Classic Chryslers In The Land Of 10,000 Lakes
Excellent Cars, Nice People, and a Big Red Ram
A recurring theme I’ve come across in conversations with car enthusiasts is making other people happy. Ian Henry, owner of an Aston Martin-esque vintage Mustang, said one of his favorite things about taking the car for a spin is the smiles and animated discussions it generates from interested passersby. Recently, I found the same sentiment during a trip to Minnesota.
A Car Guy Trip To Minnesota
It was here that many car things happened, all of which were centered around Chrysler. A huge thank you to Michael Gustafson for orchestrating everything. Minnesota native, Chrysler aficionado, and all-around nice guy, Michael invited me out for a weekend spent visiting the Old Chrysler Garage, attending the 10,000 Lakes Concours d’Elegance, and having a seriously good time with the gearhead community.
ICYMI, 2025 marks 100 years since Chrysler was founded, which is kind of a big deal. This whole affair came to be as the result of a piece I wrote for CarBuzz celebrating 10 models from Chrysler’s past that illustrate its inherent greatness. Michael discovered it, politely noted the lack of a 1926 Chrysler Four and its significance to the automaker’s history, and we got to talking.
Fast forward a few months, and I found myself headed to Minnesota. Naturally, the best part of any trip is figuring out what kind of car you’ll need for getting around. I’ve previously droned on about why a Miata is perfect for a jaunt to Las Vegas, but for this trip, it felt like we needed to stick with the Chrysler family.
Celebrating Chrysler’s 100th Anniversary With A Ram
By we, I mean myself and my dad, who agreed to join me on this Minnesota Chrysler adventure. The original thought was to rent a Ram 1500, mainly because neither of us drives a pickup truck, so why not? The Thrifty rental agreement later noted “F-150 or similar”, but on arrival, I found myself looking at a row of Ram 2500s. As in the three-quarter ton, 20-foot-long, 6.4L-powered, fuel efficiency N/A Ram 2500.
“They rent these things from the airport?!”, I heard myself thinking. Turns out they do. That fire engine red behemoth is a story unto itself, but suffice it to say, these trucks are kind of awesome. 6,000-pound pickup truck and father in tow, we headed to the small Minnesota town of Isanti for what turned out to be an absolutely outrageous hidden automotive gem.
Hidden Automotive Gem
Owned and operated by Greg Biskey, the Old Chrysler Garage is a must-see spot for any car enthusiasts visiting the Twin Cities. About an hour north of Minneapolis, it’s located on the main drag of downtown Isanti. A purple sign hanging overhead identifies it, but you really need to go inside to fully appreciate it. The museum is entirely free and occupies a former Willys dealership, circa 1929. Within, you’ll find more than a dozen vintage Chryslers, all of which are owned by Greg.
Each one has a fascinating story, as does the museum itself. After purchasing the site 11 years ago, Greg set to work preparing it to open. Four years later, he was ready. Why so long? Well, for one thing, the museum retains its original copper tile ceiling, which required an entire winter’s worth of work to refinish. Then there’s the floor.
Determined to feature a cobblestone “road” inside the museum, Greg decided to paint one instead of installing actual cobbles. After coating the entire section in black, he then painstakingly painted each brown brick by hand. It’s a remarkably realistic effect, though as one patron quipped after hearing the story, “Why didn’t you paint it brown and then just do the outlines in black?”
All The Cool Chryslers
Of course, hand-painted cobblestone floors and vintage copper ceilings are not the stars of the Old Chrysler Garage show. It’s the cars. And the memorabilia. Wow. A 1932 Imperial that is 1 of just 8 known to still be in existence. A 1936 Airflow, replete with that iconic car’s stunning lines. A ‘36 Airstream Deluxe Coupe, one of just a few hundred with the rumble seat. The one-off 1948 New Yorker commissioned for Chrysler chief engineer Fred Zeder that was the only Town Sedan built that year.
This is just scratching the cool car surface. I’m a fan of wood-bodied Town & Countrys, and Greg has two onsite, including a stunning convertible. Oh yeah, he is also related to famed actor and marketer extraordinaire Hopalong Cassidy. This explains the Hopalong-related merchandise, but also offers an interesting mystery on the Chrysler front. According to Greg, Hopalong owned a trio of Town & Countrys. He has so far located two, but the third, a 1947 sedan, is currently unaccounted for. If you know anything about this particular car, be sure to let Greg know!
There’s so much more to see at the Old Chrysler Garage, from the 1899 clock owned by Walter P. himself to the 1950s analog computer slide show device used by Chrysler dealerships. It’s the only car museum in the Twin Cities open to the public, so be sure to check it out. Just plan on more time than you think you’ll need, as the stories, sheetmetal, and history are guaranteed to keep you ensconced for hours.
The 10,000 Lakes Concours d’Elegance
The next day, we piloted Big Red to the main event, the 10,000 Lakes Concours d’Elegance. Set on the sprawling infield of the Canterbury Downs horse racing facility in Shakopee, I was excited to attend my first such shindig. Taking place on an unseasonably toasty day, the incredible array of vehicular glory was staggering. Broken out by era, these cars are the ones you see going for big bucks at online auctions with mirror-polished chrome and meticulously crafted restorations. Every single ride was genuinely worth the price of admission (which is free, by the way), but these were some personal favorites.
1926 Chrysler Four
From the Early Century Collectible category, this particular car is owned by Michael Gustafson. After time spent learning about this car online, seeing it in person was a treat. Following decades in the private collection of two Chrysler dealer brothers, it was fully restored in the 2000s. A key part of the “missing link” between Maxwell Motors and Chrysler, this Four comes with an all-time fascinating back story.
1949 Chrysler New Yorker Town & Country Convertible
WOW. This knockout looked amazing with a deep blue exterior finish surrounding the wooden body panels. Marking the end of the “woodie” era, it is a dazzling example of postwar American design and craftsmanship. The Spitfire straight-8 under the hood is pretty cool too.
1958 DeSoto FireFlite Explorer
To be honest, until this Concours, I hadn’t spent a whole lot of time around the high end of 1950s American cars. But there were a lot of them here, and holy cow, I want one. This wild DeSoto is a giant wagon layered with glistening chrome, killer tailfins, and an outrageous Shell Rose and Gaugin Red two-tone finish. These cars are just so massive in person, with so many little details that would NEVER find their way to a production line today. Amazing.
1960 Plymouth Fury
Another righteous example of this era’s design was the be-finned Plymouth Fury drop top trimmed in Turquoise. Swaggering with wild space-age design, it is another showcase of fanciful hood ornaments, swiveling seats, and epic chrome. The Golden Commando V8 was pretty darn nice too, but I have to say, the 1960 Chrysler 300F sitting right next to it took the cake for Most Excellent engine. I’ve read about the “cross-ram” intake manifold, but seeing it in person was so much better.
The Europeans
Though fewer in number, the handsome little European classics on hand were radiating old-school cool. A 1973 BMW 2002 with phone dial steel wheels and a lovely roof rack, a funky 1972 SAAB with inward-venting rear glass, and a supremely elegant 1978 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow II finished in a striking two-tone Honey Gold and Chestnut scheme.
Minneapolis For Car Enthusiasts
If you have the opportunity to visit Minneapolis, definitely go to the Old Chrysler Garage, and if you can swing a trip in September, check out the 10,000 Lakes Concours d’Elegance. Not only are the people as friendly as they come, the car culture is super welcoming and endlessly fascinating. I, for one, am trying to figure out how to get my hands on a big old 1950s American land yacht. But no matter where your particular car enthusiasm lies, events like this are not to be missed.