Why New, Perfectly Functional Corvettes Are Being Cut in Half Using a Garage Tool | Carscoops

      New Corvettes face a harsh end in Kentucky as one individual reveals how GM keeps them off the streets

      by Stephen Rivers

      In 2021, tornadoes struck the Corvette manufacturing plant, resulting in extensive damage to completed vehicles.

      GM hires workers to dismantle operational C8 Corvettes using basic tools like a Sawzall.

      Reassembling Corvettes is against GM policy, even if they are repurchased by the original owner.

      Every year, a surprising amount of fully functional vehicles are discreetly disassembled for reasons unrelated to safety or performance. These cars operate, drive, and perform just as well as any other model in pristine condition, yet they are sent to facilities where their fate is determined. One such case is this C8 Corvette, now in pieces after GM's internal usage was completed.

      In late 2021, a series of tornadoes hit Bowling Green, Kentucky, causing damage to the Corvette production facility. It was evident that Chevrolet would scrap most of the affected vehicles, though the precise method remained unclear. Recently, however, we obtained images of the procedure, and thanks to the individual who executed the task, we now have a better understanding.

      A Job Few Would Envy

      This individual, Brandon Woodley, is a diligent worker simply following instructions. Unfortunately, those instructions sometimes include commands like "destroy that perfectly operational (and perhaps slightly damaged) Corvette over there, and do the same to the ten right behind it." Woodley doesn't merely disconnect a few fuel lines or cut a ground cable; he literally saws these cars in half, all in compliance with the rules.

      He informed Carscoops that the entire process can take as little as three minutes. What type of industrial cutting tool is used for the task? “Sawsall with a metal blade,” Woodley reveals. Indeed, the same tool you may have in your garage is what professionals utilize to incapacitate supercars.

      Legal Restrictions Keep These Cars in Pieces

      Why can't someone simply buy both halves and create a functional vehicle? “Both halves can be sold to the same person but cannot be legally reassembled,” he explains. “GM voids the VINs, meaning the car can no longer be sold.”

      It is important to note that this kind of deliberate destruction is not particularly unusual. Automakers frequently create test mules for various reasons unrelated to tornadoes. They require vehicles for everyday testing, need to practice production on cars that won't be sold to customers, and some cars are used as crash-test vehicles. This allows manufacturers to ensure there are no issues during production, real-world testing, or in crash scenarios.

      Built to Be Destroyed

      The twist is that these vehicles often lack VIN numbers, rendering them illegal for road use. Consequently, their ultimate fate is essentially predetermined. This mirrors the unfortunate yet expected demise of certain extraordinary sports cars, sacrificed so production models can survive. That said, we reached out to Chevrolet for further clarification regarding these cars and similar ones.

      As we await their response, we asked what you would do with the broken pieces other than attempting to reassemble them. Some responses were quite creative. “Turn it into a BBQ,” suggested one commenter. “That would make a great trailer to tow behind a C8 Corvette,” added another. We hear these fantastic ideas, and we’re sure you have more to share.