Legends of Speed

Photos and article by Kurt Halvorson

The Phoenix Art Museum is currently hosting, (through March 10th), an exhibit of prominent racing cars, including turn of the (20th) century cars up through the 1970s.  Access is managed through a time stamp on your ticket, so a limited number of people are in the exhibit at any point in time.  That said, there is no limit on the amount of time you can spend looking, which was a good thing, as we spent nearly two hours enjoying the roughly 22 cars on display.

Cars included in the display were the following: Franklin (circa 1905), 1913 Duesenberg, 1961 Offenhauser, 1956 Maserati 250F, 1964 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe, 1960 Maserati Tipo 61 “Birdcage”, Mark Donahue’s 1973 Porsche 917/30, 1927 Bugatti Type 35B, 1957 Maserati 450S, 1957 Ferrari 315 S Scaglietti Spyder, 1953 Lancia D24 Spyder, 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO, 1952 Mercedes 300 SL, 1953 Jaguar C-Type, 1958 Scarab Mk1, 1929 Bentley, LeMans winning 1968 Ford GT40, 1927 Miller 91, 1967 Gurney Eagle F1, 1965 Lotus-Ford Type 38, 1934 Alfa Romeo Tipo B P3, and a 1978 Lotus 79.

There were various posters of tire manufacturers from the early 20th Century on framed display as well.  The posters were from the Discount Tire collection, and the exhibit was sponsored by them, as their headquarters are in Scottsdale.