14 Nov

Fall Attractions: 75 Years of BMW Motorsport at South Carolina CCA Museum

bmw1

Greer, South Carolina – In June, the BMW Car Club of America Foundation opened its first big public exhibition at the Museum & Archive near the BMW factory in Spartanburg County, South Carolina. The exhibition is entitled Heroes of Bavaria: 75 Years of BMW Motorsport and consists of 22 historic (and iconic) BMW race machines in the building – From the BMW 328 roadster than won at Zandvoort in 1939, to the Z4 GTLM car that raced in 2014.

And of course, most things in between, including the racing CSL’s, a TI/SA, the LeMans winning V12 LMR, M1 ProCar, David Hobbs’ ridiculous M1-C Prototype, Formula 1, Formula 2, Formula BMW, the first BMW to ever win a sanctioned race in North America (a Miller-Norburn 2002), and the list goes on. Opening day for the exhibition was sold out, with 400+ in attendance.

bmw2

This particular exhibition will be in place through at January 5, 2018. For 2018 – to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 2002’s launch in the United States- BMW CCA will have a blow-out exhibition on all things 2002.

The BMW Performance Center is directly next door and the plant for the X-vehicles is directly across the street, so visitors can spend some time at those locations as well. BMW enthusiasts and motor racing fans in general on their way south this fall will find a visit to this exhibition well worth the trip.

The BMW CCA Foundation is a nonprofit organization, and exists only through the generosity of its donors. Donations are welcome and will help to sustain the CCA Foundation Museum & Archive. CCAF donors also help fund Tire Rack Street Survival, a national car-control training program for teenage drivers.

The Museum & Archive currently preserves about 45,000 BMW-related items, from rare cars to engines to art. It’s the largest such collection in the Americas. And if you’re a member of the BMW Car Club of America, it’s being collected and maintained on your behalf. Come see it!

Public Hours
No registration required, just drop in!

Monday – Friday
9:00 am – 5:00 pm

Weekday Admission Prices
$10.00 – Adults
$5.00 – BMW CCA Members (with proof of membership)
$5.00 – BMW Employees (with id)
FREE – Children 12 and under

Courtesy BMW Blog
Article by Horatiu Boeriu
Article photos by Jon van Woerden Photography

More Photos from Heroes of Bavaria: 75 Years of BMW Motorsport

1973 E9 3.0 CSL, winner of the 1976 Daytona 24 Hour race with drivers Peter Gregg, Brian Redman & John Fitzpatrick

1973 E9 3.0 CSL, winner of the 1976 Daytona 24 Hour race with drivers
Peter Gregg, Brian Redman & John Fitzpatrick

1975 E9 3.5 CSL Grp 5 and 1977 E21 320i Turbo

1975 E9 3.5 CSL Grp 5 and 1977 E21 320i Turbo

1936 328 Roadster, overall winner of 1939 GP of Amsterdam later hidden in Holland during WW II

1936 328 Roadster, overall winner of 1939 GP of Amsterdam later hidden in
Holland during WW II

Radical 1981 M1/C driven by David Hobbs and Marc Surer

Radical 1981 M1/C driven by David Hobbs and Marc Surer

1994 E34 M5 IMSA Supercar Champion with driver David Donahue

1994 E34 M5 IMSA Supercar Champion with driver David Donahue

2000 Formula 1 BMW-Williams FW22-02 piloted by Ralf Schumacher to 5th place in the championship

2000 Formula 1 BMW-Williams FW22-02 piloted by
Ralf Schumacher to 5th place in the championship

1999 V-12 LMR overall victor at LeMans 24 Hour with drivers Yannick Dalmas. Pier Luigi Martini and Joachim Winklehock

1999 V-12 LMR overall victor at LeMans 24 Hour with drivers
Yannick Dalmas. Pier Luigi Martini and Joachim Winklehock

1996 McLaren F1 GTR finished in 8th place at LeMans 24 Hour driven by Nelson Piquet, Danny Sullivan and Johnny Cecotto

1996 McLaren F1 GTR finished in 8th place at LeMans 24 Hour driven by
Nelson Piquet, Danny Sullivan and Johnny Cecotto

Photos by Nick Ord

25 Sep

British museum relaunches apprentice program, and the first one is female

Emily Leese lands apprentice training at Britain's National Motor Museum  Beaulieu Motor Museum photos

Emily Leese lands apprentice training at Britain’s National Motor Museum
Beaulieu Motor Museum photos

Beaulieu, UK – Forty years ago, Doug Hill, now manager and chief engineer of the National Motor Museum in England, was the last graduate of the museum’s apprentice program. To keep alive the skills needed to preserve the museum’s 250-vehicle car collection, he’s relaunched the program — and its first apprentice is 18-year-old Emily Leese.

She had been a museum volunteer since she was 14. She has spent the last two years studying engineering at Sparsholt College. In addition to training with the five-person staff in the museum’s workshop, she will spend time with Rolls-Royce and Bentley specialist P&A Wood, working on Level 2 and 3 diplomas in classic vehicle restoration.

“I think I fit in quite well so far and all the guys have been really good,” Emily said in the museum’s news release. “I definitely feel like part of the team.

emily2

“I get involved in whatever projects are being worked on, from cleaning and polishing to putting things back together. Recently, I helped to re-fit the engine to our 1930 ‘Blower’ Bentley.

“I don’t know why I love cars so much, but I have ever since I was about 3 years old. Fixing things is my passion. I was always playing with toy cars when I was a child and wanted to be an AA (British equivalent of Triple A) lady! Even then, I decided that I wanted to have the knowledge to fix a broken-down car.”

The Beaulieu apprentice program is overseen by the Heritage Skills Academy and its engineering apprenticeships program, with funding from Beaulieu One Hundred group members, the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs and others, including the Worshipful Company of Coachbuilders and Coach Harness Makers of London, and with equipment donated by Draper Tools.

You can follow Emily’s work on her blog on the museum’s website.

Article courtesy Larry Edsall of ClassicCar.com

14 Aug

Summer Attractions: LeMay-America’s Largest Car Museum in Tacoma – It’s HUUUGE!!!

LeMay, America’s Car Museum against dramatic sunset over Tacoma WA Photo - The LeMay Car Museum

LeMay, America’s Car Museum against dramatic sunset over Tacoma WA
Photo – The LeMay Car Museum

Tacoma, Wash. – Celebrating its fifth anniversary in June, The LeMay- America’s Car Museum continues to be a major draw for car enthusiasts visiting the greater Seattle-Tacoma area.

Officially opened in June 2012, the museum was planned and built around the core collection of Tacoma resident Harold LeMay who had amassed a collection of over 3,500 vehicles. Fund raising for the museum commenced in 1997, kicked off by Harold and his wife Nancy and it was spurred on by the gift of nine acres of land by the City of Tacoma in 2002. After the fund raising efforts were completed for the museum with donations across a wide swath of government, corporate and individual givers, ground breaking took place in 2010.

The museum is a spectacular, ultramodern multi-use facility in downtown Tacoma that appeals to automobile lovers from all over America and across the world. The $60,000,000 nine acre campus features a 165,000 square foot main building with extensive exhibit galleries, a meeting hall, banquet facilities, an educational center, a library, ample free parking, and a 3.5 acre show field to host car events. The campus is adjacent to the Tacoma Dome and it has a panoramic view of downtown Tacoma.

Museum CEO David Madeira said that from the beginning of planning for the museum, the goal was for it to become a national museum designed to “preserve history and to celebrate the world’s automotive culture”. He said that if the museum had been built only to display the LeMay car collection, it would have had no real national appeal.

The museum was designed to be a place that engages with the national car community and where people come to see the exhibits, car shows, drive in movies, and other events. This philosophy is clearly in evidence as you walk around and see cars that have been lent to the museum from various collections.

Museum front entrance Photo - The LeMay Car Museum

Museum front entrance
Photo – The LeMay Car Museum

A first impression of the building was that it looked like a gigantic chrome hood scoop from a vintage muscle car. It has a distinctive architectural style that adds to Tacoma’s nice mixture of new and historic structures downtown.

When the visitor walks inside, one is greeted by the entrance lobby with a massive, majestic black and white graphic. As one enters the top exhibit hall of the museum, the long shape of the hall is very impressive with its tall, lightly colored wood walls and the dramatic glass panorama at the end of the floor.

The museum has four main floors for car exhibits and it can display up to 350 vehicles. Each football field length floor features two gallery space ramps leading to the next lower floor. The gallery ramps are ideal places to present the cars as the visitor walks from floor to floor.

The museum is really huge. It had eight exhibits on display in addition to select cars from the permanent LeMay collection. You can really spend a lot of time in this museum to see everything on display. A suggestion for a first time visitor is to make sure you see all of the exhibits and then peruse some of the LeMay collection. It would be impossible to see every car on a first visit.

Classic Car Coachworks Exhibit Photo - The LeMay Car Museum

Classic Car Coachworks Exhibit
Photo – The LeMay Car Museum

Walking around the massive building is eased by the exhibits to be viewed on the ramps between floors. There are a number of changing exhibits which rotate in and out of the museum, currently Exotics @ ACM: Seductive Super Cars, Classics & Custom Coachworks and Legends of Motorsports: The NASCAR Story. More or less permanent is Lucky’s Garage which is a tribute to Founder LeMay’s collection. And changing annually is the Master Collectors Exhibit which honors one major Seattle area collector each year. This year it honors Seattle businessman Peter Gleeson, with a dozen cars from his collection on display.

The display of cars from the permanent LeMay collection is a lot of fun to see. CEO David Madeira emphasized that the museum wants to display cars that visitors can relate to such as muscle cars and the great cars from the fifties. On the other hand, the Museum presents many spectacular automotive classics that are masterpieces of automotive design such as a 1930 Duesenberg convertible with coachwork by Murphy & Co. of Pasadena CA.

The museum’s 1930 Model J Duesenberg – Photo The LeMay Car Museum

The museum’s 1930 Model J Duesenberg
– Photo The LeMay Car Museum

When you see who is lending cars to the museum, you realize that the Museum will continue to exhibit cars from important collections from around the world. CEO Madeira emphasized the importance of their exhibits representing cars from individuals and museum collections in order to become a museum that will attract car enthusiasts from all over the country.

This is a must see destination for anyone that loves cars. One comment by a press commentator was that this museum is to cars what the Metropolitan Museum in New York is to the world of fine art in that both museums are filled with both old and new masterpieces.

Although this museum is a long way from the East coast, it would make sense to try to visit the facility more than once. On the first visit, the spectator can simply enjoy the building and saunter among the featured exhibits to see the magnificent vehicles on display. If you stop to admire all of the vehicles on display from the LeMay collection, your eyes may gloss over. It is best to take this museum in several smaller bites rather than try to absorb it all in one viewing.

Please go to The LeMay Car Museum official web site for details about planning your visit at www.americascarmuseum.org

Article adapted from DazzlingPlaces.com Visitors’ Guide to Seattle

Museum features super-size slot car track layout for those who want to try their hand at racing

Museum features super-size slot car track layout for those who want to try their hand at racing

Photos from recent visit to LeMay contributed by Nick Ord

Seductive Supercars: 1969 De Tomaso Mangusta designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro

Seductive Supercars: 1969 De Tomaso Mangusta designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro

Seductive Supercars: 1973 Ferrari 385GTS/4 “Daytona” spider owned by Jon Shirley

Seductive Supercars: 1973 Ferrari 385GTS/4 “Daytona” spider owned by Jon Shirley

Seductive Supercars: 1988 Lamborghini Countach 5000 Quattrovalvole

Seductive Supercars: 1988 Lamborghini Countach 5000 Quattrovalvole

NASCAR Legends: Hometown hero Kasey Kahne’s No. 5 Chevrolet

NASCAR Legends: Hometown hero Kasey Kahne’s No. 5 Chevrolet

One of a Kind: “Ferrambo” custom Rambler with Ferrari drive train

One of a Kind: “Ferrambo” custom Rambler with Ferrari drive train

Race Cars: Replica 1954 Dodge Meadowbrook built for Carrera Panamericana

Race Cars: Replica 1954 Dodge Meadowbrook built for Carrera Panamericana

Race Cars: 1972 Dodge Challenger Chi Town Hustler “Funny Car”

Race Cars: 1972 Dodge Challenger Chi Town Hustler “Funny Car”

Lucky’s Garage: 1927 Auburn and 1937 Cord part of tribute to Harold LeMay’s collection

Lucky’s Garage: 1927 Auburn and 1937 Cord part of tribute to Harold LeMay’s collection

Lucky’s Garage: 1927 LaSalle 503 Roadster designed by Harley Earle

Lucky’s Garage: 1927 LaSalle 503 Roadster designed by Harley Earle

Collector Hall of Fame: Honoring Seattle’s Peter Gleeson

Collector Hall of Fame: Honoring Seattle’s Peter Gleeson

Hall of Fame: 1979 BMW M1 Frank Stella Art Car

Hall of Fame: 1979 BMW M1 Frank Stella Art Car

Hall of Fame: 1975 Dexter Brown BMW 3.3Li Art Car

Hall of Fame: 1975 Dexter Brown BMW 3.3Li Art Car

Hall of Fame: 1939 Lincoln Zephyr Hot Rod

Hall of Fame: 1939 Lincoln Zephyr Hot Rod

Hall of Fame: 2006 Z4M Petronas Championship Race Car

Hall of Fame: 2006 Z4M Petronas Championship Race Car

Hall of Fame: 1974 BMW 3.0 CSL “Batmobile” followed by 2003 Aston Martin DB AR1 Zagoto

Hall of Fame: 1974 BMW 3.0 CSL “Batmobile” followed by 2003 Aston Martin DB AR1 Zagoto

01 Aug

Summer Attractions: Newport Auto Museums Highlight Design on Wheels

Restored art deco building on Newport’s historic Bellevue Avenue houses the Audrain Auto Museum Photo – Audrain Auto Museum

Restored art deco building on Newport’s historic Bellevue Avenue houses the Audrain Auto Museum
Photo – Audrain Auto Museum

Newport, R.I. — Car enthusiasts now have their pick of destinations to get their fix while visiting Newport, with two car museums featuring classic and rare cars, the newest having opened just last month. The Audrain Automobile Museum and the Newport Car Museum both place a strong emphasis on design and display the cars as works of art.

“What we’re really talking about is good design, and how car design really reflects art and social history,” said David de Muzio, executive director of the Audrain Automobile Museum. “It’s another way to understand what the cars are, why they look like they do.”
The museums fit right in to the spirit of Newport, a resort destination known for its mansions, folk and jazz festivals and beaches. Wealthy families have summered here for generations — bringing with them their cars.

“There is a car culture here, and it goes right back to the late 19th century when Willie K. Vanderbilt was acquiring and racing cars. Some of the very first car races in the United States happened right here in Newport,” de Muzio said.

Cars became part of high society, as vacationers spending time at summer homes would parade their cars around town. Some of those car races were held on the beach here, or on Bellevue Avenue, the leafy boulevard lined by Gilded Age mansions, de Muzio said.

Both museums are drawn from private collections, and they are different and complementary. The Audrain, which opened in 2014, is located in a historic building on Bellevue, next to the International Tennis Hall of Fame. It rotates through four exhibits per year of around 20 cars, drawn from a collection of 225.

About 15 to 20 examples are displayed at a time out of the Audrain Auto Museum’s collection of over 200 cars Photo – Audrain Auto Museum

About 15 to 20 examples are displayed at a time out of the Audrain Auto Museum’s collection of over 200 cars Photo – Audrain Auto Museum

It has what de Muzio calls an “encyclopedic” focus, with a wide range of different makers and years, from prewar cars to the present day. An exhibit that was on view through June 25, “Drop Dead Drop Tops,” focused on convertibles and featured a range of cars, from a 1930 Pierce-Arrow Model A to a one-of-a-kind white and blue 2013 Bugatti Veyron 16.4L Grand Sport Vitesse “Le Ciel Californien.” The exhibit even included curiosities such as a 1957 Ferrari Bimbo racer, a 12-volt electric children’s car that was based on the open Ferrari Spider of the time. The Audrain’s new exhibit, “Fast, Fun & Fabulous: Best of Show,” featuring award-winning automobiles that are a superlative example of design or that have won races, opened last week.

Ford Shelby Gallery features the iconic 1965 Shelby Mustang GT350R Photo – Newport Car Museum

Ford Shelby Gallery features the iconic 1965 Shelby Mustang GT350R
Photo – Newport Car Museum

There’s still a new car smell at the Newport Car Museum, which opened June 1 and is actually in neighboring Portsmouth, a short drive from the attractions of Newport. The museum is housed in a 55,000-square-foot space in a building once used by defense contractor Raytheon to manufacture missiles. The displays here are drawn entirely from the private collection of Gunther and Maggie Buerman.

Around 50 cars are displayed in five galleries, with classics including Ford Shelby racing cars, Corvettes, Mopars and a large collection of fin cars, as well as some European, British and Japanese cars. Every model of Corvette, from a C1 to C7, is here. There’s a 1965 Ford Shelby 427 SC Cobra, designed by American automotive designer and racecar driver Carroll Shelby, one of just 31 made, and valued by Gunther Buerman at $3 million.

Gallery dedicated to finned cars from the 50’s and 60’s at the Newport Car Museum Photo – Newport Car Museum

Gallery dedicated to finned cars from the 50’s and 60’s at the Newport Car Museum
Photo – Newport Car Museum

From a 1954 Buick to a 2017 Dodge Viper ACR, Gunther Buerman said he wanted the museum to appeal to all ages. “The idea is to span that whole generation, so that the grandfather can come, the father and son have something to enjoy, the mother, the grandmother. The whole family can come and see something of interest,” he said.

Anna and Doug Lash, of Monroe, Connecticut, said they have been to numerous car museums and shows, but never one quite like the Newport Car Museum. “The artistic layout is really unique. It makes the cars look like a piece of art. These cars were virtual pieces of art. The production cars today don’t even come close to some of this,” said Doug Lash, a self-described car enthusiast. “The classics that he’s picked are incredible. The design is the thing that makes them stand out from anything that goes fast.”

If You Go –

AUDRAIN AUTOMOBILE MUSEUM: 222 Bellevue Ave., Newport, Rhode Island, next to the International Tennis Hall of Fame, http://audrainautomuseum.org. $14; seniors, military, students, $10; children 6 to 17, $8. Open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. daily.

NEWPORT CAR MUSEUM: 1847 West Main Road, Portsmouth, Rhode Island (near Newport on the campus of defense contractor Raytheon), https://newportcarmuseum.org. $18; seniors, military, students, AAA members, $15; children 5 to 15, $5. Open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. daily.
Contributed by Michelle R. Smith, Associated Press

20 Jul

Summer Attractions: Simeone Automotive Museum a Must See when Visiting Philadelphia

Endurance Trial - 1909 American Underslung sports roadster

Endurance Trial – 1909 American Underslung sports roadster

 

Philadelphia, Penn. -Start your engines! Some of the world’s rarest sports and racing cars can be found not only in collections spread throughout the whole of Europe, but also stateside in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Within the walls of the Simeone Foundation Museum — the only museum of its kind in North America — you’ll find 60 of the world’s rarest and most famous race cars. The Museum’s theme is “Celebrating the Spirit of Competition”.

And if luxury is your style, names like Alfa Romeo, Bentley, Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar and Maserati are pretty tough to beat. The collection begins with a race car from 1909 and continues to the mid-1970s. As you walk through the museum, you’ll see how technology has evolved in just seven decades of racing.

Like the collection of paintings at Philadelphia’s famed Barnes Foundation, the Simeone Foundation exhibition is a personal collection, driven by neurosurgeon and automotive fanatic Dr. Fredrick Simeone’s singular vision of how the collection should be arranged.

The cars are displayed in dioramas representing the famous race courses where the cars actually competed — such as Watkins Glen, Bonneville, Sebring, the Mille Miglia and Le Mans — so you can relive history while you peruse the collection.

Dr. Simeone began collecting his exclusive cars over 50 years ago and has culminated into one of the finest vintage racecar collections in the world. Significant cars in the collection include the “Hippie” Porsche 917 (named for its psychedelic paint scheme), a 1958 Aston Martin DBR1 that Stirling Moss drove to victory at the Nürburgring, a priceless Cobra Daytona Coupe that had been lost for 30 years until Simeone helped in its recovery, the Le Mans-winning 1937 Bugatti Type 57S “Tank” and the 1938 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Mille Miglia champion.

Unique to the Simeone museum is the way in which the cars are portrayed in dioramas of the actual racing events run by the cars. Classic scenes from famous race tracks in America and around the world adorn the expansive museum hallways of the 75,000 square-foot exhibition hall. According to Simeone, his museum collection relates to the visitor how competition and racing improves a marque in quality, technology and prestige.

Demonstration Days

For an automotive experience you’ll never forget, visit the museum on one of its world-famous Demonstration Days.

Each Demo Day features cars from the collection, as well as guest cars from other collections, in a themed presentation and demonstration run. Using the expansive three-acre parking lot behind the museum, visitors can see, hear and smell history come to life through these magnificent machines.
Each Demonstration Day begins with a brief lecture on each car’s importance and its place in history. Immediately after the lecture, each car is demonstrated outdoors in the parking lot in a controlled manner, weather permitting. After the demonstration runs are complete, guests can see each car up close and take pictures. Demo Days are run once a month for virtually the whole year and a schedule can be obtained on the Museum website

Visitor Information

The Museum is open six days a week Tuesdays through Sundays. The facility is located just five minutes from Philadelphia International Airport — perfect for international visitors hoping to see the Simeone’s vast collection of European and American race cars.

For more information, be sure to click on to their website and book your tour.

Source: Simeone Foundation

Photos contributed by Nick Ord with permission from the Simeone Foundation

Pre-World War I - 1907 Renault Racing Roadster and 1912 National Speed

Pre-World War I – 1907 Renault Racing Roadster and 1912 National Speed

Nürburgring -1937 BMW 328 and 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing

Nürburgring -1937 BMW 328 and 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing

Watkins Glen – 1950 Cadillac Allard J2

Watkins Glen – 1950 Cadillac Allard J2

America at Le Mans – 1967 Ford GT-40 Mk IV, 1966 Ford GT-40 Mk II and 1929 DuPont Le Mans Speedster

America at Le Mans – 1967 Ford GT-40 Mk IV, 1966 Ford GT-40 Mk II and
1929 DuPont Le Mans Speedster

Mille Miglia- 1937 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900A

Mille Miglia- 1937 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900A

Bonneville Salt Flats – 1964 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe

Bonneville Salt Flats – 1964 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe

Winner’s Circle – 1937 Bugatti 57G “Tank” and 1927 Mercedes Benz Sportwagen

Winner’s Circle – 1937 Bugatti 57G “Tank” and 1927 Mercedes Benz Sportwagen

Targa Florio – 1975 Alfa Romeo 33TT-12 and 1926 Bugatti Type 35

Targa Florio – 1975 Alfa Romeo 33TT-12 and 1926 Bugatti Type 35

31 Mar

The “New” Petersen Part II: Vault’s Hidden Treasures include 24K Gold DeLorean, Sinatra’s Mustang & More

In the Petersen Vault, 24k gold DeLorean one of only three built for an American Express promotion  (Photo by Perhansa Skallerup/LAist)

In the Petersen Vault, 24k gold DeLorean one of only three built for an American Express promotion (Photo by Perhansa Skallerup/LAist)

Los Angeles, Cal. – As part of its premiere in December, the newly redesigned Petersen Auto Museum reopened its legendary subterranean Vault, giving visitors a chance to tour a huge trove of rare and historic cars. Tours are limited to 20 people or less and are conducted by knowledgeable guides well versed in the museum’s history and the treasures in its collection. Access to the Vault is via a staircase to the museum’s basement, where visitors are warned in no uncertain terms that photographs are not permitted. (Photos for this article from LAist.com)

Ultra-rare Porsches: 1955 Type 356 Continental Cabriolet and 1964 “901” prototype, one of only 5 believed to have survived (Photo by Perhansa Skallerup/LAist)

Ultra-rare Porsches: 1955 Type 356 Continental Cabriolet and 1964 “901” prototype, one of only 5 believed to have survived (Photo by Perhansa Skallerup/LAist)

Hidden beneath the museum, the Peterson Vault offers an entire city block’s worth of automotive history, featuring more than 120 famous and infamous vehicles on display as well as the workshops where the cars are restored and maintained. On the private tour, the Petersen guide gives you an up-close look and the opportunity to learn about everything from Big Daddy Roth’s ground-breaking 1959 custom “The Outlaw” to the first-ever bulletproof presidential limo (a 1942/46 Lincoln used by FDR and Harry Truman).

First armored limo built for FDR after Pearl Harbor and restyled for Harry Truman in 1946 (Photo by Perhansa Skallerup/LAist)

First armored limo built for FDR after Pearl Harbor and restyled for Harry Truman in 1946 (Photo by Perhansa Skallerup/LAist)

From custom hot rods to elegant Art Deco-inspired rides, cars driven by movie stars on and off-screen, and even a Popemobile, there’s plenty for everyone to explore. And the Vault’s capable tour guides provide the fascinating histories and fun facts behind the collection.

Fred Astaire’s 1927 Rolls-Royce Phantom I Town Car by Hooper with silver plated interior trim (Photo by Perhansa Skallerup/LAist)

Fred Astaire’s 1927 Rolls-Royce Phantom I Town Car by Hooper with silver plated interior trim (Photo by Perhansa Skallerup/LAist)

The Vault affords the museum space to store, protect and restore their massive collection and to keep vehicles in prime condition for future exhibits. Taking the tours through the space allows visitors to peer behind the curtain and see tons of stunning and historic vehicles in what feels like somebody’s secret bunker.

Ground-breaking 1959 custom “The Outlaw” created by Ed “Big Daddy” Roth (Photo by Perhansa Skallerup/LAist)

Ground-breaking 1959 custom “The Outlaw” created by Ed “Big Daddy” Roth
(Photo by Perhansa Skallerup/LAist)

“Even after the renovation when we opened up the third floor as a display space, we only have room for 135 cars on display in the museum,” explains the Petersen’s Executive Director Terry L. Karges in a release about the Vault. “That leaves over 300 vehicles we cannot display in the museum—all with incredible stories that need telling.”

Race cars include Teverburgh & Kirkland Bonneville special and Max Balchowsky’s giant-killer “Old Yaller” Mark III (Photo by Perhansa Skallerup/LAist)

Race cars include Teverburgh & Kirkland Bonneville special and Max Balchowsky’s giant-killer “Old Yaller” Mark III (Photo by Perhansa Skallerup/LAist)

Among the highlights of the tour was, of course, the gold-plated DeLorean, with just 10 miles on the odometer and one of only three built by the company for a special American Express promotion as well as Frank Sinatra’s personal 1965 Barris-customized Zebra Mustang, which has faux-zebra fur on both the interior and exterior, as well as a small TV in the console.

Frank Sinatra’s Zebra themed 1965 Mustang customized by Barris Kustoms (Photo by Perhansa Skallerup/LAist)

Frank Sinatra’s Zebra themed 1965 Mustang customized by Barris Kustoms (Photo by Perhansa Skallerup/LAist)

The Vault tour is organized sequentially, beginning with the museum’s oldest vehicles including a 1913 De Dion, a 1907 Cadillac Tourer, and a 1911 American Underslung roadster; followed by the industry evolving after WWI with such cars as the air-cooled 1924 Franklin, a front-wheel drive 1929 Ruxton Model C Roadster and practical 1932 Model A Woody station wagon. Man’s early quest for speed is embodied in the powerful 1923 7.2 liter Mercedes Targa Florio, the sleek 1929 DuPont Model G Speedster and one-of- a-kind 1927 Pedroso roadster with wicker patio-chair seats. The tour moves on to the museum’s Parade Cars built for heads of state including Saddam Hussein, Juan Peron, Leonid Brezhnev and the Pope’s specially built Cadillac as well as FDR’s first armored limousine ordered after Pearl Harbor.

Holy Cadillac! Popemobile built for John Paul II for Mexican tour in 1968 (Photo autoblog.com)

Holy Cadillac! Popemobile built for John Paul II for Mexican tour in 1968 (Photo autoblog.com)

Although a number of the museum’s “crown jewels” such as the “Round-Door” Rolls Phantom I and Steve McQueen’s XKSS are currently displayed in the public areas of the museum, a surprising number are stored in the Vault. These include the black 1952 Ferrari 212 Barchetta, ordered by the Ford Motor Company for Henry Ford II, it is the last Barchetta ever built and the last non-racing Ferrari bodied by Touring. Absolutely original down its white wall tires by Firestone, many of the car’s styling cues were transferred to the early T-Birds including the egg crate grill.

1952 Ferrari 212 Barchetta back-to-back with its cousin 1955 T-Bird (Photo driving.ca)

1952 Ferrari 212 Barchetta back-to-back with its cousin 1955 T-Bird (Photo driving.ca)

Another rare gem, the museum’s 1948 Tucker Torpedo, was Preston Tucker’s personal car donated by his family, one of only 50 cars produced. The short-lived Tucker was the most advanced car of its time incorporating safety features such as seat belts, a central headlight that turned with the front wheels and rear-mounted flat six helicopter engine.

1948 Tucker, personal car of company founder Preston Tucker (Photo Petersen Automotive Museum)

1948 Tucker, personal car of company founder Preston Tucker (Photo Petersen Automotive Museum)

The vault is also home to tons of famous movie and TV cars which are rotated into the exhibit in the main building. These include the “Thelma & Louise” 1966 T-Bird convertible, “Magnum PI’s” 1982 Ferrari 308 GTSi specially custom-fit for star Tom Selleck, the bright yellow 1971 De Tomaso Pantera which Elvis shot bullet holes in when it would not start, and the star-car 1946 Ford “Grease Lightning” from the movie version of “Grease”.

1946 Ford “Grease Lightning” from the movie “Grease” created by Barris Kustoms (Photo by Perhansa Skallerup/LAist)

1946 Ford “Grease Lightning” from the movie “Grease” created by Barris Kustoms (Photo by Perhansa Skallerup/LAist)

There are also an amazing number of famous hot rods and customs including multiple America’s Most Beautiful Roadster winners notably the innovative 1927 Ford “XR6”commissioned by Hot Rod Magazine in 1963, the 1933 Ford “Impact” designed by Chip Foose which won in 2001 and the futuristic custom “Alien” by the Himsl Brothers winner in 1969. These share the garage with Italian-American hybrids such as Rita Hayworth’s 1953 Series 62 Cadillac by Ghia, a 1959 Corvette Italia prototype designed and built by Scaglietti and a 1953 Nash-Healey by Pinin Farina. In between are random rare collectibles including Steve McQueen’s 1952 Hudson Wasp coupe, the unique 1953 Bosley GT Mark I which sports a 55-gallon fuel tank for long distance racing and an original prototype Porsche “901” which was a test vehicle for the 911 model and is believed to be only one of five surviving cars.

1959 Corvette Italia prototype by Scaglietti which Chevrolet decided not to put into production (Photo Petersen Automotive Museum)

1959 Corvette Italia prototype by Scaglietti which Chevrolet decided not to put into production (Photo Petersen Automotive Museum)

From hot rods and concept cars to the automobiles of Hollywood, the Petersen Vault is truly fitting for a city that is one of the world capitals of car culture. It is highly recommended to stop in for a peek when you visit Petersen Automotive Museum the next time you’re in Los Angeles.
The Petersen Automotive Museum is located at 6060 Wilshire Blvd., Miracle Mile, (323) 930-2277. Vault tour tickets are $20 and must be purchased with a general admission ticket. Children under 13 are not permitted on vault tours, sorry kids. More information and tickets can be found here.
Article compiled by Nick Ord, New England Auto Museum
Contact: nord@neautomuseum.org
Content and photos from the Petersen Automotive Museum, LAist.com & LA Times

1953 Bosley GT, one-off fiberglass sports car built in Ohio with front-mounted Chrysler 331 cu.in. HEMI (Photo Kahn Media)

1953 Bosley GT, one-off fiberglass sports car built in Ohio with front-mounted Chrysler 331 cu.in. HEMI (Photo Kahn Media)

21 Mar

Spring Break! In L.A., the sparkling “new” Petersen Automobile Museum is a must-see for car guys…and there is plenty for the whole family to enjoy!

Flowing steel ribbons around the Petersen Automotive Museum represent motion, elegance, aerodynamics and speed (Photo Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)

Flowing steel ribbons around the Petersen Automotive Museum represent motion, elegance, aerodynamics and speed (Photo Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)

Los Angeles, Cal. – The façade of the former department store on the corner of Wilshire Boulevard and Fairfax Avenue housing the Petersen Automotive Museum has been wrapped in sporty “hot-rod red” aluminum and caged by hundreds of shiny stainless-steel ribbons. Like a flashy sports car, it’s impossible to miss.

Proponents of the Petersen’s eye-catching new shell, designed by New York’s Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates, say the flowing steel ribbons represent motion, elegance, aerodynamics and speed, traits on full display inside the museum. “L.A. is the car capital of the world, and Wilshire Boulevard is the main street,” says Peter Mullin, the Petersen’s chairman of the board. “We may be a little biased, but we feel it will be one of the most iconic buildings in Los Angeles. You’re not going to drive by it and forget that you saw it.”

The original main floor exhibit entitled “Streetscape”, dioramas that were a mainstay of the museum for its first 20 years, has been replaced with soaring new galleries devoted to automotive artistry. Visitors can discover the most artfully-designed vehicles ever built, often regarded as “rolling sculptures” and explore how the automobile has been used as a canvas for artistic expression. The exhibits will be rotated and exchanged periodically much like in traditional fine art museums.

Poised at the entrance, the Petersen’s concours-winning 1927/34 Rolls-Royce Phantom I with aerodynamic coachwork by Jonckheere (Photo Bob Seidler/ justbritish.com)

Poised at the entrance, the Petersen’s concours-winning 1927/34 Rolls-Royce Phantom I with aerodynamic coachwork by Jonckheere (Photo Bob Seidler/ justbritish.com)

Welcoming visitors at the entrance level Grand Concourse is the museum’s massive 1927/34 Rolls-Royce “Round Door” Phantom I, a multiple major concours winner, beautifully re-restored by museum founders and benefactors Robert and Margie Petersen. Mr. Petersen, founder of a publishing empire which included Hot Rod and Motor Trend magazines had one lasting vision to build an educational museum to honor the automobile. The Petersen’s initial $16 million gift made that possible, and the 300,000 square foot Petersen Automotive Museum opened on June 11, 1994 in partnership with the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. In March 2000, they formed the Petersen Automotive Foundation with an additional $25 million gift to make the museum an independent entity.

Museum chairman Peter Mullin’s Bugatti Type 37C Atlantic displayed in the Grand Salon as part of the “Artistry of the Automobile” exhibition (Photo drivingline.com)

Museum chairman Peter Mullin’s Bugatti Type 37C Atlantic displayed in the Grand Salon as part of the “Artistry of the Automobile” exhibition (Photo drivingline.com)

Proceeding into the museum itself, the cavernous Grand Salon features “French Curves”, European coachbuilders’ artistic renditions, many on loan from Mr. Mullen including his nearly priceless Bugatti Type 57C Atlantic coupe and works by French coach building masters including Figoni & Falaschi, Chapron and Vanvooren. An adjacent gallery, also devoted to art and the automobile as a canvas for artistic expression, features BMW’s famous art cars adorned with work by talents such as David Hockney, Alexander Calder and Matazo Kayama.

BMW’s first art car, a 3.0 CSL by Alexander Calder, which was actually raced at LeMans in 1975

BMW’s first art car, a 3.0 CSL by Alexander Calder, which was actually raced at LeMans in 1975

Also on the ground floor, the old Petersen had a ‘50’s drive-in style Johnny Rockets hamburger restaurant, to be replaced in the spring by a stylish new bistro run by the Drago brothers, owners of celebrity hangout Il Pastaio in Beverly Hills; the upgrade represents some of the broader changes made at the museum to portray a more contemporary look and feel.

Twenty-five new galleries on three floors are packed with interactive technology telling three overarching stories about the automobile: its history, its industry and its artistry. On the second floor, visitors can explore the diversity of automotive design and technology and see cars that have been modified for speed and efficiency.

Lightning McQueen, star of the film “Cars”, welcomes kids to the Industry floor

Lightning McQueen, star of the film “Cars”, welcomes kids to the Industry floor

The Industry floor is all about Pixar. This is where visitors can park the kids for the majority of the day. At the center of the gallery is the Cars Mechanical Institute, where after snapping a photo-op with a life-size Lightning McQueen, the crew can be unleashed into the Discovery Center. Little ones love racing toy cars around the racetrack play table, while the older kids can use light tables and tablets to draw and decorate cars from the Pixar films.

Kids at play in the Discovery Center themed with Pixar “Cars” characters (Photo Shahrzad Warkentin/Red Tricycle)

Kids at play in the Discovery Center themed with Pixar “Cars” characters (Photo Shahrzad Warkentin/Red Tricycle)

From there, visitors can head to the center kiosk and check out the CARSpad Experience. Junior car enthusiasts receive bright orange covered iPads that they can use to navigate their way around the gallery, featuring exhibits on Vehicle Manufacturing & Design and Custom Cars, as Mater guides them in designing their own virtual race car. It’s where little tech fans and young gear heads alike will thrill with the “how things work” learning adventure.

Learning how cars are built at the CARSpad Experience (Photo Shahrzad Warkentin/Red Tricycle)

Learning how cars are built at the CARSpad Experience (Photo Shahrzad Warkentin/Red Tricycle)

For kids in the tween and teen set (or just a video-game loving Dad), there’s the Forza Motorsport Racing Experience, an Xbox gallery equipped with 13 gaming simulators inviting guests to virtually race on tracks in Daytona, Le Mans and many more. Participants can race against the clock on the popular arcade-style game for a chance to get their names on the Lap Time scoreboard. Wait times can be up to 30 minutes and drivers must be approximately 5 feet tall in order to reach the pedals. First thing in the morning or late afternoon are the best times to go to beat the line.

“Rio de Janeiro” scene from the Forza Motorsports Racing Experience (Image Microsoft Corp.)

“Rio de Janeiro” scene from the Forza Motorsports Racing Experience (Image Microsoft Corp.)

On the History floor, visitors can explore the multi-faceted history of the automobile and the love for it through the generations. There’s the collection of Tinseltown cars that has been a main draw of the museum since it opened 20 years ago. “Mr. Petersen had a passion for Hollywood and automobiles,” museum collection manager Dana Williamson has said of museum founder Robert E. Petersen, who died in 2007 and whose love of cars can be traced to his founding of Hot Rod magazine in 1948. “He particularly liked the connection between Hollywood cars and the stars that owned them.

Tribute wall honoring museum founder and major benefactor Robert E. Petersen

Tribute wall honoring museum founder and major benefactor Robert E. Petersen

Visitors to Cars of Film and Television will see a 1951 Chrysler-built Camera Car, one of two given to the RKO movie studio owned at the time by Howard Hughes, Walter White’s dilapidated 2004 Pontiac Aztec from the TV show “Breaking Bad” and the 20-foot-long sinister black Batmobile piloted by Michael Keaton in the1989 and 1992 “Batman” movies. Other highlights include the 1961 “Herbie” VW Beetle, the 2016 Aston Martin DB10 featured in the latest James Bond film, “Spectre,” and Steve McQueen’s 1956 Jaguar XKSS.

1951 Chrysler Camera Car, one of two built for RKO Studios

1951 Chrysler Camera Car, one of two built for RKO Studios

This last car is among the museum’s most prized acquisitions. Only 16 of the cars were built before the Jaguar factory had a catastrophic fire, and in 1959 McQueen implored his wife (the main breadwinner at the time) to buy it for $5,000. McQueen vehicles are commanding sky-high prices at auction, so the car is worth at least eight figures, the museum says.

Also in the museum’s possession from Steve McQueen’s collection are a 1952 Hudson Wasp coupe, one of the sleekest American cars of its day, and two historic motorcycles, a 1927 Indian Big Chief and a 1912 Indian Single. These vehicles reside in the museum’s hidden basement “Vault”, which will be the subject of the second part of this article.

Steve McQueen’s 1956 Jaguar XKSS, one of the museum’s most prized acquisitions

Steve McQueen’s 1956 Jaguar XKSS, one of the museum’s most prized acquisitions

When the old Petersen closed in late 2014, it had seven flat-screen TVs. It now has more than 160 types of screens, including 35 interactive touchscreens and an 8-by-20-foot LED billboard. Some of the 47 projectors play clips from films behind the cars that were featured in them.

Museum managers and its interior design team traveled to 32 museums around the world to study automotive-related exhibits and find out which features best resonated with patrons. Education and outreach became a big part of the museum’s mandate which is to be the center of automotive thought in California and beyond.

Next week: Part II “The Vault” reopens at the new Petersen

Article compiled by Nick Ord, New England Auto Museum
Photos by Nick Ord unless otherwise indicated; Contact nord@neautomuseum.org
With content and images from the Petersen Automotive Museum, L.A. Times & Red Tricycle

 

More Cars of the Petersen:

1958 Corvette XP87 Stingray concept car, part of the “Precious Metals” exhibit in the Bruce Myers Family Gallery

1958 Corvette XP87 Stingray concept car, part of the “Precious Metals” exhibit in the
Bruce Myers Family Gallery

1955 Mercury D-528 Beldone concept car, part of the Concept Cars and Art exhibit in the Gruss Foundation Gallery

1955 Mercury D-528 Beldone concept car, part of the Concept Cars and Art exhibit in the Gruss Foundation Gallery

1964 Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ Tubulare Zagato race car, part of the Motorsports exhibit in the Charles Nearburg Family Gallery

1964 Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ Tubulare Zagato race car, part of the Motorsports exhibit in the Charles Nearburg Family Gallery

1951 Mercury “Hirohata” coupe by Barris Kustoms, part of the Customization exhibit in the Enthusiast Network Gallery

1951 Mercury “Hirohata” coupe by Barris Kustoms, part of the Customization exhibit in the Enthusiast Network Gallery

1967 street legal Ford GT-40 Mark III, part of the High Performance Road Cars exhibit in the Chuck Wegner Gallery

1967 street legal Ford GT-40 Mark III, part of the High Performance Road Cars exhibit in the Chuck Wegner Gallery

09 Feb

Classic car collection helps kids study the life of an entrepreneur, Malcolm Pray wanted kids to succeed in life the way he did

By Jim Motavalli, Mother Nature Network

Malcolm S. Pray Jr. lives on in his educational center. (Photo: Jim Motavalli)

Malcolm S. Pray Jr. lives on in his educational center. (Photo: Jim Motavalli)

Greenwich, Conn. – I never met Malcolm Pray, but I’ve been in his living room. Pray, a major Connecticut auto dealer and collector built a huge garage for his dozens of cars and brought in duplicates of his living room couches and chairs so he could hang out comfortably among his Delahayes and vintage BMWs.

Wealthy Greenwich, you may have heard, is a major car town, where Tesla Model S’s dice with Maserati Ghiblis on the main street (with white-gloved cops replacing the traffic lights). Ralph Lauren keeps his cars near here, and that world-class collection is close to a major storage facility for high-end collectibles such as Enzo Ferraris. Miller Motorcars, located downtown, is a dealer for Bugatti, Bentley, McLaren and Aston Martin.

Ferrari, by the way, opened its first U.S. distributor in town, capably helmed by famous ex-racing driver Luigi Chinetti. And don’t forget the Greenwich Concours d’Elegance, established by the late Bruce Wennerstrom and still one of America’s pre-eminent auto events. Malcolm Pray, who died in 2013, fit comfortably into that world, regularly winning prizes for his cars, including the personal-favorite 1937 Delahaye 135M Roadster he’d been charmed by at the 1939 New York World’s Fair.

Pray, a major Republican fundraiser when he wasn’t buying and selling cars (Mitt Romney shows up in a lot of photos), could have settled into a comfortable retirement with his family and cars after he sold his six dealerships in 2001. But he didn’t. Instead, he turned the two adjoining car barns (just over the border from Greenwich in Bedford, New York) into the Malcolm Pray Achievement Center.

190SL in the "living room" with director Marikay Satryano and Jerry Cotrone (Photo: Jim Motavalli)

190SL in the “living room” with director Marikay Satryano and Jerry Cotrone
(Photo: Jim Motavalli)

The center’s mission is inspiring kids, mostly from poor backgrounds, to succeed in life the way he did. “There’s nothing in life you can’t achieve,” said Pray, who made a point of greeting each kid individually. “Your reputation is the greatest asset you have.” Needless to say, Pray taught the value of a firm handshake. Some 600 kids visited the first year, in 1999, and 7,000 since then.

It turns out that Pray had, if not exactly a rags-to-riches story, certainly one about the most unlikely to succeed. No star student in high school, he also failed to distinguish himself at the University of Virginia. Back in Greenwich, he took a job at modest Morlee Motors (the local Fiat dealer) in 1955. And as Marikay Satryano, a three-tour Iraq War veteran and the achievement center’s executive director, describes it, it was there that Pray finally found what he was good at – selling cars.

Pray loved this 1974 Cadillac Eldorado convertible, which wears a VW emblem in honor of his day job (Photo: Jim Motavalli)

Pray loved this 1974 Cadillac Eldorado convertible, which wears a VW emblem in honor of his day job
(Photo: Jim Motavalli)

In two years, Malcolm Pray was the top salesman, and soon after bought the dealership, which became the basis on which was built his very successful Volkswagen/Audi/Porsche auto empire. That experience made a deep impression, and Pray gave the young entrepreneurs such lessons as “Sometimes a hobby can turn into a career,” “Not all millionaires are involved in big businesses,” “Tell the truth — liars get caught,” and “Don’t waste time in school.” That last one he learned by negative example.

The kids get a chance to sit in the car of their choice, a privilege I was not personally granted. Pray had a big selloff of his cars at Amelia Island in 2014, and so I didn’t get to see $14 million worth of, among others, a 1958 BMW 507 Roadster ($2.4 million for that one alone); the Delahaye ($6.6 million); a Ferrari 250GT Series II Cabriolet ($1.76 million); and a Bugatti Type 57C Roadster ($902,000).

Limited-edition Mercedes-Benz 220S convertible has been zooming up in value. (Photo: Jim Motavalli)

Limited-edition Mercedes-Benz 220S convertible has been zooming up in value. (Photo: Jim Motavalli)

But there was still plenty to see, 45 cars instead of the 70 that were there at one time. An immaculate Mercedes-Benz 190SL (like the one I used to own) sat in the aforementioned living room. The kids made a beeline to the 1942 Army Jeep in the corner, but I admired a brace of MGs, including a rare 1931 Model M with a fabric-covered body.

The oldest car in the collection is a brass-era 1907 Metz, complete with starter handle. It’s used by the center as a lesson. “What kept a car like this from getting stolen back then?” the classes are asked. The correct answer, which some get, is that there were so few cars around back then that if somebody other than the Metz’ owner were seen piloting it, they’d be immediately arrested.

1954 Kaiser Darrin, with fiberglass body and doors that slide into the body (Photo: Jim Motavalli)

1954 Kaiser Darrin, with fiberglass body and doors that slide into the body (Photo: Jim Motavalli)

Pray frequently posed with his fiberglass-bodied 1954 Kaiser Darrin, which has doors that slide into the bodywork. It’s an extrovert’s car, like the Rat Pack favorite Dual Ghia Pray used to own. More prosaic are the VW Beetle and Karmann Ghia that remind visitors of Pray’s main job — selling Volkswagens.

Aston Martin Lagonda, on loan to the center, was in heavy demand in the Middle East. (Photo: Jim Motavalli)

Aston Martin Lagonda, on loan to the center, was in heavy demand in the Middle East.
(Photo: Jim Motavalli)

An Aston Martin Lagonda looked like it got lost on its way to Dubai. It was on loan, as was a ’53 Lincoln Cosmopolitan convertible (though it looked like Pray’s present to himself when he first made it). A 1996 Bentley convertible, another one Pray used a lot (and drove down to Florida) bore the Connecticut license plate “Y.” (Pray acquired “P” also)

Pray's Bentley has the fought-over Connecticut license plate "Y." (Photo: Jim Motavalli)

Pray’s Bentley has the fought-over Connecticut license plate “Y.” (Photo: Jim Motavalli)

“Mr. Pray loved to drive,” said Jerry Cotrone, who assists with events at the center. “He could have flown down to Florida, but he usually drove one of his cars.” Cotrone has his own Greenwich story – he was the car wash boy at Chinetti Motors while in college, and then became a BMW of North America sales manager.

Look at the lovely wood on this 1946 Chrysler Town and Country convertible. These have also been soaring in value. (Photo: Jim Motavalli)

Look at the lovely wood on this 1946 Chrysler Town and Country convertible. These have also been soaring in value. (Photo: Jim Motavalli)

Other highlights for me include a ’46 Chrysler Town and Country, with gorgeously restored oak and mahogany wood side panels; a four-door 1964 Lincoln Continental convertible; a 1934 V-12 Packard with recreated LeBaron body by a real craftsman; and the dark blue 1974 Cadillac Eldorado that was Mr. Pray’s usual around-town car. After being criticized for not driving a VW like the ones he sold, he had a VW radiator ornament mounted on its mile-long hood.

Satryano says Pray failed at only one thing, getting old. “He never thought it would happen to him,” she said. “Now our goal is to get as many people as possible through those doors, to study the life of an entrepreneur.”

At the center he built, Malcolm Pray lives forever.

Article by Jim Motavalli reprinted from www.mmn.com

A brace of MGs at the Malcolm Pray Achievement Center in Bedford, NY (Photo: Jim Motavalli)

A brace of MGs at the Malcolm Pray Achievement Center in Bedford, NY
(Photo: Jim Motavalli)

05 Jan

New England Auto Museum Announces Winter Speakers Series in Westport Beginning January 30

Dragone Classics Gallery & Showroom, 176 Post Road West, Westport, Connecticut

Dragone Classics Gallery & Showroom, 176 Post Road West, Westport, Connecticut

Westport, Conn. – The New England Auto Museum announced the formation of a Winter Speakers Series to take place at Dragone Classic Gallery & Showroom in Westport featuring well-known automotive writers and experts. Each event will be held on Saturday morning commencing at 11AM and a light luncheon will be provided. Specifically the events have been scheduled as follows:

January 30 – “CARS OF THE FUTURE: SMART, SAFE & SUSTAINABLE”
Freelance writer Eric Evarts has been writing about energy, the environment, technology, transportation, business, and consumer affairs for 25 years. He spent 15 years covering business, advanced technology, and the auto industry for The Christian Science Monitor spending the past 10 years at Consumer Reports writing about cars, fuel economy, pollution, and alternative fuels, and the latest developments in transportation and technology. He can tell readers how to get the best deal and avoid buying a lemon, whether it’s a used car or a bad mortgage. He currently works as a freelance writer for AAA, Nature, and a new consumer website, thewirecutter.com

Writer & Car Expert Eric Evarts

Writer & Car Expert Eric Evarts

February 27 – “CARS OF THE PAST – STORIED INDEPENDENT AUTOMAKERS”
One of America’s best-known automotive writers is historian/author Patrick Foster – a dedicated researcher who has spent more than 30 years studying various aspects of the automotive industry, has also been writing for automotive magazines for well over a decade. He has appeared on several radio and television talk shows and also the documentary “Women and the Automobile”, produced for television, in which Foster explained the significance of the Nash Metropolitan, a car designed primarily for women.

Pat has written numerous books on almost all the independent U.S. automakers that have disappeared from the scene including Packard, Studebaker, American Motors and many others. Pat is a feature writer and columnist for Hemmings Classic Car magazine, writes for Automobile Quarterly and Collectible Automobile, and has a column in Old Cars Weekly.

Author Patrick Foster with his restored 1967 Rambler Rogue

Author Patrick Foster with his restored 1967 Rambler Rogue

April 2 – “THE EARLY DAYS OF THE AUTOMOBILE IN CONNECTICUT”
Hartford does not claim to have made the first automobile but does claim to have started the automotive industry,” This statement was made by pioneer auto designer and engineer, Henry Cave, who worked with Daimler Motor Company, Locomobile and with George B. Seldon to design, develop and demonstrate the first Seldon patent car. The 24th Annual Klingberg Vintage Motorcar Festival in New Britain, CT on June 18th, 2016, will feature many automobiles manufactured in Connecticut including examples from Pope Hartford, Columbia, Corbin and Locomobile and is in fact the largest gathering of these early “brass era” cars in the country. Klingberg Festival Director Mark Johnson will talk about plans for this year’s event including participation again this year by Wayne Carini, host of “Chasing Classic Cars” on VelocityTV, as Grand Marshal with his dad Bob and daughter Lindsay.

Mark Johnson at the opening of the Klingberg History Museum in New Britain, 2014

Mark Johnson at the opening of the Klingberg History Museum in New Britain, 2014

Each Speakers Series event will include a technical session hosted by restoration expert and historian George Dragone focusing a one aspect of classic car preservation and maintenance. The January 30th seminar will feature representatives from New England Dry Stripping of Trumbull, CT providing tips and insight on their area of expertise. Tickets for each event will be $15 per person and can be purchased at the door or in advance at the museum’s web site www.neautomuseum.org. The Dragone Showroom is at 176 Post Road West in Westport, CT.

Source: New England Auto Museum

Pope Hartford back in the day

Pope Hartford back in the day

16 Nov

The Petersen Museum Counts Down to its Grand Re-opening

p1

The Petersen Museum’s new exterior.

Los Angeles CA – On October 19, 2014, the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles shut its doors for a radical restyle, the first significant change to the building’s exterior since it opened in 1962 as Seibu, a Japanese department store. At the time of its temporary closure, the museum announced a “hard opening date” of December 1, 2015; now, just over a year since work on the building’s exterior and interior began, the Petersen has published its schedule for the reopening of the facility.

The first chance for the public to see the new facility comes on December 5, with the fund-raising Grand Re-Opening Gala to benefit the non-profit Petersen Museum Foundation. Tickets will start at $1,500, but include a sit-down meal from the Drago brothers, whose string of Los Angeles-area restaurants include Il Pastaio, Il Fornaio, Drago Centro, Osteria Drago and Panzanella Ristorante. An auction will offer VIP experiences at “some of the world’s greatest car events and auto races,” and the ticket price also includes a tax-deductible contribution to the Petersen Museum Foundation.

On December 6, the museum will host Preview Day, a limited-admission event that also includes catering from the Drago brothers, an open bar on the rooftop Connor Pavilion and live music. Visitors will have the ability to tour the museum’s 25 new galleries, and each attendee will be given a gift bag and entered into hourly prize drawings. Tickets for Preview Day are priced at $200.

The museum’s daring new design, courtesy of architects Kohn Pedersen Fox, features a flowing, skeletal façade that is inspired by the smooth, alluring curves of automobiles.

The museum’s daring new design, courtesy of architects Kohn Pedersen Fox, features a flowing, skeletal façade that is inspired by the smooth, alluring curves of automobiles.

On December 7, the museum reopens to the general public, with adult tickets priced at $15. Discounts are offered to seniors, students, and children, while active duty military, police, fire, teachers and other museum employees receive free admission.

Exactly what visitors will experience inside the museum remains something of a mystery, though executive director Terry Kargas does promise the facility will offer “innovative architecture and design, cars as art, a satellite campus for the Art Center College of Design, Forza Motorsports racing simulators, the Pixar Cars experience for fans of all ages and a restaurant run by all four of L.A.’s famous Drago brothers.”

Planned exhibits at the new Petersen include Rolling Sculpture, a look at the role style and design played in the creation of limited production automobiles; Precious Metal, highlighting significant silver cars; BMW & The Art of the Automobile, which will include vehicles from the BMW Art Car collection; and Howlin’: Vehicles from the Nearburg Collection of racing cars.

For more information on the soon-to-be reopened museum, visit Petersen.org.

Article by Kurt Ernst, Hemmings Daily
Photos: Petersen Automotive Museum

The Petersen’s collection is home to Steve McQueen’s rare 1956 Jaguar XKSS, which Jay Leno calls “one of the great cars of all time, one of those cars that are works of art.”

The Petersen’s collection is home to Steve McQueen’s rare 1956 Jaguar XKSS, which Jay Leno calls “one of the great cars of all time, one of those cars that are works of art.”