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Ten cars of exceptional beauty - exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art 60 years ago

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Created on June 6, 2013

Reading time 8min

Written by:

Bruno von Rotz

Photos:

Daniel Reinhard

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Archiv Porsche AG

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Bruno von Rotz

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Archiv Bertone

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Tim Scott ©2012 Courtesy of RM Auctions

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Archiv/Werk

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Samuel Szepetiuk

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Archiv

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Daniel Reinhard

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Archiv Porsche AG

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Bruno von Rotz

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Archiv Bertone

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Tim Scott ©2012 Courtesy of RM Auctions

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Archiv/Werk

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Samuel Szepetiuk

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Archiv

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"Ten Automobiles" - Ausstellung des Museum of Modern Art in New York im Jahr 1953

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"Ten Automobiles" - Ausstellung des Museum of Modern Art in New York im Jahr 1953

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"Ten Automobiles" - Ausstellung des Museum of Modern Art in New York im Jahr 1953

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Cunningham (1953) - Vignale-Eleganz auf amerikanischem Chassis - am Automobilsalon in Genf 1953

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Cunningham (1953) - das geschlossene Cabriolet von Vignale - am Automobilsalon in Genf 1953

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Cunningham C 3 (1953) - schön gestaltetes Interieur, gesehen am Genfer Automobilsalon 1953

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Cunningham Vignale (1953) - das schön gearbeitete Interieur - am Automobilsalon in Genf 1953

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Cunningham Chrysler Firepower Cabriolet Vignale (1952) - auf einer Skizze von Giovanni Michelotti

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Cunningham C3 (1952) - der Entwurf von Michelotti

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Cunningham Continential Coupé (1953) - wunderschöne Karosserie, gezeichnet von Michelotti, gebaut von Vignale

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Cunningham C4 (1952) - das elegante Coupé von Vignale

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Cunningham (1953) - der Motor stammt von Chrysler und hat acht Zylinder in V-Form

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Ford Comète Facel Convertible (1953) - nur zwei Cabriolets wurden gebaut

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Ford Comète (1951) - die Karosserie sah schneller als, als der Wagen mit dem Vedette-Motor rennen konnte

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Ford Comète (1952) - die elegante Karosserie wurde bei Facel gebaut

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Ford Comète (1953) - der 2,2 Liter grosse V8-Motor stammte vom Vedette

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Ford Comète (1953) - die Firma Facel baute die elegante Karosserie

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Ford Comète (1953) - hinreissend elegantes Coupé

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Ford Comète (1953) - Karosserie von Facel-Metallon

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Ford Comète (1953) - Prospekt-Illustration

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Ford Comète (1954) - die 3,9-Liter-V8-Version 'Monte Carlo' an einem Concours d'Elegance

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Ford Comète (1954) - das Modell Monte-Carlo mit 3,9-Liter-V8-Motor

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Ford Comète (1953) - ausgestellt am Pariser Autosalon des Jahres 1953

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Lancia Aurelia B20 GT (1951) - die frühen Coupés waren alle rechtsgelenkt

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Lancia Aurelia B20 GT (1951) - die Version mit 1991 cm3 ausgestellt am Turiner Autosalon von 1951

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Lancia Aurelia B20 GT (1951) - Heckansicht eines frühen GT, ausgestellt am Turiner Autosalon von 1951

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Lancia Aurelia B20 GT (1953) - an der Karosserie änderte sich über Jahre kaum etwas

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Lancia Aurelia B20 GT (1953) - Coupé der Serie 3

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Lancia Aurelia B20 GT (1953) - funktionale Coupé-Karosserie

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Lancia Aurelia B20 GT (1954) - Heckansicht des Coupés

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Lancia Aurelia GT 2500 (1953) - in den späteren Jahren verschwand der Begriff B20

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Lancia Aurelia GT 2500 (1954) - ein Modell spielte eine bedeutende Rolle im Film "Il Sorpasso"

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Lancia Aurelia GT 2500 (1954) - kaum verändert gegenüber früheren Versionen

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Lancia Aurelia GT 2500 (1954) - nur die erste Serie hatte unverchromte Stossfänger

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Lancia Aurelia GT 2500 (1955) - gedrungene Gestalt

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Lancia Aurelia GT 2500 (1956) - die hohe Gürtellinie war charakteristisch

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Lancia Aurelia (1956) - die Aurelia spendete die technische Basis für die Flaminia

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Lancia Aurelia B20 GT (1952) - die frühen Aurelias waren alle rechtgelenkt, gesehen am Genfer Automobilsalon von 1952

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Lancia Aurelia B20 GT (1952) - gesehen an der Mille Miglia 1952, sportliches Cockpit mit Mittelschalthebel

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Lancia Aurelia B20 GT (1953) - auf dem Genfer Automobilsalon von 1953

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Lancia Aurelia Coupé Beutler (1953) - mit schlanken Fensterpfosten, gestaltet von den Gebr. Beutler - am Automobilsalon in Genf 1953

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Lancia Aurelia B20 GT (1953) - die markante Form, Aufgenommen am Genfer Automobilsalon 1953

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Lancia Aurelia B53 (1953) - mit schön gestaltetem viertürigen Aufbau von Pininfarina - am Automobilsalon in Genf 1953

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Lancia Aurelia B20 GT (1953) - ein Serie-3-Coupé am Genfer Automobilsalon von 1953

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Lancia Aurelia B20 GT (1953) - aufgenommen in den Neunzigerjahren

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Lancia Aurelia GT 2500 (1956) - Lenkrad und Armaturenbrett eines Neuwagens

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Lancia Aurelia GT 2500 (1956) - Interieur eines linkgelenkten Lancias

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Lancia Aurelia GT 2500 (1956) - das Armaturenbrett war lackiert

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Lancia Aurelia B 20 GT 2500 V Serie (1956) an der Mille Miglia 2013

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Nash-Healey Coupé (1953) - das Coupé war eine von wenigen echten Neuerscheinungen am Salon - am Automobilsalon in Genf 1953

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Nash Healey (1952) - von Pininfarina eingekleidetes, ausserordentlich elegantes Cabriolet, nach vielen Jahren der erste offene Sportwagen amerikanischer Herkunft

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Nash-Healey Coupé (1953) - die elegante Schöpfung von Pininfarina feiert in Genf Premiere - am Automobilsalon in Genf 1953

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Nash-Healey Coupé (1953) - die Eleganz des Pininfarina-Designs

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Nash-Healey Coupé (1953) - fast zeitlose Silhouette

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Nash-Healey LeMans Hardtop Sports Car (1954) - eine weitere Variante des schönen Sportwagns

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Nash-Healey Coupé (1953) - der Jetfire-Motor im Testwagen

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Nash-Healey Convertible (1952) - Lenkrad und Armaturenbrett ds Cabriolet, gesehen am Genfer Automobilsalon 1952

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Nash-Healey Convertible (1952) - Blick unter die Motorhaube am Genfer Automobilsalon 1952

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Nash-Healey Coupé (1953) - damit war man elegant angezogen

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Nash-Healey Coupé (1953) - attraktives Fahrzeugdesign

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Nash-Healey Coupé (1953) - Blick in das Interieur eines Testwagens

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Nash Healey (1952) - hübsches Cabriolet, gezeichnet in den Pininfarina-Studios

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Nash Healey (1952) - hübsches amerikanisches Cabriolet

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Porsche 356 1500 (1953) - bei Probefahrten anfangs der Fünfzigerjahre

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Porsche 356 1600 Super (1958) - das Modell entwickelte sich stetig weiter

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Porsche 356 1600 Super (1958) - nun mit 1,6-Liter-Motor

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Porsche 356 Speedster (1957) - die vor allem für die Amerikaner entwickelte Variante

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Porsche 356 Speedster (1956) - ausgestellt am Autosalon von Turin im Jahr 1956

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Porsche 356 A Carrera Coupé (1956) - das Carrera-Coupé des Modelljahres 1956

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Porsche 356 A Coupé (1956) - ohne Knickscheibe und mit schönen Rundungen

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Porsche 356 Cabrio (1954) - ein früher 356-er

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Porsche 356 Coupé (1954) - elegant und zweckorientiert, ohne Firlefanz

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Porsche 356 1500 Super (1952) an der Mille Miglia 2013

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Siata Daina 1400 (1951) - gebaut von Stabilimenti Farina

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Siata Daina Coupé Stabilimenti Farina (1951) - überaus elegantes Coupé

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Siata Daina Gran Turismo 1400 (1950) - die 1400-er und 1800-er-Version sahen gleich aus

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Siata Daina Sport Coupé 1800 (1953) - angeboten als Lot 334 an der Versteigerung von RM Auctions in Monaco am 12. Mai 2012

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Siata Daina Sport Berlinetta (1952) an der Mille Miglia 2013

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Simca 8 Cabriolet Sport (1950) - das elegante Cabriolet auf Simca 8 Basis

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Simca 8 Cabriolet Sport (1950) - hübsches Auto schön abgelichtet

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Simca 8 Cabriolet Sport (1951) - das Design erinnert an die Cisitalia-Fahrzeuge der Zeit

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Simca 8 Cabriolet Sport (1951) - deutlich sichtbare Ponton-Form

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Simca 8 Sport (1949) - an einer Autoausstellung

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Simca 8 Sport (1949) - hübsches Coupé

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Simca 8 Sport Coupé (1950) - Karosserie produziert von Facel-Metallon in Paris

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Simca 8 Cabriolet Sport (1950) - die Linienführung erinnert sehr an den Cisitalia

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Simca 8 Sport (1949) - Michel Ganthier vom Simca-Werk

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Simca 8 Super Sport (1951) - Teilnehmerfahrzeug an der Mille Miglia 1951, aufgenommen in den Achtzigerjahren

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Simca 8 Cabriolet Sport (1950) - ausserordentlich hübscher Sportwagen

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Simca 8 Sport (1949) - das Cabriolet am Genfer Automobilsalon von 1949

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Simca 8 Sport (1949) - am Genfer Automobilsalon von 1949

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Simca 8 Cabriolet Sport (1952) - am Pariser Automobilsalon 1952

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Simca 8 Cabriolet Sport (1950) -Abbildung aus einem Verkaufsprospekt

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Simca 8 Sport (1950) - bei Facel gebautes Cabriolet auf Simca-8-Basis, zu kaufen für 62'500 Euro (Techno Classica 2013)

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Studebaker Commander Regal Starlight Coupe (1953) - europäische Designeinflüsse beim amerikanischen Coupé - stilisiert mit dem Eifelturm in Hintergrund

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Studebaker Commander Starliner Hardtop Convertible (1953) - mit der niedrigsten Höhe aller amerikanischen Autos der Zeit - Verkaufsargument anno 1953, auch eine mechanische Lenkhilfe war erhältlich

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Studebaker Commander V-8 Starliner (1954) – erhältlich in 10 Uni- und 10 Zweiton-Farbkombinationen

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Studebaker Commander Starliner (1953) - Abbildung des "Faux-Cabriolet" aus dem Schweizer Verkaufsprospekt

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Studebaker Champion Regal Starlight Coupe (1953) - gewann den ersten Preis beim Concours d'Elegance Automobile

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Studebaker Commander Starliner Hardtop Convertible (1953) - die neuen Linien sagen dem Schweizer Publikum zu - am Automobilsalon in Genf 1953

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Studebaker Commander Regal Starlight Coupe (1953) - perfekte Symbose von Technik und Design - am Automobilsalon in Genf 1953

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Aston Martin DB 2 (1950) - die Karosserie wurde von Aston Maritn selber gebaut

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Aston Martin DB 2 (1950) - nur die ersten 49 Exemplare hatten einen dreiteiligen Kühlergrill

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Aston Martin DB 2 (1952) - 108 PS für 30'200 Franken

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Aston Martin DB 2 (1952) - an einen solchen Wagen kann man sich schon stolz anlehnen

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Aston Martin DB 2 'Vantage' (1951) - das Doppel-Nockenwellen-Vantage-Aggregat

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Aston Martin DB 2 'Vantage' (1951) - fertiggestellte Karosserie

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Aston Martin DB 2 (1952) - am 22. Automobilsalon in Genf

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Aston Martin DB 2 (1951) - Chassis wird an der London Motorshow 1951 gezeigt

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Aston Martin DB 2 (1950) - Interieur

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Aston Martin DB 2 Vantage (1952) - am Start in der Sportwagenklasse - Gaisbergrennen 2013 - Berglauf auf den Gaisberg am Freitag

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Arnolt MG Midget (1953)

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Arnolt-MG TD (1952) - aus dem Schaffen von Bertone

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MG Arnolt 1500 (1955) - diese Rarität wird auch zum entsprechenden Preis angeboten - am OTM Fribourg 2013

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Cisitalia 1100 (1952) - atemberaubendes Design von Pinin Farina

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Cisitalia 202 Cabriolet Gran Sport (1952) - Sieger beim Premio Villa d'Este (Jahr nicht eindeutig bestimmbar)

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Cisitalia 202 Cabriolet Gran Sport (1952) - Sieger beim Premio Villa d'Este

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Cisitalia 202 (1947) - am Start des GP Turin 1947

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Cisitalia 202 (1947) - beim GP Turin 1947

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Cisitalia 202 D Competizione (1952) - an der Mille Miglia am 4. Mai 1952 (im Bild Carlo Dusio, der Sohn von Piero Dusio)

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Cisitalia 202 (1948) - bei einer Schönheitskonkurrenz am Pincio in Rom

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Cisitalia 202 D (1952) - ausgestellt am Genfer Automobilsalon 1952, 2,8 Liter Hubraum und vier Zylinder

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Cisitalia 202 D (1952) - ausgestellt am Genfer Automobilsalon 1952

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Cisitalia 202 (1950) - zeitlose Schönheit, auch als Cabriolet

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Bentley R Type 2-Door Sports Saloon (1953) - für den Selbstfahrer gedacht

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Bentley R Type Sports Saloon (1954) - von Bentley mit einem "essentially practical" Design hergestellt

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Bentley Two Door All-Metal Saloon Mark VI (1952) - mit einer Karrosserie von Mulliner

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Bentley R Type Sports Saloon (1953) - auf dem Genfer Automobilsalon 1953

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Summary

In 1953, the "MoMa" selected ten cars and invited the public to a "non-commercial car exhibition" in New York, which paid homage to the vehicle design of the time. Curator Arthur Dexler presented American, Italian, French, English and German automobiles from the brands Porsche, Aston Martin, Simca, Siata, Lancia, Cunningham, Nash-Healey, Ford, Studebaker and MG, which certainly sparked discussions about the quality and future orientation of car body designs. This report describes the circumstances of the exhibition at that time and shows all ten vehicles presented in over 100 historical and current pictures, supplemented with many vehicle brochures and the original exhibition catalog from 1953.

This article contains the following chapters

Cunningham C-4 - Italian-American hybrid
Lancia Gran Turismo (B20 GT) - Road racer from Italy
Aston Martin DB 2 - the birth of the modern Aston
Studebaker Commander V8 - American in continental dress
Ford Comète - Italian elegance from French production
Simca Model 8 Sport - the Frenchman in the Italian-inspired original suit
Bertone's MG TD - Italian elegance for traditional English engineering
Nash Healey - Pininfarina's second success
Siata Daina - seeming bigger than it is
Porsche 1500 Super - German efficiency
Still the most beautiful?
Further information

Estimated reading time: 8min

Preview (beginning of the article)

TheMuseum of Modern Art(MoMA for short) has always had a relaxed attitude towards the automobile. As early as 1951, eight cars of particular beauty were shown in an exhibition, including the Cisitalia 202, which then became part of the MoMA's permanent collection in 1973. In 1953, the "MoMa" again selected ten cars - all coupés - and invited the public to a "non-commercial car exhibition" in New York, as the Automobil Revue commented at the time. The fact that the automobile was given so much honor at all had to do with the fact that vehicle design was constantly evolving and was able to boast an impressive variety of shapes, especially at the beginning of the 1950s. However, it may not have been quite so diverse, as curator Arthur Drexler described exactly two approaches in the catalog for the "Ten Automobiles" exhibition.

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