Bowling Green Assembly
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,190
Likes: 0
From: Fayetteville AR
I know that John Ratzenburger (Cliff from cheers) did a "Made in America" segment on the c5 a few years ago on the Travel Channel. I did a quick search but I came up empty on this video. I wonder if they Travel Channels has old DVD of the C5 production line for sale?
Racer
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 354
Likes: 4
From: Grand Ledge Michigan
It is worth the trip to Bowling Green to see it in person, you may even be lucky enough to do a first start like my daughter did during the tour. Too bad no cameras allowed so we had no pics. Pretty big stuff for a 15 year old with no license!
The factory kind of burst my bubble. Pretty much watched pre-assembled sub-assemblies and pre-made parts bolt together on a line. Engines, dashes, wiring, seats, body, ect. Saw lots of foreign labels on the crates of electronic assemblies from vendors, wiring harnesses, headlight assemblies, ect.
I grew up in Lansing MI so all my family worked at GM/Olds and we heard stories of hot foundries, molten steel, milling engine blocks and giant presses crashing frames and fenders into shape. A real automobile factory. The Vette is pretty much made of components built outside, and brought in and bolted together. Not much is actually created there from scratch, if anything. Don't get me wrong, it is a VERY COOL PLACE just the same, but tough to call it a "factory", a GM "Assembly Plant" is called just that for a reason. Just assembly going on, not creating much anything there. But, that's the way all cars are now, unless it has prancing horse emblems.
The factory kind of burst my bubble. Pretty much watched pre-assembled sub-assemblies and pre-made parts bolt together on a line. Engines, dashes, wiring, seats, body, ect. Saw lots of foreign labels on the crates of electronic assemblies from vendors, wiring harnesses, headlight assemblies, ect.
I grew up in Lansing MI so all my family worked at GM/Olds and we heard stories of hot foundries, molten steel, milling engine blocks and giant presses crashing frames and fenders into shape. A real automobile factory. The Vette is pretty much made of components built outside, and brought in and bolted together. Not much is actually created there from scratch, if anything. Don't get me wrong, it is a VERY COOL PLACE just the same, but tough to call it a "factory", a GM "Assembly Plant" is called just that for a reason. Just assembly going on, not creating much anything there. But, that's the way all cars are now, unless it has prancing horse emblems.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 5,747
Likes: 224
From: Hillsboro Oregon
I haven't been to BG yet, so perhaps it was just the lighting, but the contrast was striking to say the least .
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 153
Likes: 0
From: Southern CA
Yep, if you watched the series on great factories last month on TV, they did Ferrari, BMW, and Corvette. It was kinda sad to see the gleaming, bright, and spotless plants for Ferrari and BMW and then see the dark and dirty GM plant..........
I haven't been to BG yet, so perhaps it was just the lighting, but the contrast was striking to say the least .
I haven't been to BG yet, so perhaps it was just the lighting, but the contrast was striking to say the least .
I too was disappointed - was more impressed by BMW's plant
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 7,604
Likes: 8
From: Belleville Il
I was both impressed and dismayed..Some fine work on fine cars,but an awful lot of news paper reading going on. I understand there are hold ups and you may be caught up,but there can't(or shouldn't)be that many!It is an impressive tour though.I wouldn't have minded it if I could have worked there.How cool would it have been to say yes I made corvettes.
