Roadside Display Raises Onlookers' Brows Latest Volo Auto Museum Pedestal Car Too Good for Outdoor Post?

VOLO, Ill. - A roadside display at Volo Village Road and Route 120 near Volo is dropping the jaws of car-savvy travelers.

Volo Auto Museum has placed a cherry red, 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air convertible with lustrous chrome at its corner pedestal sign. The intention was to grab attention, and attention it is grabbing.

Many passersby are calling the museum to express concern about the well-being of the iconic car. The 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air convertible is perhaps the most coveted car of its era, with values often exceeding $100,000.

Having driven past this American classic outdoors, exposed to the weather - with the top down no less - collectors and the public are in a dither. The museum has received numerous calls complaining about the potential degradation of this seemingly exquisite example of the ultimate Tri-Chevy.

However, the car will not deteriorate - because it is a fiberglass fake!

Volo Auto Museum bought the faux car from a Hollywood film company that built it as a low-cost prop. The car is made of a one-piece fiberglass body mounted on a light-duty steel frame, museum co-owner Brian Grams said.

"Add some chrome and white wall tires and you have a very convincing imitation," he said. "The museum is using the car as a representation of the 300 collector cars for sale indoors."

In addition to vintage and collector cars, the Volo Auto Museum displays many Hollywood and television classics such as the Munsters' Drag-Ula, the Ghostbusters' Ecto-1 and Eleanor from "Gone in Sixty Seconds."

The museum also features the Military Adventure and Combat Zone, where visitors can walk through lifelike dioramas and view genuine weaponry and numerous rare, restored and operational military vehicles. Remember, the Combat Zone becomes the Haunted Battlefield Oct. 6-31.

The museum is located at 27582 W. Volo Village Road in Volo and is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. For information call (815) 385-3644.