Warm & Fuzzy Corvette Story - A Must Read

[Perian]

Monitor - This isn't exactly front page news - but it's so nice to read it deserves placement somewhere...


Link: nyt.com

By STUART F. BROWN - New York Times - Published: September 24, 2006

COLOR was the simplest decision James Rasche had to make when he ordered his 2007 Chevrolet Corvette: no question it would be white with a black convertible top and a red interior, to match his cherished ’57 ’Vette.

For someone who describes himself as “a Corvette nut,” the anticipation of owning a pair of color-matched convertibles built 50 years apart was enormous. To savor every step of the experience, Mr. Rasche, a 58-year-old building contractor in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., took advantage of an opportunity available at only a few plants in the United States: watching his baby being born.

Today’s hyperefficient assembly plants are not welcoming environments for a strolling visitor, and several million square feet of stamping presses and robot welders are not much of a tourist attraction in any case. But a few factories, including some that build cars with followings of devoted enthusiasts, let buyers witness the entire creation process, from a roll of flat steel to a vehicle ready to roll down the road.

The attraction of watching his new car take shape drew Mr. Rasche to Bowling Green, Ky., last month, to the plant where Corvettes have been made since 1981.

“Chevrolet told me a couple of weeks ahead of time when they would be building my car,” Mr. Rasche said.

The experience proved to be interactive. Noticing Mr. Rasche intently watching each part going into place, an assembly line worker asked, “Is this your car?”

The next thing he knew, Mr. Rasche was holding tools and fasteners. “I screwed on some stuff,” he said, recalling the unexpected bonus. “I had a blast.”

The tour was arranged through the National Corvette Museum, across the street from the plant but independent from General Motors. Museum delivery is a $490 option when ordering a car.

As icing, Chevrolet accommodated Mr. Rasche’s request that the vehicle identification number of his new car carry the same final six digits as that of the 1957 Corvette he had painstakingly restored. Using the abbreviation for the identification number, Mr. Rasche calls his pair “the VIN twins.” Fellow Corvette fanatics understand.

Mr. Rasche marveled at the cleanliness of the modern plant and the mix of high-tech automation and handwork in the final assembly process. That was very different from his visit, as an 11-year-old in Cincinnati, to a nearby Chevrolet factory with his father. In his memory, that place was dingy, and when parts didn’t fit right workers smacked them into place with mallets.

For Mr. Rasche, the favorite part of the Bowling Green plant tour was the moment when the car’s assembled powertrain and chassis were pushed up into the sleek composite body from below — a step the auto industry calls the marriage point — and attached by a squad of workers.

“What a thrill to see your own Corvette being built in that plant,” he said. “It was like heaven.”

Being in the construction business, Mr. Rasche was also fascinated by the complex choreography ensuring that all the parts were delivered to the right locations at the right time. “It’s a masterpiece of material handling,” he said. “In my business, moving materials is 80 percent of the labor cost, so this aspect of carmaking really interests me.”

At the end of the assembly line, he whipped out a paint pen and induced a few dozen workers to autograph the engine’s valve covers.

Mr. Rasche has only driven his new Corvette a few miles so far, believe it or not. It’s on display, along with its ’57 VIN twin, at the Corvette Museum until Oct. 16.

[Perian]

God bless the Corvette and everything it does and brings to General Motors.



Thank you Mr. Rasche. Good luck with your new Corvette.

[gm_scott]

A nice story. The vette is, and always be my favorite GM car.

[joemac]

This is something you won't get from Toyota, long live GM.

[jzchev28]

yeah, i've taken the tour of the factory....it was an awesome experience. this isnt just a PR stunt or anything, they told us about being able to do this with your car from start to finish. its really cool in my book. also i checked out the musame across the street and learned a few things i had no idea about. well worth the trip

[69Chevy]

That's cool, really cool that they matched the VIN too. Hopefully those "VIN Twins" are never separated.

[1969CamaroSS350]

What an awesome story. If I ever buy a 'Vette...the factory tour is a must have option for me.

[uboys]

He picked up some tools?
He used them himself?
Don't go letting the UAW know that!

[Aerodynamix]

Wow! That's awesome. The tour alone would be a great experience by itself but being able to watch the car you ordered be built and then to actually have a hand in it's assembly is just out of this world!!!! Kudos to GM for matching the VINs. There should be no question that this should be part of a PR campaign.

[EldoFan]

I've heard of certain Mustang owners who get to do this after special/custom ordering their cars.

For now, all I'll be doing is dreaming about a red hardtop here........lol

[Firebird00]

Hopefully someday I can go tour that thing, although I most likely won't have my new car waiting at the end of the assembly line. The man in the Corvette is king.

[Platt_Mallar]

I've got a friend, who's an import tuner guy (rebuilding an rx-7 atm). He visited the factory a few weeks ago and absolutely loved the experience. It was part of a package with the corvette museum, I think. Since he's gone, he's been bananas about the c6. Untill then, the only thing about domestic cars he's liked has been the GM small block and the ecotec motor. I think in a year or so I can convince him that the new camaro will be better than his old 240sx. lol

It's really great they let that guy do all that stuff. And the VIN matching was just sweet. I'd like to go see the cars, but my vacation time is already spoken for.