National Corvette Museum Welcomes Muscle Car Exhibit

Whenever Corvettes pass a Ford Thunderbird, they almost need to give it a wave. As Corvette historians know, it is because of the T-bird that Zora Arkus-Duntov (the ‘father’ of Corvette) saved the car from early extinction. By arguing that Chevrolet couldn’t allow Ford to capture the “Hop Up” (Hot Rod) market, he was able to keep Corvette alive, and on its way to becoming the car it is today.

When you stop and think about it, Duntov might not have ever created his “Cobra Killer” Grand Sport had it not been for the fact that there was a Cobra that needed killing. In a way the Corvette owes a debt to Ford as well as to every make of car on the track. As it was then it is now, competition drives inspiration, innovation and the creation of the Chevrolet Corvette we know and love today.

The cars in this new exhibit at the National Corvette Museum are great examples of the first era of the “muscle car” which is now receiving a resurgence. The streets are once again populated with Camaros, Chargers and Mustangs reinfused with that classic mojo that made them so popular in the days when cool was measured in cubic inches.

For those who were alive when the Beatles were still together, this will be a wonderful trip down memory lane. It won’t be long before you think back on the cars you bought and sold along the way that would fit nicely in this collection. Included in the display are: a 1968 Pontiac GTO, a 1970 Buick Grand Sport, a 1969 “Big Bad” Green AMC Javelin SST, a 1969 Mercury Cyclone, a 1970 Pontiac Trans Am, a 1970 Dodge Challenger Hemi R/T, a 1970 Plymouth Barracuda, a 1966 Plymouth Belvedere, a 1968 Oldsmobile Cutlass 442, a 1968 Shelby GT500, a 1969 “General Lee” Dodge Charger, a 1969 convertible Camaro RS, a 1967 Chevy Nova SS, and a 1970 Chevelle SS.

The American Muscle Car exhibit runs until June 19th, Father’s Day weekend.

The National Corvette Museum is dedicated to the mission of celebration, education and preservation, and is open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT – located at 350 Corvette Drive, just off exit 28 on I-65 in Bowling Green, KY. For more information contact the Museum at 270-781-7973 or visit www.corvettemuseum.org.