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409, 427, 454. If fender emblems with those numbers on a classic Chevy get your heart pumping faster, you needed to be at Bruce Litton Trailer Sales for the January meeting and tour of Bruce's museum. The lucky members attending were treated to one of the most awesome collections of restored Chevys anywhere. Chevelles, Camaros, Impalas, Biscaynes, Corvettes, and even mid 50's Suburbans. This place is like I dream about having if I were to "hit the lottery".
The event was hosted by owner Bruce Litton, who is a professional Top Fuel drag racer, and his employee/crew member Eddie Jeffers. Bruce is one of the most personable and approachable professional racers there is. Bruce and Eddie are really nice guys.
Among the over two dozen impeccably restored Chevys were a '61 Impala SS409 (990+ point car), '62 Impala 409 hp 409, '67 Vette 427, '69 Camaro COPO 427, '70 Chevelle LS-6 (recreation) convertible, '67 Chevelle SS396, '55 Chevy street rod, and many more. Also on display were vintage motorcycles, bicycles, large neon signs and more memorabilia than you could shake a stick at. Talk about a kid in a candy store.
Almost as impressive as the cars, was the building in which they're stored. Store fronts including a restaurant, movie theater, church, gas station, car dealership, and more are replicated in painstaking detail to simulate the 1955 setting of Bruce's home town of Oneida, TN. It includes scaled-down replicas of the interiors of some of those buildings. The restaurant even has simulated food on the 50's style tables. Old timey memorabilia was everywhere. All this, the building, and all the cars were built or accumulated since 2001, when a devastating fire leveled the building and everything in it. Also destroyed was Bruce's entire car collection at that time.
An additional treat was a visit to the attached race shop where Bruce's Lucas Oil sponsored Top Fuel dragster and huge semi-trailer race transporter are stored. The race car's engine and drivetrain were totally disassembled and the parts were on tables. It was quite interesting to see these pieces up close and have Bruce answer questions about the car and driving it.
A special thanks goes to Chuck Collins for setting up this tour and to Bruce Litton for opening his doors for us. He truly has a "Dream Garage".
Note: Bruce's museum and his '70 Chevelle LS-6 convertible were featured on the Spike TV show "Musclecar" Saturday February 17.
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