Former Viper Plant to House Historic FCA Models

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV plans to convert a former assembly plant in Detroit into a museum that will house more than 400 historic cars and concept models—mostly from the carmaker’s American brands.

The 51-year-old plant, which most recently produced the Dodge Viper supercar, was closed last August. The former Conner Avenue Assembly plant will be renamed the Conner Center.

About one-fifth of the nearly 400,000-sq-ft plant will be used to display vehicles. The rest of the building will be used for storage, meeting rooms and other company functions.

Less than 100 vehicles will be on display at a time, while the rest of the cars will be kept in storage. The oldest vehicle in FCA’s collection is a 1902 Rambler. One of the most significant is a 1924 Chrysler Touring.

Initially the center will be open only to FCA employees. Public hours are expected to be added later.

The building will consolidate FCA’s historic models under one roof. FCA closed the former Walter P. Chrysler Museum in Auburn Hills in late 2016. That facility is being converted into the U.S. headquarters for Alfa Romeo and Maserati.

As part of the Detroit plant’s transformation, FCA is auctioning off various Viper memorabilia. Proceeds will go to the local United Way.