Fast, Fun & Fabulous: Best of Show

July 1, 2017 – October 22, 2017

Everyone can appreciate good design, quality materials, and great performance. Each car chosen for this exhibit exemplifies “The Best” - whether it was the fastest of its day, most fun and engaging, most elegant, or an award winning design. 

The 1930 Duesenberg Model J, originally owned by Doris Duke’s mother Nanaline, is the epitome of prewar elegance. Mrs. Duke had the rolling chassis shipped across the country to the coachmaker Walter M. Murphy Co. in Pasadena, California, with orders to create the bespoke Town Cabriolet.

In front of you is the finest surviving example of a 1953 Ferrari 250 Europa. Enzo Ferrari’s chassis with a Lampredi V-12 engine and Pinin Farina body proved to be a perfect blend of sportiness and comfort.  Its recent 5-year restoration has made it a Concours winner. 

A modern sports car, like the yellow 2016 Porsche 911R, is fast by many standards, but Porsche didn’t set out to make it a race car. This limited production car is for purists-  a throwback to simpler times, boasting nimble road performance without a lot of flash, complete with old school manual gear box.

This exhibit showcased some of the best of the automotive world for the last 100 years, combining innovation, design, performance, exhilaration, and grace all in one room!