[10
JAN 01] MUSEUM
OF BRITISH ROAD TRANSPORT NEWS
Curves Aplenty As Icons Take Centre Stage
Icons
from the history of car design have gone on show in a new exhibition
at the Museum of British Road Transport in Coventry.
The
way in which ideas for new cars are developed, tested and put into
production are all on show at the display in Hale Street.
CARS IN THE NEW
EXHIBITION: A 1991 CONCEPT CAR CALLED 'HOT DOG' AND A 1933 SS1
Visitors
can get a glimpse of the though process behind some of the most
famously-styled cars of recent years, with carbon fibre versions of
the Jaguar XK8 and S-Type.
At
first glance both seem to be identical to the cars that are sold in
the showroom. But close inspection reveals that they are a slightly
different shape from the finished product.
The
permanent exhibition has grouped together different sorts of cars,
such as touring cars, and shows how ideas in car design have developed
through the ages.
A
Jaguar E-type steals the show on a rotating pedestal.
THE JAGUAR E-TYPE
There
is the chance for people to design their own vehicle using computers
and magnetic strips.
Everyday
items from similar periods to some of the cars have also brought in to
try and encourage people to think of the way that everything around
has gone through a similar process.
Museum
curator Steve Bagley said the aim had been to open up and brighten up
the area.
He
said:
“Before
it looked like a car park and
there were chains preventing people from getting close to the cars.
It was much more formal.
“In
here we have broken it up and improved the lighting.
“We’ve
contextualised it so it’s as much about social history as about
cars.”
Money
for the exhibition, which was opened by the Lord Mayor llr Sheila
Collins, became available after the museum was designated as one of
the most important collections in the country.
And
it doesn’t just look at the past, with an area being dedicated to
images of the future by automotive design students from Coventry
University’s renowned course.
Drawings,
clay models and final project pieces are all on show in an exhibition
space that is bigger and more public than anything the university can
offer its students.
Principal
lecturer John Owen said the models would be changed each time a course
ended, with the best from that intake seeing their ideas going on
display.
He
said it would be an extra incentive to the students and would help
showcase the talent at the university.
He
said:
“The
course has been going for 20 years now and we are starting to get
some of our people in as studio directors.
“A
lot of the car companies come to our end of year show to see if they
can sign anyone up, but this display space will help raise the
profile of the department further.
“We
have got much better facilities since moving to the old Odeon, and
it is helping the students produce better work.”
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