GM promises to restore Corvettes damaged in museum sinkhole

General Motors has promised to lead the restoration efforts for eight Corvettes that were consumed this week in a sinkhole that opened underneath the National Corvette Museum in Kentucky.

“The vehicles at the National Corvette Museum are some of the most significant in automotive history,” said GM’s VP of global product development, Mark Reuss. “There can only be one 1-millionth Corvette ever built. We want to ensure as many of the damaged cars are restored as possible so fans from around the world can enjoy them when the Museum reopens.”

Most of the damaged cars still remain inside the sinkhole, which is estimated to be at least 40 feet wide and 25-30 feet deep. Crews estimate that it will take several weeks to stabilize the building and sinkhole walls before the vehicle-recovery process can begin.

Security camera footage shows the floor in the museum’s Skydome area begin to buckle, before disintegrating below two Corvettes parked next to a 2009 ZR1 “Blue Devil.”

A flyover video recorded by a small drone only shows a few of the ‘Vettes, including the Blue Devil that landed upright on all four wheels. A 1962 model rests vertically against the sinkhole wall, while a 1993 40th Anniversary Ruby Red edition is wedged upside down against its hood and front bumper. Other Corvettes are presumably buried underneath layers of building debris, soil and rock.

“When the cars are recovered, they will be shipped to the Mechanical Assembly facility, a small specialty shop within GM Design, where the best restoration approach will be determined,” GM said in a statement. “Mechanical Assembly has been part of GM Design since the 1930s, and today maintains and restores many of the vehicles in the GM Heritage Collection and GM’s historic concept cars.”