Corvette owners can hand-build their own engines starting this spring
Published on Feb 01, 2026 at 12:29 AM (UTC+4)
by Jason Fan
Last updated on Jan 29, 2026 at 8:23 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
The Corvette Engine Build Experience is back, and it’s giving buyers of Chevrolet’s wildest sports cars bragging rights that go way beyond horsepower.
Instead of just signing papers and waiting for delivery, owners can now roll up their sleeves and help assemble the very V8 that will power their new machine.
It’s not quite a solo garage build, but you will work side by side with a master technician at GM’s legendary Bowling Green Assembly Plant.
For die-hard enthusiasts, that’s about as close as it gets to becoming part of Corvette history.
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The heart of a Corvette is its engine
Chevrolet has reintroduced the program for the C8-generation Corvette Z06, the new ZR1, and the range-topping ZR1X, with availability beginning this spring.
Buyers who want in must select RPO code PBC when ordering their car.
The experience includes hands-on participation in assembling the engine destined for your own VIN, plus a custom engine plaque and an exclusive gift.
You even get a professional photo keepsake to document the day you literally helped build the heart of your car.
The news first surfaced via Ray Theriault, plant director at the Corvette assembly facility, who shared the announcement publicly.
“We know that when you help build the heart, every rev feels personal,” he said.
“So roll up your sleeves and come get your hands (actually gloves) dirty as you work alongside our master builders to put together the core of our beloved Corvette: its engine.”
While full details are still thin, Chevrolet has added the program to its Corvette Experience web page.
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An experience you can’t get anywhere else
The automaker has experimented with similar offerings before, including a short-lived version tied to the LT6 engine in the C8 Z06.
The earlier Corvette Engine Build Experience reportedly cost around $5,000, though pricing for this new round hasn’t been confirmed.
What makes this especially cool is the company Corvette now keeps.
The ZR1 and ZR1X play in the performance territory usually occupied by brands like Ferrari and Lamborghini.
And while they may offer endless paint samples and custom stitching, they probably won’t hand you gloves and invite you onto the engine line.
That kind of access is uniquely Corvette, and part of the reason why the car has been such an icon for the past 60 years.
Spots will be limited, so interested buyers will want to talk to their dealer sooner rather than later.
Biggest Corvette milestones
1953: Chevrolet revealed the first Corvette in New York, laying the foundation for America’s first true sports car
1955: The carmaker dropped a small-block V-8 into the Corvette, transforming the car from a niche cruiser into a performance machine
1963: The second-generation (C2) Corvette debuted with dramatic ‘Sting Ray’ styling, and the now-iconic split rear window coupe
1984: The C4 Corvette launched with a futuristic digital dashboard, sharp aerodynamics, and a chassis engineered for handling precision
1990: Nicknamed the ‘King of the Hill’, the C4 ZR-1 proved that the Corvette could run with the world’s best, pushing the name plate into exotic-car territory
2020: For the first time ever, the Corvette moved its engine behind its driver; the C8’s mid-engine layout delivered supercar proportions, balance, and performance at a fraction of its rivals’ pricing
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Jason joined the editorial team at Supercar Blondie in April 2025 as a Content Writer. As part of the growing editorial team working in Australia, and in synergy with team members in Dubai, the UK, and elsewhere in the world, he helps keep the site running 24/7, injecting his renowned accuracy and energy into every shift.
