If you were hanging around Villa d’Este at Lake Como, Italy on Sunday, May 24th for the Concorso d’Eleganza, you would see a rare sight: all seventeen BMW art cars. Every one of them. It doesn’t happen often.
The last time all the art cars were shown in one spot was in 2011 at the BMW Museum in Munich. Since 2015 is the 40th anniversary of the very first BMW art car, BMW is celebrating with a family reunion at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d'Este, an event that is managed by BMW Group Classic.
That first art car, Hervé Poulain’s BMW 3.0 CSL, ran in the 1975 24 Hours of Le Mans with a paint scheme designed by American artist Alexander Calder. BMW thought that was pretty cool so they followed with BMWs painted by some of the most respected contemporary artists of their day.
“The one thing we’re particularly proud of are the BMW Art Cars. That’s basically the only cultural initiative we have that also highlights the car itself,” said Dr Thomas Girst, BMW’s Head of Cultural Engagement, in an interview with Blouin Artinfo. Girst explained that although this is the 40th anniversary, there are only seventeen cars, not 40, because “we take great pride and responsibility in not doing it every year, as our obligation is to not water down that brand.”
Since a few of us will not be able to make it to the Villa d’Este by Sunday, we will be enjoying the event via a slideshow courtesy of the Blouin Artinfo web site.—Scott Blazey
Visit the slideshow by clicking here: http://www.blouinartinfo.com/photo-galleries/17-bmw-art-cars-gather-for-40th-anniversary-in-italy
[Photos courtesy of BMW AG.]
