This concept has been bugging me for a while and I was not sure if I could transpose it into something meaningful for the forum. I have made the assumption that the higher end models of the bigger manufacturers were produced in less quantity than their lower end products, but have never seen any data to backup this idea. Since I typically ride late 80's bikes, I am thinking about from Trek, Schwinn, Cannondale, etc.
To put numbers to a concept, if in one year Schwinn hypothetically made 2000 Worlds, 1800 World Sports, 1600 Travelers, 1400 Le Tours, 1200 Tempos, 1000 Super Sports and 500 Pelotons. Would this distribution of models make sense?

Your assumption is correct. This is true for most anything produced and is no different for bicycles. Trek certainly did this, and they have the production numbers charted that bears that reality out. The numbers shrink real fast right at the top.