It's a mixed bag.

Some of the assembly line cars are in original unrestored condition (some gifted by the original owners); others restored by previous owners or by General Motors. There are several local high end companies that fluff, maintain and store the cars that are not currently on display at the Heritage Center proper. These are not auto restoration shops or suppliers per se, but more like the outside contractors that create and prep the modern show cars and displays.

I guess the "collection" started in 1938 with the "Y Job" (the first show car in the industry) - but I think what you mean is when did the Heritage Center form and move to the current location.

The concept started when Greg Wallace created and curated the Cadillac Heritage center, back in the mid 1980's*. When GM as a whole decided to try to consolidate all their vehicles and records into one central location they tapped Greg to take on the task. The present building opened in June of 2004 but was too small by the time it opened. It does represent a storefront for all the Heritage activities and is supported by these other locations and storage facilities behind the scenes. One of the advantages of this is that the displays are very dynamic, with different vehicles and items rotating through. You can visit one month and come back the next month and see different stuff.

The Heritage Center is not open to the public but is available to schedule and host events, luncheons, group meetings, car club gatherings and team building activities. They used to send a notice about once per month and I would grab the maximum number of spots (four) right away, figuring in the meantime I would find someone that wanted to go for a visit.

I thought the GTO was significant since it was restored at the manufacturer's location by PMD employees, ala those Ferarri's or Porsches (or Cushman scooters) that you can send back and get restored to original specifications. It's the only GM vehicle in the collection I can think of like that (except maybe the Corvette SS racer which was also recently freshened up).

K

https://www.hemmings.com/stories/article/greg-wallace

*there's a story there, too.

I'm reminded of an AMX that was found walled up in a Chrysler assembly plant during a remodel.

In that case they disassembled the car and ran it back through the production process, right in line with the Chrysler K cars or whatever shoeboxes they were building at the time.

That car lived in the Chrysler Museum after it was completed. I don't know what happened to it after that museum closed down.

K

https://images2.imgbox.com/05/95/mFB8SE1l_o.jpg

Florida? Nope . . . Gator Park located very near the Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado.

That is wild about the gators. They must have building for the other reptiles and such for the winter. I went thru Alamosa about 10 years ago in early January and this is the thermometer in the Silverado at 8:30 in the morning... yes, it was MINUS 22°

• https://www.yenko.net/forum/cache.ph...Bquality%3D100

https://images2.imgbox.com/07/12/SdVaKFl8_o.jpg

Any fans of the old TV show THUNDERBIRDS?

Geez. You guys are slackin'. I'll give you some grace since it is the holiday.

Generic Yenko Supercar forum member: "Hey Keith - what's the story there?"

Ah! Thanks for asking, GYSFM -

Greg started out as a technician at a Cadillac dealership.

He was driving to work one morning and saw a disabled Cadillac on the side of the road. He stopped to help and although I don't recall what the specific problem was he was able to get the vehicle running and the guy on his way.

Turns out the guy was a Cadillac VP or General Manager or something. The two of them hit it off and stayed in contact as Greg worked his way up the ranks. When the idea of creating a Heritage Center was floated the guy suggested Greg and the rest is history.

No good deed goes unpunished (or rewarded in this case), as the saying goes.

K

https://images2.imgbox.com/f8/a2/I96500Ll_o.jpg

The 1958 Plymouth Cabana

https://macsmotorcitygarage.com/stat...na/#more-94656

They should at least create the picture in scale.

https://i.postimg.cc/ZR2G3Nyf/0.jpg

C8 Chevy Corvette SUV Rendering

I can't believe it, but I like the Corvette SUV.

It worked for Porsche. No reason it's can't work for Chevrolet. So long as they don't scrimp on the power. That's going to be the key to it's success.