Would Chevrolet lose its divisional hammerlock on America’s icon sports car, the Corvette? Yes, said sources. The car reportedly was being taken away from Chevrolet altogether for the 1988-89 season, and Chevrolet personnel were understandably outraged. The reason? GM brass were reaffirming Chevy’s place as the corporations cost-effective “entry-level” division, and Corvette’s high-content, high-priced nature was no longer compatible with that philosophy. The source said plans called for the high-image Corvette to become its own controlled “stand-alone” badge, able to be picked up and sold by any of GM’s divisions dealers. Evidently any except Chevrolet.
I recall this! The funny part is GM is still at this decades later!