Lincoln Motor Car Heritage Museum

Gilmore Car Museum Unveils Lincoln Motor Car Heritage Museum on Saturday, August 9, 2014

Gilmore Car Museum Contact: Jay Follis, Director of Marketing 269-671-5089, ext. 13 jfollis@gilmorecarmuseum.org Hickory Corners, MI —- The long anticipated Lincoln Motorcar Heritage Museum, built on the campus of the Gilmore Car Museum in Hickory Corners, Michigan, is set to open to the public on Saturday August 9, 2014 with an official dedication ceremony scheduled for 5pm. The all-new museum, patterned after a historic Lincoln dealership, was built by the Lincoln Motor Car Foundation, which was established in 1999 by members of various national Lincoln clubs and retired Ford Motor Company executives to share Lincoln’s living legacy. The Gilmore Museum already hosts more than 80,000 visitors each year and it is expected that the new Lincoln Museum will add to that draw. “We expect quite a turnout of Lincoln aficionados this coming weekend,” said David Schultz, Lincoln Motorcar Foundation President, whose responsibility included completion of the Museum’s interior. “A fine committee has planned a wonderful slate of activities for the dedication weekend.” Among the 20 automobiles that will be on display when the museum opens are a one-off 1939 Lincoln K convertible sedan built by LeBaron-Briggs for a North American tour by the King and Queen of England, an unrestored, original 1955 Continental Mark II and a Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance award winning 1928 Lincoln Judkins Berline. “Several automobiles and significant items have been donated,” said Schultz. “Among the Lincoln memorabilia and automobiles are coach-built 1930s Lincolns and a Leland-built Liberty V12 motor.” In addition to the great cars and memorabilia on display, another must-see artifact at the new Museum will be the “Lincoln Stones,” large engraved limestone panels that were originally located above the main entrance of the Lincoln Administration building in Detroit. The lintels were recovered by the Lincoln Motor Car Foundation and have been on displayed at the Gilmore Car Museum since 2006. Much of the significance and charm of the Gilmore Car Museum campus lies in the placement of many historic structures, both restored originals and replicas, on the site. In keeping with that theme, the exterior of the Lincoln Motor Car Heritage Museum took its inspiration for the P.J. Platte Lincoln dealership that was constructed in the early 1920s at 3700 Jefferson Avenue in Detroit, Michigan. Built in a neo-classical architectural style that seems very appropriate for the image of the Lincoln automobile is was an imposing edifice typical of many luxury automobile dealerships of the era. The Museum’s dedication on Saturday, August 9th at 5pm will form the keystone of the Lincoln Homecoming Weekend. More than 500 Lincoln owners and enthusiasts, many bringing historic Lincolns of all ages, are expected to converge on Western Michigan from Wednesday, August 6th through Sunday, August 10th. The Gilmore Car Museum, nestled on a 90 acre park-like setting midway between Chicago and Detroit, was opened in 1966 and displays over 300 vehicles spanning more than 100 years of the automotive industry. Today, the Gilmore Car Museum enjoys the reputation as one of the finest and fastest growing automotive museums in the world. “The Gilmore has instituted a unique program to enhance its own extensive automotive collection by inviting selected organizations to share our campus and infrastructure,” said Michael Spezia, Executive Director of the Gilmore Car Museum said. “We are delighted that Lincoln has joined the Classic Car Club of America, the Tucker Collection, the Pierce-Arrow Museum, the H.H. Franklin Club Museum, and the Model A Ford Museum as part of our partnership program.” The public is welcome to Saturday’s Grand Opening event; general admission is just $10 for adults and seniors, while children under 11 are free. For more information, please visit GilmoreCarMuseum.org or call (269) 671-5089.