General Motors to Restore Three of the NCM Sinkhole Corvettes

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General Motors to Restore Three of the NCM Sinkhole Corvettes

Chevrolet and the National Corvette Museum have announced their game plan for restoration of three of the classic Corvettes damaged when they were swallowed by a sinkhole inside the museum in February.

Two of the cars – the 2009 Corvette ZR1 prototype nicknamed the “Blue Devil” and the 1-millionth Corvette produced (a 1992 white convertible) – will be repaired by Chevrolet, which will also pay for the restoration of the black 1962 Corvette to be overseen by the museum.

The financial support from Chevrolet, worth about $250,000, was a nice present for the National Corvette Museum, which celebrated its 20th anniversary last week.

When work will start and be finished will be announced later.

Meanwhile, the five other Corvettes damaged by the sinkhole will remain as-is and become a part of a future display at the museum. If you happened to be at the 20th Anniversary Celebration, then you probably saw how badly damaged those cars are as all eight of the Corvettes are currently being shown in the Skydome, just a few feet from the sinkhole they plummeted into.

The ZR1 Spyder and the Z06 Mallet Hammer
The ZR1 Spyder and the Z06 Mallet Hammer

“Our goal was to help the National Corvette Museum recover from a terrible natural disaster by restoring all eight cars,” said Mark Reuss, GM executive vice president, Global Product Development. “However, as the cars were recovered, it became clear that restoration would be impractical because so little was left to repair. And, frankly, there is some historical value in leaving those cars to be viewed as they are.”

Wendell Strode, executive director of the museum, said enthusiasts from around the world have sent messages asking that all of the cars not be restored.

“For Corvette enthusiasts, the damage to the cars is part of their history, and part narrative of the National Corvette Museum,” Strode said. “Restoring them all would negate the significance of what happened.”

Those five cars to remain in their damaged condition include the 1993 ZR-1 Spyder, 1984 PPG Pace Car, 1993 40th Anniversary Corvette, 2001 Mallett Hammer Z06, and 2009 1.5-millionth Corvette.

The museum also announced last week that the sinkhole will be filled in because the cost to leave a portion of it visible as a tourist attraction was considerably more than repairs.

General Motors to Restore Three of the NCM Sinkhole Corvettes General Motors to Restore Three of the NCM Sinkhole Corvettes General Motors to Restore Three of the NCM Sinkhole Corvettes
General Motors to Restore Three of the NCM Sinkhole Corvettes General Motors to Restore Three of the NCM Sinkhole Corvettes General Motors to Restore Three of the NCM Sinkhole Corvettes


Source:
National Corvette Museum
Corvette rescue photos courtesy of the National Corvette Museum

Related:
Corvette Museum to Fill Sinkhole and Restore the SkyDome
Today in Corvette History: The One Millionth Corvette is Built
Corvette Museum’s Board Opts to Keep Part of the Sky Dome Sinkhole Visible

 



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