Chrysler turns museum into non-profit, asks dealers for donations
Chrysler's over-sized dealer-body has been struggling with the Pentastar's shrinking market share, but that's not stopping Chrysler brass from asking them for donations for the newly non-profit Walter P. Chrysler museum. Dealers are being asked to contribute $5,000 apiece to help keep the museum up and running, and in turn Chrysler is changing the museum's name to the Walter P. Chrysler Founding Dealers Society. Dealers that participate in the program will get their name added to the Founding Dealers Society Donor Wall.
While it's well-known that Chrysler is working hard to shrink non-core costs, the 70-vehicle museum only has six full-time employees, which doesn't meaningfully impact the bottom-line. The program is strictly voluntary as well, so no dealers will be unwillingly hurt during the funding of this museum.
[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Benfolio 9:18AM (5/06/2008)
Is that a Sebring convertible? If that's the caliber (pun intended) of what's at the museum, count me out for donations.
Reply
FThorn 9:23AM (5/06/2008)
I graduated from Walter P. Chrysler Memorial High School.
Reply
SPG 9:30AM (5/06/2008)
Seems worth it, unless I found out my dealership (if I were a Chrysler dealer) is on the chopping block.
Only seventy vehicles? Seems scant.
Reply
Benfolio 9:47AM (5/06/2008)
Probably mostly contrived of K-car variants.
jw 10:10AM (5/06/2008)
how or why would a chrysler dealer contribute $5,000 when they are going broke or being told by chrysler to close there doors???
Reply
Seminole 10:30AM (5/06/2008)
It may be hard to tell from this angle, but isn't that blue flag higher than the American flag? I thought that was illegal?
Reply
Purifoy 12:47PM (5/06/2008)
>>> Relax, Seminole. It's only the angle of the picture that makes the blue flag appear higher than Old Glory.
Seminole 3:01PM (5/06/2008)
I wasn't getting worked up at all, it just caught my eye.
MCS05 10:53AM (5/06/2008)
The museum is actually quite nice and interesting. It covers their war effort as well as production and concept vehicles.
Reply
Commuter 10:57AM (5/06/2008)
Ahhahaha - I hope this now-nonprofit museum charts the events that lead to its topic company becoming now-nonprofit.
Reply
beyond2064 1:17PM (5/06/2008)
donations will mostly go towards keeping their stargate functional.
Reply
c 1:29PM (5/06/2008)
Actually the best looking/made cars ever are in this museum,and by doing this the museum will bring in more people and more cars will be allowed in by private collectors,so making the museum a bucket load of money.remember Mopars nationals,All Chrysler nationals and many other smaller Mopar shows bring in thousands of people....And having stock 11 second 1/4 mile 440 6 barrel and Hemi Mopars (with slicks of course not with street tires)on display and a whole lotta rare Mopars....Hell tha Asian brands will never have as many hot looking cars as Mopar did...ever see a 70 Honda/Subaru uh ..yeah...mm..
Reply
Tool 2:28PM (5/06/2008)
So this is the pitch to dealers from the New New Chrysler?
"We may eliminate your ass, but would you mind ponying up five large for this museum of ours that we decided not to fund anymore because it is not contributing to the bottom-line???"
Reply
mroverlord 6:53PM (5/06/2008)
This is a very cool museum with many of the most storied cars of Chrysler's history. They do keep a few new cars in the rotation here and there, or put something out for special events.
Chrysler is not forcing dealers to close. They are trying to get them to consolidate voluntarily. There are some VERY large dealers that would be more than willing to pony up 5Gs.
Reply