To anyone with a little knowledge of the auto world, Detroit is the cradle of the US “big three” automakers: General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler. Many of the world’s most imaginative, forward-looking, and exotic motor cars were born in this famous American city. So, how did Detroit influence modern automaking? Let’s see!
A Ride Down Memory Lane
Opening this June is a must-see exhibition at the Detroit Institute of Arts, which looks at Detroit car design between 1950 and 2020. “Detroit Style” will give visitors the chance to see rarely displayed design sketches and photographs that helped shape the auto world as we know it. There will also be 12 key sedans and coupés for you to check out. The goal of the show is to highlight the artistry behind those designs as well as the influence that Detroit car designers have had in reaching major achievements in technology and style. Visitors will have the chance to see how Detroit has helped shape American and world car culture throughout time.
What You Will See
Drawings, sketches, and photographs will help you get a glimpse into the creative process behind designing a car. Salvador Salort-Pons, the director of the Detroit Institute of Arts, says that the show is less about horsepower and more about how car designers use static components to recreate dynamic qualities.
Car Design Here Is About Legacy
“We set out to tell a story,” says Mr. Salort-Pons and wants to focus people’s attention on the fact that the “exhibition is a celebration of an under-recognized art” — referring to the artists who, much like fine artists, go through the same creative process to produce unique yet functional car designs. The show isn’t about the fastest cars, but the most meaningful designs that this inspirational city has given to the world.