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The National Corvette Museum and Option R8C
Travis Parman
By Travis Parman, Manager
Product Communications, Chevrolet
The Chevy Corvette has inspired car enthusiasts for more than 50 years. Reader’s Digest says it’s The Best Ride of Your Life in its America’s 100 Best: The 2006 List:
The National Corvette Museum has been a staple for 'Vette fans for years.
Nothing says American craftsmanship like the Corvette, an icon since the '50s. The National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky, offers great views — or indulge in your own set of wheels (up to $70K). Try the coupe in Velocity Yellow or the Z06 in Daytona Sunset Orange Metallic.
The museum also offers a special option that only Corvette buyers can enjoy.
Lots of folks don’t know that when you buy a new Corvette, you can also purchase Option R8C (for about $490), which means you can pick up your car at the National Corvette Museum, located across the street from GM’s Corvette Production Plant in Bowling Green, Ky. Last year, 773 customers chose Option R8C — that’s more than two a day.
Here’s what you get if you select Option R8C:
- A tour of the assembly plant — you not only see your car on the line, you get to tweak it, maybe put on a few parts, and then drive it off the assembly line.
- Your car is then installed in the Corvette Nursery at the museum, where both you and the public can see it in all its glory.
- You get a V.I.P. tour of the National Corvette Museum, the only museum in the country dedicated to one single nameplate.
- You are given an incredibly detailed orientation on your new car — everything from the navigation to active handling to stability control.
- Plaques, decals and photographs.
- You can watch others or have friends and family watch you take your Corvette delivery through the museum’s live web cams.
Besides lots and lots of historical and newer-model Corvettes, the museum exhibits what might be the strangest and most intriguing bit of Corvette lore — the ashes of Zora Arkus-Duntov, sometimes often called the “Father of the Corvette.” He chose to stay among his beloved cars. His wife, still alive, plans to join him there after her death.
Travis takes a ride in a Stingray.
If you do plan on visiting the museum, but don’t drive a Corvette, you should know that you’re not going to get the best parking — the closest spots (other than handicapped spaces) are reserved for "Vettes."
For more information regarding National Corvette Museum Delivery program, you can contact Gary Cockriel at (800) 53-VETTE or by e-mail at gary@corvettemuseum.com.
Click here for more information about touring the Corvette Assembly Plant. Here's a fun slide show of the museum.
Posted by Editor on June 27, 2006 12:31 PM
Comments
I visited the Corvette Museum and the assembly plant a few weeks ago while in Kentucky. You can bet I'll be choosing the option to watch it get assembled when I order mine. Of course, that will be a while since my next car will be a (if you build it) new Camaro SS or Z28, whichever is the top dog.
Thanks for giving tours of the Corvette assembly line. It was one of the most amazing things I've ever seen! It's awesome to see how it all comes together!
Posted by: Chris on June 28, 2006 12:20 PM
Travis --
Meh, it ain't the basement of that one musuem in Indiana we're not allowed to talk about -- but the Corvette musuem will do.
Posted by: Ray on June 29, 2006 8:57 AM
Just a clarification. When you order R8C, you receive all of the things you mentioned except seeing your car come down the line. Cars are built and held for 10-14 days prior to R8C delivery.
A separate program was started in May that allows you to make a separate trip when your car is being assembled, but it has nothing to do with R8C delivery.
Posted by: Keith on July 9, 2006 9:26 PM
I’ve priced out a new (2007) Corvette Z06 that had a list price of $ 74,500-$ 76,000. I guess GM is doing a lot better this year than it was last year because not only did they raise the price of the car but the dealers in this area (Md., Va.) are adding another $ 14,000 to $ 20,000 to that. When I hear or read how much GM is in touch with its customers I think it’s a joke. I thank I’ll wait until the snow starts falling to let things tighten up or pass, at 61 I don’t have to have a Corvette…………
Randy Camden
Posted by: Randy Camden on September 6, 2006 4:31 PM
I recently came across this hood orn I have never seen a Corvette with a hood ornament like this. I am very curious where it came from and how old it is? Can anyone help me? Thank You!
Posted by: Leighton on May 6, 2007 2:18 AM
I wish GM would allow us to spec a fixed glass/plexi roof for our Z06 and new ZRI. The cars are very dark without glass and it need not be removable if rigidity is an issue.
The new leather option is nice but the colors are hideous. We should have an all black leather option and you might consider a more extensive leather treatment.
It seems the black leather option would be easy to implement quickly but it wouldn't take long to engineer a fixed clear roof either. I have a
ZR1 coming and own a 2008 Z06 right now and would appreciate it if either or both were available. Thanks,
Arthur Wolk
Posted by: Arthur Wolk on December 23, 2007 5:28 PM
