Last C6 Corvette Rolls off GM Bowling Green Assembly Plant Line

Today, Thursday, February 28, 2013 at 8:04 a.m., the last 2013 Corvette came off the line at the Bowling Green Assembly Plant. The celebration was short lived, as less than 30 minutes after the last car was built, workers began remodeling the plant to prepare for the launch of the all-new 2014 Corvette Stingray.

A total of 215,100 sixth-generation "C6" Corvettes were made at Bowling Green since production began in 2005, the last of which was the exclusive 2013 Corvette 427 Convertible Collector Edition outfitted with the 60th Anniversary design package. This package boasts an Arctic White exterior and a Blue Diamond leather-wrapped interior with suede-microfiber accents.

At the heart of the 427 Convertible is the 7.0-liter (427 ci) LS7 aluminum-block V8, which is handcrafted by skilled engine craftsmen at the GM Performance Build Center. For the LS7 destined for the last C6 produced, the engine was built by Corvette executive chief engineer Tadge Juechter.

The last C6 Corvette will join other historic General Motors vehicles at the GM Heritage Center in Warren, Mich.

“Leading up to the production of the last C6 has been all business,” said Bowling Green plant manager Dave Tatman. “We take our job seriously and consider it the privilege that it is. But you can’t do what we do and not get emotionally attached to the car.”

Even as the team celebrated building the last C6, Tatman said there has been a great deal of anticipation and excitement toward building the all-new Stingray.

“The last C6 rolls off the line at 8:04 a.m. and I’ll have people in here at 8:30 a.m. to start tearing down and putting in new tools,” Tatman said.

The task will require that 120 workers take just four weeks to turn the Bowling Green plant around, completing a job that usually takes months to accomplish. All employees are slated to return to work on March 25, where they will learn the entirely new process required to build the Stingray.

Bowling Green Assembly, which hosts up to 50,000 visitors a year, is currently closed to the public to facilitate the remodeling of the line. Tatman said he plans to reopen the plant to outside tours as soon as possible, knowing that everyone is excited to see this new generation of Corvette built.

“As I always say, we don’t build cars, we build dreams,” Tatman said.

View more images of this historic moment on our Picasa Web Album online here. 

Plans Cruising Forward for NCM Motorsports Park

National Corvette Museum making exciting progress with Motorsports Park Project

Driven by the success of its various expansions and upgrades over the years, the National Corvette Museum is now hard at work on a project that will complete the Museum experience: a Motorsports Park. Exciting progress has been made recently including the approval of the final track design as well as the beginning of the geotechnical engineering on the site.

The Park’s official groundbreaking event is scheduled for Friday, June 28, 2013, during the Museum’s Corvette 60th Anniversary Celebration.  The Grand Opening of the Motorsports Park is planned for Labor Day weekend 2014, in conjunction with the Museum’s 20th Anniversary and the 5th National Corvette Caravan.

Plans for the Park are moving forward successfully. The track designer, Steve Crawford and civil engineering firm, DDS Engineering, are currently preparing construction bid documents, with a goal of completing that process by May of 2013.

“Good things are happening with more exciting developments on the way, but as always, we can’t do it without the help of our supporters,” said Wendell Strode, NCM Executive Director.  “We are especially thankful for those who have joined the One Acre Club and want to encourage others who are capable of helping us to do so.” The One Acre Club is a program for individuals or groups to assist the NCM in funding the Motorsports Park.

The Museum is currently working toward a goal of raising $1 million by June 1.  While construction on the autocross/skid pad area will begin this summer, construction of the west track as part of the initial development will require additional funding.  “We are ready to move forward with the project, but at what level will be determined by support received from enthusiasts and sponsorships,” said Strode.  “The support thus far is great, but we still need help to make it happen.”

The Museum survives on the generosity of its supporters, and the Motorsports Park is no different.  Each acre purchased sends a powerful message to potential sponsors of how committed Corvette enthusiasts are to making this project happen.  The National Corvette Museum is a 501(c)(3) non-profit educational foundation and is the largest car museum in the world dedicated to a single model.  The planned Motorsports Park will have over one mile of frontage on Interstate 65, the third most traveled north-south Interstate in the eastern United States.  For more information visit www.motorsportspark.org, 'Like' the Motorsports Park page on Facebook, or call 800-53-VETTE (83883).

Corvette Stingray Convertible to Debut at Geneva

The 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray convertible will make its world debut on March 5 at the Geneva Motor Show.

"It's fitting to introduce the new Stingray convertible on the global stage at Geneva because Corvette is the face of Chevrolet the world over," said Susan Docherty, president and managing director of Chevrolet and Cadillac Europe. "It is an icon that has long been recognized and admired even in countries where it's never officially been offered."

There are Corvette owner and enthusiast clubs in more than 100 countries, and 58 percent of the 1.1 million fans who “Like” Corvette's official Facebook page reside outside the United States.
The Corvette Stingray convertible will deliver the same balance of technology, design and performance introduced on the coupe in January in Detroit.

"Every Corvette is designed at the outset as an open car," said Tadge Juechter, Corvette chief engineer. "The new Stingray is no different, with the coupe and convertible designed to excel in any situation – be it your daily commute, a drive across the continent, or charging through twisting back roads."

Attendees at the Museum's NCM Bash April 25-27 will have the opportunity to see both the coupe and convertible 2014 Stingray up close, and hear from members of the Chevrolet team responsible for the new design.  "Our annual Bash event is a unique opportunity for Corvette and auto enthusiasts to attend seminars with presentations by the engineers and designers of the Corvette as to what's new and different with the car," said NCM Events Manager Roc Linkov.  "Tadge, Kirk Bennion, Harlan Charles, Craig Sass and many others lead a 'walk around' of the car where they talk about each feature and answer questions."

The Bash event is also a great opportunity for autographs from the Corvette elite, road tours, a seminar with members of the Corvette Racing team, car show and much more.  Registration is now open and the complete agenda is available online at: http://www.corvettemuseum.org/registration/bash/info.shtml.

Chevrolet will auction the first retail production model of the Corvette Stingray convertible at the Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach collector car auction to benefit the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute.

Karmanos, based in southeast Michigan, is a unique, urban-based integrated center of research, patient care and education, dedicated to the prevention, early detection, treatment and eventual eradication of cancer.

The Barrett-Jackson will be held April 4-6 at the South Florida Fairgrounds in Palm Beach, Fla. Bids can be submitted in person at the auction or online at www.barrett-jackson.com.

In January, the first retail production model of the 2014 Corvette Stingray – with the Vehicle Identification Number ending in 0001 – sold at the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale collector car auction for $1.05 million to Rick Hendrick, chairman of Hendrick Automotive Group and owner of NASCAR’s Hendrick Motorsports. Proceeds from that sale benefitted the College for Creative Studies in Detroit.

Super Bowl XLVII MVP Takes Home Chevrolet Corvette Stingray

Baltimore Ravens Quarterback Joe Flacco is presented with a 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Monday, February 4, 2013 for being named Super Bowl XLVII MVP in New Orleans, Louisiana. Flacco lead his team to a 34-31 victory over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday. Chevrolet is the official sponsor of the Super Bowl XLVII MVP Award. (Photo by AJ Mast for Chevrolet)

Presented by local Chevrolet dealer who rebounded after Hurricane Katrina


The honor of awarding the Super Bowl XLVII MVP Award was given to Rick Flick of New Orleans’ Banner Chevrolet, who knows a thing or two about comebacks. Banner Chevrolet, a part of Flick’s family for 40 years, was wiped out by Hurricane Katrina and was the first business to reopen in New Orleans East after the devastating 2005 storm. On behalf of Chevrolet, the official sponsor of the Super Bowl XLVII MVP Award, Flick presented quarterback Joe Flacco with a 2014 Corvette Stingray (manufactured at the world's only GM Corvette Assembly Plant in Bowling Green, KY) on Monday in recognition of his effort in leading the Baltimore Ravens’ to a 34-31 win over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday night.

Adding yet another tie to Bowling Green, the Ravens are coached by John Harbaugh, who's father Jack was coach for the Western Kentucky University football team from 1989-2002.

“Banner Chevrolet and the entire city of New Orleans have been through so much since the storm, we felt this was a small gesture to bring the comeback story full circle,” said Alan Batey, GM vice president of U.S. Sales, Service and Marketing. “With the Super Bowl in his backyard, we couldn’t think of a better guy to have the honor of awarding the MVP with his Corvette Stingray.”

Banner Chevrolet was of the largest losses ever recorded for a dealership in the United States and recently completed a massive multimillion-dollar renovation with state-of-the-art technology. Banner is the only Chevrolet dealer in Orleans Parrish.

“We lost our entire inventory of 650 new Chevrolets and 120 pre-owned vehicles during Katrina,” Flick said. “I’m happy we are still a vital part of this community today and I can be here to represent the people of Chevrolet and its dealerships as we celebrate the Super Bowl MVP.”

The Super Bowl MVP receives the Pete Rozelle Trophy, a silver trophy made by Tiffany & Co., and the Corvette Stingray.

The 2014 Corvette Stingray is the most powerful standard model ever, with an estimated 450 horsepower (335 kW) and 450 lb.-ft. of torque (610 Nm). It is also the most capable standard model ever, able to accelerate from 0-60 in less than four seconds and achieve more than 1g in cornering grip. It is expected to be the most fuel-efficient Corvette, exceeding the EPA-estimated 26 mpg of the current model. 

All new Corvettes come with a complimentary trial membership to the National Corvette Museum.  Hey, Joe... why not plan a visit to the home of America's Sports Car during the off-season?

GM Performance Build Center Relocating to Bowling Green, KY

The GM Bowling Green Assembly Plant held a press conference today, announcing that the Performance Build Center, currently located at the Wixom, MI facility, will move to the GM Chevrolet Corvette Assembly Plant by the first quarter of 2014.  The current PBC employs 29, and builds engines for the Grand Sport Coupe manual, Z06, 427 Convertible and Corvette ZR1.  3,376 engines were each built by hand at the factory during the 2011 calendar year, and each engine bears the name of the person who built it.

"I'm very happy to announce today that GM will move its Performance Build Center, which allows engine enthusiasts to build their own specialty engines, from Michigan, and we're going to bring it right here to Bowling Green" said Arvin Jones, Manufacturing Manager for GM North America.

A program was first rolled out for the 2011 Corvette Z06 and ZR1 where car buyers had the option to pay $5,800 to participate in hand-assembling their engine.  For the 2013 model year the program was available for the Grand Sport Coupe (with manual transmission), 427 Convertible, Z06 and ZR1.  With the guidance of the world-class craftsmen who assemble these engines every day, buyers can enjoy an experience of a lifetime.  The program, known as the Corvette Engine Build Experience, is believed to be the first of its kind, offering another level of customer involvement to the new car buying process and strengthening Chevrolet's ties to its most loyal customers. 

“Corvette owners are some of the most passionate – and most involved – enthusiasts in the industry,” said Jim Campbell, U.S. vice president, Chevrolet marketing. “The Corvette Engine Build Experience offers customers an unprecedented opportunity to participate, hands on, in creating the car.”

A whole one-day process, it is supervised by the Build Center's skilled craftsmen, and all engines are tested and certified - plus receive a full warranty - before leaving the facility.  Participants receive a flash drive documenting their experience, and their photo is placed on a wall near the entrance to the production floor.  Additionally, the owner has their name affixed on a special plate next to the one bearing the name of the master builder.

With the Performance Build Center relocating to Bowling Green, there is the opportunity for the National Corvette Museum to become involved with the Engine Build Experience and further expand the offerings of the Museum Delivery Program.

"We’ve got lots of excitement headed our way." said GM Bowling Green Assembly Plant Manager Dave Tatman.  "We intend to make the full transition to the Performance Build Center by the first quarter of 2014. Lots of details have got to be worked out yet, but obviously we wanted to share that great news with you.  As you think about this, I know Wendell, that you and your team are jumping up and down thinking about [how] we can continue to combine our efforts between the National Corvette Museum and the Bowling Green Assembly Plant and this new opportunity, and we look forward to those discussions as well.

This program would join other programs currently offered by the Museum, including VIP Corvette Plant Tours, Corvette Photo Albums documenting the build of an individual's car, Corvette Buyer's Tour where you can watch your car being built and R8C Delivery where your pickup your new Corvette at the Museum and receive VIP tours of the Plant and Museum.

View a video clip of the announcement on our You Tube here.

Exhibit “Makes Cents” at the National Corvette Museum

Money isn’t just about dollars and cents.

The ancient Aztecs used chocolate for money, and Yap islanders used 500-lb. stones! So what is money and how does it work?  PNC Bank presents Moneyville, a special hands-on exhibit at the National Corvette Museum offering a tour of money’s many forms and functions with a lesson on how it has changed dramatically throughout history.

Guests at the Museum will see samples of currency from pounds to pesos, have the opportunity to put their face on a million dollar bill, play the stock market and even run a lemonade stand.  Moneyville, on loan from the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, uses the fascinating subject of money to build math skills and economic expertise in a fun, immersive setting.  The colorful city includes a PNC Bank, store, anti-counterfeiting lab, stock market and international port.

Create your own “money,” explore anti-counterfeiting measures and see what a million dollars looks like.  Throughout the exhibit, discover how money is made, spent, earned and saved, and how it connects people around the world.  Explore the history, science and culture behind coins and currency and start to see money in a whole new way.

A recent study by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics reveals that many students are not learning the math they need in school.  That’s where Moneyville comes in.  “This exhibit makes learning cool,” said NCM Education Coordinator Kellie Steen.  “Whiz-bang computer games, a multitude of video screens, and eye-popping graphics engage kids (and adults) in a variety of hands-on activities that show them that using math is fun.”  The temporary exhibit joins the Museum’s existing hands-on educational displays, including the interactive driving simulators and new KidZone.  “Visitors to the Museum will get to see our 70+ Corvettes on display; spend time in our KidZone with Pat’s Super Service Center, assembly line and drive-in movie; and take our simulators out for a test drive in addition to this special exhibit.  It’s like two Museums in one,” Steen added.

In addition to the exhibit sponsorship, PNC Bank is providing a number of educational opportunities for children and adults, offering seminars and workshops on a variety of financial literacy topics.  “According to a report by the Consumer Federation of America, the average U.S. family is spending more than $1,000 per year in interest and fees,” said Museum Marketing Manager Katie Frassinelli.  “Everyone stands to gain from learning how to be more money-savvy, and we are excited about the financial literacy seminars PNC Bank will be offering at the Museum.  They will be sharing great money-management tips for our visitors.”  A Moneyville Camp for kids is also planned for March 7-8.

PNC Bank founded the Grow Up Great program, helping to prepare children from birth to age five for success in school and life.  As part of the program they partnered with Sesame Workshop to create Math On-The-Go! Cards, offering fun ways for children and their parents to explore math in their everyday routines.  These bi-lingual cards are incorporated into the Moneyville exhibit, and children have the opportunity to take some home from the exhibit.  The cards can also be downloaded from their website at: http://www.pncgrowupgreat.com/parents_caregivers/happy_healthy_ready_for_school.html

The National Corvette Museum is open seven days a week, 8am-5pm Central Time. Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors 65 and over, $5 for youth age 6-16, and children age 5 and under are free.  The Museum also offers family admission for $25 for everyone in a household.  PNC Bank customers receive special pricing when showing a bank card or other proof.  Group rates are also available with advanced reservations.  For more information, visit www.corvettemuseum.org or call 270-781-7973.  To get the latest information on exhibits, upcoming events, camps and more – sign up to receive our Community Events & Activities email on our website.

MONEYVILLE was produced and is toured by the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry.  The exhibit was made possibly with funds provided by the National Science Foundation.  MONEYOPOLIS is a registered trademark of Ernst & Young. The MONEYVILLE trademark is used under license.

2013 Corvette Hall of Fame Inductees Announced

The National Corvette Museum has announced the following inductees to be recognized as part of the 16th Annual Corvette Hall of Fame Ceremony in 2013:  Wil Cooksey in the category of GM/Chevrolet; Werner Meier in the category of Corvette enthusiast/historian; and Johnny O’Connell, in the category of racing will all be recognized with the highest honor bestowed by the Museum for their contributions to the past, present and future of Corvette.

The 2013 Hall of Fame recipients will be inducted into the Corvette Hall of Fame during a ceremony and banquet on Thursday, August 29, 2013. Their induction will take place as part of the Museum’s 19^th Anniversary Corvette Celebration festivities August 29-31, 2013.

Corvette Hall of Fame Inductee Wil Cooksey’s career with General Motors is the epitome of achievement beginning with his first job as an assistant professor in industrial engineering at GMI in Flint, MI in 1972.  In 1976 he transferred to the St. Louis plant where he held several positions before being transferred to the Doraville plant in Atlanta.  After working at various superintendent positions at Doraville he was named the production manager at the Fairfax plant in Kansas. 

Cooksey’s connection to Corvette began in February 1993 when he assumed the role as the Plant Manager at the General Motors Bowling Green Assembly Plant, responsible for the production of Corvettes and later the Cadillac XLRs.  He held that role for 15 years – the longest serving Plant Manager to date - before retiring in March 2008.  While at the Plant, Cooksey not only served on the Board of Directors for the National Corvette Museum (1994-2011) and Board Chairman (2008 and 2009), but he was also responsible for helping to get started many of the Delivery Department programs the Museum still offers today including R8C, Xperience, Buyers’ Tours and more.  Cooksey was much more than a Plant Manager, going the extra mile to get to know the customers, traveling to car shows, enhancing the plant tour experience by encouraging employee interaction with guests and being very Corvette enthusiast and owner focused.

Cooksey has received numerous accolades and awards including “Black Engineer of the Year President’s Award” in 1997, “Achiever of the Year” from Austin Peay University, was featured on the cover of African-American on Wheels magazine when they named Corvette the “Best Urban Car of the Year”, “Black Achiever in the Industry” by the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and the “Lee Iacocca Award” in 2010.

Corvette Hall of Fame Inductee Werner Meier became involved in the hobby in 1969 when he purchased his first Corvette – a brand new 1969 on his 18^th birthday.   That same year he began participation in the Corvette Club of Michigan, but wasn’t able to officially join until 1972 when he turned 21.  A graduate of the General Motors Institute, he worked at GM as a manufacturing engineer, service engineer and Engineering Group Manager over a 33 year career, but it is his side hobby of Corvette restoration and collection that has garnered notoriety.  Meier has owned, restored and/or serviced over 100 Corvettes, many of them very rare or unique including a 1958 “Fancy Free” styling car, 1963 Corvette styling car built for Harley Earl and 1964 Bill Mitchell styling car with one piece door glass.

Meier has provided vehicles from his personal collection to various Museums for display including the GM Heritage Center, Gilmore Car Museum and National Corvette Museum.  He has also organized exclusive Corvette displays at events such as the Meadowbrook Concours d’Elegance, Bay Harbor Concours d’Elegance and Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance.  With preservation and restoration being two of his many Corvette passions, Meier has been a member of the National Corvette Restorers Society since 1983 and serves as an annual Tech Seminar host.  He also was an inaugural member of the Bloomington Gold Corvette Hall of Fame in 1998 and has been a Special Collection exhibitor eight times.  As a Lifetime Member of the National Corvette Museum, Meier has loaned his 1963 “Bunkie Knudsen” Corvette and 1958 “Fancy Free” Corvette for exhibit at the Museum, in addition to providing on-going advice and ideas on improving displays and exhibits at the Museum.

Corvette Hall of Fame Inductee Johnny O’Connell is hailed as the most successful GM factory racecar driver from the U.S.  O’Connell’s racing career began in 1987 in the Formula Atlantic series where he won five races en route to the championship and was named Rookie of the Year.  In 1993 he scored a class victory at the 12 Hours of Sebring, an overall win in 1994 and another class victory in 1995.  He also won his class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1994, which was also his first time competing in the prestigious endurance race.

O’Connell joined the factory Corvette Racing team in 2001, scoring the team’s first overall victory at the 24 Hours of Daytona in the Corvette C5.R, followed by the team’s first 24 Hours of Le Mans class victory in 2001. Since then he has helped GM’s factory team capture eight straight manufacturers’ titles and achieving seven class wins in the 12 Hours of Sebring, more than any other driver.  In 2008, O’Connell and teammate Jan Magnussen dominated the GT1 class, scoring eight wins en route to the class championship.  O’Connell notched his record-setting eighth Sebring win in the season opening race in 2009, and then became the first American to score four class wins in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.  He made a seamless transition to the GT2 class, finishing as runner-up in the competition debut of the GT2 Corvette C6.R at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and scoring Corvette Racing’s first GT2 win at Mosport in his record-setting 100^th career ALMS start.  At the conclusion of the 2009 season, O'Connell held numerous ALMS records, including the most career starts (102), most podium finishes (80), most top-five finishes (93) and most top-10 finishes (100). After ten years with Corvette, O’Connell joined Team Cadillac in 2011, competing in the SCCA World Challenge GT alongside former Corvette Racing teammate Andy Pilgrim where they still race today.  In 2012 O’Connell was inducted into the Sebring Hall of Fame and joined Bondurant School of High Performance Driving as their ZR1 expert instructor, also serving as the school’s VP of Global Operations.  He also now adds insight and excitement to the ALMS racing as a commentator for ABC, ESPN and Speed.

The National Corvette Museum established the Corvette Hall of Fame in 1998 to confer the highest honor and recognition upon the most influential individuals in the history of the Corvette. The award recognizes those who have made significant contributions to their respective fields, each having reached the highest level of accomplishment. Inductees must also reflect the highest standards of integrity and character to positively enhance the prestige of the Corvette and the National Corvette Museum.

Additional information on reserving a spot at the prestigious Corvette Hall of Fame banquet will be available in the coming months via our website at: www.corvettemuseum.org or can be obtained by subscribing to our weekly eNewsletter “NCM eNews” at: www.corvettemuseum.org/ncmenews/.  Corporate tables are available for the dinner and can be reserved by contacting Karen Renfrow in the Events Department at 270-467-8804 or email karen@corvettemuseum.org.

The National Corvette Museum is a member-driven, non-profit foundation dedicated to educating the public through the preservation of the Corvette’s past, present and future heritage. Open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT, the Museum is located at Exit 28 off I-65 in Bowling Green, KY.