Car Classic Shines Spotlight on Vintage and Movie Cars

Photography by Yoav Gilad

Now in its fourteenth year, Art Center College of Design’s Car Classic has become a fixture of the concours circuit. It is however different from most other cars due to its heavy focus on design and southern California car culture.

This year’s show was a bit of a departure from the past as it featured cars from “Street to Screen” so there was a heavy emphasis on cars from the movies. The Petersen Auto Museum brought out a few former Steve McQueen cars, including his Meyers Manx, Hudson Wasp, a Cooper T-52 Formula Junior, as well as a Porsche 917 Kurzheck (similar to the one used in Le Mans). The Val Kilmer and George Clooney Batmobiles (as well as the original TV Batmobile, built by legendary customizer George Barris) were in attendance too.

But it wasn’t just about movie-star cars. And we’d argue that the non-movie cars were equally noteworthy. Of particular note are the Porsche 904 and 906 parked under a couple of shady trees. Baking in the sun sat a Talbot-Lago T26, a McLaren P1 as well as a couple Ghia-bodied Chryslers and Rita Hayworth’s Ghia-Cadillac. A turbine-powered Chrysler showed up too, driven by one Jay Leno.

Have a look and start planning for next year. For those of you who attended, we had a great time meeting you!