Concept cars of the past heading to Atlanta for “Dream Cars” exhibition

Automotive Design, Concept Cars, Exhibitions 7 May 2014

From May 21 to September 7, 2014 the High Museum of Art in Atlanta will host the exhibition “Dream Cars – Innovative Design, Visionary Ideas”, featuring iconic concept cars of the past, including the Pininfarina Modulo and the Bertone Stratos Zero.

“Dream Cars – Innovative Design, Visionary Ideas” is dedicated to the most sensational concept cars and limited edition vehicles that, from the Thirties to the present, have pushed beyond the limits of the imagination due to their futurist and visionary design.

The exhibition focuses on five themes: individual makers, the impact of styling, visionary designers, the design process, and the influence of automobile fairs.

Among the featured vehicles are the Pininfarina Modulo and Bertone Stratos Zero, respectively designed by Paolo Martin and Marcello Gandini.

1947 Special by Norman Timbs

Other dream cars on display include the 1947 Special by Norman Timbs, the 1951 General Motors Le Sabre XP–8 Concept owned by Harley Earl and the 1955 Chrysler Streamline X Gilda by Ghia.

Above: the 1951 General Motors Le Sabre XP–8 Concept (left) and the 1956 Buick Centurion XP–301 Concept

Among the modern concept cars are the 2008 BMW GINA Light Visionary Model and the 2010 Porsche 918 Spyder Concept.

Syd Mead – Gyroscopically Stabilized Two-wheel Car Illustration (ca 1960)

On August 18 the exhibition will also host a conference held by legendary concept designer Syd Mead.

1934 Edsel Ford Model 40 Special Speedster

For more information visit the exhibition page on the High Museum of Art website, which features a very interesting gallery of pictures and videos with details on the cars on display.

Below we report a selection of the videos published on the High Museum of Art’s YouTube channel. Also check our exclusive design story of the Pininfarina Modulo, featuring an interview with its designer Paolo Martin, and the new photo gallery.

Dream Cars Videos

1936 Stout Scarab

1951 Buick Le Sabre XP-8

Dream Cars of Tomorrow

About the Pininfarina Modulo

Built on the mechanics of the Ferrari 512 S, the Modulo comes as a study of form inspired by passengers placement in sports and racing vehicles.

The car was presented at the Geneva Motor Show on March 12, 1970, and remained on display, from April to September of the same year, in the Italian Pavilion at EXPO 70 in Osaka. Since then, the Modulo is in constant demand by museums all over the world and received 22 international design awards, including the prestigious “Award For Design Excellence” of “Automobile Quarterly” in 1971.

(Source: Pininfarina, Atlanta High Museum of Art)