The famous American fashion designer Ralph Lauren will exhibit an impressive collection of cars in Paris from April 28 to August 28, 2011. A selection of the most prestigious sports cars from 1930 until today will be open to the European public for the first time at the Museum of Decorative Arts in Paris in this period.
There will be 17 rare models, chosen by director Rodolphe Rapetti. 1964 Ferrari 250 LM, 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Scaglietti, a 1956/1958 Jaguar XKSS and an 1931 Alfa Romeo 8C Monza 2300 are just some of them. Through this exhibition, Ralph Lauren wants to show that the car is art in its most developed form, taken to the extreme by industry’s biggest names. Visitors at the exhibition in Paris will see a series of cars with an impressive history.
Blower Bentley, a model from 1929, designed by WO Bentley was created with the purpose of winning competitions and, at the same time, it was a car chosen by Ian Fleming in the first parts of the James Bond 007 book. The Mercedes-Benz SSK Count Trossi is the archetype of the 1920s models by the Suttgart constructor, and this version bears the name of the Italian aristocrat and pilot Count Carlo Felice Trossi. Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic Coupe was produced in four copies, and today only two of them can be admired.
Also under the “protection” of Ralph Lauren a Ferrari 375 Plus designed by Giovanni Battista Pininfarina in the ’50s can be found. Jaguar XKD is the fastest car of those years and managed to win three times at the 24-Hour Race in Le Mans and a victory in the Nurburgring 24-Hour Race in 1956.
Also in the collection, visitors can admire models Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing Coupe and Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa. The latter bears the signature of Sergio Scaglietti, one of the most talented bodybuilders at Ferrari. Testa Rossa’s name comes from the red color of the camshaft cover.
Obviously, famous fashion designer was inspired by amazing, unique italian design and old fashioned cars from the rest of Europe.