Corvette Blog

CorvetteBlog's first 2008 Video of the Week is a montage of scenes from the National Corvette Museum.  Check it out below, we really enjoyed this one!

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This CorvetteBlog is a special treat, for it is written by another of the Completely Satisfied Corvette customers to buy through our parent company, George Matick Chevrolet, and also participate in the National Corvette Museum Delivery program.

The words of Bob and Kitty Parrin of Indiana when they took delivery of their new Crystal Red Metallic 2008 Corvette Convertible in October:

Back to the future.  That pretty much describes our trip to Bowling Green for the delivery of our 2008 C6 Convertible.

Yes, it felt like the 1960’s all the way around, but in 21st century style.  Back to a time when cars were fun and exciting.  Think Mini Coopers and mid-year Corvettes.  Cars of my dreams.  Fortunately automakers have given us modern versions of these classics.

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The National Corvette Museum reminded us Friday that tours of the Bowling Green Assembly Plant will begin again on Monday, following the two weeks of the GM shut-down.

It is highly recommended that Corvette enthusiasts travelling through the Bowling Green, Kentucky area avail themselves of tours of the Museum (Monday through Saturday) and the Assembly Plant (Monday through Friday).

[ Museum Story ]

[ Related Blogs ]

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Owners of Corvette Pace Cars are invited to participate in the 2007 Corvette Pace Car Reunion, September 27-29. Owners and participants will have the opportunity to meet and greet other pace car owners and share in the excitement of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, as well as the Museum itself!

Participants taking part in Indianapolis area activities will be able to tour the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, including the Victory Podium and Gasoline Alley garages, and ride around the 2.5 mile oval in their tour bus. Also included is a visit to the Hall of Fame Museum. A road tour caravan to Bowling Green will lead to the rest of the Pace Car Reunion!

The third day includes guided tours of the Museum, seminars in the Chevrolet Theater, a catered boxed lunch, and a memorable evening with National Corvette Museum Hall of Fame Member and retired GM executive Jim Perkins. Dinner in the Museum's Skydome followed by an exciting auction in the Chevrolet Theater is planned for all in attendance.

[ Corvette Museum ]

Posted By Bill Connell In Corvette Events , Corvette Museum , Corvette News | 4 Comments Permalink

AutoBlog posted a great article on the Corvette assembly plant today.  Great pictures of the Bowling Green Assembly Plant abound.

As we had reported earlier, the plant is just across the street from the National Corvette Museum.  I spent three hours or more at the museum late winter.  Throw in the assembly plant, and you've got an exciting full day of activity!

Related:

[ AutoBlog ]

[ Museum ]

[ Corvette Blog Museum Stories ]

[ Bowling Green Assembly Plant ]

[ Assembly Plant 25th Anniversary ]

Posted By Bill Connell In Corvette Events , Corvette Fun , Corvette Museum , Corvette Production | 0 Comments Permalink

The 2008 Corvette will be the best performing and most technologically advanced Corvette ever!  With the most new enhancements since the birth of the C6, America's finest sports car, the Corvette, moves yet another step forward in competing with the world's finest.

At the top of the list is the new LS3 Engine, tuned to 430hp and 424lb-ft of torque in standard form, with an upgrade available to 436hp and 428lb-ft of torque with the optional dual mode exhaust system.

According the announcement out of the National Corvette Museum on Friday, other enhancements include:

Posted By Bill Connell In Corvette Equipment , Corvette Museum , Corvette News | 1 Comments Permalink

The Bowling Green (Kentucky) Assembly Plant celebrated twenty five years of building Chevrolet Corvettes on June 1, 2006.

To highlight the occasion on that day, the Bowling Green Daily News published an elaborate keepsake edition.  Read it all at the Bowling Green Daily News.

Our thanks to General Manager Mark Van Patten of the newspaper for making this resource available!

Posted By Bill Connell In Corvette History , Corvette Museum | 0 Comments Permalink

As a follow-up to my “Corvette’s Turning Point” story a month ago: the success of the Corvette as refocused by Zora Arkus-Duntov created new challenges. Sales of the overhauled roadster soon skyrocketed, adding pressure to the already struggling St. Louis plant’s workforce.

Production had risen from the first year’s 300 (built that one year in Flint, Michigan) to 3,467 annual units in 1956, but no one could have predicted that what was generally considered to be a small niche vehicle would spell doom for the original St. Louis plant. Production in 1960 topped 10,000 units, a record later shattered by the 1963 mark of 21,500. They surpassed building 30,000 units by 1969, and eventually peaked at an incredible 53,807 Corvettes in 1979!

Posted By Bill Connell In Corvette History , Corvette Museum | 2 Comments Permalink

The National Corvette Museum announced today that they are looking for a classic 1963 Corvette convertible or split-window coupe to display for nine to twelve months.

As you may know, the displays at the museum are not static.  You will see an ever-changing collection of Corvettes on subsequent visits, because only about 5% of the vehicles displayed actually belong to the museum!

Details of the arrangement can be accessed at their website.

[ National Corvette Museum ]

Posted By Bill Connell In Classic Corvettes , Corvette Enthusiasts , Corvette Museum , Corvette News | 1 Comments Permalink

Corvette has been selected as the Indy 500 Pace Car a remarkable nine times.  This year's vehicle will be the fourth year in a row!  The Chevrolet brand has served a record eighteen times!  Chevrolet marketing moguls have frequently helped to immortalize this achievement by producing a limited number of replica Corvettes for the buying public to purchase and enjoy.

For example, large volume Chevy dealers currently have the opportunity of selling the 2007 Corvette Convertible Z51 Pace Car Replica in Atomic Orange.  500 units will be built.

The National Corvette Museum commemorates this achievement of Corvette by displaying a large number of these unique originals or replicas.

[ 2007 Pace Car Blog ]

Posted By Bill Connell In Classic Corvettes , Corvette History , Corvette Museum | 0 Comments Permalink

As I toured the National Corvette Museum, I discovered that Corvette has a relationship with world famous guitar manufacturers.

In a large showcase, I found both Gibson and Paul Reed Smith well represented with the presence of guitars designed to commemorate a relationship with the Chevrolet Corvette.

Not shown in the picture at the right is the new Ron Fellows Corvette Z06 Commemorative guitar from PRS, which was revealed at the Chicago Auto Show.

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Attentive visitors to the National Corvette Museum discover a direct connection from the museum to another organization entirely.  The story is simple, but often overlooked.

Many men from the National Corvette Restorers Society had possessed the dream that was fulfilled in 1994 when the museum opened.  Terry McManmom was the first to move on the dream way back in 1984.  At least four other individuals were also key in the creation of this fabulous facility: Ray Battaglini, Jon Brookmeyer, Dan Gale, and Darrel Bowlin.

Posted By Bill Connell In Classic Corvettes , Corvette History , Corvette Museum , Corvette Restoration | 13 Comments Permalink

A question Corvette fans love to answer is "what is a Corvette anyway?"  Sure, some people do not know that a "corvette" was a seaworthy vessel used during World War II.

To access a full history of this class of vessel, and to begin to understand why the car would be named after an efficient vessel that was fleet of foot, visit the encyclopedia.

Another great thing about the National Corvette Museum is that they have this remarkable model of a corvette.  It's not difficult to see how it inspired the name of our favorite sports car.

[ National Corvette Museum ]

Posted By Bill Connell In Corvette History , Corvette Museum | 0 Comments Permalink

The 2007 Callaway Corvette C16 has recently been in the news, but were you aware that older Callaway eye candy is available for viewing at the National Corvette Museum?

I think my favorite on my recent visit was this fabulous purple and silver 1995 ZR-1 Callaway ZR-LM Coupe.  Deriving 502hp from the 350 cubic inch engine and showing amazingly British good looks, this car was on loan from John Christenson.

Posted By Bill Connell In Classic Corvettes , Corvette Museum | 1 Comments Permalink

When 150,000 Corvette enthusiasts vist the National Corvette Museum every year, one of the treats they encounter is a special display in honor of Dale Earnhardt.

At the base of the spire (or "frustrum" as it is called by some) in the SkyDome, display cases present a wide range of items either which had been owned by Dale Earnhardt, or were created to honor him. 

This collection, which primarily came from Terry Neal Thomas of Kentucky, includes cereal boxes, mugs, knives, model cars, autographs, the tragic accident newspaper headlines, photographs, and many other items.  In addition, a smaller similar selection is dedicated to Dale, Jr.

Every Earnhardt fan will want to make a trek to see this amazing collection.

[ NCM ]

Posted By Bill Connell In Corvette Museum , Vacationing in a Corvette | 0 Comments Permalink

The National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky has a superb choice of events for Corvette enthusiasts this coming year.  Check out any of these great activities in western Kentucky:

The C5/C6 Birthday Bash is scheduled for April 26-28.

The ZR-1/C4 Gathering follows May 3-5.

The Cruise-In sponsored by www.corvetteforum.com will be May 24-26.

Posted By Bill Connell In Corvette Events , Corvette Museum | 0 Comments Permalink

Within a period of less than two years, the original Corvette, filled with promise as it was, was underperforming on the roads of America and in salesrooms across the country.  But then came "The Turning Point."

Russian born engineer and race driver Zora Arkus-Duntov appeared on the scene.  With a background in engineering at Allard, Porsche, and Daimler-Benz, and experience in V-8 engine development, Arkus-Duntov wrote a three passage internal GM memo to Maurice Olly elaborately titled "Thoughts Pertaining to Youth, Hot Rodders, and Chevrolet."

Posted By Bill Connell In Corvette History , Corvette Museum | 0 Comments Permalink

One of my many surprises when visiting the National Corvette Museum was the discovery of the NASA connection.  Not that there is necessarily a signed document of any kind between the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Museum.

One whole display room was dedicated to photographs of astronauts who have visted the Museum, the Cape Canaveral (now: Cape Kennedy) Corvette Club, and displays of patches and memorabilia.

Posted By Bill Connell In Celebrity Corvettes , Corvette Museum , Florida | 0 Comments Permalink

Those familiar with Corvette history are well aware that there was no 1983 Corvette.  The industry standard Corvette Black Book certainly shows no entry between the 1982 and 1984 Corvettes.

Imagine my amazement this past Saturday at the National Corvette Museum standing in front of a white 1983 Corvette! This unique Corvette is shown to the right.

The sign on the exhibit explains: "The planned 1983 Corvette brought forward some of the most far reaching design changes in Corvette's history.  Many changes included high-technology that had not been proven for automobile application....Although the technology was available, it had to be developed into the manufacturing process with the quality, reliability, and durability proven before production of saleable vehicles could begin.  The initial plan called for introduction of the newly designed 1983 in October 1982.  There were 43 pre-production models built (but) a decision was made to withhold production (for sale) until January 1983 and to serialize them as 1984 models.  The Corvette was named "Car of the Year" by Motor Trend Magazine in 1984."

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Friday morning found me heading south from Detroit through Cincinnati and Louisville for my first visit to the Holy Grail of the Corvette Lovin’ World, the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky.

As I pulled into the lot Saturday morning for a closer look, I found the exterior unpretentious except for the eye-catching orangey-red spike poking out the roof. Could this building really hold that many secrets? Was it worth the eight hard hours of driving? Was I in for a surprise!

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

Thus reads the Recommendation Form for potential honorees.

Posted By Bill Connell In Corvette History , Corvette Museum , Corvette News , Corvette Recognition | 0 Comments Permalink

Thanks to a helpful story on the “Latest News” tab at Corvette Action Center today, it was learned that the National Corvette Museum is selling parts on eBay to raise additional funds for the operation of the Museum.

In my visit to the eBay link, it appears that the majority of the parts are for Vettes, but there are goodies for some other GM products, too. Take a look!  For example, that replacement tail light assembly for your 1970-71 Corvette may be waiting there for you!

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The National Corvette Museum has just announced the availability of an extremely limited quantity of what they're calling the Green Machine. 

Only 111 diecast 2007 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 models in this unique edition will be made available per the Museum's recent announcement.  Get full details from the Museum.

Posted By Bill Connell In Corvette Fun , Corvette Museum | 0 Comments Permalink

The National Corvette Museum has begun a new raffle fundraiser. The prize this time is a 2007 Corvette Coupe in Atomic Orange Metallic.

Only 500 tickets will be sold! The $250 ticket price will be well worth it to one winner, who will take home a gorgeous new Vette. Amenities include: the top of the line 3LT package, Cashmere Leather, polished aluminum wheels and automatic transmission.

Details can be accessed at their website: The National Corvette Museum.

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In a move sure to please customers of George Matick Chevrolet in Redford, Michigan, General Manager Molly Williams announced today that everyone buying or leasing a new or pre-owned Corvette through the dealership may request that a donation of $200 be made in their name to the National Corvette Museum.

The Museum, of course, is in the process of raising millions of dollars for a significant addition to their facility in Bowling Green, Kentucky.

“We want to do our part to encourage Corvette enthusiasm,” Williams remarked.  This offer will be extended through December 31, 2006.

Corvettes purchased or leased can always be delivered to out-of-state residents or picked up at the Museum itself!

[ George Matick Chevrolet ]

Posted By Bill Connell In Corvette Museum , Corvette News | 0 Comments Permalink

If you’ve been reading our Corvette Blog for very long, you already know that the National Corvette Museum, in south-central Kentucky’s Bowling Green, announced recently that they are fund-raising currently for a major expansion.

The likelihood of that expansion increased dramatically last week when Ivan and Mary Shrodt of Sherwood, Wisconsin, donated $1.3 million, the largest gift in the museum's history.  Mr. Shrodt is a retired research director for Kimberly Clark Corporation.

According to a news story through the Associated Press, the money will go toward the planned $14 million expansion.  Museum director Wendell Strode stated that the project is scheduled for completion in the summer of 2009.

The Shrodt’s have no children, and have stated that they gave the money to the Bowling Green museum because of their affection for Corvettes.  "We looked at what we valued and what was important to us," said Ivan Shrodt, 60.

[ Detroit News ]

Posted By Bill Connell In Corvette Museum , Corvette News | 0 Comments Permalink

Looks like our favorite place to visit, the National Corvette Museum is expanding.  They plan an extra 50,000 square feet of Corvette madness!  Additions include a cafe, conference center, library, archives and additional delivery spaces for those Corvette buyers who want the full experience by picking their Corvette up at the Museum.

They produced a little video that highlights the expansion and more, check it out below for more information, or check out their website for more detailed pictures of the addition.  They are soliciting donations as well.  If you're interested in contributing to the addition fund, click here.

[ National Corvette Museum ]

Posted By Ryan In Corvette Museum , Corvette News | 0 Comments Permalink