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AUTOMOTIVE BRILLIANCE

When most of us think of Ralph Lauren and his Collection, we envision his fine line of clothes. However, there is another collection of Ralph’s that I truly cherish and envy, The Ralph Lauren Classic Car Collection

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by Shin Takei

When most of us think of Ralph Lauren and his Collection, we envision his fine line of clothes. With his conservative yet fashionable men’s attire, his label will always be part of my wardrobe. However, there is another collection of Ralph’s that I truly cherish and envy, The Ralph Lauren Classic Car Collection. If you know anything about desirable classic cars, then you will agree that this collection is one of the top ten in the world. With his good taste and keen sense for design, he has chosen the crème de la crème of automotive masterpieces from the past. His passion for automobiles goes back to his youth and his appreciation for the design, hand crafted metal bodies, powerful engines, leather seats and instruments, all which have shined through his lines. Currently on loan to the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, we’re giving you a first glance at some of the gems on display until August 28, 2011.

Now, what makes Ralph Lauren a real car guy and not just another collector with rare automobiles? Ralph likes to drive them and experience what each of these exquisite examples was created for, which is why they were rarely seen exhibited; it was more important for him to enjoy them as part of himself and his life. That makes Ralph Lauren the coolest clothing designer out there…at least in my book.

1929 BENTLEY (BLOWER) The “Blower” Bentley would never have existed if it weren't for the enthusiasm of a wealthy woman, Hon Dorothy Paget who helped fund the racing effort. Fifty examples had to be produced to qualify for Le Mans, but fifty-five were built in total until 1931. The Bentley Boys’ aggressive assaults at the Le Mans 24 Hour race in 1930, 1932 and 1933 were largely failures due to tires not being able to hold up. But the supercharged car with a 6 cylinder, 4.5 liter engine and massive bodywork frightened a lot of people. To lighten the bodywork, portions of the body were deliberately made of faux leather. This is a fine example that represents what Bentley was all about back in its heyday.
1929 BENTLEY (BLOWER) The “Blower” Bentley would never have existed if it weren’t for the enthusiasm of a wealthy woman, Hon Dorothy Paget who helped fund the racing effort. Fifty examples had to be produced to qualify for Le Mans, but fifty-five were built in total until 1931. The Bentley Boys’ aggressive assaults at the Le Mans 24 Hour race in 1930, 1932 and 1933 were largely failures due to tires not being able to hold up. But the supercharged car with a 6 cylinder, 4.5 liter engine and massive bodywork frightened a lot of people. To lighten the bodywork, portions of the body were deliberately made of faux leather. This is a fine example that represents what Bentley was all about back in its heyday.
1958 JAGUAR XKSS The XKSS was a thinly veiled race car similar in concept to the Mercedes 300SL. Based on the highly successful Jaguar DType, it was fitted with a 6-cylinder 3.4 liter engine developing 250bhp, which propelled the car to a maximum 230kph. The DTypes were always up front in the Le Mans 24 Hour race from 1954 to 1956. It was a natural for Jaguar to offer this road going example. Actor and race car driver Steve McQueen owned one of the 16 examples ever made.
1958 JAGUAR XKSS The XKSS was a thinly veiled race car similar in concept to the Mercedes 300SL. Based on the highly successful Jaguar DType, it was fitted with a 6-cylinder 3.4 liter engine developing 250bhp, which propelled the car to a maximum 230kph. The DTypes were always up front in the Le Mans 24 Hour race from 1954 to 1956. It was a natural for Jaguar to offer this road going example. Actor and race car driver Steve McQueen owned one of the 16 examples ever made.
1955 PORSCHE 550 SPYDER Most of us associate this car with James Dean’s “Little Batard.” But the reason Dean chose this model was because he knew what a good race car was. A fierce competitor both on the screen and on track, he knew he could win races in this one. The light weight 550 Spyder with its diminutive air-cooled flatfour 1.5 liter engine was good enough to defeat Ferrari and Maserati at their own game including the Targo Florio in 1956. Ferdinand Porsche was a genius. This was one of his many masterpieces that went on to become a legend and one of the most desirable cars ever produced by Porsche.
1955 PORSCHE 550 SPYDER Most of us associate this car with James Dean’s “Little Batard.” But the reason Dean chose this model was because he knew what a good race car was. A fierce competitor both on the screen and on track, he knew he could win races in this one. The light weight 550 Spyder with its diminutive air-cooled flatfour 1.5 liter engine was good enough to defeat Ferrari and Maserati at their own game including the Targo Florio in 1956. Ferdinand Porsche was a genius. This was one of his many masterpieces that went on to become a legend and one of the most desirable cars ever produced by Porsche.
1930 MERCEDES BENZ SSK ROADSTER “COUNT TROSSI” The SSK series of racing cars were quite dominant and were designed by none other than Ferdinand Porsche who went on to start his own company. Many were destroyed, but a few remained as chassis only and went unsold. This black beast was once in Japan as a chassis in 1930 before it returned to Europe. It was eventually purchased by a young Italian Count. He had an English coach builder, Willy White, build a body to his rough sketch. Count Carlo Trossi sold and repurchased this car a few times while it travelled to Argentina, the United States, France and England. Now owned by Ralph Lauren, Chassis 36038, with its 6 cylinder 7-liter engine and huge “elephant supercharger,” is known to produce 300bhp and is capable of speeds up to 235kph. This is a one of a kind SSK and one of the rarest cars in the collection.
1930 MERCEDES BENZ SSK ROADSTER “COUNT TROSSI” The SSK series of racing cars were quite dominant and were designed by none other than Ferdinand Porsche who went on to start his own company. Many were destroyed, but a few remained as chassis only and went unsold. This black beast was once in Japan as a chassis in 1930 before it returned to Europe. It was eventually purchased by a young Italian Count. He had an English coach builder, Willy White, build a body to his rough sketch. Count Carlo Trossi sold and repurchased this car a few times while it travelled to Argentina, the United States, France and England. Now owned by Ralph Lauren, Chassis 36038, with its 6 cylinder 7-liter engine and huge “elephant supercharger,” is known to produce 300bhp and is capable of speeds up to 235kph. This is a one of a kind SSK and one of the rarest cars in the collection.
1938 ALFA ROMEO 8C 2900B MILLE MIGLIA The first of four cars to contest, the 1938 Mille Miglia was raced and stayed with the factory until WWII started. There are rumors it was hidden inside a cheese factory until coming to the USA after the war. The car was raced quite frequently until the late 1950s at several locations including Pebble Beach. The most famous previous owner was Phil Hill, the late Grand Prix Champion. Fitted with twin superchargers, the 2.9 liter straight 8 engine developed 220bhp and had a four speed rear transaxle with independent rear suspension. Chassis 412030, with a spider body by Carozzeria Touring and now restored in its original Italian Racing Red, is the quintessential style that defines the 8C series.
1938 ALFA ROMEO 8C 2900B MILLE MIGLIA The first of four cars to contest, the 1938 Mille Miglia was raced and stayed with the factory until WWII started. There are rumors it was hidden inside a cheese factory until coming to the USA after the war. The car was raced quite frequently until the late 1950s at several locations including Pebble Beach. The most famous previous owner was Phil Hill, the late Grand Prix Champion. Fitted with twin superchargers, the 2.9 liter straight 8 engine developed 220bhp and had a four speed rear transaxle with independent rear suspension. Chassis 412030, with a spider body by Carozzeria Touring and now restored in its original Italian Racing Red, is the quintessential style that defines the 8C series.
1938 BUGATTI TYPE 57SC ATLANTIC “ELECTRON” COUPE Another one of the rare cars in the collection, the “Electron” Coupe sports a hand formed avional (aluminum alloy) body. The prototype Type 57 Electron Aerolithe made its debut at the 1935 Paris Motor Show and was made from electron, a magnesium alloy. This was to lighten the weight. Because welding would cause a fire, the entire car was riveted together; hence, the spine that runs along the center of the car. A straight 8-cylinder, 3.25 liter 210bhp supercharged engine powers this striking automobile capable of reaching speeds well over 200kph. Only three examples were made.
1938 BUGATTI TYPE 57SC ATLANTIC “ELECTRON” COUPE Another one of the rare cars in the collection, the “Electron” Coupe sports a hand formed avional (aluminum alloy) body. The prototype Type 57 Electron Aerolithe made its debut at the 1935 Paris Motor Show and was made from electron, a magnesium alloy. This was to lighten the weight. Because welding would cause a fire, the entire car was riveted together; hence, the spine that runs along the center of the car. A straight 8-cylinder, 3.25 liter 210bhp supercharged engine powers this striking automobile capable of reaching speeds well over 200kph. Only three examples were made.
1955 MERCEDES BENZ 300SL Back in the early fifties when things started to settle down in Europe, all manufacturers were keen on going back to racing. Mercedes Benz was not to be left out. Wanting to continue their glories from before WWII, they set out to modernize and build their racing team. Thus, they created a racing coupe with lightweight chrome molybdenum tube frame chassis and aluminum alloy body. The car won many races, and soon a road going version was offered to the public. This version sported “Gullwing” doors as the chassis necessitated a high sill making the use of ordinary doors impossible. Fitted with the first production mechanical fuel injection system the 300SL’s 3 liter straight six produced 225hp capable of reaching 160mph. It was a technical tour de force of the time, and a supercar of the period.
1955 MERCEDES BENZ 300SL Back in the early fifties when things started to settle down in Europe, all manufacturers were keen on going back to racing. Mercedes Benz was not to be left out. Wanting to continue their glories from before WWII, they set out to modernize and build their racing team. Thus, they created a racing coupe with lightweight chrome molybdenum tube frame chassis and aluminum alloy body. The car won many races, and soon a road going version was offered to the public. This version sported “Gullwing” doors as the chassis necessitated a high sill making the use of ordinary doors impossible. Fitted with the first production mechanical fuel injection system the 300SL’s 3 liter straight six produced 225hp capable of reaching 160mph. It was a technical tour de force of the time, and a supercar of the period.
1962 FERRARI 250 GTO Quite possibly the most precious and highly desirable car of Ralph Lauren’s collection is this Ferrari. One would think the Bugatti Type 57 SC Atlantic Coupe with only three examples would be at the top, but it doesn’t have the passion and racing heritage of a GTO. Although 39 examples were made, most if not all were raced as that was the primary purpose of the car. A single overhead cam 24 valve 3 liter engine with 302bhp and a maximum speed of 280kph in a light weight body made the GTO a successful race car winning many races from 1962 to 1964. Just the sound of the Ferrari engine with its 6 Weber 38 DCN carburetors sucking in air and the resulting exhaust note is music to any Ferrari fan. The aluminum body with the “kamm” tail was designed by both Giotto Bizzarrini and Scaglietti. It remains today one of the sexiest looking sports cars ever produced. Ralph Lauren’s GTO is the 26th out of the 36 series I cars and is truly a star among stars in his collection.
1962 FERRARI 250 GTO Quite possibly the most precious and highly desirable car of Ralph Lauren’s collection is this Ferrari. One would think the Bugatti Type 57 SC Atlantic Coupe with only three examples would be at the top, but it doesn’t have the passion and racing heritage of a GTO. Although 39 examples were made, most if not all were raced as that was the primary purpose of the car. A single overhead cam 24 valve 3 liter engine with 302bhp and a maximum speed of 280kph in a light weight body made the GTO a successful race car winning many races from 1962 to 1964. Just the sound of the Ferrari engine with its 6 Weber 38 DCN carburetors sucking in air and the resulting exhaust note is music to any Ferrari fan. The aluminum body with the “kamm” tail was designed by both Giotto Bizzarrini and Scaglietti. It remains today one of the sexiest looking sports cars ever produced. Ralph Lauren’s GTO is the 26th out of the 36 series I cars and is truly a star among stars in his collection.
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