Δεν άξιζε στην 1.000.000στή Chevrolet Corvette αυτή η μοίρα. Μην ξεχνάς ότι η λευκή Corvette του 1992, το εκατομμυριοστό παράδειγμα του εμβληματικού Αμερικάνικου sportscar, υπέστη σοβαρές ζημιές όταν έπεσε στην τρύπα που άνοιξε στο National Corvette Museum το 2014. Φυσικά δεν ήταν η μόνη – για παράδειγμα, η μπλε Corvette ZR1 ανακατασκευάστηκε πλήρως.
Η ανακατασκευή όμως της λευκής, ανοιχτής Corvette δεν θα είναι τόσο εύκολη. Πολλά από τα μέρη που καταστράφηκαν δεν μπορούν να αντικατασταθούν χωρίς να αλλοιωθεί η ιστορικότητα του αυτοκινήτου. Γι’ αυτό και έχει ξεκινήσει μία χρονοβόρα και επίπονη διαδικασία επισκευής του αυτοκινήτου με βασικό γνώμονα την διατήρηση του χαρακτήρα του. Δυστυχώς, δεν θα είναι όλα τα αυτοκίνητα τόσο τυχερά. Από αυτά που υπέστησαν ζημιές από την τρύπα, μόνο η μπλε ZR1, η λευκή Convertible και μία του 1962 θα ανακατασκευαστούν. Τα άλλα 5 –μία 1993 ZR1 Spyder, το 1984 PPG Pace Car, μία 1993 40th Anniversary, μία 2001 “Mallet Hammer” Z06 και μία 2009 Corvette- θα εκτίθενται στην παρούσα, όχι και τόσο άριστη, κατάσταση.
[learn_more caption=”Δελτίο Τύπου”]
Sinkhole-Swallowed 1 Millionth Corvette Restoration Underway
Milestone damaged when earth opened beneath National Corvette Museum
WARREN, Mich. – Craftspeople and technicians at the General Motors Design Center are painstakingly restoring the historic 1 millionth Chevrolet Corvette damaged nearly 16 months ago when a sinkhole opened beneath the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Ky.
The restoration crew is part of GM’s Mechanical Assembly group at the Design Center, which typically spends its time building prototype and concept vehicles. The white 1992 Corvette is a challenge because rather than build an all-new vehicle from the ground up, the workers are trying to preserve the original appearance of a production vehicle.
It is the second of three sinkhole-damaged Corvettes that Chevrolet has pledged to restore. The first, a 2009 Corvette ZR1 prototype known as the Blue Devil, was only lightly damaged and was returned to its original condition last fall. The National Corvette Museum will oversee the restoration of the third car, a 1962 Corvette.
Five other Corvettes swallowed by the sinkhole will remain in their as-recovered state to preserve the historical significance of the cars. They will become part of a future sinkhole-themed display at the museum.
Sinkhole summary
On Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2014, at 5:44 a.m., National Corvette Museum personnel were notified by their security company about the burglar alarm going off in the Skydome area of the museum. Upon arrival at the museum, a sinkhole measuring about 45-by-60 feet wide and 30-foot deep was discovered.
Security camera footage showing the Skydome floor’s collapse has been viewed more than 8.5 million times on YouTube.
Eight historic Corvettes – two on loan from GM and six owned by the museum – were swallowed that day:
- 1993 ZR-1 Spyder (on loan)
- 2009 ZR1 “Blue Devil” prototype (on loan)
- 1962 Corvette
- 1984 PPG Pace Car
- 1992 1 millionth Corvette
- 1993 40th Anniversary Corvette
- 2001 “Mallett Hammer” Z06
- 2009 1.5 millionth Corvette
On March 3, 2014, the 2009 Blue Devil was the first car recovered and despite significant damage was started and driven out of the Skydome. The 1.5 millionth Corvette and Mallet Corvette were the last cars pulled from the sinkhole, on April 3 and April 9, respectively – after workers were initially unable to find them amid the collapsed earth.
[/learn_more]