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WARREN, Michigan - Craftspeople and technicians at the General Motors Design Centre in Detroit, Michigan are restoring the historic "millionth" Chevrolet Corvette, damaged in 2014 when a sinkhole opened beneath the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
The restoration crew is part of GM's Mechanical Assembly group at the centre, which typically spends its time building prototype and concept vehicles.
The white 1992 Corvette is a challenge, GM says, because rather than build a new vehicle, workers are trying to preserve the original appearance.
RESTORATION WORK
The classic 1992 model is the second of three sinkhole-damaged Corvettes that Chevrolet has pledged to restore.
VIDEO: GM updates on Corvette restoration
The first, a 2009 Corvette ZR1 prototype, known as the 'Blue Devil', was only lightly damaged and was returned to its original condition in 2014. The museum will oversee the restoration of a 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 Feb 12 2014, museum personnel were notified by security that the alarm had been triggered at the Skydome area. A sinkhole, measuring 13x18m wide and 9m deep, was discovered.
Security footage showing the Skydome floor's collapse has been viewed more than 8.5 million times on YouTube.
VIDEO: Sinkhole swallows classic Corvettes
Eight historic Corvettes – two on loan from GM and six owned by the museum – were swallowed-up.
The damage cars:
1993 ZR-1 Spyder (on loan)
2009 ZR1 "Blue Devil" prototype (on loan)
1962 Corvette
1984 PPG Pace Car
1992 Millionth Corvette
1993 40th Anniversary Corvette
2001 "Mallett Hammer" Z06
2009 1.5 millionth Corvette
On March 3 2014, a 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 2014 respectively – after workers were initially unable to find them amid the collapsed earth.
