Chicago Auto Show Features Volo Auto Museum's ''Bad Boys of the Big 3'' Muscle-Car Collection

The Volo Auto Museum will display the three most powerful and valuable muscle cars to ever come off a Detroit assembly line at this year's Chicago Auto Show, Feb. 10, 2006-19 at McCormick Place.

The museum, located in Volo, IL, is home to the world's largest collection of muscle cars. At the auto show, the museum will display a 1970 Dodge Hemi 'Cuda convertible, a 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS LS6 convertible, and a 1967 Ford GT500E. This premium collection of stars-and-stripes muscle is called "The Bad Boys of the Big 3."

The Hemi 'Cuda 4-speed convertible is the most costly, highly sought production musclecar on earth. At a recent Barrett-Jackson auction, an owner of one of the original 6 politely declined an offer of $4.6 million. The legendary Hemi engine spews 425 horsepower and 490 pound-feet of torque of tire-melting bliss.

The 454 cubic-inch engine in the Chevelle LS6 is the most potent powerplant ever placed in a production muscle car, producing 450 horsepower and 500 foot-pounds of torque. The museum's example is one of only 20 Chevelle LS6 convertibles produced in 1970 with the famed M-22 Rock Crusher 4-speed transmission.

The 1967 GT500E perfectly blends old-car style with new-car technology. The 428 aluminum-head engine in this limited-production convertible is tweaked to produce approximately 400 horsepower and 350 foot-pounds of torque. An insulated cloth top, Italian-leather interior, state-of-the-art sound system, A/C and automatic transmission provide a soft side to this ferocious beast.

In addition to the millions of dollars worth of hyper-rare muscleware, the museum will display Disney's Herbie the Love Bug, the Ghostbusters' ECTO 1, a 1957 Plymouth Fury from the movie "Christine," a 1936 Auburn Boattail Speedster, a 1932 Isotta Fraschini Boattail Speedster, and a 1970 Dodge Charger, driven by Vin Diesel in the hit movie "The Fast and The Furious."

Also, a military Humvee, complete with armor plating and machine guns, will be on hand to represent the museum's new military adventure museum.

The Chicago Auto Show Committee has invited the museum to display a portion of its world-famous collection every year since 1976. This year, the museum will display 12 vehicles in McCormick Place at the far north end of the North Exhibit Hall.

The Volo Auto Museum is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. General admission is $8.95. Special rates are available for children, seniors, veterans and active military. Visit www.volocars.com or call (815) 385-3644 for details.
Source: � theautochannel.com