On February 28, GM’s Bowling Green factory, in Kentucky, produced its final example of the C6 Corvette – not that anybody would have noticed, since the spotlight now only seems to follow the new C7 Stingray, to the point where nothing else is visible. The car had been in production since 2004, and in its 9-year production cycle, some 215,100 units were made.
The very last C6 manufactured is a white 427 convertible collectors’ edition model, which features the 7.0-liter V8. The car will not really be driven, as it is destined to be more of a history lesson for future generations – it is going to GM’s Heritage Collection, in Detroit.
In order to mark the occasion, some 500 factory employees gathered for a short ceremony, but they couldn’t stay for long because production of the C7 Stingray was poised to commence just two weeks after. Workers have begun the $131-million retooling of the plant, and C7 production is set to start shortly after. However, you won’t be able to buy the new model until much later in the year (late August or early September).
Until then, you will still be able to purchase a C6 ‘Vette of your choice, as according to Chevrolet, on February 1, they had 6,100 cars in their inventory – just enough to last the five months until the transition to the new model is made.
By Andrei Nedelea
Photo Credits: Zora Duntov / National Corvette Museum , Story References: Autonews
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