allure of the automobile

The exhibition opened in June and will run through mid September 2011.

1953 Porsche 550, Prototype, Serial No.550-01: photo © Peter Harholdt.



Steve McQueen’s 1957 Jaguar XK-SS Roadster



1937 Talbot-Lago T150-C-SS “Teardrop” Coupe

This summer the Portland Art Museum presents The Allure of the Automobile, an exhibition investigating the stylistic development of automobiles. The installation includes 16 of the world’s rarest and most brilliantly conceived cars ranging from the 1930s to the early 1960s, including masterpieces by Bugatti, Ferrari, and Alfa Romeo. The Allure of the Automobile is guest-curated by Ken Gross, former director of the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, CA.

1930 Bentley Speed Six Gurney Nutting Coupe
1931 Duesenberg SJ Derham Convertible Sedan
1933 Pierce-Arrow Silver Arrow
1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Special Roadster
1937 Hispano Suiza H-6C “Xenia” Coupe
1937 Bugatti Type 57S Atalante
1937 Talbot-Lago T150-C-SS “Teardrop” Coupe
1938 Alfa Romeo 8C2900B Touring Berlinetta
1948 Tucker Model 48 Torpedo
1953 Porsche 550, Prototype
1954 Plymouth Explorer Sports Coupe
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SLR Roadster
1957 Jaguar XK-SS Roadster
1959 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray Prototype
1961 Ferrari 250 GT Comp./61 Short-wheelbase Berlinetta
1961 Aston Martin DB4GT Zagato Coupe

About the Portland Art Museum
The seventh oldest museum in the United States and the oldest in the Pacific Northwest, the Portland Art Museum is internationally recognized for its permanent collection and ambitious special exhibitions drawn from the Museum’s holdings and the world’s finest public and private collections. The Museum’s collection of 42,000 objects, displayed in 112,000 square feet of galleries, reflects the history of art from ancient times to today. The collection is distinguished for its holdings of arts of the native peoples of North America, English silver, and the graphic arts. An active collecting institution dedicated to preserving great art for the enrichment of future generations, the Museum devotes 90 percent of its galleries to its permanent collection. For information on exhibitions and programs, call 503-226-2811 or visit [ Portland Art Museum ]