Gilmore Car Museum plans to add Muscle Car Museum by 2021

The $5 million project would add a new 25,000-square foot interactive exhibit space along with 3,000-square feet of ever-changing exhibit space to the 90-acre campus located in Hickory Corners by 2021.

The Gilmore Car Museum houses North America's largest vintage automobile collection with nearly 400 cars and motorcycles, some dating back as far as 1886.

A new building on the southeast side of campus would feature a replica dealership showroom, vintage speed shop and new restroom facilities. It would join "dealership row," which includes partner museums of re-created dealerships for the Ford Model-A, Franklin, Cadillac and Lincoln.

Stacie Longwell Sadowski, development and engagement manager for the Gilmore Car Museum, said the popularity of past muscle car exhibits inspired the expansion.

"People wanted to see more of it, and it was drawing in a younger demographics. People really connect with muscle cars," she said. "I'm told the No. 1 question we get from visitors is, 'When are you going to get more muscle cars?'"

There are currently 20 muscle cars on display inside the Gilmore Museum's gallery. That number is expected to double by 2021. The new addition will also feature a number of interactive exhibits that celebrate the 1960s and early 1970s muscle car era.