Story of the Week

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Remembering the Brooks Stevens Museum in Wisconsin
by Robert Tate, Award-Winning Automotive Historian and Researcher

For many years, the Brooks Stevens Automotive Museum was a very exciting place to visit. It featured many great-looking and historical automobiles on display.

The Museum opened its doors on September 2, 1959 and always had over 60 classic vehicles on display at any one time. The collection featured popular classics, vintage automobiles, antiques and popular sports cars that belonged to famous people.

Not many people know who Brooks Stevens (June 7, 1911 - January 4, 1995) was. He was an automotive mechanical engineer and vice president of design for the Cutler-Hammer Company in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Stevens was also a big fan of auto racing. 

To learn more about Brooks Stevens and the museum that bore his name, click below.

This Week's Story

MotorCities Seeking An Education Program Contractor; RFP Deadline October 31

MotorCities is seeking an Education Program Contractor to help the organization with oversight and implementation of the Junior Ranger and Open Outdoors for Kids programs.

To view the complete RFP, please click here: https://motorcities.org/job-opportunities.

https://motorcities.org/job-opportunities.

The submission deadline is Thursday, October 31, 2024.

This Week in Auto Heritage

On October 16, 1958, Chevrolet began to sell a car-truck hybrid called the El Camino. Made to challenge Ford Motor Company's Ranchero, introduced two years earlier, the El Camino was a sedan-pickup combo built on the Impala body, including its signature “cat’s eye” taillights and rear fins.

While the Ranchero had proven to be a consistent sales performer for Ford, the first El Camino was not, and Chevy nixed it only two years later. In 1964, however, Chevrolet brought out an updated version built on the more heavy-duty Chevelle chassis. By 1968 when the more powerful SS engine was added, the El Camino became a true muscle car -- and a sales hit.

In 1987, the El Camino was removed from Chevy's lineup, but the car/truck hybrid remains a classic -- a forerunner of today's popular utility vehicles.

Hey Kids!  Become a MotorCities Junior Ranger! Click here for details!

Events Coming to the MotorCities

Oct 17: Night at the Museum at Stahl's Automotive Collection in Chesterfield Twp.

On Oct 17th night from 5 to 8 p.m., join the Stahl's Automotive Collection in Chesterfield Twp. for the next evening of their "Night at the Museum" series.

The event provides the opportunity to see the museum in a different light. Guests can stroll through the museum by the glow of neon lights, as the overhead lights are turned down for this special event. In addition, the focus moves to signs and lighted gas pumps.

For more information, click here.

Oct 19th: Cars and Coffee at the Michigan Military Technical & Historical Society in Eastpointe

This Saturday from 10 a.m. to Noon, the Michigan Military Technical & Historical Society in Eastpointe hosts the last Cars and Coffee event of the season. Every month the museum hosts a morning full of classic cars and light refreshments. Bring your classic car with you or come to see an array of vehicles and the museum.

The event is open to all and normal admission pricing will be in effect. 

For more information, click here.

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