Earlier today, we reported on a heist of eight Chevy Corvette units stolen from a storage lot in Bowling Green, Kentucky, near the Vette’s sole production site. Local authorities promptly recovered the sports cars, and one Michigan man was arrested in connection with the thefts. The heist received considerable media attention, and some auto media outlets claimed that one of the eight stolen C8 models was a Corvette ZR1.
Notably, GM Authority was not one of them. To clear up confusion started by photos circulating on social media, GM has confirmed that none of the stolen Corvettes were C8 ZR1 units.
Credit: Tyson D. Wade
Credit: Tyson D. Wade
“Eight Corvettes vehicles were stolen from a third-party storage lot in Bowling Green and recovered thanks to local authorities,” a Chevy spokesperson said in a statement to GM Authority. “The Corvette ZR1 seen in photos was not stolen. It was driven by a GM employee assisting in recovery efforts.”
The photographed car in question is, indeed, a Chevy Corvette ZR1 finished in Red Mist Metallic Tintcoat (GPH) paint. However, it’s not one of the stolen cars. As Chevy clarified to us, it was driven by a GM employee to assist the local authorities in their recovery efforts.
The red ZR1 was almost certainly a GM Capture Test Fleet unit. CTF units are pre-production cars driven by GM employees for evaluation prior to a model’s start of regular production (SORP). Although technically prototypes, CTF cars are often identical to their production counterparts. Barring any problems, they’re typically sent to dealerships and sold used when GM is done testing them.
Reports of the Corvette heist mentioned that the stolen cars were all stickered up as they had just rolled off the assembly line. This surely made them suspicious and easy for police to spot. Since the red ZR1 didn’t have said stickers, that was a hint that it wasn’t one of the stolen Corvette units.
As for the case itself, there don’t appear to be any updates on additional suspects that have been apprehended.
Comments
It’s time to cut this crap. According to the woke crowd, Car thieves in this country are just some poor, desperate souls just trying to get by and feed their kids—Truth is, they’re entitled little punks who think the world owes them something. They don’t want to work, they don’t want to earn, they want to take. Give me a break. And don’t get me started on the way it’s glorified. Some of these clowns will steal a car, crash it into a wall five minutes later, and then post the whole thing online like they’re action movie stars. Newsflash: you’re not Vin Diesel, you’re a moron with zero impulse control and even less respect for society. My daughter’s husband is from Iran—a place that’s been through every economic hell you can think of. inflation through the roof, currency crashes… and he was telling me how this crap rarely happens there. This car jacking bull crap is clearly cultural and a CANCER affecting us God-Fearing Americans. You steal a car, you’re not just a criminal—you’re worthless scum.
Some call it “poverty” or “survival,” when really it’s just selfishness wrapped in victimhood. You want to survive? Get a damn job. Flip burgers. Mow lawns. Do something other than snatch someone’s ride. RON
Touch one of my “5 Corvettes”, even act like your going to take any of my Stuff that I have worked all my life for, and served our country for what I have, we call that F*#$ Around and Find Out. I am not scared of JAIL or PRISON, so beware of this US Mairne.
A lot of this story is missing. Thieves cut through the fence and just drove away. Are these cars just parked unlocked with the keys inside? Where are the security guards. Pretty sloppy outfit running this place.