Corvettes Removed From Sinkhole at National Corvette Museum

National Corvette MuseumWhen the Unimaginable Happened at the National Corvette Museum, Experts Came to the Rescue

It’s one of those You-Can’t-Make-This-Up stories: On February 12, 2014 eight prized Corvettes were swallowed by a sinkhole that formed under the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky. While drivers in much of the country fretted over potholes swallowing their cars, these Corvettes were literally sucked into the ground.

National Corvette Museum
Workers use a crane to recover the first of the eight vehicles from the sinkhole. After being set down, the ZR-1 started up and drove out of the museum under its own power.

Thankfully the vehicles were recovered from the sinkhole this week; many reported that the size of the actual sinkhole was incredibly large, making the Corvettes look like Matchbox cars.

As you can see, that is no exaggeration.

Muscle to Extract Muscle Cars

The 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1 “Blue Devil”

was the first to be rescued from the sinkhole at the National Corvette Museum on Monday, March 3, 2014. While the vehicle fell thirty feet, damage was minimal considering the gravity of the event.

Amazingly, after being extricated and set down, the ZR-1 started up and was driven out of the museum under its own power.

Prized and Nearly Priceless Corvettes

National Corvette Museum
The 1993 40th Anniversary Chevrolet Corvette suffered significant damage

The prized vintage Corvettes included the 1993 40th Anniversary Chevrolet Corvette. This priceless ‘vette was extracted from the sinkhole on Monday. The Anniversary edition Corvette unfortunately suffered significant damage during the fall.

While the Anniversary car does show major damage, car and Corvette enthusiasts were happy to see this special vehicle safely removed and hear that it is indeed salvageable.

National Corvette Museum
Extracting the 1993 40th Anniversary Chevrolet Corvette

More Vintage

The third vehicle extracted from the sinkhole was a black 1962 Chevrolet Corvette. Workers navigated around debris that made removal of these vehicles difficult and dangerous.

 Precision Work on Precious Automobiles

In order to gain an access point that would allow

National Corvette Museum
3rd car extracted, a 1962 Corvette

workers to hook the vehicle up for removal, the hood of the 1962 Chevrolet Corvette was removed. The sinkhole needs to be further stabilized before any more vehicles can be recovered; currently, this is estimated to take at least two to three weeks.

Once the vehicles are all extracted, they will be on display at the museum until August 3rd. Then they will make their journey to a Michigan plant for some much needed TLC and repairs.

 

Amy Barseghian
Amy Barseghian

Amy Barseghian, founder of OC Mentor, has been a social media influencer and blogger since 2008. A mom of two, Amy shares news, reviews and tips with her readers in Southern California and beyond, advises small businesses on social strategy through Social Halo Media, and is a featured video influencer at MomTV.

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