LeMay Exhibit showcases 100 years of artful automotive luxury
The “Rare & Luxurious – 100 Years of Exceptional Automobiles” exhibition at LeMay-America’s Car Museum in Tacoma, Washington, is a showcase of extraordinary vehicles that embody a century of automotive luxury. The exhibit features a diverse collection of cars, including a 1917 Crane Simplex that could accommodate seven members of the Rockefeller family, a fully restored and customized 1950 Mercury limousine, and a 2024 Ferrari Daytona SP3 valued at millions of dollars.
Jake Welk, standing beside a 1930 Duesenberg Model J, describes these vehicles as “out of reach for the daily driver” but “extraordinary to appreciate and to look at.” The Duesenberg Model J, considered a pinnacle of Gatsby-era luxury, was sold without a body, allowing owners to commission coachbuilders to customize the vehicle according to their preferences. “The fabrication, the interior work, the upholstery was all done by hand,” Welk explained.
The exhibition also includes a 1939 Packard, showcasing high style with an analog clock on its dashboard. As visitors approach the large window overlooking Tacoma, the display transitions from luxury to performance, featuring exotic cars like the Shelby Daytona, built for racing. The Ferrari Daytona SP3, seen in a YouTube video being driven by the billionaire son of the company founder, is another example of the performance-oriented vehicles on display.
“To me, these cars are really like works of art,” Welk said, highlighting the artistry and historical significance of the automobiles on display. The “Rare and Luxurious: 100 Years of Exceptional Automobiles” exhibition will be at LeMay through November, with regular updates to the display. Visitors can expect to be surprised by the unique collection of vehicles.
The exhibition continues through November at LeMay-America’s Car Museum in Tacoma, offering a glimpse into the evolution of automotive luxury over the past century.
