Why did export models have magnesium wheels
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Pro
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From: N.Canton Ohio
Why did export models have magnesium wheels
as standard/required equipment?
found this info re different offset requirement for Euro/Export
All export cars were fitted with different offset, five-spoke, gold-colored magnesium rims from 1997 to 1999. Magnesium wheels were also offered as an option for cars built for the USA between 1998 and 2001.
found this info re different offset requirement for Euro/Export
All export cars were fitted with different offset, five-spoke, gold-colored magnesium rims from 1997 to 1999. Magnesium wheels were also offered as an option for cars built for the USA between 1998 and 2001.
Last edited by gtzy; Oct 5, 2010 at 12:30 AM.
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Not absolutely sure but the MSRP of a Euro model was way higher than a domestic C5 ($ for £ in the UK). My guess would be that US models were offered at a lower spec to get the price down to compete of the US domestic market. Car prices in Europe, and particularly in UK, are way higher than in the US. In the UK Corvette has to compete with premium European brands so wagon wheels wouldn't fit the image.
Racer
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From: Charleston SC
Not absolutely sure but the MSRP of a Euro model was way higher than a domestic C5 ($ for £ in the UK). My guess would be that US models were offered at a lower spec to get the price down to compete of the US domestic market. Car prices in Europe, and particularly in UK, are way higher than in the US. In the UK Corvette has to compete with premium European brands so wagon wheels wouldn't fit the image.
Racer
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From: Charleston SC
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didn't know that 
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The standard spec was spec B. The other options were Z51, and Metallic paint, CD changer.
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This is only my opinion but it is based on facts. When the "mag" wheel option first came out it cost $3000. I'm guessing that since they weren't that exciting looking and the cost, they weren't selling very well. They did save 8 lbs total for the whole set of 4 but they were also the same stock size. After a couple of years of not selling they suddenly lowered the price of the option to $800. Now if I had paid 3 grand the year before I think I would have been mighty p.o.'d. At $800 they still didn't sell well and I bet they had plenty left over, so they shipped them on the Euro cars to get rid of them.
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N73 Magnesium Wheel Option:
1998 - 1425 sold @ $3000
1999 - 2029 sold @ $3000
2000 - 2652 sold @ $2000
2001 - 1022 sold @ $2000
2002 - 114 sold @ $1500
2003 - 293 sold @ $1500
2004 - 1110 sold @ $995
(courtesy of Corvette Black Book)
1998 - 1425 sold @ $3000
1999 - 2029 sold @ $3000
2000 - 2652 sold @ $2000
2001 - 1022 sold @ $2000
2002 - 114 sold @ $1500
2003 - 293 sold @ $1500
2004 - 1110 sold @ $995
(courtesy of Corvette Black Book)
