Savoy Automobile Museum is excited to announce the opening on January 10, 2023, of its latest temporary exhibit, Built for a Crisis. In the 1950s and 1960s, it seemed like America couldn’t build its cars big enough. Even mainstream models were generally big and thirsty. Many drivers were getting tired of gassing up these enormous land yachts, but the market was slow to respond. The domestic manufacturers had produced some downsized models, but only a few, and Japanese automakers were just putting a foot in the door with their tiny cars. And then, essentially one day in 1973, everything changed when America’s oil supplier turned off the tap. The U.S. had become increasingly dependent on foreign oil. The United States used about 17 million barrels of oil each day, but only produced some 11 million of that itself. This exhibit displays some of the domestic models produced to compete with the smaller imported cars.

The exhibit will feature six iconic cars including a 1972 Ford Pinto, a 1974 AMC Gremlin, a 1975 AMC Pacer, and a 1975 Chevrolet Cosworth Vega, all part of the Savoy Collection. In addition, two special cars brought in specifically for the exhibit include a 1971 Chevrolet Vega and a 1976 Chevrolet Chevette, both from the General Motors Heritage Collection in Sterling Heights, MI. Visitors may find the Vega particularly interesting as it holds the prominence of the first Vega to be produced at the GM Lordstown Assembly Plant on June 26, 1970, at 3:05 pm. The Chevette was never sold and has its original sales sticker still on the window and only 64 miles on the odometer. This exhibit represents a significant part of our automotive history.

WAS ON DISPLAY

1971 Chevrolet Vega (On loan from General Motors Heritage Collection, Sterling Heights, MI)
1972 Ford Pinto (Savoy Collection)
1974 AMC Gremlin (Savoy Collection)
1975 AMC Pacer (Savoy Collection)
1975 Chevrolet Cosworth Vega (Savoy Collection)
1976 Chevrolet Chevette (On loan from General Motors Heritage Collection, Sterling Heights, MI)

The term “microcar” is reserved for the smallest of cars. They became popular in the UK after WWII as the demand for motorcycles grew. Microcars often had relaxed requirements for registration and licensing. They are small, fuel-efficient cars with three or four wheels that maintain a cubic centimeter (cc) engine displacement under 400. Microcars are typically confined between the years of 1945 – 1965. All vehicles included in this exhibit are on loan from Lane Motor Museum in Nashville, TN.

Was on display

1939 New Map•Baby
1948 Lamar
1951 Hoffman
1953 Monocar
1953 Rovin D-4
1954 Daus
1956 Mochet CM 125Y
1956 PTV
1957 Bag Spatz
1957 Messerschmitt
1958 BMW Isetta
1959 New Map Solyto Van
1959 King Fulda S-7
1964 Peel P-50 (replica)
1964 Scootacar MKII

During an age of aero-innovation – from passenger planes to the verge of space travel – automotive designers made cars look like they could fly. This exhibition will showcase the iconic, edgy, and sharp tail fins from the late 1950s and early 1960s.

Was on display

1950 Cadillac Series 60 Special Fleetwood Sedan (Savoy Collection)
1956 Lincoln Premiere Convertible (On Loan from The Richard H. Driehaus Automobile Collection, Chicago, IL
1956 Packard Caribbean Convertible (On Loan from The Richard H. Driehaus Automobile Collection, Chicago, IL)
1957 Chevrolet Bel Air (Savoy Collection)
1957 Pontiac Bonneville Convertible (On Loan from The Richard H. Driehaus Automobile Collection, Chicago, IL)
1957 Studebaker Golden Hawk (Savoy Collection)
1958 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz “Raindrop” Concept (On Loan from The Richard H. Driehaus Automobile Collection, Chicago, IL)
1959 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz (On Loan from GM Heritage Center, Detroit, MI)
1959 Chevrolet El Camino (Savoy Collection)
1959 Plymouth Sport Fury (Savoy Collection)
1960 Cadillac 62 Series (Savoy Collection)

The first two decades of automobile manufacturing is often referred to as the Brass Era. Distinguished by large brass radiators and polished brass trim, this exhibition showcases race cars from 1907-1915.

WAS on Display: OCTOBER 2, 2022 – January 29, 2023

1907 American Underslung (On loan from Rob Kauffman/RK Motors, Charlotte, NC)

1907 American Underslung (On loan from Rob Kauffman/RK Motors, Charlotte, NC)

1907 Renault Type AI 35/45 HP Vanderbilt Racer (On loan from the Audrain

Museum, Newport, RI)

1909 ALCO “Black Beast” Racer (On loan from Howard & Roz Kroplick, East Hills, NY)

1909 Buick Model 16 Racecar (On loan from Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum,

Indianapolis, IN)

1911 Mercer Raceabout Type 35C (On loan from Jack & Drena Miller, Fayetteville,

GA)

1912 Packard Model 30 (On loan from Tom & Mary Jo Heckman, Newton Square, PA)

1913 Ford Model T Speedster (On loan from Thomas & Jill Lee, Newton Square, PA)

1913 Inter-State Gentlemen’s Roadster (On Loan from Corky & Theresa Coker, The

Coker Museum, Chattanooga, TN)

1913 Marmon Speedster (On loan from Bill & Anne Marsh, Stone Mountain, GA)

1914 Stutz Bearcat (On loan from Corky & Theresa Coker, The Coker Museum,

Chattanooga, TN)

1915 Stutz “H.C.S.” Speedster (On loan from Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum, Indianapolis, IN)

Savoy Customs, was an exhibition on display from August 2, 2022, through January 8, 2023, in Gallery B, will showcase select vehicles from the Savoy Collection that have been restored to their classic look but modified with modern parts and technology. These incredible custom resto-mod vehicles highlight popular cars from the early 1950s featuring two of the Detroit Big Three manufacturers, Ford Motor Company and General Motors.

WAS on Display: AUGUST 2, 2022 – January 8, 2023

1933 Ford Tudor Restomod (Savoy Collection)
1950 Ford Custom Convertible Restomod (Savoy Collection)
1955 Chevrolet Bel Air Convertible Restomod (Savoy Collection)
1950 Ford F-1 Pickup Restomod (Savoy Collection)
1955 Chevrolet Bel Air Nomad Station Wagon Restomond (Savoy Collection)

BIG BLOCKS, was an exhibition on display from August 2, 2022, through December 4, 2022, in Gallery A, and showcased American muscle cars with “big-block” engines housed under the hood. The American muscle car era lasted over a decade of popular flexing with serious horsepower. Popular American car manufacturers were not shy about increased engine size and power, from Chevrolet’s Chevelle to the Buick GSX, and Ford Mustang Shelby GT500, all ranging from the late 1960s to the early 1970s.

The hoods on these vehicles were up only on select weekends with the first being the weekend of August 2 and then rotating every other weekend through the end of the exhibition.

WAS on Display: AUGUST 2, 2022 – December 4, 2022

1967 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible with Chevy 427/435 HP (Savoy Collection)
1968 Dodge Charger R/T with Hemi 426/425 HP (On loan from Stephens Performance Collection, Anderson, AL)
1968 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 with Ford 428/355 HP (Savoy Collection)
1970 Buick GSX with Buick 455/350 HP (On loan from Wellborn Musclecar Museum, Alexander City, AL)
1970 Chevrolet Chevelle LS6 with Chevy 454/450 HP (On loan from Wellborn Musclecar Museum, Alexander City, AL)
1970 Chevrolet Nova SS 396/375 HP (Savoy Collection)
1970 Ford Mustang Boss 429 with Ford 429/375 HP (On loan from Wellborn Musclecar Museum, Alexander City, AL)
1970 Mercury Cyclone Spoiler II with Ford 429/375 HP (On loan from Steve Honnell, Lewisburg, TN)
1970 Oldsmobile 442 W-30 with Olds 455/370 HP (On loan from Stephens Performance Collection, Anderson, AL)
1970 Pontiac GTO Judge Ram Air IV with Pontiac 400/370 HP (On loan from Wellborn Musclecar Museum, Alexander City, AL)
1971 Plymouth Hemi Cuda with Hemi 426/425 HP (On loan from Wellborn Musclecar Museum, Alexander City, AL)

Gifts of Gratitude was a special temporary exhibit showcasing vehicles gifted to the museum. The vehicles in the exhibit ranged from American pre-War to popular cars that are internationally known, including the Volkswagen Type 181 “Thing.” Visit Gallery C to preview vehicles generously donated to Savoy Automobile Museum.

WAS on Display: September 6, 2022 – October 30, 2022

1931 Chrysler CD8 (On loan from Donald & Veronica Hilligoss
1931 Ford Model A DeLuxe Fordor (On loan from Raymond F. King**
1932 DeSoto Six Standard SC (On loan from Margaret & Warren Lee English, Sr.
1965 Austin-Healey 3000 Mark III (On loan from Jim & Janet Letson
1965 Ford F350 Holmes 500 Wrecker (On loan from Janet & Ted Thornbrough
1965 MG Midget MKII (On loan from Ralph H. & Margaret Sue Chandler
1974 Volkswagen Type 181 “Thing” (On loan from Sam Chilcote, Jr.
1975 Chevrolet Cosworth Vega (On loan from an anonymous donor
1981 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe (On loan from Judy & James R. Dellinger
1987 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z28 (On loan from Larry C. Bohannon
1999 Plymouth Prowler (On loan from an anonymous donor

**The 1931 Ford Model A sits at the Museum’s Front Entrance for visitors to enjoy. It makes for a great photo op to commemorate your visit to Savoy! Weather permitting.

The FrontRunners exhibit showcases victory-claiming, record-breaking, front-engine Indy 500 roadsters. To be considered for participation in the iconic Indianapolis 500-Mile Race held annually at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Roadsters had to maintain certain engineering specifications and design elements, including a single-seat, open-cockpit. Although most racers used Offenhauser engines, some cars on display were powered by Cummins Diesel, Novi V8, and Chrysler Hemi V8s. The FrontRunners vehicles featured in this exhibit include cars designed by Frank Kurtis, A.J. Watson, and Lujie Lesovsky. They were developed during the 1950s and 1960s, considered the Golden Age of the Indy 500.

WAS ON DISPLAY

1953 Kurtis Kraft KK500C (Firestone) Roadster (On Loan from Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum, Speedway, IN)
1956 Hillegass Sprint Car (Savoy Collection)
1956 Lesovsky Wolcott Special, Champ Dirt Car (On Loan from Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum, Speedway, IN)
1958 Wolcott Special, Roadster (On Loan from Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum, Speedway, IN)
1958 Kurtis Kraft 500-H DA Lubricated Special (On Loan from Bob Sirna, MI)
1962 Kurtis Kraft Novi (On Loan from Unser Racing Museum, Albuquerque, NM)
1963 Watson Roadster #43 (On Loan from George T. Lyons, Eerie, PA)
1963 Watson Roadster, “Konstant Hot Special” (On Loan from the Brumos Collection, Jacksonville, FL)

A journey across three centuries through the things that distinguish the brand the most: international scale, the factories, presence in sport and motorsport, constant search for innovation and cutting-edge technology. To celebrate the company’s 150th anniversary in the United States, Savoy Automobile Museum and Pirelli are proud to present the exclusive exhibition of Pirelli: The Story of a Company – A 150‐Year History of Passion and Innovation.

Pirelli’s 150-year history is depicted through a series of chronological images culminating with the international expansion of the company and recent successes on track and on the road. What visitors will be able to experience by visiting the exhibition is a three-century journey made up of passion, of men and women, of technology and innovation. A little-known fact about Pirelli’s journey is that one of its main “stops” was in the United States: it was indeed in New York, in 1908, that the famous logo, the “P” with its stretched out “belly” overhanging the other letters, was created.

Pirelli has always had a strong link with the United States and part of the exhibit is dedicated to Pirelli’s roots here, from advertising of local products to posters created for Pirelli that became part of the permanent collection of MoMA, the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

The exhibit tells the history of Pirelli through the creative elements of artists, designers, masters of communication and advertising, and through the works of leading photographers, from photos of the factories to the great names behind the iconic Pirelli Calendar. Many of these beautiful images come from the Pirelli Foundation, the Institution that preserves the Group’s historic and cultural heritage, taking a look at the past with a view to building the future.

Savoy Museum hosted a specially curated collection of automobiles that showcase Pirelli’s wide range of tires as well: from beautiful vintage cars to Motorsport jewels, including a TransAm vehicle and modern-day Formula 1® car developed for the 2022 season including the upcoming Miami GP, to the fully electric Rivian, that gives a glimpse of the future of mobility. The exhibition was also the opportunity for Pirelli to celebrate 20 years of its presence in Georgia. Pirelli inaugurated its manufacturing plant in Rome, Georgia, in 2002. The factory is a robotized production facility focused on premium specialty tires cars, light trucks, and SUVs. The Pirelli factory in Georgia is also the first tire plant in the world to be Forest Stewardship Council®-certified. FSC® forest management certification confirms that the natural rubber plantations Pirelli sources from are managed in a way that preserves biodiversity and benefits the lives of local communities and farmworkers, while ensuring economic viability.

WAS on Display (5/10/22 – 9/4/22)

• 1947 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 Cabriolet (On loan from Jim Taylor)
• 1962 Lancia Flaminia GT 3C Touring Coupe (On loan from Ivan & Myrna Ruiz)
• 1967 Camaro RS (Savoy Collection)
• 1967 Iso Grifo – Series 1 (On loan from Ivan & Myrna Ruiz)
• 1970 Maserati Ghibli Spyder (On Loan from Ivan & Myrna Ruiz)
• 1987 Lamborghini Countach (On loan from Ron Green)
• 1991 Ferrari F40 (On loan from the Mauzy Family and 1thirtyone Motorcars)
• 2022 Formula 1® race car (On loan from Formula One Marketing Limited)
• 2022 Rivian R1T (On loan from Rivian, LLC)
• 2018 Lamborghini Aventador S (On loan from Automobili Lamborghini America)
• 2022 Trans Am Championship Spec Chevrolet Camaro (On Loan from Trans Am Championship Presented by Pirelli 150th Anniversary Trans Am Class Camaro)

Art Deco was a movement focused on the future, modernizing industrial innovations by embracing a style of elegance and sophistication. Impacting nearly every visual medium, including painting, architecture, appliances, and automobiles, the Art Deco period occurred mainly between the two world wars, flourishing in the mid-1920s and throughout the Great Depression. These bold, graphic designs showcased refinement and opulence, tapering into streamlined geometric shapes, bright colors, and clean lines. The fluidity and grace of Art Deco complimented the aerodynamic structure of automobiles, typically resulting in two-door coupes and roadsters with long, exaggerated hoods and small, rounded trunks. The curated cars for American Art Deco feature long swooping fenders, chrome detailing, and round headlights, reflecting the glamour and luxury of this iconic movement.

WAS on Display (4/5/22 – 7/31/22)

• 1934 Cadillac LaSalle Series 50 Convertible Coupe1934 Ford Brewster Town Car1934 Studebaker Commander Land Cruiser
• 1936 Stout Scarab
• 1940 Graham Model 108 Sedan “Sharknose”
• 1937 Walter P. Chrysler’s Chrysler
• 1937 Lincoln Zephyr
• 1941 Graham Hollywood
• 1941 Chrysler Thunderbolt

Station wagon woodies are the epitome of classic American family cars. The Woodies Exhibit in Gallery B to explored some of the popular woodies that put thousands of American families on wheels!

WAS on Display (11/29/21 – 5/29/22)

• 1946 Mercury Woodie
• 1948 Packard Standard Eight Station Sedan Wagon Woodie
• 1948 Chrysler Town & Country Sedan Woodie
• 1953 Ford Crestline Country Squire Station Wagon Woodie

The American Racing exhibits local donated and loaned race cars from past and present. Imagine what some of our local residents experienced when they drove these vehicles during professional races and on the Bonneville Salt Flats.

WAS on Display (11/29/21 – 5/29/22)

• 1956 Hillegass Sprint Car
• 1969 Dodge Daytona # 71
• 1970 Richard Petty Superbird
• 1971 Dodge Challenger
• 1983 Indy Car-Budweiser Bobby Rahal

Many American-made vehicles coming from pre-War and post-War eras were lost during a tumultuous time in American history. Though the Detroit Big Three managed to be the champion of this period, many other manufacturers attempted to rival against them, and some of the most unique and rare vehicles derived from these lost car companies. Visit Gallery C to see some of these curated Orphans.

WAS on Display (11/29/21 – 5/1/22)

• 1940 Hudson Country Club 8
• 1948 Davis Divan
• 1948 Studebaker Starlight Coupe Commander
• 1949 Frazer Manhattan
• 1951 Nash Airflyte Statesman Super
• 1953 Hudson Hornet
• 1953 Henry Kaiser J
• 1954 Studebaker Commander Starliner, on loan from Wayne Carini

Throughout the 20th Century, many American car manufacturing companies competed to create and sell various automobiles. The Great American Classics will exhibit the history of cars manufactured in America including history about a vehicle’s conception, production, and reception!

WAS on Display (11/29/21 – 4/2/22)

• 1941 Cadillac Series 60
• 1930 Duesenberg Murphy J
• 1933 Pierce-Arrow, Silver Arrow
• 1932 Ruxton Model C
• 1932 Stutz DV-32
• 1931 Marmon Sixteen
• 1946 Lincoln Continental Coupe
• 1934 Packard 1104 Super 8 Sport Phaeton
• 1933 Auburn 851 Speedster