2023 Corvette Museum

April 8, 2023 Remember the 1963 Corvette Sting Ray Coupe and its split rear window? How could any red blooded American not remember that car? While it was being readied for production, Bill Mitchell's stylists teased us the 1961 Mako Shark concept car. The Mako Shark was on display in Bowling Green. There were other surprises, too.

The morning started grey and chilly. We didn't care. Dave gestured toward Kentucky and we decided that was probably the right way to go.

We followed Indiana 66 to Reo and turned south toward Owensboro. There we found and followed US 231 all the way to Bowling Green. I-169 would have been quicker but far less interesting.

In Bowling Green, we approached from the back side of the museum passing the dramatic Skydome.

A sunny day might have brightened the museum's exterior, but some of us had been here before and knew there would be plenty of bright, shiney objects and gobs of horsepower inside.

We entered a wide hall leading to the exhibits, a themed restaurant, and a gift shop. We chose to dine in the Stingray Grill first.

It was a wise choice. There was room for all and the food was good and reasonably priced.

The current exhibits cover bits of Corvette history, beginning with a cutaway version of the 1953 Corvette that started it all. American automakers saw opportunity in the sports car craze of the late '40s and early '50s as typified by the 1947 MG TCs being imported from England. MGs, Austin Healeys, and Triumphs were small, light, not too expensive and lots of fun. Ford responded with the Thunderbird. Chevrolet built the Corvette. It didn't take long for the Corvette to become the serious American sports car. A beautiful '63 Corvette Stingray coupe (the one with the split rear window) led to galleries and signage describing concept cars, prototypes and significant racing cars.

The 1957 Corvette SS was another milestone in Corvette history. Racer and engineer Zora Arkus-Duntov and designer Harley Earl developed their vision of what a racing car should be. Also pictured are a replica of the CERV-1 research vehicle and a two Corvettes with noteworthy racing histories.

The early exhibits lead to what looks like a cave entrance. Inside are displays and videos explaining the 2014 sinkhole collapse that swallowed several Corvettes on display in the Skydome. You can see security camera video of cars dropping through the floor. The "cave" tunnel leads to the Skydome and more interesting Corvettes. There is also a window in the floor for you to safely peek into the famous hole.

Note the two prototypes at the bottom of this group. The red car is the 1973 XP-987CT 2-rotor Corvette. The silver car is the 1965 XP-819 rear engine study.

We may prefer Porsches but you have to admire the Corvette and its excellent museum.