1988 Chevrolet Beretta and Corsica Promo – Parking Garage
Chevrolet offered more model lines than any other automobile manufacturer. With that in mind, did it need another nameplate? Well, apparently Chevrolet thought so since it not only launched one but two models earlier this year. Corsica shared its platform and powertrains with Chevy’s two-door Beretta, but the two shared little sheetmetal.
Chevrolet staked a big piece of its financial future on the Corsica and Beretta. Initial reactions to the sedan and coupe were acceptable, with the press considering them competent but not exciting. Public reaction was okay but not spectacular, with modes sales, except for the successful Beretta GT model. Fitted with a V-6 and 5-speed manual, the GT sold at five times the expected rate.
After getting off to a very slow sales start, Chevy’s compact Beretta coupe and Corsica sedan zoomed up the ’88 chart despite minimal changes. Corsica convinced over 291,000 shoppers, Beretta more than 275,000. A quality-focused approach to 1987 production partly explains these spectacular gains. As before, $1700-$2700 would option a Beretta into a GT model with extra convenience features and Z51 handling suspension, bringing maximum price with V-6 to about $13,500.
The cars continued to be ripe with promise for the family-type enthusiast, the kind who needed a back seat and a reasonable sticker price to rationalize a sport coupe purchase.
Sales for the 1988 model year totaled over 291,000, and though that “model year” lasted almost a year and a half, it was nonetheless an impressive debut showing. Perhaps the car’s styling and advertising were that persuasive.
Tim Allen Chooses Beretta over Cavalier and Camaro: 1987 Chevrolet Promo
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