Vintage Moves To Los Angeles…
If you answered yes to both, then you can paste a smile on your face. Yes, 4 of the Woods Co. rare gas-electric cars will move to L.A.
Los Angeles Daily News reports:
The Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to take control of the Woods Dual Power Coupe and 67 other classic or historic cars and motorcycles, ending a 35-year agreement with the Petersen Automotive Museum. The county had loaned the cars and motorcycles to the museum seven years ago when the entities split, but a space shortage at the museum and a dispute over what to do with the vehicles drew growing concern. Under the new deal, the vehicles are expected to be returned to the county to be displayed at a new, leased facility.
Under the agreement, Petersen will retain 7 of the vehicles for display, including Los Angeles’ oldest surviving car, the Breer, dating from 1900. It also will keep a 1920s replica of the Anthony - Los Angeles’ second-oldest car, made in 1897.
The vote to return the cars to the Natural History Museum comes as it’s planning to open new galleries, including one focusing on environmental stewardship.
The Natural History Museum, which is undergoing an extensive renovation, expects to put some of the vintage cars on display, lend some to other museums in Southern California and sell a good number.
"We thought hybrids were new, but they aren’t," said Tony Bell, spokesman for county Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich, who has been working to find a new facility where some of the vehicles can be restored. "We have the first electric car back in the (early 1900s). We really want people to enjoy them, especially the cars from bygone eras, and see how cars have evolved over time from a car with a parasol to electric cars to even nuclear cars."
One of the stunners is the Woods Power Dual Coupe. Another sensation came from the maker of the BMW Z3 radiator. The Raymond Loewy BMW is a very low, sporty coupe made in 1957. Loewy, the man behind the masterpiece, is famed for designing the Coca-Cola bottle and the Greyhound bus and logos for Shell, Exxon and Nabisco.
Also included in the parade of vintage masterpieces is the Duesenberg, a classic luxury car which was designed and manufactured in Pasadena.
