Supercars: When Too Much Is Almost Enough

Posted by GreaseGirl on Mar 30, 2011 in Featured, Shows & Events | 0 comments

Exotic Car Exhibit At The Petersen Museum

Every time I step into the Petersen Automotive Museum I learn something new and enjoy being amazed by works of art known as automobiles. The newest exhibit at the Petersen, Supercars, is no exception. If any automobile could be called art, the Supercar would be a top contender. What is a “Supercar?” I think the Petersen’s curator, Leslie Kendall, explains it well:

Like supercomputer, supermarkets, and supermodels, supercars represent an extreme. More than mere transportation, they offer a bold and extroverted means of self expression. Supercars have existed since the first decade of the twentieth century and while their mechanical and design specifications have evolved from era to era, they have always had in common immensely powerful engines, minimal passenger carrying capacity, adventurous mechanical specifications, and a commanding presence. Such attributes guaranteed that supercars always had far more power and performance than would ever be thought necessary for everyday motoring. That they have always been extremely exotic in appearance and impossibly rare makes them even more special.

So while just looking at modern Supercars didn’t seem very exciting to me at first (although I’d be first in line to drive one,) this exhibit brings them to life. Some of my favorite things about the Supercar exhibit were:

Seeing where they began, such as with the earliest Supercar on show, the 1923 Mercedes (28/95 Targa Florio.) With a whopping 7.2 liter engine it was able to reach a top speed of 75 miles per hour! To put this in perspective – remember that just 25 years earlier, in 1898, the world’s first land speed record was set at 39.24!

Photo courtesy of Scott Williamson Photodesign Studios

Viewing oddities of the Supercar world, such as the 1968 Bizzarrini Manta. Imagine what you would’ve thought if you saw this rolling down the street in 1968! Pulling up to the stoplight next to a huge 1968 Lincoln, with the Manta’s driver sitting in the middle of the car like a Jetson’s spacecraft.

Another interesting Supercar on show is the 1971 De Tomaso Pantera. Still there are the holes that Elvis shot in it – when he reportedly got mad at it not starting.

Photo Courtesy of Scott Williamson Photodesign Studios

Then of course, the sexiest machine of them all – the Bugatti. No, not the original 2006 Veyron, a 1001-horsepower engine with four superchargers (although this one’s on show too!)

In my opinion what’s even sexier is the 1939 Bugatti (57C Adalante) with 180 horsepower and some of the prettiest lines you’ve ever seen on a car! This Bugatti is powered by a straight-8 double over-head cam 3.3 liter engine (that’s less then half the size of the earlier 1923 Mercedes!)

If you want to see these for yourself, you’re just going to have to motor on down to the Petersen Museum! The Supercars exhibit will be on show until October 16, 2011. Admission will get you into not just the Supercar exhibit – but the other great rotating exhibits and regular museum stuff as well! It’s a great place to learn something new and gain some inspiration for whatever project you’ve got going on in your garage!

If you can make on April 5th, Leslie Kendall, will be leading a special Curator’s Tour – more information can be found at the Petersen Automotive Museum website.