National Corvette Museum Opens Driven to Preserve Exhibition in Bowling Green, Kentucky
Rare Corvettes and Artifacts Highlight Preservation Work in New Exhibition
The National Corvette Museum has officially opened Driven to Preserve, a new exhibition that places the behind-the-scenes work of collection care on full display. Located in Bowling Green, Kentucky, the exhibition invites visitors to explore how the Museum protects and preserves more than 120 rare Corvettes and over 50,000 Corvette artifacts.
From documentation and cataloging to environmental monitoring and interpretive planning, Driven to Preserve reveals how preservation happens one decision at a time. Guests step into the daily routines that keep America’s Sports Car ready to teach, inspire, and endure.
What Visitors Will Experience in Driven to Preserve
This new Corvette exhibition expands the story beyond the showroom floor. Alongside historic vehicles, visitors will encounter artifacts and archival materials that highlight the human side of Corvette history, including the owners, builders, racers, and defining moments that shaped the legacy.
The exhibition explains:
- What happens when a Corvette or artifact donation arrives
- How objects are cleaned, documented, and prepared for long-term care
- The difference between restoration and preservation
- Why environmental control and documentation are critical to maintaining authenticity
“This new exhibition helps visitors see what it takes to keep Corvette history accurate, accessible, and ready to teach,” said Robert Maxhimer, Director of Curatorial Affairs and Education. “From cataloging artifacts and monitoring conditions to the hands-on care of vehicles like the 1962 Corvette rescued from the Sinkhole or engineering development cars, this exhibition shows that stewardship is active work. It is how the Museum protects America’s Sports Car and the stories that come with it for research, interpretation, and the next generation.”
Vehicles Featured in Driven to Preserve
1979 Engineering Development Corvette
Built with an experimental chassis and parts to test updates for the 1980 and 1981 model years, this unique Corvette helped validate the Bowling Green Assembly Plant production line and train new hires.
1958 Corvette Chassis
This display illustrates the structural foundation of the car and the work involved in a frame-off preservation project. Visitors can see what a Corvette looks like when the body and frame are separated.
1967 Corvette Sting Ray “Sweat Hog”
Nicknamed the “Sweat Hog,” this second-generation Corvette demonstrates how racing history becomes part of preservation. The car achieved success on New York roads and circuits, including winning the 1974 Northeast NCCC championship. Despite multiple racing incidents, it remains approximately 85 percent original.
1989 Corvette Snake Skinner II
A prototype Corvette ZR-1 developed to explore weight reduction and performance testing in response to the Dodge Viper, this vehicle was one of 84 pre-production ZR-1 models used for testing and media previews. It later recorded a quarter-mile time of 11.88 seconds.
1962 Tuxedo Black Corvette
One of eight Corvettes damaged in the Museum’s 2014 sinkhole collapse, this vehicle was recovered three weeks after the event and initially displayed in its damaged condition. Restored in 2017, preservation efforts focused on maintaining original fiberglass and straightening the frame while honoring its history.
Supporting the Future of Corvette Preservation
Driven to Preserve takes residence in the Museum’s Limited Engagement Gallery as construction continues on the new National Corvette Museum Collections Facility. The 66,000-square-foot facility is currently under construction on the Museum campus and will support long-term vehicle storage, artifact conservation, and preservation work.
Once complete, the Museum plans to offer guided tours beginning in Spring 2027, providing guests with rare access to the National Corvette Museum collection. As select vehicles move to the new facility, the Limited Engagement Gallery will continue to support staging, research access, and active collection care.
For downloadable images and media assets, visit:
https://corvettemuseum.smugmug.com/Driven-to-Preserve
Plan Your Visit
Conveniently located off Interstate 65 in Bowling Green, Kentucky, just one hour north of Nashville, the National Corvette Museum offers an immersive experience for lifelong enthusiasts and first-time visitors alike.
From milestone Corvettes to hands-on educational exhibits, the Museum is dedicated to preserving Corvette history while building for the future.
About the National Corvette Museum
The National Corvette Museum is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit foundation serving as an educational and research institution dedicated to documenting and preserving the evolution of Corvette, America’s Sports Car.
Located one mile from the General Motors Bowling Green Assembly Plant, which has manufactured every Corvette since 1981, the Museum campus features 115,000 square feet of exhibit and event space, more than 120 historically significant Corvettes, over 50,000 artifacts, and the NCM Motorsports Park.
Learn more at www.corvettemuseum.org.
