Autoblog

Chrysler museum to open one last time on June 8

Jeffrey N. Ross — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 18:01:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Classics, Chrysler

Due to a lack of funding, Chrysler closed the doors to its Walter P. Chrysler Museum in Auburn Hills, MI back in December, but it sounds like the facility will be open next month for one last hurrah. According to a report in the Detroit Free Press, the Chrysler Museum will be open to the public one last time on June 8 for the annual Chrysler Employee Motorsport Association car show.

While the car show will take place in the museum's parking lot from 9:00 AM until 4:00 PM on June 8 with a theme dedicated to muscle cars past and present, all attendees will be able to be among the last people to tour the museum - with free admission. The museum is known for housing some of the more important production and concept cars from Chrysler's history. Check out the car show's flyer for more information.

Chrysler museum to open one last time on June 8 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Apr 2013 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Walter P. Chrysler Museum closing today

Zach Bowman — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Chrysler, Earnings/Financials

After 13 years of operation, the Walter P. Chrysler Museum on the Chrysler campus in Auburn Hills is closing its doors today for good. Waning attendance meant the 55,000-square-foot museum couldn't meet its own costs, seemingly leaving the facility's 67 vintage vehicles and slew of displays without a home. The museum had been curated by the Chrysler Museum Foundation, a public entity.

Fortunately, Chrysler itself has stepped in to save the vast majority of the cars and trucks housed in the collection, and the newest additions to the automaker's stable will be curated by the Chrysler Foundation, the automaker's charitable arm. While ancient iron like a 1902 Rambler and a 1917 Willys-Knight 88-8 Touring are certainly worthy of a long look, the museum also housed some impressive pieces of the automaker's technological history.

Those include a 30-cylinder tank engine designed and manufactured in World War II. The 25-liter behemoth was comprised of five inline sixes mashed together and generated a modest 450 horsepower. The collection also includes plenty of muscle cars and a few gems from defunct brands like DeSoto, Plymouth and AMC.

While it is ceasing normal public visiting hours, the museum apparently won't be shuttering completely - it will be used for Chrysler functions and potentially open to the public in limited fashion for special exhibits.

Walter P. Chrysler Museum closing today originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 31 Dec 2012 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chrysler turns museum into non-profit, asks dealers for donations

Chris Shunk — Tue, 06 May 2008 08:33:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep

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.]

Chrysler turns museum into non-profit, asks dealers for donations originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 May 2008 08:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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