Think of any one of your favorite GM cars, and odds are, it was raced and tested at the GM Proving Grounds before going into production and out for sale to the public.

It's also the place of many interesting stories, such as the prototype Corvair that flipped over, the Pontiac LeMans with the first 389ci engine (foretelling the GTO), and every generation of Camaro and Corvette.

The site now stands at over 4,000 acres and employs more than 5,000 people spread across 107 buildings. The automaker uses the facility to test vehicles, benchmark competitors’ offerings, and develop leading automotive innovations. (Source: GMAuthority.com)

You can watch all the nifty safety features that developed from work projects on the proving grounds at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPQdlJZvZhE.