Gilmore Garage Assembles Ultimate Muscle Car Garage |  |
| Wednesday, 28 March 2007 06:28 |
Hickory Corners, MI - The Gilmore Car Museum, in Hickory Corners, MI, has assembled 22 of the World’s rarest and most sought after muscle cars of the 1960s and 70s in its “Michigan Dream Garage – The Ultimate Muscle Cars.” This special exhibit will run throughout the Museum’s 2007 season, which begins on May 1. The Gilmore Car Museum looked beyond their own collection of autos and sought out benchmark cars from number of private collectors to create this year’s “Dream Garage.” Included in this all-new exhibition that’s sure to rev up your imagination are a 1964 Pontiac GTO, considered the original muscle car; six authentic Yenko Chevrolets, one of which was formerly owned by baseball superstar Reggie Jackson; the 1963 Impala “Grey Ghost,” which was recently restored by Boyd Codington; and many more. Muscle cars—a truly American phenomena of the 1960s and 70s—were high-performance cars produced by the auto manufacturers and sold directly through local dealers. Marketed extensively to young males, these cars soon were in great demand and set off an intense competition between car companies to produce the most powerful and extreme street machines. One dealer, Yenko Chevrolet of Canonsburg, PA, soon became one of the best known and largest suppliers of muscle cars during this period. Beginning by ordered 100 specially factory-built high performance Corvairs in 1966 they then moved to offering customized Camaros, Chevelles and Novas. By the early 1970s, the oil crisis, stricter emission standards, high insurance cost and safety concerns began to seriously impact muscle car sales and the larger engines were dropped. Now, after more than 30 years, these cars have become highly sought after by collectors as they fill their own “dream garages.” Today, when it comes to vintage muscle cars we often see replicas—“clones” or “tribute cars”—of the most extraordinary. Here is an opportunity to see the real thing during the Museum’s exhibit, “Michigan Dream Garage – The Ultimate Muscle Cars,” which continues through October 31st. The Gilmore Car Museum’s 41st season begins on May 1, 2007 and will remain open daily from of 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 pm and until 6 pm on weekends, through the end of October. Located in the heart of west Michigan, the museum is midway between Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids, and Battle Creek, on M-43 and Hickory Road. To learn more about the Gilmore Car Museum visit: www.GilmoreCarMuseum.org or call the museum at 269-671-5089. For Additional Information: Gilmore Car Museum 6865 Hickory Road Hickory Corners, MI 49060 269-671-5089 FAX 269-671-5843 Exhibit list 1963 Chevy Impala Factory Z-11 427 light weight 1963 Pontiac Catalina, H.O. Street Engine Tri-power light weight 1963 ½ Ford 427 Galaxy light weight 1964 Pontiac GTO 1965 Dodge Coronet – 426 Hemi, factory SS light weight 1966 Chevelle SS Convertible, COPO 9737 1966 Ford Fairlane 1966 Corvair Yenko - #97 of 100 1967 Camaro Yenko – Formerly owned by Reggie Jackson 1968 Camaro Yenko 1969 Camaro Yenko 1969 Chevelle Yenko 1969 Nova Yenko 1968 Cobra Jet Mustang, Gas Ronda factory racer 1968 AMX Factory Racer 1968 Shelby Mustang 1970 Buick Gran Sport, stage 1 1970 Challenger R/T Hemi 1970 Olds 442 Convertible 1970 Boss Mustang 429 1971 Charger R/T 1971 Plymouth Hemi ‘Cuda |