A First for LeMay America's Car Museum: Its 1927 LaSalle is Entered in Italy's Famed Mille Miglia, May 11-15

Harley Earle-designed car will also be on display when Tacoma, Wash. museum opens in May 2012

TACOMA, May 11, 2011: LeMay – America’s Car Museum (ACM) is going Italian.

For the first time, a vehicle – a 1927 LaSalle 303 Roadster – from the soon-to-open, four-story, 165,000-sq.-ft. Washington automotive museum, is entered in the Mille Miglia, the vintage car road rally that winds from Brescia, Italy to Rome and back. The Mille Miglia (which means “1,000 miles”), runs May 11-15.

“We purchased the Harley Earle-designed LaSalle in 2005 to participate in the Mille Miglia, one of the most prestigious automotive events in the world,” said Scot Keller, chief marketing & communications officer for ACM, which is slated to begin welcoming guests in May 2012. “It’s one of a handful of American cars that are Mille-eligible, so it’s quite an honor and privilege to participate in this historic event. This reinforces what we’re trying to do as a museum – to be deeply involved in the enthusiast community.” According to Keller, the blue, two-toned LaSalle is a veteran of two Pebble Beach Motoring Classics and was displayed at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance and the New York Auto Show. It’s also been worked on by noted American car aficionado Nicola Bulgari, the jewelry heir (Bulgari watches, etc.) and international businessman who’s also an ACM board member.

“Nicola graciously supported the project by prepping the car at his shop in Allentown, PA,” said Keller. “Nicola is an avid American car collector and enthusiast. He’s really passionate about this project.”

Driving the V8-powered LaSalle in the 1,000-mile Italian trek, which crosses seven regions – Lombardy, Veneto, Emilia Romagna, the Marches, Umbria, Lazio and Tuscany – will be Keith Flickinger, owner of Precision Motor Cars and a member of the ACM steering and collection committees. “Keith’s company manages Nicola’s car collection in the U.S.,” said Keller. “He’ll handle the LaSalle beautifully during the one thousand miles of the Mille Miglia.” Keller said the LaSalle shares a history with the Mille Miglia, which originally began as an open-road endurance race. “The Mille Miglia started in 1927, same year as the ACM LaSalle. It’s fitting they selected the LaSalle to be in the event, which is now a world-class road rally that attracts some of the world’s most magnificent cars.”

About LeMay – America’s Car Museum

LeMay – America’s Car Museum in Tacoma, Wash., explores how the automobile has fulfilled a distinctive role at the core of the American experience and shaped our society. The spacious Museum with rotating exhibits is designed to be the centerpiece for automotive history as well as an educational center and library. The campus also contains a 3.5-acre show field, theatre, café, banquet hall and meeting facilities. To become an ACM member, volunteer or make a donation, visit www.lemaymuseum.org.