-Seat Sports Car: 1st is Corvette.
- Top 10 Cars of the '80s includes Corvette.
[664.41]
- October 16
- A drawing is held by music video station VH-1, giving away 36 Corvettes, one from each model year. 1.4 million $2 phone call entries were made, generating $2.8 million revenue. Dennis Amodeo is the winner. [23.11] [891.60] (October 15 [21])
- October
- At General Motors' annual executive conference in Traverse City, Michigan, General Motors president Robert Stempel announces "The Corvette development program is now on indefinite status". [137.71]
- A Corvette Museum Task Force meets for the first time, in Bowling Green, Kentucky. [27.41]
- SCCA officials announce an end to the Corvette Challenge races. [23.95]
- October 26
- The National Broadcasting Company airs the Cheers TV show in the USA. A mechanic refers to a fuel line blockage. Another person says "Oh my God, it's the Corvette.". Later, in interviewing potential buyers for his Corvette, the seller is shocked that the buyer would drive the car in the sun at noon. [739]
- October 28
- The final 1989 SCCA Corvette Challenge race is run, in St. Petersburg, Florida at the St. Petersburg Grand Prix circuit. Finishing 1st is the Texas American Racing Team Corvette driven by Scott Lagasse. Bill Cooper of the Valley Chevrolet team wins the series. [24.104] [29.27] [169.89] [453.219]
- At the last Corvette Challenge race in St. Petersburg, Florida, Chip Miller buys the last one built, a black backup car, from John Powell. The car has 100 miles on the odometer. [811.47]
- November
- Earl K. Werner is hired as Corvette platform vehicle and assembly chief, a new position unique within General Motors. [283.28]
- (month unknown)
- John Heinricy wins the SCCA Escort Endurance SSGT championship in a Morrison Racing Corvette. [231.36]
- The Franklin Mint begins a series of 1/24 scale die-cast metal Corvette models, beginning with the 1953 Corvette. [232.14]
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