For more than 40 years, Bowling Green, Kentucky has been the birthplace of the new Chevrolet Corvette. The facility started with the new 1984 Corvette C4, and continues today with C8 assembly. Most of the factory upgrades to make it happen, which is mentioned along with other interesting Corvette details in the new feature 42 minutes from savagegeese on Youtube.
Through this video, we learn that the production Corvette is very different from other Chevrolet vehicles and not just because the engine is behind the driver. For example, the process starts with individual body panels being painted right away, then sent for assembly a little later. While this was happening, an aluminum body was produced (technically it was the only component of the Corvette that was manufactured in the factory – everything else was just assembled). The tub goes into the trim department where the interior, glass and similar items are installed.
Next up is the area of the chassis where the drivetrain is installed. The LT2 V8 used in the Stingray and E-Ray came to Bowling Green assembled and ready to go, but the 5.5-liter LT6 for the Z06 was hand-built on site. The high-revving engine was dyno-tested for 20 minutes to make sure everything was working as intended before going to the chassis for installation.
Suspension and undercar panels were also installed in the chassis area, then the car finally landed in a moving “pan” for assembly of all the painted body panels. The finished car receives a final inspection before being launched for dynamic testing. Provided there aren’t any hiccups in the process, it takes two days to build a new Corvette from start to finish. At capacity, the Bowling Green line turns out 200 cars daily.
As well as showing aspects of assembly, the video includes interviews with many factory leaders in various roles. We were offered more insight into the Z06’s engine build, categorizing and installing the Corvette’s many options and packages, the supply chain for the plant, expected time and speed for production, and much more. In short, it’s a fascinating look at how America’s timeless sports car came together from an outside perspective.
