Swope's Cars of Yesteryear Museum

It isn't uncommon these days to have "super dealer" car dealerships; one company handling multiple lines in multiple locations. The Swope family of dealers is one such super dealer group. Sam Swope started his company in 1951 in Elizabethtown, KY and now operates over 20 dealerships in Louisville and Central Kentucky. Sitting amid a string of his dealerships at 1100 N. Dixie Dr. in Elizabethtown is Swope's homage to the automotive past, Swope's Cars of Yesteryear Museum (http://www.swopemuseum.com/Swope-Auto-Museum.asp).

Opened in 1999, this museum holds over 60 vehicles ranging from the ealy 1900s through the 1960s. There isn't enough room for all of them to be on display at the same time so here are the ones I got to see on my visit. First was a 1923 Packard Sport Touring Car. The car features a dual windshield and was an early model to use the "single" six engine that replaced their 12 cylinder motor.

This is a 1948 Chrysler New Yorker Three Window Coup. Showing classic post-World War II lines and featuring a long hood, this classic was powered by a 323.5 cubic inch inline eight that generated 135 horsepower. According to records only 701 examples of this model were every made.

The museum features a number of different Packards including this 1936 120B Touring Coup. There were 3976 of these cars built and is believed to be one of only five to still survive.

This is a beautiful example of a 1953 Jaguar XK 120, the predecessor to the famed E-Type. Not only were these cars beautiful to look at, they could top 120 miles per hour with their 190 horse power 3422cc twin cam straight six motors.

Probably the most recognizable and famed of the Tri-5s, this 1957 Chevy Bel Air is a mint example of that iconic model. Featuring a 283 cubic inch V-8, this is, as the museum rightfully claims, a pristine example of this incredible car.

Charles Warren Nash was a co-founder of Buick and later was president of General Motors but in 1916 he bought the Jeffery Motor Company and re-named it. This is a beautiful example of one of Nash Motors first successful cars, a 1920 Six Touring Car.

In 1954 Nash merged with Hudson to form American Motors. Shortly before that saw this 1950 Hudson Commodore 8 Sedan. This was the forerunner to the famous Hudson Hornet, the car that ruled NASCAR in the early days.

In order to compete with Chevy, especially the Bel Air, Ford redesigned their cars in 1956. One such remodel is seen here in this 1956 Club Sedan which featured a panoramic windshield and a variety of options, including three different sized engines.

We tend to think of American cars being big in the 1950s and 1960s but this 1961 Nash Metropolitan is proof that there were small cars being made. With a 1200cc 42 horse power overhead valve four cylinder engine, this was convenience and economy on wheels. OK, so maybe it looked like a toy but it was efficient for city driving.

From a small economy car to perhaps the essence of luxury when it was released, this 1937 Cadillac Fleetwood 85 with its 368 cubic inch 12 cylinder engine was appointed in every possible option to make driving and riding an extremely pleasant experience.

The USA wasn't the only country manufacturing cars in the early days. In fact, France was a leading builder as is demonstrated here by this 1914 Renault. While this was obviously a carriage vehicle, many Renaults of that this were out winning races across Europe.