Date: Fri 02-Jul-1999

Publication: Ant

Author: CAROLL

Quick Words:

Automobile

Full Text:

Museum Of Automobile History Announces New Acquisitions

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- One hundred newly acquired objects are the latest additions

to the collection of the Museum of Automobile History.

Visitors will see a copy of the speeding ticket that James Dean received just

two hours before his death on September 30, 1955, and a replica of the license

plate from the Porsche 550 racing Spyder in which he met his tragic end, as

well as copies of photos of the Dean accident scene and many documents

relating to his tragic death.

Original press release photographs, articles and US patents relating to the

first "Horseless Carriage Race" held in the US will be on view. The winning

vehicle, designed and driven by J. Frank Duryea, triumphed over the 60 other

vehicles entered in November of 1895, and was one of only two to finish.

Another first being shown is a French poster depicting the Paris to Bordeaux

Race and Paris Automobile Exposition. This huge, full color poster is one of a

handful in existence. This race, held earlier in 1895, was one of the first in

the world, and occurred in conjunction with the world's first automobile show;

this beautiful poster advertises both events.

A collection of extremely rare original US patents for the Daimler and Benz,

dating from 1886-1888 are on view. The Benz was the world's first successful

internal combustion engine automobile; it and the Daimler were the first

foreign vehicles of this type to be patented in the US. Today's Mercedes-Benz

is the result of the perseverance of Karl Benz and Gottlieb Daimler.

Also, a number of original paintings by automotive stylists working for auto

manufacturers will be featured. These one-of-a-kind renderings produced

between 1920 and 1940 are beautiful examples of classic Art Deco styling. Many

of these designs were made for the huge Cadillac V-16, the world's first 16

cylinder production auto.

In addition, a selection of automotive artwork including several psychedelic

showroom posters for 1970 Plymouth and Dodge "muscle cars" such as the

hemi-powered Barracuda will be on display. Cuban paintings will be shown,

picturing 1950s American automobiles next to Ernest Hemingway's favorite

Havana watering hole, La Bodeguita, where the Daiquiri was invented. Also

included are two Salvador Dali lithographs of a surrealistic 1941 Cadillac.

The museum, which was founded by Walter Miller, is at 321 North Clinton

Street. Telephone, 315/478-2277.