1962 Corvette Damaged by Sinkhole Resurfaces in a New Light

Nat’l Corvette Museum to put Tuxedo Black ‘Vette on display Feb. 12.

Four years ago, eight Corvettes were infamously damaged in a sinkhole collapse at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Since then, General Motors and the museum’s staff have been working diligently assessing the situation and trying to save what they could from the collection of damaged Corvettes. Now, another one of those vehicles, a 1962 Tuxedo Black Corvette, has been restored and will go back on display at the museum beginning in February.

The latest Corvette sinkhole survivor has undergone a painstaking restoration led by Daniel Decker, Vehicle Maintenance & Preservation Coordinator at the museum. According to the Bowling Green Daily News, Decker spent the past year doing body, mechanical and painting work on the Corvette. With assistance from museum curator Derek Moore and other team members, they pieced together the heavily damaged Corvette, returning it to its pristine original condition.

“We tried to keep everything original,” Decker told the Bowling Green Daily News. “We repaired as much as we could and tried to keep it as original as we could.”

The ’62 first-generation Corvette is the first restoration from the sinkhole collapse to be done by museum staff. It will take its place next to the first two sinkhole cars restored by General Motors, as well as the other five Corvettes damaged in the sinkhole collapse that could not, unfortunately, be restored.

During the time the 1962 Corvette went from ruined to restored, museum visitors were able to see the work in progress through a window into the garage where the work was being done. With their mission nearly accomplished and the Corvette ready for public consumption, there is one question in particular someone might ask: “Is it driveable?” Yes, the Corvette is mechanically sound and it has even been test-driven around the museum.