Your faithful correspondent joined the journalistic throng piling into the Boston Museum of Arts on Friday morning to catch a sneak peak of "Speed, Style, and Beauty: Cars from the Ralph Lauren Collection". The exhibit, showcasing 16 crown jewels from Mr. Lauren's private stash, opens to the general public on Monday, March 6. In the run-up to the opening, we'll post pictures of two or three of Mr. Lauren's MFA cars per day, starting tomorrow. Most of the pictures will come from the official catalogue, lusciously photographed by Michael Furman. Before we get stuck in, here are a few of my shots of the exhibit itself, so you can get a feel how the machines fit into the museum space. I hope you enjoy the show as much as I did.
The 1937 Bugatti Type 57SC Gangloff Drop Head Coup (left) and the 1938 Bugatti Type 57SC are the literal centerpiece of the exhibit.
Looking back towards the entrance (and the central Bugatti Atlantic) on the left hand side, we see the Germans: the 1955 Mercedes-Benz SL Gullwing Coupe (top), Porsche 1955 Porsche 550 Spyder (center) and 1988 Porsche 959 (front).
Looking away from the Bugatti (towards the exit) on the left hand side, the Ferraris face the Germans. We see the 1954 Ferrari 375 Plus (front), 1961 Ferrari Testa Rossa 61 Spyder Fantuzzi (center) and 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO (rear).
Two Jaguars shelter just ahead of the Ferrari, opposite the Gullwing. The Jag closest to the Ferraris (see: rear end of the 375 in the corner of the frame) is this 1955 Jaguar XKD, a.k.a. ?D Type?. A 1950 Jaguar XK120 Alloy Roadster also sits opposite the Gullwing (not shown).
I?ll save my favorite area, the front room that opens the exhibit, for Monday. Meanwhile, here?s the ?kicker?. Hiding behind the wall at the very end of the exhibit hall: the 1996 McLaren F1, its door raised in a final salute to automotive excellence.
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