Author Archive: adamgillrie

Louis Renault, one of the great and deservedly famous pioneers of the motor car, established Renault Freres Ltd. at Billancourt in Paris, France in 1898. Early Renaults were strong contenders in the inner-city races, then fashionable. Renaults came in first in Paris to Ostend - Paris to Bordeau -Paris to Toulouse - and Paris to Berlin events of the early 1900’s. The car on display is a four cylinder, side valve Renault. The cylinders are cast in pairs in its 40 horsepower engine. It has a high tension Magnito ignition system and it cooled by Thermo-Syphon circulation of water through a huge radiator, which is scuttle mounted behind the bonnet or hood. There were good reasons for doing it this way; it enabled the header tank to be higher than the engine without impairing either the driver’s view or the airflow over the sloping nose. The large water capacity radiator provided an uncommonly reliable cooling system. Here is a fascinating story that accompanies this particular Renault. It was originally a Paris taxi. In 1914, World War I was going badly for the French. In September of that year, the Germans were advancing perilously close to Paris. 600 taxis (including this one) were requisitioned to move the French army [...]

Four cylinder, 22 horsepower, original cost $550. Top speed 45 miles per hour. Gas mileage 15 to 21 MPG. Gasoline costs 12 to 15 cents a gallon. The first “Wide Track.” This Ford was known as the “southern Model T”, with 60” wide axles. The extended axle width was because of wagon rut in the south were wider than those in the north. Between 1909 and 1927, Ford build 15,000,000 Model T Cars. Click Here for Audio Story Henry Ford’s imitation of mass production methods on a moving assembly line led to lower car prices. It also led to the $5.00 work day. People came from Kentucky and all over the south to work in the Ford Assembly Plant and earn the handsome wage of $5.00 a day! In 1914, Ford with 13,000 employees produced 300,000 cars.

The Model T Ford is the car that retired the horse and put America on wheels. No radio, no heater, no power assists, only the bare necessities made the Ford accessible to many. In fact, millions were sold between 1903 and 1927. At one time, the price of a model T Ford dropped to $295, and over half of the cars sold in this country were model T's. Until the late 1920's, they all came in one color...black. This car has been in the Cecil Shepherd family since 1940. A 6-1/2 year restoration was completed in 1990, resulting in a far more beautiful car than Henry Ford originally built in 1914. Note the Carbide generator on the left running board. Carbide in the bottom and water on top produced acetylene gas to light the headlights. The cowl lanterns burn kerosene.

Ten horsepower, single cylinder vertical motor. Speed up to 27 miles per hour, gearless variable clutch providing eight speeds forward and reverse, white ash wood axles and frame. Wheelbase 74", weight 800 lbs. Original Selling Price: $600. Built by the Brush Runabout Company, Detroit, Michigan. This Brush Roadster was known as the Model E-26 and was called "Everyman's Car." To quote the advertising, "It is every man's car because it is used by men who make less than $1,000 a year and the very wealthy who make up to $25,000 a year." A Brush Runabout finished the 2636 mile 1909 Glidden Tour, climbed Pike's Peak and crossed the American continent handily. The car was changed little during its brief life because its designer, Alanson P. Brush, believed he had reached "Perfection" in motor car construction. This pretty little car, with its jaunty looks and polished brass, is from the James and Carolyn Poe collection, Paris, Kentucky. Click Here for Audio Story

In 1927, General Motors launched a brand new car, the La Salle. Named after the French Explorer, Rene Robert Cavelieur de La Salle, it was thought the connection would give the new marquee an association of nobility. Thus, La Salle followed Cadillac in being named after a French Émigré. The particularly good design of the La Salle was due in large part to the young stylist, Harley Earl. His chassis design was based on the contemporary Hispano-Suiza, and he could not have chosen a more renowned make on which to model his creation. In 1931, automobile styling achieved what history would later regard as the high mark in Harley Earl’s career…it was the La Salle Series 345-A Convertible Coupe that you see here. Click Here for Audio StoryOriginal Price  2,345  Body by Fisher Chassis by Cadillac Wheelbase 134” Engine L-Head 90 Degree V-8 345 Cubic Inch Displacement Power: 95 HP… 3 Speed Synchromesh Transmission 3.75:1 Rear Axle Ratio Weight 4860 Pounds Stylist: Harley Earl Body Style: Convertible Coupe with Rumble Seat

JTNDaWZyYW1lJTIwd2lkdGglM0QlMjI1NjAlMjIlMjBoZWlnaHQlM0QlMjIzMTUlMjIlMjBzcmMlM0QlMjJodHRwcyUzQSUyRiUyRnd3dy55b3V0dWJlLmNvbSUyRmVtYmVkJTJGN1RJbE1STzNKMjAlMjIlMjBmcmFtZWJvcmRlciUzRCUyMjAlMjIlMjBhbGxvdyUzRCUyMmFjY2VsZXJvbWV0ZXIlM0IlMjBhdXRvcGxheSUzQiUyMGVuY3J5cHRlZC1tZWRpYSUzQiUyMGd5cm9zY29wZSUzQiUyMHBpY3R1cmUtaW4tcGljdHVyZSUyMiUyMGFsbG93ZnVsbHNjcmVlbiUzRSUzQyUyRmlmcmFtZSUzRQ==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 Swope's Cars of Yesteryear [...]

SWOPE MUSEUM

Welcome to the Swope Auto Museum, home to an impressive collection of vintage and antique cars. Our museum, Swope's Cars of Yesteryear, allow you to take a tour of different eras, from the early 1900s to the 1960s. Our museum features vehicles of all makes and models.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST? The Swope Auto Museum is owned and operated by the Swope Family of Dealerships, open to the public with NO ADMISSION charge. You won't find a "suggested donation box" either--our museum is completely free. We welcome all to come and enjoy, a way of expressing our appreciation for the sixty years that the Swope Family of Automobile Dealerships has been embraced by the Kentucky community. HOURS AND TOURS

The museum is open from 10 AM to 5 PM, Monday through Saturday. A knowledgeable hostess is on duty to greet you and give guided tours. The Swope Museum offers ample tour bus and RV parking. The museum is air-conditioned and is handicapped accessible. Don't miss our vintage car library and a do-it-yourself car video theater! Cameras are permitted.

HOW THE SWOPE VINTAGE COLLECTION CAME TO BE    It was May 8, 1945 and Bill was a young soldier fighti [...]

413 Cubic inch V8, 350 horsepower, push button torqueflite transmission, factory air, power windows and seat, 129 inch wheelbase, 4620 pounds. This was a limited production luxury car, with a total of only 3587 built.This 1962 Imperial custom, vehicle identification number 9123135582, is mostly original. It is a Florida car with no rust or body damage ever. Always garaged and carefully maintained. Owners manual and service and repair records are in the glove box. All components are in working order. The odometer reading is correct.With free standing headlights, bomb sight tail lights, and flowing, sweeping lines, the 1962 Imperial is one of the most beautiful luxury cars ever built.

4 cylinder engine, 20 horsepower, planetary 3 band transmission.This Model T Ford has a huckster wood body, a cargo carry all with many uses. Many special use bodies were built for the Model T Ford. Between 1909 and 1927 fifteen million Model T Fords were built. It was the car that retired the horse and put America on wheels. There was a time when half the cars sold in America were Model Ts."You can paint it any color, so long as it's black."