jcloving

I just got back from a trip to Bowling Green with they guys from the Country Corvette Club. We left on Sunday, toured the assembly plant Monday morning and the Corvette Museum in the afternoon. It was a fast trip and a good chance to put some miles on the cars. Only two C3s went, the rest were C5s, C6s and one lone C4.

I blew my compressor and had some misfiring around 80mph. I still have to fix those items. Otherwise, my '76 L-48 did fine. The exhaust and power steering upgrades were worth it.

Staging in Mocksville:






Zipping thru the mountains:


Arriving at the hotel:




Arriving at the plant:







My car in the parking lot:


Our guide would not say what C7 work was being done there. No hints or tips. I can say though that there was a huge section that was walled off with plywood about 10ft high. My guess is that this was the where some preliminary work was being done for the C7 assembly.

Also since they don't allow cameras inside, I don't have any pics from inside the plant. I did see many Grand Sports being built along with several base models. Our guide said sales of the Grand Sport have been brisk.

There was a 2013 C6 that was staying at our hotel. He was an engineer doing quality checks on the car. Check out the 60th anniversary badges. The VIN no said it was the 12th car off the line:











And finally, some shots from the museum:







Zora's car:







The last St. Louis and first Bowling Green cars:




This is the elusive 1983 Corvette. It's a C4 and the plaque states that 13 were built and 12 were destroyed in crash testing. This one is the all that's left:


backside:


Some more C3s:








Yours truly:


There's a place across the street from the Museum called Art's Corvettes:





A '68 Hemi GTX. The rear had been hit on the passenger side and it was still priced at 79k.




A 454 SS Chevelle:



And finally my C3 after driving through KY, TN and NC to get home:

69 Chevy

Thanks for taking the time to post the pics.

Bugs are a bitch!

Jedi926

After making a trip like that, I wouldn't mind washing off the bugs. Cool pix, looks like it was an awesome time.

Redwing01

Some very cool pics for sure , I'd love to go there one day and take it all in , in person.
Thanks for upping these

73Corvette

Thanks for posting your trip....lucky dog.

Lupigiato

aussiejohn

You lily-livered chicken...........I've been there twice!!! And I've come from further afield than you. Man up and make the effort!

Seriously though, you have to make the trip at least once in your lifetime and if I can come from Melbourne, Australia, then surely you can get there from Canada. And you can drive your car there, I can't! I have to suffer the ignominy of arriving in a rental car!!!

I'll be coming over for the 60th anniversary, will you make a commitment to meet me there? First beer's on me.

Regards from Down Under.

aussiejohn

M A Fry

Hey AJ,
You coming to the nationals next year in Toowoomba, QLD? If so, I look forward to meeting you and any other Aussie members. I'm on the oganising committee, it's gonna be good.

Thanks for pictures JCL looks like it was blast.


Mark

1986coupe

Great photos!

~Stingray

You'd think the bugs would get out of the way of on-coming lights. haha
I guess the bugs and deer like to hang out together.

CQRT

Great photos - - hope to get there one of these days . .

Thanks for sharing !

Roco71

Thanks for sharing

HOOAH

Thank you for taking us along. Trying to get down there myself. Doesn't seem that difficult to do from Michigan but also trying to time it so my dad can go too. We only get together once a year and that's during the Woodward Dream Cruise and the big annual Vette show here in the Detroit area so pretty busy during that time too. We'll get there though.

Terry

jcloving

Thanks guys. I am glad you are enjoying the photos. There were two C3s, (my 76 and a 71), one C4 and the rest were C5s and C6s.

They (NCM) are building a speedway there. I saw the plans. Also, they are planning a big event for the 60th anniversary. I may try to make that trip.

JW Gears

Great Pictures! Just a thought on washing off the bugs. This is not meant as a shameful plug or endorsement. I own a Harley V-Rod, and get lots of bugs on all the different surfaces( clear coat paint, polished aluminum, plastic windscreen, and chrome- lots of chrome). I do not know who makes it for Harley Davidson, but their Sunwash seems to dissolve bugs, but is very mild to all those different surfaces. The soap concentrate works very fast and does a great job. I used it on our C-6, and was very impressed because I didn't have to scrub hard, and the water still beaded up after rinsing the soap and bugs off.

BKbroiler

He probably got the bugs cleaned off by now. That was 5 years ago.

jcloving

Ha. So funny to see this thread pop up again. I have great memories of that trip.

Yes, I got the bugs cleaned off.

doorgunner

Replying to 5-year-old threads is MY job.........

Great pics.......Thanks!

BKbroiler

There is a 12 year old thread on exhaust systems running again in the Tech/Perf section. Just an fyi.