News Release: Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum Adds Two Automobiles to Permanent Collection

(AUBURN) - The Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum concluded 2009 with two generous donations. A 1936 Cord 810 Sedan and a 2002 Ford Thunderbird Convertible have become the latest additions to the Museum's family and permanent collection.

Paul and Martha Bryant of Prairie Village, Kansas, along with their son Tony Carter, of San Antonio, Texas, have donated an automobile to the permanent collection that has been on display at the museum for over 10 years. The 1936 Cord 810 Sedan is one of the 100 hand-built Cords and is restored to look like one of the known original show cars. "This 'Coppertone Cord' is an important part of the story that we are telling here at the Museum," says Matt Short, executive vice-president of the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum. "It demonstrates the elegance, hard work and dedication that the workers of the Auburn Automobile Company put into each of the cars they produced."

Mr. Peter Heydon, of Ann Arbor, Michigan, kindly donated the 2002 Ford Thunderbird Convertible. As a serious participant in the collector car hobby, Peter Heydon holds the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum in high regard, and he has been one of its longtime financial supporters. It was an easy choice for Heydon to contribute his brand new 2002 Ford Thunderbird Convertible to the Museum. "It is one of the best managed and educationally relevant museums in the world," Heydon said. As the museum's collection already included a 1956 Thunderbird, he saw his unusual 2002 model as the perfect show mate for the yesteryear style and romance of the 1956 automobile. This beautiful, black sports car is new with only 50 miles on the odometer and was the very first Ford Thunderbird offered to the public in 2002! It is a perfect example of the craftsmanship seen in two models of the same automobile built decades apart from one another. "It is a phenomenal comparison of the sleek automobile that two different generations have grown to love" says Short.

With the support of donors like Peter Heydon, Paul and Martha Bryant, and Tony Carter, the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum is able to continue to share outstanding automotive treasures with our visitors from around the world each year.

The Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum - where the world's finest cars of yesterday live today! Over 120 classic, antique, vintage and special interest cars are displayed with other automotive related exhibits on three floors. The museum is located in the original 1930s national headquarters of the legendary Auburn Automobile Company and is a National Historic Landmark. Admission is charged, with group and family rates available. The museum is open daily from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. year round. In 2010, bring your family to the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum, a place where automotive history comes to life! Now you can shop at the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum Store online! Visit www.automobilemuseum.org

Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum

NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK

Accredited by the American Association of Museums

1600 South Wayne Street

P.O. Box 271

Auburn, Indiana 46706

Office: (260) 925-1444 x 32

Fax: (260) 925-6266