Chevelle from muscle car find headed for museum
When 21 sealed trailers were discovered in DePere, Wis., people wondered what would happen to the contents, which included big-block cars and parts. Now comes word that one of the cars will be displayed at the AACA Museum in Hershey, Pa.
This 1970 LS6 Chevelle SS, shown here not long after it was pulled
from one of the 21 'muscle car find' trailers, will now delight
crowds at the AACA Museum.
The 21 trailers sealed with big-block cars bearing the names “Yenko,” “Sting Ray” and “Super Sport,” and housing parts for such cars, have been emptied and most of their contents dispersed to collectors, but the rumble from the greatest muscle car find to date can still be felt. Now the AACA Museum in Hershey, Pa., will be highlighting that very special story with a new permanent exhibit featuring one of the cars from that storied collection — a 1970 Chevrolet LS6 Chevelle SS with its original Fathom Blue paint, white stripes and 450-hp 454-cid V-8.
Several parts from the long-sealed collection, such as Corvette knock-off wheels, early GM fuel-injection units and Corvette side exhaust parts, will be displayed alongside the Chevelle upon the opening of the exhibit this spring.
The 46,300-mile LS6 Chevelle represents a part of the ‘muscle car find’ from De Pere, Wis., secured in 2006 by Larry Fisette upon following up on a long-rumored collection of muscle cars and Corvettes, as well as literally tons of parts, stored in semi trailers by a quiet man in his hometown. When Donald Schlag, the owner who amassed the collection, passed away, Fisette contacted his family and offered to buy the collection at a fair price. Schlag’s family had no idea what old cars were worth, and Fisette had no idea what he was buying.
But one-by-one, the trailers were cracked open for the first time since they were sealed in the early 1970s. The first trailer was opened to reveal not one but two 1970 Chevelle SS 454s, each surrounded with ultra-rare and desirable muscle car parts. The treasure hunting continued when each Chevelle’s trunk was opened to reveal Corvette knock-off wheels and fuel-injection units. The second Chevelle is the example that is now part of the AACA Museum’s permanent collection and was added through the generosity of Scott Milestone, who purchased the entire muscle car and parts find.
Milestone put 85 to 90 percent of the cars and parts back into the hands of enthusiasts when he offered the parts up for sale in May 2008. He kept a handful of parts and cars for his own collection, including the LS6 Chevelle he recently donated to the AACA Museum. According to Milestone, this bench-seat, automatic transmission-equipped Chevelle is an excellent example of an original-paint, documented and unmolested LS6 Chevelle still riding on its original wheels and tires. The car was last registered in 1975.
The Antique Auto Museum at Hershey displays beautifully preserved and restored automobiles, buses and motorcycles in unique scenes and settings. Look for future announcements about other rare, one-off prototypes, limited-production and exciting vehicles from the 1950s and 1960s to be on display soon at the AACA Museum.
The AACA Museum is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For further information, call 717-566-7100 or go to www.aacamuseum.org. For more information about any remaining parts from the ‘muscle car find,’ contact Scott Milestone at 301-928-3000.
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