Senator Reynolds files bill naming the Corvette as the official state sports car

State Senator Mike Reynolds, D-Bowling Green, has filed legislation (Senate Bill 111) designating the Corvette as the official state sports car of Kentucky.
The Corvette’s role in Kentucky’s manufacturing and tourism industries make it a natural choice for “official sports car of Kentucky.” Warren County is the home of the General Motors Bowling Green Assembly Plant and the National Corvette Museum.

“Bowling Green is becoming more of a tourist destination. The National Corvette Museum is a major part of that and is a definite drawing card for the traveling public. Drawing attention to our community and the Corvette’s unique role in our American heritage can only boost economic development for our area,” Senator Reynolds said.

The first 300 Corvettes were built by hand in 1953 in Flint, Michigan, just after General Motors unveiled the Corvette as a “dream car” in the Motorama show in New York’s Waldorf Astoria Hotel. The next year, the production was moved to St. Louis and in June of 1981, the Corvette production was transferred to Bowling Green. Today, the Bowling Green plant employs more than 500 Kentuckians and is known throughout the world for its famous high-quality product.
On July 2, 1992, the one millionth Corvette was manufactured. The 50th anniversary was marked in June of 2003 with a special 50th anniversary Corvette package. The Corvette plant received a number of awards in 2009 including the J.D. Power’s Top GM Model, Best in Segment and the Bronze Plant Award.

Each year, approximately 50,000 tourists from around the world visit the Corvette plant to watch the manufacturing process. The plant has partnered with the National Corvette Museum to enable Corvette enthusiasts the opportunity to watch their own dream car being built and to take a personalized tour of the facility. The museum has around 150,000 visitors a year.

Senate Bill 111 has been referred to the Senate Committee on Economic Development, Tourism, and Labor. “The Corvette has become a tangible symbol of our Commonwealth, and I’m excited to make that symbolism official,” Senator Reynolds said.Senator Reynolds represents the 32nd district, which includes Butler and Warren counties.