40-Foot Sinkhole Swallows 8 Vintage Corvettes in Kentucky

Feb 13, 2014 09:30 AM EST | Matt Mercuro

A 40-foot sinkhole swallowed at least 8 vintage Corvettes in Kentucky this week, including the historic one millionth Corvette built back in 1992, according to Reuters.

The sinkhole opened up under the National Corvette Museum, according to Reuters. No injuries were reported however.

A 1993 ZR-1 Spyder and a 2009 ZR1 "Blue Devil," on loan from General Motors, were among the vehicles swallowed by the gaping pit.

"It seems almost Biblical in a way, to have the ground open up and swallow the cream of the collection of the museum," said Corvette historian Jerry Burton, according to Reuters. "What are the odds?"

Alarms went off on Feb. 12 in the "Skydome" area and museum security, who had to rush to the scene, found the sinkhole.

The hole measured in at approximately 25 to 30 feet deep, and 40 feet wide, according to the Bowling Green Fire Department.

Security camera footage was posted on the museum's website showing two vehicles falling as the hole expanded.

Other vehicles near the sinkhole have been removed, according to Laura Johnson. The museum is now trying to figure out how to pull up the destroyed vehicles.

The White 1 Millionth Corvette, a 1962 Black Corvette, a 1984 PPG Pace Car, a 1993 Ruby Red 40th Anniversary Corvette, a 2001 Mallett Hammer Z06 Corvette and a 2009 White 1.5 Millionth Corvette were all damaged, according to Reuters.

The millionth Corvette is likely the most valuable vehicle affected by the sinkhole.

"How do you even begin to place a value on the 1 Millionth Corvette built?" Sam Murtaugh, marketing director at Mecum Auctions of Wisconsin, said in an e-mail, according to Reuters. "It's irreplaceable."

The museum has since reopened up, but the Skydome section is still blocked off.

GM builds Corvettes at a production plant near the National Corvette Museum.

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