Mid-Engine Porsche Perfection is Focus of New Petersen Exhibit
Opening July 25, ‘Uncompromised Design’ will showcase iconic mid-engine Porsches, including 1955 550 Spyder and 2015 918 Hybrid.
The Petersen Automotive Museum will open a new exhibit featuring a selection of historic mid-engine cars from Porsche spanning the length of the brand’s 70-year history. Scheduled to open on July 25, “Uncompromised Design” will showcase the evolution of Porsche’s roadgoing and race models that continue to advance the pursuit of ultimate performance.
Highlights of the exhibit will include a 1955 Porsche 550 Spyder, the first production Porsche designed specifically for racing and the first with a mid-mounted engine. Three examples of the 550 Spyder finished first, second and third in their class at the 1955 24 Hours of Le Mans. Other highlights include a 2015 Porsche 918 Hybrid hypercar, which was the first production car ever to lap the iconic Nurburgring race circuit in Germany in under seven minutes, and a 1971 Porsche 914-6 which holds the distinction of being Porsche’s first regularly available mid-engine production model.
‘These cars helped to push back the boundaries of automotive performance, and we can’t wait to share their story with the public.’
The Petersen will host an opening reception for “Uncompromised Design” on July 25. Ticket holders will be able to preview the exhibit and catch a special panel discussion featuring Porsche Design of America’s head of design, Steffen Gantz; Art Center College of Design’s head of transportation design, Stewart Reed; and Porsche exterior designer Grant Larson.
“’Uncompromised Design’ is a focused look into the legacy of Porsche’s most single-minded and advanced performance cars,” said Petersen Automotive Museum’s executive director, Terry L. Karges. “These cars helped to push back the boundaries of automotive performance, and we can’t wait to share their story with the public.”
“Uncompromised Design” will run through March 31, 2020.