2003 Corvette Museum Delivery

When you order a new Corvette one of the options you can list is R8C, or "Museum Delivery".

It was 12 years ago that Nancy and I took delivery of our 2003 50th Anniversary Corvette at the National Corvette Museum (and toured the Corvette factory which is across the street) in Bowling Green, Kentucky.  Then we needed to drive the Corvette home in an enormous winter storm!  Here are some photos!

First we flew to Nashville Tennessee, rented a Dodge,and began the drive to Bowling Green.  We stopped at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel, where they were featuring the 50th Anniversary Corvette in their lobby.  This was the first time we had seen in-person the car we had ordered on faith.

When we arrived in Bowling Green we toured areas behind-the-scenes of the Museum in a Corvette golf cart and were treated to a tour of the Corvette factory.  They wouldn't let us drive the Dodge over to the factory so someone had to give us a ride.

Finally they showed us our car!  Give us the keys!  Please!

Then we were ready to drive back to Carlsbad.  Then it started to rain . . . 

Our first stop was to see Marcia and John Lambert in Arkansas.  Then it started to snow . . . 

We pressed on to be home in time for Christmas.  The only vehicles on the roads were us and trucks.  The active handling of the Corvette kept us safe.  Not all the trucks were as fortunate.  This is only one of many accidents we saw on our way home.

And then the roads iced up and they started closing the Interstate Highways.  Our itinerary did not include an overnight stay in Amarillo, Texas!

The next day we pressed on toward New Mexico.  The Corvette ran great and was getting 28 MPG. 

Every chance we got we diverted to sections of Route 66 for sight-seeing or dining.

As soon as we crossed the California State line we dropped the convertible top.  We finally made it home in time for Christmas in a really dirty 50th Anniversary Corvette.  

Happy Holidays!