The Guggenheim Bilbao is an art museum, but from April 8 through September 18, as part of its 25th anniversary year, it will feature an exhibit titled “Motion: Autos, Art, Architecture” curated by museum staff and a team from the Norman Foster Foundation.
The exhibit will be previewed April 7 with a presentation by Foster, the British architect and Pritzker award winner
“Each gallery in this unique exhibition addresses a particular historical moment or theme in which the intersection of industrial design, art and architecture are visible,” the museum said.
Dymaxion 
Pegaso
Among the special features are a clay-modeling studio presented by Cadillac and featuring the Lyric electric vehicle and a display of future designs from 16 schools of design and architecture from around the world.
“Practically since the invention of the automobile, both its fabulous appearance and its association with speed, a sense of adventure, autonomy, modernity and progress seduced artists and architects to the point of quickly becoming a constant in their creations,” the museum explains.
“In addition to proposing a complete review of the nearly two hundred years of creation, the exhibition addresses the unstoppable trend toward electrification that the automobile shares with so many other productive sectors and even ventures to sketch out future scenarios for this industry…
“The car was born mainly to solve the problems of pollution and traffic jams caused by horse-drawn carriages in the emerging big cities. At the time, internal combustion vehicles were considered the more sustainable option. Nearly two centuries later, we find ourselves at a similar crossroads, which, thanks to technological progress, leads us to the adoption of the electric vehicle as the most efficient and environmentally responsible solution.”
Simeone offers DIY Demo Day
Demo Days are popular events at the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum in Philadelphia, where cars from the museum’s collection are showcased — and exercised in the parking lot — under a theme.
And now the museum is offering its visitors an opportunity to “build your own” Demo Day by suggesting a theme and cars that would fit within that theme.
“We were recently putting together concepts for our 2023 season and came to the realization that we had never included one of the most valuable resources in that conversation, you!” the museum notes. “So this is your chance to let us know what you want to see in a future Demo Day. What have a we missed?”
There’s an online form you can fill out and submit. There’s also a webpage listing all of the cars in the collection.
Gilmore offers Model T driving experience
“Think of it as going back to driver’s training — old school, that is,” said Gilmore Car Museum curator Jay Follis as he announced the museum’s Model T Driving Experience program, supported in 2022 by Grundy Insurance.
“Drivers will encounter an entirely different driving experience as compared to modern vehicles, as Model Ts are not equipped with a gas pedal, stick shift, fuel gauge or speedometer,” the museum reports. “Instead, students will find themselves operating three foot pedals, a hand-operated clutch release and emergency brake, column-mounted throttle control, and spark advance lever.”
While some dates already are sold out (at $125 per pupil), openings remain for June 9 and 23; July 7, 12, and 19; and for August 2.
Automotive ‘prehistory’ featured in Italy
From April 8 through September 25, Mauto (the Museo Nazionale dell’Automoible) in Turin, Italy, will feature an exhibit, “Motus: The Prehistory of the Automobile.”
The museum says the exhibit “allows the visitor to make a real journey through space and time to discover the challenges of considerable complexity that mark the path that accompanied man until the invention of the automobile. The most significant moments in this history, which took place in Europe, Asia and America, underline the international profile of a story characterized by intuitions that took place in very distant times and places.”
The exhibit includes 13 working models made after scientific studies and research.
Corvette Museum in Motion
The National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky, is organizing its annual Museum in Motion road trips and has opened registration for MiM Branson, scheduled for May 31-June 4, and for MiM Buffalo, May 24-28.
Bond, James Bond event at Petersen
The Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles celebrates 60 years of James bond at its Breakfast Club cruise-in from 8 a.m. until 11 a.m. on March 27. The museum is the site of a major Bond movie vehicle exhibit.
“Patrons can expect to see a variety of British vehicles, such as Lotuses, Land Rovers, Jaguars and Aston Martins,” the museum said. “Complimentary British-themed breakfast foods, pastries and beverages will be provided.”
Reservations are required.
Flying car also at the Petersen
Through April 1, what is billed as the “world’s first commercially available flying car” is being displayed exclusively at the Petersen Automotive Museum.
Inspired by the mythical winged horse Pegasus, the Aeromobil is capable of transforming from a supercar to an aircraft in less than three minutes, expanding from a width of seven feet to a wingspan of 30 feet,” the museum reports.
“This innovative ability doesn’t compromise performance, as the Aeromobil has a driving top speed of 100 miles per hour, going from 0 to 62 miles per hour in 10 seconds, and an estimated driving range of 600 miles. On the aviation side, it has a flying cruising speed of 160 mph, a climbing rate of 1200 feet per minute and a flying range of 460 miles (320 miles for dual occupants).”
Aeromobil reportedly has been engineered and tested in accordance with the CS 23 aerospace certification standard.
Special events this weekend
John Oates and Guthrie Trapp perform March 26 in concert in Newport, Rhode Island, to benefit the Audrain Automobile Museum.
“Drive-In Theaters: An American Institution” is the subject of a presentation March 26 at 11 a.m. at the AACA Museum in Hershey, Pennsylvania. The program will be presented by Jeffrey Bliemeister, the museum’s executive director, and Tim Neal, manager of the Sky Vu Drive-In, which has been operating since 1948 in Gratz, Pennsylvania. The program will be presented live at the museum’s drive-in theater and via Zoom.
“Developing the American Sports Car” will be the theme of Demo Day on March 26 at the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum in Philadelphia. Featured cars are the 1909 American Underslung, 1911/13 Mercer Raceabout 37J, 1927 Stutz AA Black Hawk and 1966 Corvette 427 Stingray.
The Mustang Owner’s Museum in Concord, North Carolina, launches its car-show calendar on March 27 with a “Fords on Sunday” event.
Mark your calendar
The Canadian Automotive Museum in Oshawa, Ontario, offers Oshawa Automotive Walking tours on April 2, April 23 and May 7.
The Gilmore Car Museum in Hickory Corners, Michigan, has scheduled another of its most popular events for April 2. It’s “Cars & Characters: A Celebration of Princesses and Superheroes,” with 22 actors portraying Disney princesses and comic-book heroes.
LeMay – America’s Car Museum in Tacoma, Washington, hosts its wine & wheels spring getaway tour April 2-3 with an overnight stay at the 7 Cedars hotel and casino.
On April 3, author and art historian Rob Keil presents “The Wonderful World of Art Fitzpatrick & Van Kaufman: Masters of the Art of Automobile Advertising” as part of the 2022 lecture series at the Gilmore Car Museum in Hickory Corners, Michigan.
“Foundations of Photography” classes featuring Andrew Taylor begin April 9 and run through October 22 at the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum in Philadelphia. On April 9, the museum also showcases “The Perils of Racing” with its Demo Day featuring a 1936 Bugatti 57G Tank, 1950 Allard J and 1967 Ford Mk IV.
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum hosts its first Cars & Coffee event of the season April 9 with free beverages and donuts provided by Founders Grounds and Jack’s Donuts. Subsequent cruise-ins are scheduled for the second Saturday of each month. Entry into the Speedway grounds is through Gate 2.
“Mini Madness” is the theme at the British Motor Museum at Gaydon for the Easter season April 9-24. Events include a Mini Egg Rover Challenge April 15-18, as well as the Road Map Family Trail.
From April 9-24, the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu, England, stages its Easter holidays celebration with Living History daily parades and characters. Taking part in those parades will be the re-created Chitty Chitty Bang Bang car.
On April 10, automotive historian Don LaCombe presents the “Miracle on Piquette Avenue,” the story of the Ford Model T assembly plant, as part of the 2022 lecture series at the Gilmore Car Museum in Hickory Corners, Michigan.
The British Motor Museum resumes its “Gaydon Gathering” car shows on April 12 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. In addition to the car show, the museum opens its Gaydon Garage workshop for viewing. Subsequent gatherings are planned for May 10, June 14, July 12, August 9, September 13 and October 11.
National Mustang Day will be celebrated April 15-16 at the Mustang Owner’s Museum in Concord, North Carolina, with the opening of the museum’s newly expanded exhibit area and a driving cruise, car show, seminars and a Shelby panel presentation and more.
The AACA Museum in Hershey, Pennsylvania, celebrates National Mustang Day on April 17 with a cruise-in car show co-hosted by CJ Pony Parts. Museum admission will be free for anyone arriving in a Mustang.
The North East Motor Sports Museum in Loudon, New Hampshire, opens its outdoor event season April 16 with the inaugural New England Racers Reunion. The event, taking place at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, will include all eras of racing vehicles.
“Open Road: The Lure of Motorcycling in Ohio” opens April 16 at the Crawford Auto Aviation Museum in Cleveland, Ohio. The exhibit features motorcycles rarely displayed in public. The display will be supplemented by ride-ins, lectures and demonstrations.
The Third Thursday Zoom program on April 21 by the Canadian Automotive Museum in Oshawa, Ontario, features “Lost Car Rescue: Behind the Scenes of a Canadian Car Show.”
It’s Cars & Coffee from 7 a.m. until 9 a.m. at the Lane Motor Museum in Nashville on April 23.
Stahl’s Automotive Collection in Chesterfield, Michigan, celebrates its Tucker 48 (#1015) on April 23 with Preston Tucker’s grandsons Mike and Sean Tucker, with Tucker expert Mark Lieberman, and with a presentation of the movie Tucker: The Man and His Dream. There will be two sessions, one at noon and the second at 5 p.m.
The spring lecture series at the National Motor Museum in Beaulieu, England, continues April 23 with Alan Chandler discussing petroliana collecting.
The 2022 lecture series at the Gilmore Car Museum in Hickory Corners, Michigan, concludes April 24 with historian Mark Tomlonson presenting “The History of a People’s Car.”
The British Motor Museum at Gaydon celebrates national Drive It Day on April 24 with a special car show.
A second wave of vehicles arrives September 22, 2022, and runs through May 14, 2023, in “The Allure of the Extreme” supercar showcase at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles.
The AACA Museum in Hershey, Pennsylvania, opens three new exhibits on May 21 — Orphan Cars, ATVs and AMCs.
The book club at LeMay – America’s Car Museum in Tacoma, Washington, meets online again on May 24 to share Auto Biography: A Classic Car, An Outlaw Motorhead, and 57 Years of the American Dream by Earl Swift.
A new summer event, the MCACN Muscle Car Meet Up, will be held at the Gilmore Car Museum in Hickory Corners, Michigan, on June 25. The event will be the summer version of the Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals, which is staged indoors in Illinois during the winter.
The Revs Institute in Naples, Florida, hosts a combined meeting of the World Forum for Motor Museums and the National Association of Automobile Museums from November 9-12.
Does your local car museum have special events or exhibitions planned? Let us know. Email larrye@classiccars.com
