Indiana Auto News – December - Keeping you up-to-date on auto happenings past and present

The Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum had such an overwhelming success with “The Art Frank Lloyd Wright and His Automobiles” exhibit that the John E. Christian Family Memorial Trust, Inc. has agreed to extend the exhibition through April 25, 2010.

The images presented in this exhibit, are reproductions of original drawings, now part of the Frank Lloyd Wright archives in Taliesin, Arizona. According to Bruce Brooks Pfeiffer, director of the archives, the very fragile nature of these documents, rendered mostly with graphite and colored pencils on tracing paper, places them in extreme jeopardy if exhibited or referenced too often. Thus, these reproductions, published in limited edition in three portfolios between 1977 and 1982, give us a rare opportunity to get a better sense of the complexity of Wright’s work.

This exhibit is a collaborative project between the West Lafayette Public Library and the John E. Christian Family Memorial Trust, Inc. The exhibit was created by John E. Christian, curator, and Linda Eales, associate curator of the John E. Christian House (SAMARA) in West Lafayette, Indiana. Dr. Christian is an original client and owner of SAMARA, a Usonian home designed by Wright in 1954. After 55 years, Christian continues to live in the home and manages the day-to-day operation of the property. The home has been open to the public for lectures, tours, demonstrations and discussions since 1988.

In addition to the 50 drawings in this exhibit, the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum exhibits two of Frank Lloyd Wright’s personal automobiles from its permanent collection. A 1929 Cord L-29 Cabriolet that Wright purchased in the 1950s is featured. In addition, a 1952 Crosley Super Roadster that Wright purchased new will also be presented during this special exhibit.

As we put the wraps on another year of experiencing Indiana automotive heritage, I would like to reminisce about some of the shows I attended this year.

It seems like everything automotive comes alive in May in Indianapolis. It was then that I attended Mecum’s Original Spring Classic Auction at the State Fairgrounds. The auction featured over 1,000 cars and 300 neon signs exhibited in five connected buildings. This had to have been one of the best offerings in muscle cars in the midwest. Everywhere you turned there was another outstanding example of these iconic autos.

Neon Signs with 1969 Chevrolet Chevelle SS396/375 L89

The 17th Annual Lincoln Highway Association Conference was held in South Bend, Indiana in June. Attendees took a day-trip to Indianapolis to visit the site of the birth of the Lincoln Highway. I enjoyed the seminar sessions on LHA tourism and surveying the Lincoln Highway for travel and preservation. After leaving the conference, I traveled across the eastern leg of the Lincoln Highway to the Ohio state line. Traveling the Lincoln gives you an idea of what auto travel was like in the early part of the 20th Century.

The Annual Carmel Artomobila show was in September. The organizers of this show did an outstanding job in their second year. Auburn, Cord, Cole, Marmon, and Studebaker autos represented Indiana-built offerings across many classes. One of my favorites was the candy apple red “Stoltz and Velasquez” 40’ Willys Coupe gas dragster from Marion, Indiana. This car was definitely a blast from my past attending the National Drags at Indianapolis Raceway Park in the mid 60’s.

“Stoltz and Velasquez” 40’ Willys Coupe

I can’t wait for the 2010 Indiana car show season to begin.