LEE COWAN TEST DRIVES THE NEW CORVETTE STRINGRAY AND TALKS WITH COLLECTOR AND NASCAR OWNER RICK HENDRICK ABOUT THE SPORTS CAR ON “CBS SUNDAY MORNING WITH CHARLES OSGOOD”

Caption: (L-R) Rick Hendrick, Lee Cowan

SAYS HENDRICK: “THE CORVETTE WAS JUST THE ULTIMATE CAR – YOU HAD THE STYLING, THE POWER, ALL THE GIRLS LIKED THEM”

CBS News correspondent Lee Cowan gets a sneak peek at of Chevrolet’s totally redesigned 2014 Corvette Stingray and talks with NASCAR team owner and Corvette collector Rick Hendrick about the prized vehicles this weekend on CBS SUNDAY MORNING WITH CHARLES OSGOOD.

“The Corvette was just the ultimate car,” Hendrick tells Cowan. “I mean, it was – you had the styling, the power, all the girls liked them.”

Timed to the car’s 60^th birthday, Chevrolet has redesigned the vehicle for 2014 and brought back the legendary Stingray name. Hendrick, a top NASCAR team owner, has one of the largest private Corvette collections in the world, with nearly 150 in his stable. He said he met his wife, Linda, while driving a Stingray.

“She rode with me in that first Corvette on our first date and it broke down,” Hendrick recalls. “She wasn’t very impressed.”

The two-seat sports car has survived for six decades, a period which includes General Motors’ bankruptcy. “It would be such a shame for that car to be missing in America’s culture,” Hendrick says. “I just think it’s part of the DNA of Chevrolet.”

Cowan talks with Tadge Juechter, Chevrolet’s chief engineer on the Corvette team, who allowed Cowan to become the first person outside the Chevrolet family to drive one. “I don’t even know how to describe it,” Cowan says.

Hendrick, a Chevy dealer, can’t wait to get his hands on one of the new Corvettes, Cowan reports. “I think this car will probably be one of the most sought-after cars that we’ve seen in a long time,” Hendrick tells Cowan.

Hendrick Chevy Provides Volt

Earlier this month Rick Hendrick Chevrolet provided the Chevy Volt used by S.C. Representative Chip Limehouse to highlight a bill for a state tax credit.  Hendrick employee Chad Petrey brought the car to Columbia and handed the keys to Rep. Limehouse who took the electric car for a spin around the Statehouse grounds. 

The bill, which is sponsored by Reps. Jim Merrill (R), Chip Limehouse (R), Leon Stavrinakis (D) and Peter McCoy (R), would allow for $500,000 to be used for $2,000 income tax credits for state residents who purchase or lease a plug-in hybrid from a South Carolina dealership. 

The credits are awarded on a first come, first served basis.

Chad Petrey with the Chevy Volt at Rick Hendrick Chevy

To find out how to get your own Chevy Volt

contact our award winning sales professionals at

Rick Hendrick Chevy

1500 Savannah Hwy.

Charleston, SC  29407

Call TODAY for an appointment!

843-402-6777

 

Port City Corvette Club Show 2010

Just a few of the Corvettes on display at the show.

Early Saturday morning the roar of Corvettes, old and new, could be heard West of the Ashley.  Corvette owners from near and far brought their pride and joys to display at Rick Hendrick Chevrolet for the Port City Corvette Club's annual show.  The Club was host to the National Convention for the International Council of Corvette Clubs. 

The week long schedule of events included beach picnics, cookouts, a fashion show and dance, an awards banquet and of course the show.  Clubs from Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Florida, Maryland, Missouri, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Texas, Arkansas and South Carolina were represented.  A very special guest was also in attendance - Wilmer "Wil" Cooksey, Jr., the former Bowling Green plant manager. 

Comer Williams of Williams Carpets with Wil Cooksey.

Mr. Cooksey was manager at the Corvette factory from 1993-2008, when he retired from GM following a very distinguished career.  A very "hands on" manager, Mr. Cooksey made it a mission to produce the highest quality sports car that America had seen.   Teamwork and respect were key words for his work groups - everyone felt they were a partner in the introduction of the C4 - C6 Corvette generations.
To gain a closeness with the customer, he arranged special access for new Vette owners who wanted to help with the production of their new car. Mr. Cooksey also has the distinction of having the 2008 427 Limited Edition Z06 named for him. 

Wilmer "Wil" Cooksey with his Limited Edition "Wil Cooksey Special"

Only 505 Z06's were equipped with the special paint, wheels and 427 embroidered seats that comprised the "Wil Cooksey Special."  He also signed and numbered each car's armrest. 

Now retired, Wil still contributes to the automotive industry through his membership on a number of Boards, including the National Corvette Museum where he works with the VIP Program, the Scrapbook Program and the Museum Delivery Program.  

The industry continues to honor Mr. Cooksey as demonstrated by the award he will be receiving in August at the annual Gunnison Car Show.  A life long collector and Corvette enthusiast, Mr. Cooksey will be awarded the Lee Iacocca Award which is given for dedication to excellence in perpetuating the American automotive tradition.

Other special Corvette's were on display as well.

This 1979 Vette was brought in by Steve Cochran.  His mother, Mary Giza purchased it new off of our showroom floor.

Ralph Tileston of Summerville, SC brought his 1977 model that was the 499,997th Vette to come off the line in Kentucky.

 Over 100 Corvette's were at the show.

Rick Hendrick Chevy was proud to be a part of this fun celebration of an American icon.

                                     
                                                        

To find out how to get a Corvette of your own

contact out award winning sales professionals at

Rick Hendrick Chevy

1500 Savannah Hwy.

Charleston ,SC 29407

Call TODAY for an appointment!

843-402-6777

Rick Hendrick Visits the Chevy Store

Employees at Rick Hendrick Chevrolet in Charleston had the opportunity to meet with Rick Hendrick and senior members from our management team when they stopped in for a visit last week.  Mr. Hendrick was accompanied by Jim Huzl, President/CEO; Tom Blocker, Sr. VP East/COO; and Gary Davis, Sr. VP Retail Support/COO. 

Our team members filled the service drive and joined in the cheer "Together! We Drive! To Win! In 2010!" 

Mr. Hendrick took a few moments to field questions about the Hendrick Automotive Group and of course, the Hendrick Motorsports teams.  Everyone had a chance to meet with each member of the management team, get autographs, and photos. 

Mr. Hendrick, Mr. Huzl, Mr. Blocker and Mr. Davis then joined our General Manager, Rick Pulcino on a tour of the dealership which included a stop in our Collision Center to see the classic 1969 Chevelle we are restoring.

                                          Mr. Hendrick greets the team members.

                                          Tom Blocker, Jim Huzl, and Gary Davis

                                          Mr. Hendrick answers questions.

                                          Our 1969 Chevelle is almost ready! 


For more information on the Hendrick organization, for Hendrick Motorsports merchandise, to get your very own top performing Chevy, have your car serviced by the best in the business, or have our top professionals give you an estimate on your collision repair, visit our award winning team at

 Rick Hendrick Chevy

1500 Savannah Hwy.

Charleston, SC 29407

Call TODAY for an appointment!

843.402.6777

http://www.rickhendrickchevy.com/

It's Red Tag Time Again!

It's that time of year again!  Time for the annual Chevy Red Tag Event!  From now until January 4, you can drive your new 2009 Chevy off the lot interest free.  During this special holiday offer, take advantage of

0% APR for 72 months.

 Save thousands in finance charges while driving some of America's best cars and trucks.

Give our helpful sales staff a call NOW to make an appointment for savings!

843.402.6777

SEE RED. SAVE GREEN.

Rick Hendrick Chevy

1500 Savannah Hwy.

Charleston, SC 29407

"We Like it Like That!"

http://www.rickhendrickchevy.com/

*0% for well qualified buyers. Excludes Corvette ZR1. Take delivery by 1.4.10. Cannot be combined with other offers.

The New CHEVROLET CAMARO Has Arrived

Watch the new Chevrolet Camaro in action:

Rick Hendrick Drives The First New Camaro Off The Assembly Line -



The All New Camaro – Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen -



MotorTrends Review of the New Camaro -



Camaro Octane -

Tony Stewart To Kick Off '09 With Hendrick Motorsports
Written by Motorsports
Monday, 19 January 2009 12:59
CONCORD, N.C. (Jan. 19, 2009) - Two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Tony Stewart will attempt to qualify a No. 80 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet prepared by Hendrick Motorsports for the Feb. 14 Nationwide Series race at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway. Stewart, the defending winner of the Camping World 300, has won the season-opening event three times - twice with owner Kevin Harvick (2005 and 2006) and once with Joe Gibbs (2008).
Should he qualify, the race will mark Stewart's first-ever start for car owner Rick Hendrick. The effort will be led by 2003 Nationwide Series champion crew chief Lance McGrew.
"After winning the season-opening Nationwide Series race at Daytona three times, we're going to try and get another one, this time for Rick," said Stewart, who has seven career Nationwide Series victories. "Hopefully we can go back-to-back for a second time and put the HendrickCars.com Chevrolet in Victory Lane. Rick and I have been friends for years, so it would mean a lot to me to get a win for him." As a car owner, Hendrick has 13 total NASCAR victories at Daytona, including three in the Nationwide Series. He has won the prestigious Daytona 500 six times.
"Tony is one of the best drivers in the world," Hendrick said. "We know how terrific he is at Daytona, so I told the guys to build him a fast car and let him do what he does best. He's a great friend, and it's going to be fun to see him drive for Hendrick Motorsports for the first time." The best and quickest way to purchase a car online, HendrickCars.com features more than $90 million in used-car inventory and the largest selection of manufacturer-certified vehicles in the nation. Customers can browse more than 5,000 cars of all makes and models from the 80 Hendrick Automotive Group franchises nationwide. Each comes with a free CARFAX vehicle history report.
"We chose the No. 80 to represent all of our stores," said Hendrick, also the chairman of Charlotte-based Hendrick Automotive Group. "This is something our folks can get excited about and rally around, and it's a great way to promote HendrickCars.com. It's become a premier destination for online car buying, and we're committed to making it a world-class experience for our customers."