Be Awestruck by the Art of Automotive Design at Motorclassica 2013

From the 1991 Jordan 191 to Ferrari’s 330 P4 and the Britten V1000, we’ve never had any doubt that automotive designers are artists. Motorclassica are going to be celebrating that fact this weekend when Italian style house Bertone will be honoured with a display to mark its centenary.

An exhibition of Bertone’s finest work including an ASA 1000GT, Iso Griffo, Iso Rivolta, Maserati Khamsin Coupe, Guillia Sprint Speciale and more will be brought together within the Royal Exhibition building over the 25th to the 27th of October. Adjacent to the main Bertone collection will be a Lamborghini display of fifteen feature cars, each designed by Bertone.

The automotive design as art theme continues throughout the Motorclassica displays with examples from other design periods and designers, such as a pair of Bugattis and an DeSoto Airflow, an early example of the art of aerodynamics, from the Art Deco period, a Stutz Blackhawk and, of course, one of Gordan Murray’s McLaren F1s.

Make sure to head to Motorclassica over the 25th to the 27th of October to check it all out! For more info head to the official Motorclassica website here.

Via Motorclassica

Italian Stile Spotlights Automotive Design Art at Motorclassica

Automotive design has long been celebrated as Art on wheels and that’s certainly the case at this year’s RACV Motorclassica, where Italian stile (styling) house, Bertone, will be honoured with a special display marking its centenary.

Gathered in the historic Royal Exhibition Building from 25-27 October will be array of Bertone’s finest work, including an incredibly rare 1000GT from little-known Italian marque ASA.

Almost as obscure, but just as striking, will be a duo of Italian-built, American-engined Isos, an Iso Griffo and an Iso Rivolta, also from the flamboyant pen of Bertone.

Continuing the Italian theme, Motorclassica’s Bertone display will also feature a Maserati Khamsin Coupe from the late ’70s and a couple of Alfa Romeos, a rare Montreal and a 1963 Guillia Sprint Speciale.

“Bertone occupies a special place in the history of automotive design and has been responsible for some truly iconic cars, as well as influencing dozens of others,” RACV Motorclassica Event Director Paul Mathers says.

“We’re delighted to highlight Bertone’s achievements over the past century with a special tribute, though there are other cars at Motorclassica that are also a product of the Italian design house, including the very first supercar, the Lamborghini Miura.”

Indeed, the adjacent Lamborghini display features 15 cars … each one the work of Bertone.

From the earliest vehicle on show, a 1891 Panhard et Levassor to the latest Mercedes-Benz, the design evolution of the automobile since its invention will be amply demonstrated at this year’s RACV Motorclassica.

And in stark contrast to the work of Bertone, Motorclassica will showcase other outstanding examples of automobiles as rolling Art.

From the Art Deco period there’s a pair of Bugattis and a DeSoto Airflow, an early example of the art of aerodynamics applied to an automobile.

There’s a Stutz Blackhawk, the work of noted American designer Virgil Exner, and a McLaren F1 sports car from the pen of British designer Gordon Murray.

“You hear people comment that ‘all cars look the same today’ and maybe that’s true to some extent, but if you take a walk around Motorclassica this year it’ll be easy to see why design and art aficionados enthuse about cars as rolling art or art on wheels,” Paul Mathers says.

“With so many cars from so many different periods on display, it’ll also be interesting to see the evolution of automotive design and the influence it both took from its period and had on its period.”

Motorclassica is now established as Australia’s mecca for automotive enthusiasts, uniquely mixing rare and exotic, historic, vintage, veteran, classic and collectable cars and motorcycles, plus automotive memorabilia, models and other collectibles.

This year’s RACV Motorclassica will also feature displays of contemporary vehicles from Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar, Morgan and Caterham as well as the latest motorcycles from Triumph, Benelli and custom cycle manufacturers, American Ironhorse and Mid Life Cycles.

2013’s event at Melbourne’s Royal Exhibition Building will see more than 150 cars and motorcycles on show inside its 19th century halls, plus another 300 cars and motorcycles over the weekend in the adjacent ‘Club Sandwich’ club displays.

Motorclassica is supported by the City of Melbourne and Victoria’s premier motoring organisation, the RACV.

Additional information on the 2013 Motorclassica, to be held at Melbourne’s Royal Exhibition Building from October 25-27, is available on www.motorclassica.com.au.