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1938 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic Coupe 1929 Blower Bentley 1930 Mercedes-Benz Count Trossi SSK 1938 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900 Mille Miglia 1958 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa 1955 Jaguar XKD 1996 McLaren F1LM |
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WATCH THE TRAILER
“I’ve always seen cars as art. Moving art,” says Ralph Lauren. Known for his elegant
apparel designs, it’s not surprising that Lauren’s world-class automobile collection
reflects precisely the classic, timeless qualities that define his iconic clothing.
On Saturday, October 6, at 8PM (ET/PT), the Discovery Channel will air
SPEED, STYLE AND BEAUTY: THE RALPH LAUREN CAR COLLECTION, a documentary
that brings to life the stories of Lauren’s remarkable automobiles. Bugatti and
Bentley, Alfa Romero and Ferrari, Mercedes and McLaren—these are not merely cars,
but some of the most exquisite machines ever assembled. Read on for a glimpse of
some collection highlights.
“Cars have always been a source of design inspiration for me.
The cars I collect have a message of timeless beauty.” -Ralph Lauren
1929 Blower Bentley:
The brutish Blower Bentley is one of the most thrilling Bentleys ever built. The
car was designed by W.O. Bentley, but it was Sir Henry Birkin—one of the storied
Bentley Boys, a group of rich British gentlemen who drove fast cars and lived fast
lives—who pushed Bentley to include a supercharger (a.k.a. “blower”) element. Almost
tank-like with its heavy body and British flag decoration, the Bentley Blower was
created for one purpose: to win races. This is the automobile Ian Fleming chose
for James Bond in his early novels.
1930 Mercedes-Benz “Count Trossi” SSK:
This rakish Mercedes-Benz was designed by its flamboyant owner, the aristocratic
Italian racecar driver Count Carlo Felice Trossi. The car has a swept-back Art Nouveau
style with a long hood enveloping more than half of its body. The SSK was the first
series to bear the name Mercedes-Benz after Germany’s two oldest automobile companies
merged. 1938 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic Coupe: One of only three models ever built
and only two left in existence, this fantastic car is almost sinister looking, with
exposed seams and button-head rivets running down the spine and around the fenders.
Richard B. Pope, an English barrister, amateur tennis champion and Bugattiste of
the highest order, was one of the lucky owners of the 57SC. Motoring journalist
David E. Davis, Jr., compared the driving visibility inside the Atlantic to “turning
your head inside the hood of a parka.”
1938 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900 Mille Miglia:
Four identical Alfa Romeos of this model were built to compete in a legendary race
called the Mille Miglia, an annual event whose grueling thousand-mile course along
public roads began and ended in the northern Italian town of Brescia. The design
accentuates speed, with perfect symmetry in the sweep of the body panels, the teardrop-shaped
fenders and a tapering tail.
1955 Jaguar XKD:
Probably no car from the 1950s represents speed better than the Jaguar XKD. And
its track record speaks for itself, with three consecutive wins between 1955 and
1957 at Le Mans. From the fin projecting up from the tail to the smooth, rounded
front, the look is straight off a fighter jet. The windshield is cut low and the
wheels are tucked inside the clean fuselage, all to cut through the air as aerodynamically
as possible. One of only ten long-nose D-types built, the new, more aerodynamic
configuration made the D-Type likely the fastest race car of the 1950s, able to
clear 190 mph.
1958 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa:
This car bears the stamp of Sergio Scaglietti, one of Ferrari’s most talented coachbuilders.
The Testa Rossa—Italian for “red head” and derived from the red cylinder heads of
its V12 engine—has the signature Scaglietti traits—a long, torpedo-like body, tapered
headrest and sleek covered headlights.
1996 McLaren F1LM:
Assembled by hand, this is the world’s fastest production car. Racecar simplicity
becomes beauty inside the F1LM. Exposed carbon fiber and the unique instrument panels
and gearshift help make it one of the fastest cars on the road with a top speed
of 225 miles per hour. Just like a Formula One racecar, the driver sits in the center
and is flanked by his passengers. One of the newest cars in Lauren’s collection,
and one of only five ever built, the McLaren F1LM continues the traditions of great
automotive design.
Learn more: Preview the documentary, see a selection
of cars from the show and look inside the book.
For a more in depth look into Ralph Lauren’s car collection, buy the companion book, Speed, Style and Beauty – the first
book to focus specifically on the car as an art object.
SPEED, STYLE AND BEAUTY: THE RALPH LAUREN CAR COLLECTION will air
on the Discovery Channel, Saturday, October 6, at 8PM (ET/PT).
Photography Credits (L-R):
1-5: Michael Furman
6: Martyn Goddard
7: John Lamm
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