Building the last C4 Corvette, 1996, Bowling Green

Here is a video of the last C4 Corvette being built at the Bowling Green, Kentucky GM assembly plant, June 20 1996.

[@TralfazConstruction]

What's even more amazing, in my opinion, is that human beings collectively assemble all of those thousands of parts and at the terminus of that assembly line comes a new car. These Corvettes are still prevalent on our roads and many are loved and well-cared for. A testament to an enduring icon: The Chevrolet Corvette.

[@solemandd67]

I am very proud of my '96 Collectors Edition Corvette Convertible with the factory auxiliary hard top. It is the culmination of over 40 cars since I was 19 and the fulfillment of a dream since I was 5. God is good!

[@kingshabazz1310]

I have a 96 Collectors also. Hard top with performance 3.07 gears. Even got the original manual. Never gonna sell her.

[@TralfazConstruction]

C4, my favorite Corvette bodystyle. That long hood and those flip-up and rotate into position headlamps, not to even mention flipping that front clip at a gas station to check your oil. Ultra-cool. imho!

[@dougcoleburn1579]

I met Ernest once on the line tour and he let me start a new Corvette. Very nice guy! Love my 95 6 speed 😊

[@91_C4_FL]

It’s cool to think my C4 went down that very line and was put together by those same tools and probably some of those same people.

[@vl5150]

You you younggins below that love the C4, you would have loved being around in 'the early 80's when the anticipation for the c4 was through the roof. The C3 is loved now, but by this time it's welcome was worn out. It was caricature of a 60's sports car by the early 80's. My dad had a '74 and even by the late 70's the Trans Am was the cooler car to own. So the C4 was the car to re-establish Corvette's excellent since the early 70's. It did not disappoint. As kids we would flock around the lucky few '84 Corvette owners to look at the interior of the car and view the digiital gauges. To admire the sleek lines (most cars at this time were boxes on wheels). And if you were lucky they would open the hood showing the engine and front suspension. The mag articles were much kinder to the car than the C3 and it got better in '85 pretty much matching or beating the best in the world from an acceleration, handling, and braking standpoint. This stuff doesn't last long and the shelf life of a sports car is only about 5 years on the cutting edge, but boy did this car make a splash in the beginning. I think they do hold up today and I picked up a nice low mileage 1990 a few years ago and enjoy it very much.

[@chadman1231]

I was 6 months old when this car was built. Now I own a 1990 Corvette. Gotta say, these things are absolutely beautiful.

[@supreme2005]

That would be so cool to see your car being built and meeting the people who built it for you!

[@1allspub]

This is a great historical snapshot of just how loved the C4 was in its day (even at the end of its run). Nowadays the C4 is viewed (wrongly IMO) as somehow a lesser Vette... but that is pure historical revisionism of the worst order. The C4 was such seminal generation. It brought the Corvette into the realm of world class sports cars, gave us the first 150MPH production Vette, gave the Corvette *unparalleled* racing success and prestige, the first 300HP Vette in many years, the quickest Vette in over a decade, the 254.76MPH Calloway Sledgehammer, Lingenfelter, the ZR-1, and the second longest generational run in Corvette history (so far). In all reality, C4 was one of the most lauded and successful generations of all time, in its time. It deserves far more respect than it gets nowadays...far, far more.

[@airbornegomez]

This is beautiful. I was 8 and living in Hawaii when this car was built. I would love to own a C4. There's a 1992 Corvette Base for $15,000 with 18,000 miles for sale just 40 miles away from where I live. Gotta save up though...

[@austenfairbanks5604]

Did you end up getting it?

[@jamessimms2528]

I just recently got my first Corvette a 1989 C4. I love the car and im very proud to drive it down the highway. OWENSBORO KENTUCKY.

[@eaglerider94]

Still enjoying my '94 6spd Polo Green Coupe! In fact, going to polish it this weekend to get her ready for the 70 YEARS OF CORVETTE | AMERICAN CRUISE-IN at the Peterson Automotive Museum July 30th! Imagine, built by people, not robots!

[@eaglevision993]

@akvette Mine is 22 years old and looks like almost brand new. I wonder how todays built cars will look in 20 years....

[@RT10Viperman]

I saved a numbers matching 1989 C4 from being parted out. The guy had blown the head gaskets out by running it hot after a coolant line broke and he took the motor out and took it apart thinking he could fix it...He couldn't. He sold some things but when I got to it the main things were still there. block, heads, transmission all disassembled. I got it all put back together with new bearings, rings and gaskets and a lot of missing parts bought all over the place. It only has 103,000 miles on it and its running good...!! Save the C4's....!!!

[@bond1011]

my dad recently gave me his '84 because he bought a '94 for himself lol and mine was white too, love that color! lol

[@EdwardDG2]

I was just a baby lol. And now I own a 96 Vette

[@kyle.buss_guitar]

I met mike, he is such a great guy! i talked to him for about an hour, he is a very inspiring person!

[@VetteAholicZ06]

Bit emotional watching this :). Makes me more proud of my 1992 C4!! Great video, thank you for sharing this akvette.

[@PuppetKing]

this is very emotional! I love the c4s and this video made me cry......

[@goldenmanuever1176]

I was a senior in high school when this happened. I remember the hottest was the LT4 GS.

[@BamaE92]

Love this video, the C4 Corvette was one of the first cars I fell in love with when I was very little in the late 80's (along with the Ferrari Testarossa and Porsche 911 3.2 Carrera). I hope he never sells (or sold) that car, that truly is a priceless car complimented with a priceless memory.

[@joeysixtysix]

I toured the plant 2 months before that. It was really interesting. Nice people too.

[@MrDjh66]

This is great love it love my 66

[@Poncho389]

C-4's rule!!

[@dwoodog]

I almost cried.

[@JerkVegas86]

A tear came to my eye.........

[@VetteAholicZ06]

Great! Last motor with the optispark from factory!

[@synthpro]

This is interesting! I have a 1984 model. I am getting ready to restore mine. Thanks for posting

[@deloreanman14]

It's pretty cool they let him be there for this.

[@markko17]

Interesting stuff. Personally, I always liked the '63-'67 best.

[@ckozak10]

that was a really interesting video, im 16 and my parents have a 89 and i love to drive it when i get the chance to

[@bhir1699]

I love my 1987 C4!

[@DeathAngelHRA]

I have owned 5 C4's and I love my 87 roadster.She currently has 34,000 miles on her and I have owned her for 12 years.I backed off at 160mph before I did my mods.

[@austinaubinoe]

the fact that they tore all the tooling out right away made me cry a little bit.

[@GeorgeHeindel]

Congradulations to Corvette Mike

[@akvette]

I've "only" had mine for ten years, but I agree!

[@bond1011]

My father is getting a '94 and he is giving me his '84! Not as good as the 1994 but still an awesome car!

[@Marco_A_Marcano_Soto]

WOW, My man MIKE YAGER, ceo of the best Corvette parts company in the world Mid America Motorworks in Effingham, Illinois. Looking young mike.

[@daryoushborja5115]

This one was totaled in the Corvette museum.

[@jamessimms2528]

This car didn’t fall in the sink hole.

[@bengus8148]

Whew!! Wonder if this could be uploaded again so we can see it in 720/1080?? since YT supports that now but maybe didn't in 2007. This 240 res makes your eyes water.

[@anchami79]

The only factory in the world that ever made C4 Corvettes was THAT one in Bowling Green, KY. This video is of the last C4 ever being built. Period. There were no other factories.

[@VetteAholicZ06]

@spoochmonkey Don't know what the heck your talking about. A Corvette owner here speaking, I think all Corvettes are sexy. You obviously aren't a Corvette enthusiast or owner if you think Corvettes are dying.....

[@Zuhaltermann]

great video

[@CorvetteManiac]

Way cool!!! part of history

[@stiltner1972]

from 84-91 c4's Non ZR-1 came with the L98 engine rated at 245 Hp from 92-96 you could get the LT-1 or LT-4 the LT-1 was rated at 300Hp and the LT-4 was at 330Hp

[@clemnewton9995]

I just amazed how cheap c4 are now saw 95 white coupe for 4500 on craiglist

[@RT10Viperman]

I just got one for $2,000

[@Monst3r177]

@TexasMan77 yeah he planned on storing it

[@anchami79]

Actually, that's exactly what he means. '96 was the last year for the C4 AND that actual car is the last C4 ever made.

[@TheMrPeteChannel]

3:46 ITS ALIVE! ALIVE!!!!

[@CrazyLefty204]

c-4's are awesome my dads is a 86 so its 10 years older than this corvette but its not a stock c4 either

[@bond1011]

i own one of the very first C4's! and i love it! this is a sad video!

[@justinpino8115]

Shawn T. Helfrich wow nine years ago. Do you still have it?

[@shanepowers4887]

Shawn T. Helfrich do you still have it??

[@stiltner1972]

Hell Yea!!

[@RidX4Ricers]

Whats wrong with 300HP? Granted the LS series are better, but the LT1 was a huge improvement over the L98.

[@ssm1997m]

i wonder where it is NOW!!!

[@CrikeySpiders]

Who gives a shit? When GM starts recruiting people from BG instead of relocating their own from failing plants in Indiana and Michigan, I'll feel that that plant is contributing something real to that town. I've never met so many $26 an hour dead beats!!!

[@s104btcummins]

first year for the c4 not bad at all

[@C4Brent757]

Niceee

[@neerredd]

@worseeversignup but the c5 and c6 are miles ahead of the c4

[@goldenmanuever1176]

They all did the same for me on my 1997 Honda Civic SI.

[@FirebirdDude]

Who is Mike?

[@skipwilson5288]

that car is now worth a zillion dollars lol

[@TexasMan77]

I wonder if he still owns the car.

[@FlyTour69]

I was in the womb back then, and was gonna be born before too long.

[@Stigz34]

kinda sad, but c5 was a major improvement

[@bond1011]

i have a friend that has a yellow '84

[@SANYUR]

What was the last C6?

[@tyzorg]

the zr1 had 405hp

[@bond1011]

cause thats how we say "coupe" i thought every country says it that way, but i guess im worng

[@SkinnedLynryd]

Gee wiz! 6 whole gallons of gas?

[@stn321]

"Mike" is crazy, I'd rather have the first c5 than the last c4. What was he thinking?

[@Roadrunner-g3e]

Where that car now

[@rubyred93chev]

On loan to the NCM there in Bowling Green, KY.

[@Meinstein]

My '91 was built the year I got my divorce. Wish I had bought it then but I have one now.

[@BIGDAVE5352]

Fast forward 11 years and it is junked during the cash for clunkers program.

[@TexasNova70]

I would have had everyone sign the out side of the car. Hood, fenders, doors ect. why hide all those names in fenders,transmissions & gas tanks.......?

[@thinkpad411]

@worseeversignup Now... i don't want to be flamed to a crisp here so i'm not going to point any falacies. I'm just going to say "No, i don't agree..."

[@mrdouglas51510]

That's bullshit.... You can not get a car from the factory with 0 miles on it..... The factory will test it for a few miles when it comes off the line, and the dealer will also put at least a few miles during prep

[@bond1011]

dude i know im trying to make him sell it to me so i can restore it!

[@freestylem15]

american-made legacy

[@chris5034]

Selling my 1987 corvette 3,500$

[@Brianistheman03]

LT1's suck. Good riddance to bad rubbish.

[@bond1011]

yeah prolly, but the bad thing about his car is that he nvr takes care of it...its a piece of junk

[@wkeil1981]

Out with that ugly crap and i.mn with the sexy C5

[@gideonsemo6377]

wkeil1981 haha almost buddy. C4 is best

[@dereckmajczyk5861]

I don't care for vettes

[@allenhanks7719]

LT4 the best

[@solo_dolo6553]

All American 🇺🇸