Working on 'Vette number five.
In what is the world’s most hands-on super car program, customers who order a 2011 Corvette Z06 or ZR1 can choose an option to help assemble their cars’ LS7 or LS9 engine at the General Motors’ Performance Build Center (PBC) in Wixom, Michigan. This latest and innovative marketing program, called the Corvette Engine Build Experience, was announced in July. (See Build Your Own Corvette Engine Option Added)
Enter Todd Schnitt, whose fifth Corvette will be unlike any he has had before because he will “help” build the 638-horsepower supercharged V8 engine for his ZR1.
Schnitt, host of a Tampa-based syndicated radio show, purchased the first Corvette Engine Build Experience. He will be on the line at the PBC in on Monday, 30 August.
The Engine Build Experience has a suggested retail price of $5,800. Yes, you pay more to get your hands dirty by helping to assemble your $100,000 ‘Vette – as I said there’s marketing genius here.
As part of the pay to put your engine together option, a Chevrolet concierge is coordinating all travel and hotel arrangements with Schnitt, who will pay for them. When completed that Monday, the engine will be tracked and sent to the Corvette assembly plant in Bowling Green, Ky., where Schnitt’s ZR1 will be assembled with “his” engine shortly thereafter.
“When my dealer told me about the option it was like ‘Of course, I’ll do it, sign me up,” said Schnitt. “I can’t wait to get there and build my own LS9. It will be the ultimate personalization for my car. I’m anticipating it being one of the coolest things I’ve done in my life.”
Schnitt, 44, is the long-time Tampa-based host of the MJ Morning Show.
Schnitt, 44, is the long-time Tampa-based host of the MJ Morning Show and the nationally syndicated Schnitt Show, heard nationally in 31 cities and carried on XM Channel 152.
Skilled technicians at the PBC individually hand build each Corvette Z06 LS7 7.0L engine, Corvette ZR1 6.2L supercharged LS9 engine and a variation of the Corvette Grand Sport’s LS3 6.2L engine. Schnitt will be closely guided and coached by one of these technicians. His engine will still be covered by GM’s five-year / 100,000 mile warranty.
In addition to building their own engines, Corvette buyers can attend driving school in Arizona or Nevada, take delivery of their vehicles at the National Corvette Museum or watch their vehicles being built at the Corvette assembly plant in Bowling Green. Schnitt attended the driving school in conjunction with his 2009 ZR1 purchase and took museum delivery of his 2007 Z06.
Schnitt’s current order is for a cyber grey 2011 ZR1, the same as his last two ZR1s.
“In a way, this is a dream program for a Corvette customer. I would have jumped at the chance to build the 427 in my ’67 ’Vette, and that didn’t have half of what goes into one of these modern precision engines,” said Tom Stephens, GM vice chairman, Global Product Operations.