Have you ever looked at cars as works of art? At the Château de Compiègne, they are enthroned, majestic, in the middle of the immense and sumptuous rooms of this former residence of kings and emperors for the exhibition “Concept Car, pure beauty”, until March 23, 2020. Some have been driven. Some engines have roared. But none has ever been marketed. In the concept car, ephemeral and often unique exemplary object, it is the aesthetics that we seek above all. Or performance, speed. Here, around thirty cars from the end of the 19th century to the 1960s are on display. They are beautiful, often eccentric, always daring.
It starts with the Jamais contente, treasure of the automobile museum installed in the palace. This missile-shaped car was the first to exceed 10 km / h on April 29, 1899. We also discover the astonishing egg, with a rounded shape, imagined in 1942, reminiscent of the Smart we know today 'hui. We open our eyes wide in front of the Vespa and Lambretta motorcycles, rival firms for speed records in 125 cc, with tapered shapes, where the pilot slipped, to the helmet. The incredible Vauxhall SRV, a MG designed by Pininfarina or the astonishing Leyat Helica Sport will seduce visitors who are already knowledgeable. But maybe less the general public. For a first visit, the beautiful automobile museum is a little-known jewel that has rare and surprising collections.
Concept car, pure beauty. Until March 23, 2020 at the National Car Museum, Château de Compiègne. From € 7.50 to € 9.50. Open every day except Tuesday. chateaudecompiegne.fr