Bowling Green Assembly Plant

There is no other place in the world like the Corvette and Cadillac XLR assembly plant in Bowling Green, Ky.

The American sports cars that roll off of the two assembly lines at this one million-square-foot facility — enough space for 22-football fields — actually make dreams come true.

The plant sits on 250 acres off Interstate 65 at exit 28, approximately 110 miles south of Louisville. Be sure to visit the National Corvette Museum across the street, as well.

The plant produces more than 35,000 Chevrolet Corvettes and 4,000 XLRs per year. It's the only place in the world where these vehicles are built.

Touring the plant
The Corvettes were moved to Bowling Green from St. Louis in 1981. Since then, thousands of visitors have taken the one-hour, one-mile guided tour and watched America’s favorite sports car slowly emerge.

Before the tour, participants view a short safety video and listen to an introduction. Next, it’s off to the assembly area.

First, watch the frame and body begin to take shape. Then, the engine and drive train merge, and the windshields are attached. Finally, during one of the most interesting phases of the tour, the chassis and body are joined.

Extensive testing
The completed ‘Vette weighs 3,200 pounds and contains 1,376 parts from 387 different suppliers. Each new car is run through a water tunnel to test for leaks, and revved up on a stationary wheel for monitoring on the plant’s latest computerized equipment.

To add to Corvette’s quality control, three of them are “audited” each morning. They’re driven from the end of the assembly line and turned loose on the local roads and streets of Bowling Green for various stages of testing.

Even though there are more than seven miles of conveyers that move the cars and parts in the building, the Corvette is still the star of the show. Once that key is turned and the motor growls, someone’s dream is made.

The nifty XLR
Plant tours include access to the Cadillac XLR assembly area. Production on the XLR, a two-seater luxury roadster, began at the Bowling Green Assembly Plant in August 2003.

The XLR is on a separate assembly line from the Corvette. One of the major reasons the XLR is built here is that it shares the same hydro-formed frame as the Corvette. The XLR also has a fully retractable convertible hardtop.

Unlike the Corvette line, the XLR assembly line is not in constant motion. These low-volume production cars stop at various stations for as much as 18 minutes to receive the high quality, custom-built attention that makes it a luxury car. A normal day turns out three cars an hour compared to the Corvette’s run of 18 per hour.

The XLR has a 320-horsepower, 4.6-liter Northstar V8 engine that advances from 0 to 60 mph in six seconds. Its unique adaptive cruise control features a radar system that allows you to slow down when it senses a car ahead of you. When you change lanes to pass, the XLR automatically resumes your previous speed.

The XLR is equipped with a DVD player, navigation system and a premium Bose stereo. The car also responds to 170 spoken commands to change audio settings, get directions, and find restaurants, local entertainment and much more.

“The Corvette plant has always been a big draw for Bowling Green,” said Vicki Fitch, director of the Bowling Green Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. “And now with two great cars being produced here, we expect the tour to become even more popular.”

Plant tours are available Monday through Friday at 9 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. Central time, except during model changes and holidays. Admission is $5.

Tips for your visit:
• Reservations can be made online at www.bowlinggreenasssemblyplant.com.

• The tour is only offered to groups by reservation, but reservations are recommended for individuals because tours fill up fast and the tour size is limited.

• The walk is long, can get noisy at times and is on concrete, so wear comfortable shoes.

• Special arrangements are made for wheelchairs.

• No cameras, open-toed shoes, backpacks, purses, fanny packs, open containers, weapons of any kind or children under 7 are allowed in the tour.

• For reservations that cannot be made online, call (270) 796-5063.

• Directions: Take I-65 to exit 28. Turn right at the first light onto Corvette Drive and follow the plant signs to the tour entrance.

• Plenty of RV parking is available.

Visiting the museum
The 68,000-square-foot National Corvette Museum, across from the assembly plant, contains more than 50 Corvette models and one-of-a-kind concept cars spanning the history of Corvette.

In addition, thousands of Corvette-related photos, movies, videos, advertisements, scale models and rare memorabilia are available. The museum also spotlights persons who have made the Corvette an American icon.

Museum admission is $8; $6 for persons 55 or older.

Corvette Assembly Plant
www.bowlinggreenassemblyplant.com

National Corvette Museum
www.corvettemuseum.com

Bowling Green Area Convention & Visitors Bureau
www.visitbgky.com