All Roads Lead To Nashville For Corvette Countdown Begins For Major 50th Anniversary Celebration in June

NASHVILLE - Chevrolet Motor Division today announced updated plans for the extensive Corvette 50th Anniversary Celebration taking place in and around Nashville in late June 2003.

At a news conference prior to the start of the Nashville Auto Show, Rick Baldick, Corvette marketing director announced, "In less than six months, you're going see Corvette taking over the Nashville landscape. We're planning on a truly impressive number of activities going on in order to celebrate this landmark anniversary in grand style. A 50th Anniversary only happens once, and we're determined to make Corvette's one to remember."

In addition to the activities in Nashville, Chevrolet is offering a special 50th Anniversary Edition package, available on 2003 Corvette coupe and convertible models. It includes special 50th Anniversary Red exterior paint, specific badging, unique Shale interior including color coordinated instrument panel and console, and champagne-painted anniversary wheels with special emblems. It also features embroidered badges on the seats and floormats, padded door armrests and grips and a Shale convertible top. The Anniversary Edition includes the standard Corvette LS1 engine, as well as Magnetic Selective Ride Control. A special 50th Anniversary Edition of the 2003 Corvette was the Official Pace Car of the Indianapolis 500 last May, marking the fifth time that a Corvette has paced the race.

For the past two years, the J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality Study has named the Corvette the "Best Premium Sports Car." The 2002 Corvette also received MotorWeek TV's "Drivers' Choice Award" for Best Performance Car and was named "Best Sports Car" in MONEY Magazine's 2002 Car Guide.

The plans for the Corvette 50th Anniversary celebration were announced at the fourth annual Nashville International Auto and Truck Show. As part of a special exhibit, Vintage Corvettes, historic memorabilia, a replica of the C5-R race car and the 50th Anniversary Edition Corvette will be on display at the Convention Center throughout the auto show.

As many as 12,000 Corvette owners and enthusiasts will attend the 50th Anniversary Celebration at the Coliseum in Nashville, June 27-28, 2003. Activities include: car displays, parades, technical seminars, restoration clinics, heritage displays, racing exhibits, elements from the Chevy Rock & Roll Tour, and a major rock & roll concert.

Up to 15,000 hotel rooms in 19 area hotels are expected to be booked over a three-day period. The event is expected to generate millions of dollars for the city of Nashville.

Nashville is 60 miles from the National Corvette Museum and the Corvette manufacturing facility in Bowling Green, Ky. The National Corvette Museum is organizing a caravan of approximately 7,000 Corvettes to be driven from every state into Bowling Green prior to the activities in Nashville.

Chevrolet is holding the Corvette 50th Anniversary Celebration to celebrate a half-century with America's favorite sports car and to thank loyal owners and enthusiasts. "There's nothing to compare with the devotion of the Corvette community," said Baldick. "That's why Chevrolet is answering the call for a major blowout. You name something Corvette; we've got it."

Additional information about the Corvette 50th Anniversary Celebration can be found at www.corvette50th.com. Caravan information can be found at www.nationalcorvettecaravan.com.