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The 50th Anniversary of Corvette Production
By Noland Adams
The first Corvette was built on June 30, 1953. To celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Corvette Production, the Solid Axle Corvette Club (SACC) will hold its 2003 National Convention where the first Corvette was built, Flint, Michigan.
The last weekend in June 2003 will see the largest gathering of 1953 Corvettes ever: over 60 are expected. This alone is amazing, as only 300 were built. The festivities include seminars and technical sessions, a Shine and Show for Corvettes, and a driving tour through the greater Flint area.
On the all-important anniversary day: Monday June 30, 2003, there will be a Corvette parade through Flint to the old building where the 1953 Corvettes were built; the ’53 Corvettes will pose for a group photo, and a then a huge Corvette Birthday Party in the evening.
Retired GM employees who contributed to the building of the 1953 Corvette will be honored guests at the celebrations. There will be a draftsman who crafted the blueprints, a worker who made body panels, a body assembler, the worker who installed the doors and hood, a body painter, and others. All will tell about their experiences.
Question: how many Corvettes left the factory with a steel hood?
Answer: One. 1953 Corvette #56 has a metal hood; it will be trailered from Washington State to the celebration in Flint. A retired GM development engineer who worked on the project will reveal why the metal hood was built and installed on a 1953 Corvette, and why it left the factory with the hood installed why it was left on the Corvette. Bring your own magnet.
Other guests include Billy Durant’s grandson, and Richard Earl, Harley Earl’s grandson. Other events and surprises are planned, and may be a reality as you read this. Don’t miss the opportunity to attend and document this once-in-a-lifetime event in the history of the Chevrolet Corvette; the 50th Anniversary of Corvette Production.
Although we will be celebrating the 50th birthday of the 1953 Corvette, all other years are welcome as well. You can see more about the event at www.solidaxle.org.
Noland Adams, President
Solid Axle Corvette Club
Email: nolandadams@internet49.com; phone (530) 626-3232; FAX 530.626.0536; by mail Noland Adams, PO Box 1134, El Dorado, CA 95623-1134.
The Solid Axle Corvette Club
DAILY SCHEDULE, 2003 NATIONAL CONVENTION
FLINT, MI, JUNE 26 TO JUNE 30, 2003
Thursday 6-26, 6 to 10 pm, Registration and Get Acquainted Party at The Character Inn; desserts served.
Friday 6-27, 8 am; Registration opens at the Character Inn
8:46; Caravan departs for the engine plant tour
9:30 to 11:00 am; Tour 1, First L6 engine plant tour
“ “ “ “ “; Tour 2, First pickup assembly plant tour
11:30 to 12:45; Lunch at the engine plant.
2:00 pm to 3:30 pm; Tour 3, Second L6 engine plant tour
“ “ “ “; Tour 4, Second pickup assembly plant tour
8:00 pm to 8:30 Late Registration pm Hotel lobby
No evening activities planned at this time.
Saturday 6-28, 8:00 to 8:30 Late Registration in Hotel Lobby
All Day: ladies are invited to sightsee or shop
Seminars and Technical Sessions:
1) 8:46 to 10:15, Some NEW 1953 Info by Ken Kayser
2) 10:30 to 12:00, Side Curtains & folding top frames by Steve Newsom, and Soft Tops by John Kennedy
3) 12 Noon to 1:00, Lunch at the Hotel (part of schedule)
4) 1:01 to 2:30, Reproduction Parts by Larry Richter
5) 2:45 to 4:15, Casting Anomalies by John Hinckley, followed by a question and answer session.
6) Supper- on your own.
7) 7:16, Annual SACC Business Meeting, Character Inn
Sunday 6-29, 8:00 am to 8:30; Late Registration in Hotel lobby
9:00 am: Our Corvettes join the car show in progress at The Sloan Museum
Lunch at the car show.
Optional: Our Corvettes leave about 1:00 for a tour of the greater Flint Area
Dinner on your own.
8:00 pm to 9:00 pm, Late Registration in the Hotel Lobby
No evening activities planned at this time.
Monday June 30, 8:00 am to 8:30; Late Registration in Hotel lobby
8:00 to 12 noon; Corvettes only Show-N-Shine at The
Sloan Museum
About 11:30; 50th Anniversary of Corvette Production Ceremonies; Introduction of the Mayor and Special Guests
12 Noon: lunch provided at The Sloan Museum
1:00 Corvette Caravan leaves for a Historic Parade through Flint
2:00 Arrive at Al Serra Chevrolet for a group photo
2:30 Arrive at the 1953 Corvette assembly building for photos and Ceremonies
6:00 Social Time at the Character Inn
6:30 Supper is served
7:30 to 10:20 Special Presentations and Big 50th Birthday Party for the Corvette.
End of convention: drive home safely
By Noland Adams
The first Corvette was built on June 30, 1953. To celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Corvette Production, the Solid Axle Corvette Club (SACC) will hold its 2003 National Convention where the first Corvette was built, Flint, Michigan.
The last weekend in June 2003 will see the largest gathering of 1953 Corvettes ever: over 60 are expected. This alone is amazing, as only 300 were built. The festivities include seminars and technical sessions, a Shine and Show for Corvettes, and a driving tour through the greater Flint area.
On the all-important anniversary day: Monday June 30, 2003, there will be a Corvette parade through Flint to the old building where the 1953 Corvettes were built; the ’53 Corvettes will pose for a group photo, and a then a huge Corvette Birthday Party in the evening.
Retired GM employees who contributed to the building of the 1953 Corvette will be honored guests at the celebrations. There will be a draftsman who crafted the blueprints, a worker who made body panels, a body assembler, the worker who installed the doors and hood, a body painter, and others. All will tell about their experiences.
Question: how many Corvettes left the factory with a steel hood?
Answer: One. 1953 Corvette #56 has a metal hood; it will be trailered from Washington State to the celebration in Flint. A retired GM development engineer who worked on the project will reveal why the metal hood was built and installed on a 1953 Corvette, and why it left the factory with the hood installed why it was left on the Corvette. Bring your own magnet.
Other guests include Billy Durant’s grandson, and Richard Earl, Harley Earl’s grandson. Other events and surprises are planned, and may be a reality as you read this. Don’t miss the opportunity to attend and document this once-in-a-lifetime event in the history of the Chevrolet Corvette; the 50th Anniversary of Corvette Production.
Although we will be celebrating the 50th birthday of the 1953 Corvette, all other years are welcome as well. You can see more about the event at www.solidaxle.org.
Noland Adams, President
Solid Axle Corvette Club
Email: nolandadams@internet49.com; phone (530) 626-3232; FAX 530.626.0536; by mail Noland Adams, PO Box 1134, El Dorado, CA 95623-1134.
The Solid Axle Corvette Club
DAILY SCHEDULE, 2003 NATIONAL CONVENTION
FLINT, MI, JUNE 26 TO JUNE 30, 2003
Thursday 6-26, 6 to 10 pm, Registration and Get Acquainted Party at The Character Inn; desserts served.
Friday 6-27, 8 am; Registration opens at the Character Inn
8:46; Caravan departs for the engine plant tour
9:30 to 11:00 am; Tour 1, First L6 engine plant tour
“ “ “ “ “; Tour 2, First pickup assembly plant tour
11:30 to 12:45; Lunch at the engine plant.
2:00 pm to 3:30 pm; Tour 3, Second L6 engine plant tour
“ “ “ “; Tour 4, Second pickup assembly plant tour
8:00 pm to 8:30 Late Registration pm Hotel lobby
No evening activities planned at this time.
Saturday 6-28, 8:00 to 8:30 Late Registration in Hotel Lobby
All Day: ladies are invited to sightsee or shop
Seminars and Technical Sessions:
1) 8:46 to 10:15, Some NEW 1953 Info by Ken Kayser
2) 10:30 to 12:00, Side Curtains & folding top frames by Steve Newsom, and Soft Tops by John Kennedy
3) 12 Noon to 1:00, Lunch at the Hotel (part of schedule)
4) 1:01 to 2:30, Reproduction Parts by Larry Richter
5) 2:45 to 4:15, Casting Anomalies by John Hinckley, followed by a question and answer session.
6) Supper- on your own.
7) 7:16, Annual SACC Business Meeting, Character Inn
Sunday 6-29, 8:00 am to 8:30; Late Registration in Hotel lobby
9:00 am: Our Corvettes join the car show in progress at The Sloan Museum
Lunch at the car show.
Optional: Our Corvettes leave about 1:00 for a tour of the greater Flint Area
Dinner on your own.
8:00 pm to 9:00 pm, Late Registration in the Hotel Lobby
No evening activities planned at this time.
Monday June 30, 8:00 am to 8:30; Late Registration in Hotel lobby
8:00 to 12 noon; Corvettes only Show-N-Shine at The
Sloan Museum
About 11:30; 50th Anniversary of Corvette Production Ceremonies; Introduction of the Mayor and Special Guests
12 Noon: lunch provided at The Sloan Museum
1:00 Corvette Caravan leaves for a Historic Parade through Flint
2:00 Arrive at Al Serra Chevrolet for a group photo
2:30 Arrive at the 1953 Corvette assembly building for photos and Ceremonies
6:00 Social Time at the Character Inn
6:30 Supper is served
7:30 to 10:20 Special Presentations and Big 50th Birthday Party for the Corvette.
End of convention: drive home safely
