12 years after demolition, not all of Flint Corvette factory has disappeared

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Bricks like this one came from a Flint General Motors factory that was demolished more than a decade ago and are being sold to benefit the National Corvette Museum.

FLINT, MI — The Flint factory where the first few Corvettes were built fell to the wrecking ball in 2003, but for $25, you can still own a certified piece of that historic plant.

The National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green Kentucky, has been selling bricks from the small production facility that was located just north of the Flint Assembly Plant on VanSlyke Road for several years. A museum spokeswoman said there are plenty remaining.

Twenty-five-dollar bricks come with an engraved, numbered plate and certificate of authenticity, signed by officials for the museum.

For just $5, buyers can get Flint stones without the commemorative plates, and the museum’s Web site says special prices are available for buyers who want to buy in bulk.

“We’ve incorporated the bricks into our own building,” said museum spokeswoman Katie Frassinelli. Other buyers have used them for everything from fire pits to driveway accents.

Flint’s ties to the Corvette go back to the beginning for the brand.

The first 300 Corvettes were hand-built in Flint in 1953, but production quickly moved south, first to St. Louis, and then to Kentucky.

Article by: By Ron Fonger | rfonger1@mlive.com | MLive.com
on February 16, 2015 at 3:54 PM