Sloan Museum about to tuck away its Chevrolets

Reader Bruce Granger let us know that the Sloan Museum in Flint, Mich., is getting ready to take down its 100 years of Chevrolet display, closing the public's window on an opportunity to see some of the rarest vehicles still in existence, many with the "bow tie." Once the museum's display in the Buick gallery comes down, Granger said many of these cars will go back into long-term hibernation, not to be seen again for many, many years.

Granger noted that some of the displays around the cars will be offered for sale, so if a backdrop would look great behind the '57 Chevy in your garage, contact the museum for purchasing information.

Like most automotive museums, the lighting in the Sloan is not friendly to photography, but I hope you enjoy this last glimpse into the Sloan Museum Chevrolet display, provided by Mr. Granger.

According to Granger, this 1913 Classic 6 is the second-oldest Chevrolet in the world; the oldest Chevrolet is currently in Canada and unrestored.

A 1912 Little roadster in the Chevrolet display. Little was built in Flint, Mich., under William Crapo Durant's supervision after he was first ousted from General Motors.

Wind-in-your-hair 1915 and 1920 Chevrolet models part of the Chevrolet centennial display.

A 1947 Chevrolet given to the museum by Old Cars reader Bob Sovis in memory of his first son.

The second Buick concept car was the 1951 XP-300 Buick "experimental." The car has a magnesium and aluminum body, a 116-inch wheelbase and a 216-cid V-8 engine. Granger said, "A number of years ago, we decided to get this car running after sitting for over 40 years - it ran like a Swiss watch!"

The Wildcats dream cars earn their name, as they're among the wildest concept cars of the 1950s, and the Sloan Museum displays the fiberglass-bodied 1954 Wildcat II, powered by a 322-cid engine. The original Wildcat of 1953 is in the Bortz collection.

Granger said this 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air is one of the first cars purchased by the museum with Sloan Auto Fair funds.

The 1956 Centurion may be the concept car of the century (last century, that is). Perhaps GM felt the same way and chose to preserve this show car, rather than destroy it like so many others before it. This Buick concept car gets its legs stretched at many events these days.

The Sloan Museum's 1962 Chevrolet has been on display very few times in the last 39 years, according to Granger. Next summer, it will be at the Sloan Auto Fair's 40th anniversary event.

Old Cars Weekly readers will recall last year's feature story on this very special 1967 Chevrolet Caprice coupe, the 100 millionth GM car built. The car has been in a museum since shortly after it was built and is a very low-mileage original.

This banner shows the timeline of Louis Chevrolet's life and will be offered for sale when the display comes down, as will other parts of display.

The Sloan Museum is located Sloan Museum is located on the Flint Cultural Center Campus at 1221 E. Kearsley Street, Flint, MI 48503. It can be reached via phone at 810-237-3450.

Related Resources

100 Years of Chevrolet centennial book

Standard Catalog of Chevrolet

Read the book Just Chevys

auto museum automotive museum Buick Chevrolet first Chevrolet Flint museum General Motors GM Louis Chevrolet Sloan Museum Wildcat

Angelo Van BogartAuthor

Angelo Van Bogart is the editor of Old Cars magazine and wrote the column "Hot Wheels Hunting" for Toy Cars & Models magazine for several years. He has authored several books including "Hot Wheels 40 Years," "Hot Wheels Classics: The Redline Era" and "Cadillac: 100 Years of Innovation." His 2023 book "Inside the Duesenberg SSJ" is his latest. He can be reached at avanbogart@aimmedia.com