LOS ANGELES – The Fast/Forward: Strother MacMinn’s Sports Cars of the Future exhibit is now open at the Petersen Automotive Museum and will remain open through Sunday, February 25, 2024. The exhibition showcases a unique assortment of classic sports cars from the mid-century period, highlighting their innovative designs from the 1950s, as acknowledged by Strother MacMinn in his 1959 book Sports Cars of the Future.

The 1950s was an era of optimism and ingenuity. World War II was in the rearview mirror, the space race was ramping up, and people were eager to embrace the future. This included those in the automotive industry, which pushed the boundaries of technology, engineering and design, especially in the creation of imaginative sports car concepts.

American and European automakers partnered with coachbuilders such as Bertone, Pinin Farina, and Ghia to craft vehicles that were futuristic and chic. Some designs focused on cutting-edge silhouettes and jet-inspired styling, while others were essentially race cars for the road. These innovative and ultramodern designs were especially appreciated by Southern California car designer and educator Strother MacMinn who, in 1959, published a book highlighting what he dubbed the best “sports cars of the future.”

This installation presents some of the cars chosen by MacMinn to illustrate the most promising aspects of sports car design of the era. Today, they offer a glimpse at what we once believed the future might hold. They were revolutionary vehicles for a revolutionary age and served to inspire a reimagining of the function and meaning of the automobile.

Visitors to the exhibition will have the opportunity to closely examine select sports cars considered the epitome of design by MacMinn during the 1950s. Highlighted vehicles on display include the 1956 Ferrari 410 Superamerica by Ghia, the 1955 Chrysler Falcon by Ghia, the 1955 GMC LaSalle II Roadster, the 1955 Chrysler Ghia Gilda, the 1954 Alfa Romeo BAT 7 and a newly restored Le Mans Special coupe, one of the vehicles personally designed by MacMinn in collaboration with Road & Track magazine. As most of these cars were never mass-produced, they are exceedingly rare.

About Strother MacMinn
MacMinn studied under renowned designer Franklin Hershey, worked for GM’s German design division, and played a key role in establishing Toyota’s first design studio in Southern California. Although many of MacMinn’s personal designs were never realized, his prolific teaching career at the esteemed ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, California helped shape the automotive industry.

Visit the website of the Petersen Automotive Museum and see its dedicated page for Fast/Forward: Strother MacMinn’s Sports Cars of the Future.