ART ON WHEELS
Exhibit gives public peek into collectors’ private garages
Classic cars have emerged from collectors’ garages to a new parking spot at the Oklahoma History Center. “The Art of Speed: Oklahomans and Fast Cars” exhibit opened July 1, presenting 18 privately owned vintage cars for public view. The exhibit will be open until Aug. 15.
Entry to the museum costs $7 for adults, $5 for seniors and $4 for students. Members of the Oklahoma Historical Society and children age 5 and under get in free.
Oklahoma collectors contributed select American and European-made cars from various decades and manufacturers for the exhibit, ranging from a 1911 Franklin Model D Race Car, the oldest vehicle on display, to a 2006 Ford GT, the newest.
Jeff Briley, the museum assistant director, said every car in the exhibit is still driveable, including the four built before World War I. Each car on display represents a model that helped propel the automobile industry during its time.
“Some of those will be names such as Jaguar or Ford that we all recognize and associate with a particular style of car,” Briley said. “There will also be cars that almost nobody recognizes either because they were early car companies that went out of business that produced race cars or they’re just patently exotic in our world.”
The 1954 Pegaso Z-102 likely will be a new sight for exhibit visitors, he said. The rare Spanish car was discontinued in 1958.
Renowned French coachbuilder Jacques Saoutchik designed the Z-102 Series II Berlinetta on display at the museum. Briley said this Saoutchik-designed model is the finest of only three left in the world and can accelerate up to 150 mph.
Collector Buddy Butler, of Midwest City, contributed two cars to the exhibit, a 1972 BMW 2002 and a 1967 Lancia Sport Zagato.
Cars from the BMW 02 line, such as the 2002, were once a common sight on American roads, unlike the product from Lancia, Butler said.
The Lancia’s rarity lends itself to the exhibit’s
pairing of more obscure cars alongside wellknown vehicles.
The response to the familiar German model and an unknown Italian brand will be a combination of nostalgia and curiosity, Butler said.
“I knew (out) of the German cars, this was the one to bring because it’s kind of an iconic car,” he said. “For the Lancia, most people’s impression will be… ‘I’ve never heard of this brand. Tell me about it.’ “
Classic car dealer Rocky Santiago also has two cars in The Art of Speed exhibit, a 1955 Jaguar XK 140 MC and a 1962 Austin-Healey 3000 BN 7.
Santiago said Briley came to his Oklahoma City shop, Santiago Sports and Classics, in search of cars for the exhibit and selected the Jaguar and AustinHealey. Both are representatives of British-made cars for the Oklahoma History Center display.
Despite their age, the cars run well and are meant to be driven regularly, which is a testament to the excellence of car making from decades ago, Santiago said. Exhibit visitors can get a glimpse into the quality of classic cars’ design and build.
“The average guy’s not going to get to see this stuff unless it’s going down the road,” he said. “When you stop and look at it, these are like art really.”