Where were 53 MY Corvettes assembled ?

[Peter M.]

I think that the original 53 Corvettes were constructed at a GM plant in Flint, Michigan. Does anyone know the plant number and the exact street address for this assembly plant where the 53s were made?

[Joe L.]

Re: Where were 53 MY Corvettes assembled ?

I think that the original 53 Corvettes were constructed at a GM plant in Flint, Michigan. Does anyone know the plant number and the exact street address for this assembly plant where the 53s were made?

Peter-----


Yes, all 1953 model Corvettes were built in Flint, MI. If I recall correctly the plant was on Van Slyke Road and between the Chevrolet V-8 engine plant and a GM truck assembly plant. Even if you had the address you would not be able to go there and see it. The plant was demolished several years ago.

[Peter M.]

Re: Where were 53 MY Corvettes assembled ?

Thanks, Joe. You are a WEALTH of knowledge.

[Joe L.]

Re: Where were 53 MY Corvettes assembled ?

Thanks, Joe. You are a WEALTH of knowledge.

Peter-----


I did a little further checking and I was slightly off on the location. The plant was on Van Slyke Road but it was on he other side of the GM Assembly Plant rather than between the old V-8 engine plant (now also demolished) and the GM Assembly Plant. It is in what is now, basically, the parking lot of the GM Assembly Plant. If you go to Google Earth and find the intersection of Van Slyke Road and West Atherton Avenue, the building was almost directly across from that "T" intersection. You can still see the concrete pad of the building which has become part of the parking lot. I wish GM had not torn down that building. It was a really historic place. But, I also wish they had not torn down St. Louis Corvette and that was demolished WAY before the old Flint Corvette plant. By the way, when we visited the Flint Corvette building about 10-15 years ago when it was still standing, it was in excellent condition and being used at that time as a prototype build location for light trucks.

[Patrick H.]

Re: Where were 53 MY Corvettes assembled ?

The Corvette Museum sells bricks from that building in Flint as a fundraiser. They're not that expensive if you want one as a keepsake.

http://store.corvettemuseum.com/detail.aspx?ID=2452

Patrick


Edit - attached are two photos of the building from the 50th Anniversary event in 2003.

[Scott S.]

Re: Where were 53 MY Corvettes assembled ?

Peter and Joe, The first NCM Motorama visited the location of the 1953 Corvette assembly building. WE participated with our red 1956. It had a roof top parking lot and we staged 50 Corvettes, one from each year, on the roof. Photo opportunity of a lifetime. The NCM sold bricks from the building after it was demolished.
A week long activity, friends for life.
Scott Sinclair

[Chuck G.]

Re: Where were 53 MY Corvettes assembled ?

Here are some pictures taken at the old Flint plant at the ??50th. anniversary in 1993.

Chuck

[John H.]

Re: Where were 53 MY Corvettes assembled ?

I worked in that building from 1966-1969 when it was the Chevrolet Pilot Line; the concrete ramp to the roof parking had pipes embedded in it with circulating heated glycol anti-freeze to keep it clear and dry in the winter. My two lead hourly mechanics (Don and Arnold) were both part of the 1953 Corvette assembly crew. It later became the GM Assembly Research Center under GMAD, and even later became the Pilot facility for the adjacent Flint Truck Assembly Plant, which is still operating today.

[David D.]

Re: Where were 53 MY Corvettes assembled ?

I worked in that building from 1985 to 1990. It's name was changed from the GM Assembly Reasearch Center to the Quality and Productivity Center (QPC) during that time frame. As John stated, the pilot trucks were built there at that time, including the all-new GMT400 full size trucks introduced in the 1988 model year.

Dave

[Bruce B.]

Re: Where were 53 MY Corvettes assembled ?

The pictures posted by Chuck were taken at the 50th Anniverasry of the Corvette during the get together put on by Noland Adams and the Solid Axle Corvette Club.
The people in the red shirts were some of the assembly workers who put the Corvettes together.
The 53 Corvettes at the anniverasry actually drove through the assembly plant.
In addition to numerous other activities a banquet was held and the assembly line workers were honored guests.
Numerous speakers including the line workers, John Hinckley, Harley Earls grandson, Noland Adams and others addressed the attendees.
The event was a great success in spite of the fact that GM withdrew it's support at the last minute...

[Tom H.]

Re: Where were 53 MY Corvettes assembled ?

This is a great thread !!!!! Priceless info from you guys who were there.

[Tom H.]

Re: Where were 53 MY Corvettes assembled ?

[QUOTE=Patrick Hulst (16386);600969]The Corvette Museum sells bricks from that building in Flint as a fundraiser. They're not that expensive if you want one as a keepsake.

http://store.corvettemuseum.com/detail.aspx?ID=2452

Patrick


I have one of those bricks.

[Chuck G.]

Re: Where were 53 MY Corvettes assembled ?

The pictures posted by Chuck were taken at the 50th Anniverasry of the Corvette during the get together put on by Noland Adams and the Solid Axle Corvette Club.
The people in the red shirts were some of the assembly workers who put the Corvettes together.
The 53 Corvettes at the anniverasry actually drove through the assembly plant.
In addition to numerous other activities a banquet was held and the assembly line workers were honored guests.
Numerous speakers including the line workers, John Hinckley, Harley Earls grandson, Noland Adams and others addressed the attendees.
The event was a great success in spite of the fact that GM withdrew it's support at the last minute...

Yes, I failed to mention that the folks in red were some of the line workers.

I have more pictures.

Chuck

[Alan S.]

Re: Where were 53 MY Corvettes assembled ?

Hi,
Interesting information and pictures!
I notice the person on the left is a woman. Were there many women working in the auto plants in the early fifties? If so, was that a trend started by 'Rosie the riveter'?
Regards,
Alan

[John H.]

Re: Where were 53 MY Corvettes assembled ?

Hi,
Interesting information and pictures!
I notice the person on the left is a woman. Were there many women working in the auto plants in the early fifties? If so, was that a trend started by 'Rosie the riveter'?
Regards,
Alan

Alan -

I think there were VERY few women in the assembly plant workforce in the 50's; I was a Production Foreman, General Foreman, and Superintendent at Willow Run and Lordstown from the mid-60's to the mid-70's, and during that period I'd say the line workforce was less than 5% females.