10 minute read
Road Rumblings
The National Cor vette Museum and Bowling Green Assembly Announce Plans for New Plant Tours
The National Corvette Museum (NCM) and Bowling Green Assembly are pleased to announce plans to resume plant tours of the only facility in the world where Corvettes are manufactured. Tours will go on sale to the public via the National Corvette Museum’s website on Tuesday, November 1, 2022. National Corvette Museum members qualify for early booking access, beginning on Tuesday, October 25, 2022. Tour scheduling will take place at the time of purchase with public tours expected to resume before the end of the year.
In 1981, General Motors moved production of the Chevrolet Corvette from St. Louis, MO to 600 Corvette Drive, Bowling Green, KY. Known as “America’s Sports Car,” the plant tour allows visitors to watch an icon in the making. The Corvette is the world’s longest-running, continuously produced passenger car with more than 1.75 million produced. The GM site consists of 212 acres, and the plant has 1.7 million square feet – equivalent to 39 acres or 29.5 football fields, under roof.
Plant tours were initially suspended in 2017 due to plant enhancements and significant layout changes of the facility. The Covid pandemic further delayed plant tours. “We have been waiting for this day for what feels like an eternity,” said Kai Spande, Plant Director for the General Motors Bowling Green Assembly Plant and Board Chairman of the National Corvette Museum. “It’s a great point of pride for our workforce to be able to share what it takes to make America’s Sports Car. We cannot wait to start welcoming Corvette customers, enthusiasts, and friends back for tours of our plant.”
Advanced reservations are recommended. Some walk up admission may be available but is not guaranteed day-of tour. For more information on plant tours, visit corvettemuseum.org.
If you’re ready to have the weekend of a lifetime, then make plans to attend the 2022 Cruisin’ For A Cure car show/event taking place on September 24. The event staff plans to welcome more than 3,500 cars and trucks at Orange County Fair & Event Center in California. We’re also told that television host, Chris Jacobs, is to serve as the Grand Marshal. This event is held during Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, and the annual classic car celebration raises awareness for the disease, which affects one in nine men. During the course of the day, medical professionals in the Fair’s Anaheim Building will offer free screenings. To date, more than 15,000 men have been tested, with more than 4,000 reporting elevated PSAs. Cruisin’ for a Cure was established in 1999 by Orange County resident Debbie Baker, whose husband had been diagnosed with prostate cancer. Ms. Baker’s objective is to heighten awareness through screenings and early detection. As mentioned, the day’s festivities will be presided over by Grand Marshal, Chris Jacobs, host and television personality best known for his automotive makeover show Overhaulin’ and the TLC series Long Lost Family. He also serves as host for the Mecum Auto Auctions and as co-host of SEMA Live, both seen on Motor Trend Network. His series “Dream Collections” can also be seen at Hagerty.com. In addition to a 1 1/2-mile all-day cruise through the fairgrounds, highlights will include appearances by automotive industry celebrities, displays by more than 200 vendors and exhibitors, live entertainment and a special” ALL Women Owned Cars and Model Car Contest” in the OC Fair’s Costa Mesa Building. The show will run from 6:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and tickets are $17 for adults, with kids under 12 admitted free. Cruisin’ For a Cure will also feature Meguiar’s – Official Car Care Appearance Sponsor. Additional sponsors include Woodside Credit Collector Car Financing, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Bomel Construction Company, Lucas Hi-Performance Oil Products, Leon’s Transmissions, Interstate Batteries, Southern Tire Mart, Budnik Wheels, Original Parts Group, Guaranty Chevrolet, Farmers Insurance, Classic Industries Parts & Accessories, Connell Chevrolet, Hedman Hedders, Hagerty, Vetchtein Law, FiTech Fuel Injection, Southern California Ford Dealers, Edelbrock, COMP Cams, and Insure One Insurance. For more information, please visit www.cruisinforacure.com.
Dodge ending production of Charger, Challenger in 2023
Production of the current Dodge Charger and Challenger is ending in 2023. Representatives with parent company Stellantis confirmed the decision this week in a news release, saying the company is ending production of those models in their current form next year. Dodge shared that its iconic muscle cars would be celebrated in their final year with several new 2023 models, all including a commemorative “Last Call” under the hood plaque. “We are celebrating the end of an era — and the start of a bright new electrified future — by staying true to our brand,” said Tim Kuniskis, Dodge brand chief executive officer. The muscle cars first appeared in the 1960s and 1970s before being revived in the early 2000s. Dodge said it plans to offer seven 2023 heritage-influenced models, celebrating the company’s history of its Charger and Challenger vehicles. The new models will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis once they are available at top-selling Dodge dealerships. The automaker said it will give customers a guide for locating the vehicles at DodgeGarage.com. According to Dodge, ordering and pricing information for the new 2023 models are expected to be released closer to the on-sale date. Dodge’s announcement comes as automakers move away from gas-powered cars and invest more in electric vehicles.
Dodge Challenger, Charger R/T Scat Pack Swinger Models Add to ‘Last Call’ Lineup
A modern-day, retro-themed Challenger and Charger are both joining the Dodge brand’s “Last Call” lineup, the company announced. The special-edition 2023 Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack Swinger and 2023 Dodge Charger R/T Scat Pack Swinger represent the third and fourth of seven special-edition Dodge “Last Call” models and give a nod back to the style of the Dodge brand’s muscle car lineup of the late 1960s and early 1970s, Dodge designers said. The original Dodge Dart Swinger was a member of the Dodge “Scat Pack” club and included options such as green-on-green interior/exterior color combinations, gold color accents and wood panel interior touches. The 2023 Dodge Challenger Scat Pack Swinger and 2023 Dodge Charger Scat Pack Swinger modern-day special-edition models reach back to that past for inspiration, delivering a throwback exterior and interior appearance, the company said.
The 2023 Dodge Challenger Scat Pack Swinger and 2023 Dodge Charger Scat Pack Swinger follow recently announced Dodge Challenger Shakedown and Dodge Charger Super Bee models. Only 1,000 each of the 2023 Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack Swinger and 2023 Dodge Charger R/T Scat Pack Swinger will be produced, both as Widebody models. Those seeking to recreate a classic green-ongreen Swinger look can choose from F8 Green and Sublime Green exterior color options, with
a White Knuckle option is also available. 2023 Dodge Challenger Scat Pack Swinger Starting with the Plus Group and Shaker Package content, the 2023 Dodge Challenger Scat Pack Swinger achieves its retro flair through the following features: Gold School Challenger grille badge, Gold School R/T Widebody grille badge, Gold School painted Shaker intake, Gold School Scat Pack + Bee spoiler badge, Gold School Bee fender badges, Retro Swinger rear fender graphics, 20 -by-11-inch Gold School wheels, Black six-piston Brembo brakes, Mod Grain wood-like aluminum interior bezel textures, Nappa/Alcantara seats with green stitching and green Dodge Rhombi logo. Green Swinger interior instrument panel badge & Green interior accent stitching on console and doors. 2023 Dodge Charger Scat Pack Swinger: The 2023 Dodge Charger Scat Pack Swinger adds retroinspired features to Plus Group content, including: Gold School Scat Pack + Bee grille badge, Gold School Bee fender and decklid badges, 20-by-11-inch Gold School wheels, Retro Swinger rear fender graphics, Black six-piston Brembo brakes, Mod Grain wood-like aluminum interior bezel textures, Nappa/Alcantara seats with green stitching and green Dodge Rhombi logo, Green Swinger interior instrument panel badge & Green interior accent stitching on console and doors.
Dodge Adds Charger Super Bee to ‘Last Call’ Lineup
Dodge is continuing its rollout of the brand’s “Last Call” lineup with the 2023 Dodge Charger Super Bee, the second of seven special-edition “Last Call” models, the company announced. The Dodge Super Bee, first introduced in 1968 and as a Charger model for 1971, reached legendary status in its brief original four-year run by giving customers an ultra-high-performance vehicle that could serve as both a daily driver and a weekend warrior at the track or drag strip, Dodge said. The 2023 Dodge Charger Super Bee aims to carry on that legacy by offering the highestperformance Charger Super Bee model ever produced and will arrive with standard drag radials and special Super Bee badging and graphics. “The Dodge Super Bee is more than commemorative of a cool heritage name — it is also a Charger variant of the Challenger 1320 grassroots race package,” said Tim Kuniskis, Dodge brand chief executive officer – Stellantis. “The special-edition 2023 Dodge Charger Super Bee once again offers a Dodge vehicle that is equally at home on the street or on the drag strip.”
A limited number of 2023 Dodge Charger Super Bees will be produced. The special-edition vehicle will see a production run of only 1,000, with 500 Charger Scat Pack (in B5 Blue) and 500 Charger Scat Pack Widebody (in Plum Crazy) vehicles planned for production. In addition to Plus Group and Carbon/Suede Package content, the 2023 Dodge Charger Super Bee special-edition model includes: Super Bee exterior badging on the grille and front fenders Super Bee exterior graphics on the functional hood scoop and rear fenders (blue graphics with B5 Blue, white graphics with Plum Crazy) 20-by-9.5-inch knurled wheels with 275 drag radials (Scat Pack) 18-by-11-inch drag wheels with 315 drag radials (Scat Pack Widebody) Adaptive damping suspension with Drag Mode Black Mopar hood pin kit—SRT hood with functional scoop and dual heat extractors SRT black exhaust tips—Red four-piston Brembo brake system Super Bee interior instrument panel badge—Super Bee seat back logos
Buick Y-Job And Other Harley Earl GM Concepts At Upcoming Detroit Concours d’Elegance
The work of legendary GM design chief Harley Earl will be on display at the upcoming Detroit Concours d’Elegance automotive event set to take place later this week, including the iconic 1938 Buick Y-Job, widely considered to be the first “concept car.”
For those readers who may be unaware, Harley Earl was the first designated head of design at General Motors, spearheading the use of full-scale clay modeling in automotive development, a process still in use throughout the automotive industry today. Born in Hollywood, California, Earl got his start in building custom automotive bodies for the well-to-do, and eventually began working in GM design with the creation of the Art and Color department in the late ‘20s. During his tenure at GM, Earl attached his name to several iconic GM vehicles, including the 1938 Buick Y-Job. Incorporating notable features like a boat-tail roadster layout, retractable headlights, a power-folding top, power windows, and push-button exterior door handles, the 1938 Buick Y-Job is considered a true masterwork of automotive design. Now, the Buick Y-Job is set for public display at the upcoming Detroit Concours d’Elegance alongside several other historic vehicles as part of the “Cars of Harley Earl” featured class. The other vehicles set to show include the 1920 Cadillac Type 59C, an example of Earl’s early work, as well as the 1927 LaSalle Series 303, the first production car ever designed by a stylist. Rounding out the collection will be the 1951 General Motors LaSabre Concept. Considered to be Earl’s greatest work, the LaSabre concept was inspired by jet aircraft, with a body made from aluminum, magnesium, and fiberglass. Notably, the LaSabre later served as Earl’s personal transportation, just like the Buick Y-Job. All four of these vehicles will be on display at the Detroit Concours d-Elegance between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Sunday, September 18th, 2022. Joining these classics will be a selection of 112 historically significant vehicles in 15 different classes.
