The Chrysler Museum is Shutting Down After Just Thirteen Years

Chrysler has recently announced that they intend to close the Walter P. Chrysler Museum at the end of the year.

The Walter P. Chrysler Museum is shutting down after just thirteen short years of exhibiting 67 lovely pieces of automotive history in Chrysler’s headquarters in Auburn Hills, Michigan.

Chryslers, Dodges, Jeeps, and long-gone brands like:  Hudson, Willys-Overland, Rambler,  DeSoto, American Motors, and Plymouth have long been displayed.  The oldest car there is a 1902 Rambler Runabout Roadster.

The collection of cars will be purchased by the Chrysler Group, the company stated in a press release.  “The proceeds from the sale along with the remaining cash reserves of the Walter P. Chrysler Museum Foundation will be transferred to the Chrysler Foundation, where they will support a broad range of charitable community activities and organizations,” said Brian Glowiak, the museum’s president.

Glowiak was also heard to say, “Chrysler will continue to share its automotive heritage housed at the museum with the public during special exhibitions.  The existing museum facilities will be also be used to meet Chrysler Group needs.”  This may mean that Chrysler will loan the cars to other museums or keep the cars in storage until special events come up.  Perhaps they will one day make their way to Los Angeles and the Peterson Museum.  One can hope, at any rate.

The museum will close on December 30, 2012.  Its last temporary exhibition is called “Cars, Trees, and Traditions.”  Does that mean driving into them?  I know a certain grandparent that might have liked (or starred in) that particular exhibit…  It certainly is his tradition.