skip to content
Driving Line Mark Logo

2016 ArtCenter Car Classic [Gallery]

One of the most eclectic car gatherings you can attend isn’t on a coastal golf course or auction lot. The best automotive gathering you probably haven't heard of can actually be found in the hills of a Southern California suburb, on the campus of a design school.

artcenter car classic 1

The ArtCenter College of Design is one of the world’s leading schools for automotive design, and every year, ArtCenter hosts their Car Classic – an annual car show held on campus featuring a variety of makes and models from the early 20th century to the present.

artcenter car classic 3

Each year, the show’s theme changes. This year’s theme was “Built by Hand,” featuring hand-built creations, including race cars, restorations, concept cars, custom cars and all the way to mass-produced, hand built cars.

artcenter car classic 2

Where else would you be able to find a Ferrari 250 Testaraossa Tribute, Hot Wheels’ Star Wars X-Wing Fighter Carship, Datsun 510, 1916 LaBestoni, Porsche 911-powered VW Vanagon and a Pagani Huayra parked just a few feet apart from each other?

artcenter car classic 4

The body panels of this Falconer Dodici Roadster do not feature a single weld.

artcenter car classic 5

Check out these riveted fenders (and no, they are not Rocket Bunny).

artcenter car classic 13

Hot Wheels has always helped turned dreams into reality. For San Diego Comic-Con, they recently built this full sized version of their 1:64 scale X-Wing Fighter Carship.

artcenter car classic 10

Under the skin it’s a Formula Ford race car with pushrod-actuated suspension. The 2.0 liter Ford Racing motor won’t get you to the Death Star, but it will get you up to 160 mph. And no, the laser cannons don’t work.

artcenter car classic 11

There is a lot more Porsche to this Vanagon than just the badges. Porsche actually made a handful of these vans called the B32, which featured a 3.2-liter flat-6.

artcenter car classic 9

This particular van is powered by a 3.6 liter flat-6 from a 993 911.

artcenter car classic 6

This Vanagon has a 3.6 from a 993 911, and according to the owner, it can reach up to 145 mph, and it has at several racetracks across California. Good thing it has 6-piston Porsche brakes to slow this brick down.

artcenter car classic 7

Check out the gallery above for more from the 2016 ArtCenter Car Classic.

Return to beginning of article

Loading ...