The Building of Our 2003 AE Corvette

by Ken & Vicki Robb

Since we are "corvette people", the ordering of our 2003 AE coupe has filled our lives with excitement this summer. The Internet has opened so many doors with its information. We were able to learn when our car would be built with help from the people on the Internet. So on July 29 we took off for Bowling Green and the plant. Our car was to start on the trim line that afternoon. We arrived at the plant early on the 30th for the 9 am plant tour. When we first saw our car, it had just about been through the trim line and was headed up into the rafters for the 30 minute ‘slack" loop in the line. Then when it came out of the loop, it was lunchtime break for the workers. So a quick lunch at Hardee’s and back into the plant after the line started back up.

We were able to see the body marriage at about 11:30 am.

The car then proceeded on down the line for final assembly that afternoon.

We signed some of the car parts, talked with workers on the line and had a good time!

Vicki was able to do the first start at about 2:30 pm. We are Ready to Go!

The car came onto it wheels/tires for the first time at about 3:15 pm and off the assembly line later that afternoon before the 4:42 quitting time. We were very appreciative of the workers attentiveness’ to the assembly of the car. The dealer’s code sheet shows that the car was released for shipment the next day, the 31st. That is somewhat comforting in that it didn’t have quality problems requiring repairs.

Car was received at the dealer in Ft. Worth, TX on 8-8-2002. It was trucked from Springhill, TN instead of coming via train. I have included 2 links to pictures taken of the new car in BG and at FW.

Building our 03.


Taking delivery in Ft. Worth.