The William E. Swigart, Jr. collection, believed to be the oldest in the United States, represents over a century of automotive history. Recognizing that old cars were often dismantled so that their parts could be used to create or repair some other machine, W. Emmert Swigart began to collect and display old cars as an extension of his insurance business in the early 1920s. After his death in 1949 his son, William E. Swigart, Jr., expanded the collection and constructed the museum facility to share his passion with the public. Today between thirty and thirty-five cars are on display each year at the museum in permanent and rotating exhibits. When not on display the remaining cars, many still in the condition that Mr. Swigart found them, are divided among three storage facilities.

The museum also includes automobilia, bicycles, toys, vintage clothing and accessories, and much, much more.



Register for the 2011 Swigart Meet!

The William E. Swigart, Jr. collection, believed to be the oldest in the United States, represents over a century of automotive history. Recognizing that old cars were often dismantled so that their parts could be used to create or repair some other machine, W. Emmert Swigart began to collect and display old cars as an extension of his insurance business in the early 1920s. After his death in 1949 his son, William E. Swigart, Jr., expanded the collection and constructed the museum facility to share his passion with the public. Today between thirty and thirty-five cars are on display each year at the museum in permanent and rotating exhibits. When not on display the remaining cars, many still in the condition that Mr. Swigart found them, are divided among three storage facilities.

The museum also includes automobilia, bicycles, toys, vintage clothing and accessories, and much, much more.

CLICK HERE for a printable version of this list

Our Vehicles

1899.....Winton.....Roadster
1900.....Willys-Overland.....Sedan
1902.....Crestmobile.....Roadster
1903.....Oldsmobile.....Curved Dash
1904.....Mitchell
1904.....Franklin.....Roadster
1905.....Rambler.....Surrey
1906.....Brush.....Roadster
1906.....Firestone-Columbus
1907.....Jewel (A)
1908.....Maxwell.....Runabout
1908.....Studebaker.....Electric, one of two constructed for government use
1909.....Overland.....Donated by: Dennis Milstein
1909.....Mora.....Roadster; One of two by manufacturer known to exist
1909.....Black/Kiblinger.....High-Wheeler
1909.....International.....High-Wheeler
1909.....Hupmobile.....Roadster
1910.....Buick
1910.....Marion.....Phaeton
1911.....Sears.....Model K
1912.....Chalmers
1913.....Chevrolet.....Touring Car
1913.....Ford.....Model T truck
1913.....Maxwell
1914.....Grant
1914.....Stanley Steamer
1915.....Ford.....Model T Depot Hack - Donated by Steve & Blanche Gordon
1916.....Scripps-Booth.....Town Car, specially built for Eleanora Sears, the great-great-granddaughter of Thomas Jefferson, widely considered to be America's first female athlete!
1915.....Pathfinder
1917.....Dodge
1918.....Buick.....Roadster
1919.....Pierce-Arrow
1919.....Brewster.....Town Car
1920.....Carroll.....Believed to be the only automobile still in existence built by the Carroll Motor Car Company
1920.....Ford.....Model T
1922.....Studebaker
1923.....Cadillac.....Phaeton
1923.....Dixon.....Cargo Truck
1924.....Ford.....Model T Depot Hack
1927.....Buick.....Sedan
1927.....Marmon.....Phaeton
1928.....Oakland
1928.....Studebaker.....Sedan
1929.....Duesenberg.....Model J Victoria
1930.....Ford.....Model A sedan
1930.....Franklin.....Sedan
1931.....Chevrolet
1931.....Ford.....Model A Popcorn Wagon
1931.....Ford.....Model A
1931.....Marmon
1932.....Plymouth
1933.....Chevrolet.....Eagle Sedan
1935.....Packard.....Series 1202 Sedan
1936.....Desoto.....Airflow III
1936.....Duesenberg.....Prototype "Gentleman's Speedster"
1937.....Cord.....Super CHG Phaeton
1937.....Packard
1937.....Cord.....812 Sportsman Phaeton
1937.....Plymouth
1938.....Chevrolet.....Sedan
1938.....American Austin Bantam
1939.....Buick.....Roadmaster
1939.....Simplex.....Servi-cycle; Donated by Steve & Blanche Gordon
1940.....Plymouth.....Road King
1941.....Packard.....Flower Car
1946.....Willys.....Jeep
1947.....Tucker....."Tin Goose" Prototype
1948.....Tucker.....#1013 of the 51 produced
1948.....Pontiac.....Silver Streak
1950.....Chevrolet.....Deluxe
1950.....Dodge.....Coronet
1951.....Chrysler.....Windsor
1951.....Chrysler.....Windsor
1951.....Packard.....Sedan
1951.....Studebaker.....Champ
1952.....Nash.....Ambassador Custom Sedan
1954.....Packard.....Patrician
1955.....Chrysler.....Windsor Deluxe Sedan
1957.....Buick.....Special
1957.....Pontiac.....Star Chief
1959.....Edsel.....Corsair
1960.....Chevrolet.....Corvair; Donated by Rex & Dottie Hershberger
1960.....Fiat.....Jolly Convertible
1960.....Volkswagen....."Herbie, the Love Bug"
1961.....Cadillac.....Biarritz convertible
1961.....Ford.....F-100 truck
1962.....Chevrolet.....Impala
1962.....Chrysler.....Newport Sedan
1962.....Olds.....Jetfire F-85
1962.....AMC-Austin Nash.....Metropolitan
1963.....Olds.....Dynamic 88
1963.....Harley Davidson Motorcycle
1963.....Volkswagen.....Beetle
1964.....Studebaker.....Commander
1965.....Chevrolet.....Corvair
1965.....Chevrolet.....Corvair
1965.....Lincoln.....Continental
1966.....Chrysler.....Imperial
1966.....Ford.....LTD
1967.....Olds.....Cutlass
1969.....Chevrolet.....Corvair
1970.....Olds.....Delta 88
1975.....Cadillac.....El Dorado
1977.....Cadillac.....El Dorado
1977.....Volkswagen.....Super Beetle
1979.....Lincoln Mark V; Donated by Steven G. Benadum
1981.....Delorean.....DMC-12
1987.....Cadillac.....DeVille
1987.....Johnson.....Phaeton Coupe
1988.....Pontiac.....Firebird; Donated by Terry Hoffman

Our Collection of Horse Drawn Vehicles

1876.....Fire Wagon
1890.....Surrey
1896.....Chemical Fire Wagon
1897.....Hose Wagon
1908.....Ambulance

Before the age of branding and logos, the radiator emblem proudly proclaimed the vehicle’s manufacturer. In what is believed to be the largest collection of automobile emblems, badges, and license plates in the country, familiar labels from Ford, Packard, and Oldsmobile are displayed alongside the emblems of forgotten models. Car badges, a sign that the motorist belonged to an automobile club, are also on display. The license plate exhibit represents every state in the union and includes only a fraction of the plates in the museum’s collection. This important collection of automobilia also includes automobile lamps and horns, hood ornaments, and other accessories that added to the pleasure of driving.

What made the “Gay ‘90s” such a lighthearted era? The bicycle! By the 1890s, the bicycle had advanced into a practical means of transportation as well as a popular leisure activity. The Museum exhibits several pre-1900 examples including an all wood riding machine known as a velocipede or “boneshaker.” Also on display are High-Wheel bicycles from the 1880s and safety bicycles from the 1890s.

 

The collection of toys in The William E. Swigart, Jr. Automobile Museum includes those modeled after the exciting vehicles of the early 20th century. Cast iron fire trucks, horse-drawn pumpers, and other wheeled toys made by manufacturers such as Hubley and Buddy L; Lionel trains; and pedal cars with a silhouette similar to the antique cars in the museum are on display throughout the building.

One corner is devoted to a collection of vintage Fisher-Price toys, including classics such as the Snoopy Sniffer and the Corn Popper push toy. Everything from wooden pull toys offered during the company’s first year (1931) to toys popular a decade ago brings to mind the pleasure of these childhood favorites.

Other toys on display throughout the museum include mechanical tin plate toys, dolls, hobby horses, and much more.

More than just cars, the William E. Swigart, Jr. Automobile Museum displays vintage clothing and accessories that recall the days when proper decorum kept ladies covered from head to toe. The excitement of early automobile racing and old cars is depicted in prints, paintings, and photographs from renowned automobile artists such as Ernest Montaut and Peter Helck. And post cards sent from across the country as Americans traveled in ever increasing numbers are just some of the treasures awaiting visitors.