Show of speed

Maybe you don’t care to wear his clothes or use his cologne but, hey, surely you’ve gotta appreciate and applaud his taste in cars?

I’m referring, of course, to Ralph Lauren, the bloke who has literally made a billion out of foisting polo shirts to preppy types. (Actually, in addition to clothing, he designs home decorating products such as furniture, bedding, drapes, towels, rugs, china, and silverware).

The American fashion designer has put his cash to a good cause: He owns a remarkable collection of cars.



The common link is competition; speed is really the main topic. Every one of the 60 machines he owns, and regularly drives – because they’re kept in full working order – has a fantastic pedigree and some are very rare.

Sounds like the sort of stuff you’d love to see? Well, that hasn’t been possible in the past, because Ralph’s garage, on a country estate near New York, has been off-limits to public gaze.

But now 17 of the premier cru machines have come out, as it were. They’ve been shipped to Paris for display at a small museum specialising in decorative arts.

The ‘Art of the Automobile’ show at the Musee des Arts Decoratifs runs until late August, and would be worth a gander for any Kiwis touring France’s capital during the northern summer.

Lauren, who famously described cars as" 2004 tastes.



The collection reminds that all cars are not equal; for a major name in the fashion world just a relatively small number of brands makes the cut. Bentley, Alfa Romeo, Mercedes-Benz, Bugatti, Porsche, Jaguar, Ferrari and McLaren (he owns two F1s, the limited edition Le Mans versions) comprise the chosen.

The cars sent over for exhibition are from the late 1920s to the 1960s, considered by many to be the golden age of car design. The display is themed as an evolution of style and design.

Don’t worry. The oldies are all goodies; some the rarest, most expensive vehicles in the world.

Among the exhibits is the Bentley Blower of 1929, a unique Mercedes-Benz SSK from 1930 owned by racing driver Count Carlo Felice Trossie and a Bugatti 57 SC Atlantic Coupe, one of only four ever made (and only two that remain).

Ferrari fans are well catered for - there are four in the collection - with a 375 Plus from 1954 (designed under the direction of Pinin Farina himself) and a Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa from 1957 by automotive legend Sergio Scaglietti. The last car in the exhibition is a 250 LM from 1958, which is viewed just after a Jaguar XKD, also from that year.

While it’s obviously not possible to see them running in the museum, there are films showing Lauren driving his cars as well as archive films showing some in competition.