A line-up of British Beauties at a Demo Day
This Weekend: Plastic Prototype Demo Day & last call for AC Exhibit!
Join us as we celebrate with 4 titans of motorsports history - sports cars which are no longer for the road. This is scheduled to be an indoor event. Weather permitting, cars will run outside.
Featured Cars: Ford GT40 Mk II, Ford Mk IV, Porsche 917 Longtail, Alfa Romeo 33 TT 12.
Last call for Simeone Museum's AC Retrospective Exhibit!
Join us to see over 20 AC cars on display through March 12th!
AC Exhibit
The story of how a small British car manufacturer realized success through the inception of a three-wheel delivery vehicle in 1907 to the fire breathing, record breaking, 1964 Shelby Daytona Coupe. The Simeone Automotive Foundation Museum is proud to welcome this year’s, “Best of Britain” an “AC Cars Retrospective,” from February 18 to March 12, 2017 in support of the Foundation’s Teen Driver Awareness Program.
The incredible display of prewar and postwar AC’s is the largest collection of the marque ever presented in the US, and will feature the following prewar cars; a 1913 10hp Light Car, the first four-wheeled vehicle built by the company. A 1937 AC 16/80hp ‘Short Chassis’ Competition Sport.’ Only one of 40 produced the 16/80 enjoyed remarkable handling and 90mph maximum speed. And one of only three March Tourers produced from which the company attempted to break into the American market just before WWII.
The exhibit picks up again after the war with the company’s most exciting phase yet, as it joined the car crazy racing period of the 1950’s. On display, the Tojeiro designed and built Ace prototype, the AC factory racing team Le Mans car, AC Ace Bristols, and AC Cobras, including a car in the museum’s permanent collection, Carroll Shelby’s 1964 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe. The car that set 23 speed and endurance records on the Bonneville Salt Flats in 1965. The exhibit concludes with the final model developed, and produced at Thames Ditton, the 3000ME.
The AC Cars Retrospective is sponsored by Sunoco, LBI Ltd., Ragtops & Roadsters and Passport Transport.
Simeone Museum Receives a Landmark Gift
An iconic 1907 Renault Racing Roadster joins our permanent collection
The Simeone Museum received a landmark gift – an iconic 1907 Renault Racing Roadster finds a permanent home through the kindness of its owner for the past nine decades. The story of this wonderful gift requires a bit of explanation, which we proudly reiterate.
Serious automobile road racing started in France with major races throughout the country, usually long distances, such as the 1905 Paris-Madrid. The first race ever to be called a Grand Prix, was held in the Sarthe just outside of Le Mans. That contest was won by a fiercely powerful Renault in grand form, and this attracted international attention. About that time, millionaire William K Vanderbilt was deciding to start racing in America, and he implored Renault to sell him such a car. Considering the expenses of producing even a slightly scaled-down version, Renault insisted that 10 cars be made and it was up to Mr Vanderbilt to find buyers for the rest. This he handily did, calling upon his friends, the likes of Guggenheim, Paine, Whitney, Dodge, etc. All 10 (possibly 11) found a home and through the years they became scattered among subsequent owners, so that to this day only four and perhaps a fifth have survived.
Announcing our 2017 Demo Days Calendar
Featuring 16 Demo Days - many with a special surprise car!
For the 2017 season, the demonstration days will have a new format that will also present guest cars not previously seen here in action. Following the usual theme, a brief discussion of the importance of the vehicles being driven, their technical aesthetic and historical relevance explained, then a spirited drive around the track.
