jade_gurss's avatar
Author:
Jade Gurss
Login For More
Rate this article:
  • 0/5 Stars
  • Related Photos
  • Related Videos
SPEEDtv.com Store
DVD: David Jefferies Story
The David Jefferies Story is a reminder of the much loved and much missed Yorkshireman.
Our Price: $24.95
Visit Button
Buy Button
Man-Made Thunder
The book examines the sport of stock car racing through the eyes and ears of the men behind the wheel and the wrenches.
Our Price: $49.00
Visit Button
Buy Button
Unisex Sandwich Cap
Unisex Velcro back hat with SPEED logo on front. PINKS logo embroidered on left and PAO logo on right. One size fits all.
Our Price: $24.95
Visit Button
Buy Button
Speedway T-shirt
Men's 6 oz. 100% Cotton Jersey Short Sleeve Tee. SPEED logo imprinted on the front center chest.
Our Price: $24.99
Visit Button
Buy Button
Ferrari Red Classic Hat
100% cotton twill. Ferrari shield embroidered on front, piping on the peak and Ferrari logo embroidered on back strap adjuster.
Our Price: $30.00 ($27.00 Member)
Visit Button
Buy Button
Footer Bg
  • Zoom More Photos Button
  • Camera Icon
GURSS: Automotive Museums
Written by: Jade Gurss   
03/17/2009
Mooresville, NC
 
Faster. Louder. The weekly column on SPEEDtv.com by Jade Gurss. (Harold Hinson Photo) ยป More Photos

In an off-week for NASCAR and while many wait anxiously for the start of the open wheel racing season (plus many local tracks across the land begin to gear-up for their seasons), 1950s Indy roadsters turned laps at Daytona while SPEEDtv.com carried a feature about some of the Mercedes-Benz Formula One cars on display at the Mercedes museum in Stuttgart. The Silver Arrows (Read: ‘Silver Arrows’ Ruled Grand Prix) are brilliant works of craftsmanship – and are a small part of the extensive collection on display at the world-class museum.

Nearby, Porsche has recently opened a new museum in the Zuffenhauen area of Stuttgart, and based on the few photos I’ve seen, it’s also a stunning work of architecture designed to enhance and surround the sparkling pieces of automotive art inside. In the United States, none of the automakers have comparable shrines to their history. In these economic times, now is not the time to build one, but a well-crafted
museum can enhance a brand’s story in many ways.

What should a good museum achieve? It is much more than static displays of machinery. Like good publicity, it should tell a compelling story of the history of a company and enhance and build its current image. Few do a better job of history telling as Mercedes-Benz. The brand image is infused with the legend and qualities of a past that includes some of the first-ever automobiles as well as a performance and racing heritage that dates back nearly as long.

The German automakers integrate their racing designs and heritage into the displays – race cars alongside street cars - which is much different to the American approach. For example, if you visit the Henry Ford Museum, you’ll find interesting displays but if you’re interested in racing cars, you have to look hard. I was saddened to find Jim Clark's Indianapolis 500-winning Lotus/Ford-Cosworth and Bill Elliott’s million-dollar-winning Coors Thunderbird tucked away like an afterthought in a dark and dusty corner of the museum.


Page 1 of 2
Next Page »
1 2 >
View All Comments