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As the years pass, the fourth generation Corvettes will take their rightful place in Corvette Valhalla, and 1996 LT1 VIN 1G1YY22P1T5120536 represents the last of a proud breed of Corvettes. The historical significance of the last fourth generation Corvette is not lost on Yager, who began his quest for the sports car last October and worked closely with Chevrolet during the ensuing months leading up to its creation. "You know, it's like a lot of the first cars. People have them, but the last cars have all disappeared," Yager said. "A lot of time these cars go into collections and no one ever sees them. And you know with Mid-America that everybody is going to see the car. I think it's something neat." The last C4 is a straight production-line Arctic White LT1 coupe with a few special touches that were applied as the car went down the line. The special commemorative badging and seatback stitching was designed by Mid America and approved by Chevrolet, and Grand Sport hash marks, wheels and rear fender flares were also added to set the car apart. "Everybody likes to look at the Corvette and see that there is something different about it," Mike said, "All of us like to have a hero and I think that kind of makes this car a hero." One thing that truly sets this LT1 off from its small-block brethren is evident upon inspection when you start seeing the signatures. While the car was traveling down the line, Yager had each plant worker autograph it. "I just signed the title," Mike said. "I signed on the dotted line." While the Corvette made its final run down the assembly line, Yager was on hand for two days to watch its birth, and even took wrench in hand to assist putting parts on, such as the right front shock absorber, control arm, wheels and the rear right shock. An interesting side note to the last C4's build is that while the Corvette assembly was completed on a specific component, a crew following the car disassembled the line equipment literally feet behind the Corvette, leaving no doubt this was the final C4 to make its assembly line run. It's also significant that the engine is truly the last LT1 to come from the Flint, Michigan, engine lant. From now on, LS1 engines will come from GM's Romulus, Michigan, plant. A tag on the engine pallet containing the last LT1 says it all. "After 41 years - The End." Yager's plans for the last C4 are simple. He's going to display it in as-delivered condition, which includes leaving the plastic seat covers on and keeping the paperwork in the car. And there will never be questions about the pedigree of this Corvette. Yager has reams of paperwork, photography and videotape chronicling the car's history. Eventually, the Corvette will be permanently housed in Yager's Corvette collection at Mid America's Effingham, Illinois, headquarters. But for a while, the Corvette will make its rounds. "We are going to loan it out," Mike said. "We've gotten lots of requests from people who want to borrow the car and use it in their museums or for displays, and that's what we intend to do with it."
From: "Corvette Fever Magazine"
(Used with Permission) |
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