A Cocktail of Automobile History, from NASCAR to Monaco via Paris and Beijing
29 June 1999
The Louis Vuitton Classic at Rockefeller Center- September 24-26, 1999; A Fabulous Cocktail of Automobile History, from NASCAR to Monaco via Paris and Beijing
NEW YORK--June 28, 1999--In the fall of 1999, fifty fabulous automobiles, exceptional in design, performance, beauty and history will again grace the heart of Manhattan.In the four years since the inaugural event, The Louis Vuitton Classic has been eagerly awaited by more than two million New Yorkers. The Classic offers automobile enthusiasts from all over the world the opportunity -- free of charge -- to view some of the world's rarest automobiles. The massive scale of The Louis Vuitton Classic at Rockefeller Center is unparalleled anywhere on the globe, and this year promises to be the most interesting and exciting ever.
For the first time, The Classic will feature six cars from NASCAR, celebrating five decades of stock car racing with cars driven by legends like Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt, David Pearson, and Bill Elliot. Another five decades of motoring history will be featured in the "Magic of Monaco" class, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the accession of Prince Rainier with cars from two great Monegasque motoring spectaculars - The Monaco Grand Prix and The Monte Carlo Rally.
A group of extraordinary high-speed closed cars from the 1930's will feature six of the most elegant and powerful automobiles on the planet. "American Icons" will, like "Wild, Wild Horses" in 1998, assemble a most unusual group of quintessential American vehicles ranging from the Pearson Brothers Coupe, to the legendary "Silver Bullet" that electrified the streets of Detroit, to the unrestored new 1941 Jeep. The Chevrolet built especially for five-time world champion Fangio will also appear.
Coinciding with the return of Formula One Grand Prix Racing to America, the Channel Gardens on Fifth Avenue will feature four Grand Prix designs, including a Ferrari from the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
Perhaps the most interesting car for many New Yorkers will be the 1907 Thomas Flyer that won the race from New York to Paris, by way of Beijing, China in 1908. It will appear in the "Dawn of Motoring" class.
The Louis Vuitton Classic will be open to the public on Friday, September 24th. The Awards ceremony and parade of cars will take place on Sunday, September 26th.
For more information contact Nadine Johnson @ 212-228-5555 Or e-mail NadJohnInc@aol.com