C-3, 1970 fire at factory?

[D S.]

A person on eBay trying to sell his '70 mentioned that he was told about a fire at the St. Louis plant in or around March of 1970. And there appears to have been a slow down of production of Corvettes through April 1970. Anyone have any information to support this?

Thanks,
Scott Sims

[Ken A.]

Re: C-3, 1970 fire at factory?

There was a strike at the factory which precluded the 70's from coming out on time. I think they weren't available until sometime in February, but someone will no doubt have the correct time. I never heard of a fire, but there were not many 70's produced as compared with 71's because of the strike.
Ken

[John H.]

Re: C-3, 1970 fire at factory?

The strike during 1969 production was a local St. Louis strike; the 1970 numbers were lower due to a 67-day national strike against all of GM very late in the 1970 model year.

[D S.]

Re: C-3, 1970 fire at factory?

Between March 1 and April 1 of 1970 approximately 2800 units were built. However, between April 2 and May 6 less than 400 units were built indicating some kind of major event slowed production down substantially. I assumed it to be a parts shortage created by the 1969 strike.

[Terry M.]

Re: C-3, 1970 fire at factory?

There were no Corvettes produced between April 7 and May 5, 1970 due to a nationwide teamster's strike. This work stoppage was extensively covered in a past Restorer article. There is no record, that I am aware of, of a fire at the Corvette plant during the 1970 model year production, and there is no evidence yet found of production delays, other than that month, during the 1970 model year.