Grosser Mercedes 770 – Hitler at Nuremberg in 1935 Twenty artifacts, twenty cars — how do you decide which is the most historically significant? This was the challenge of one of our classes in the Revs Program this term. We have considered the obvious criteria that might be applied — a car associated with an…
cars
automotive heritage – a summit meeting
This week I was in Washington DC for a meeting organized by the HVA (Historic Vehicle Association of America) [Link] with the Department of the Interior, National Parks Service. The purpose – to plan a new registry of historic vehicles. Why? To help promote awareness of automotive heritage in the United States. Go to the…
Enzo’s Alfa
Our class continues with its exploration of the nature of the historical significance of artifacts. Case study — cars. This evening Jon (Feiber) welcomed us to his wonderful collection to consider the cases of a 1914 Packard, a 1931 Alfa Romeo, and a 1960 Maserati. I couldn’t resist – here I am in the 1931…
historical significance
Does it matter – historically speaking? Just what does that mean? I am helping David Kelley, Jon Feiber, Reilly Brennan, Cliff Nass and our friends in the Revs Program with a class that is exploring the nature of historical significance. In d.school style we are asking the class to come up with the answers. Just…
speed
Cliff Nass and I have started our seminar – Cars: past, present, future. The project – automotive archaeology. This week – motor sports. Speed as zeitgeist. I am rereading Jeffrey Schnapp’s wonderful collection Speed Limits. Here is Marinetti – February 1909: We affirm that the magnificence of the world has been enriched by the advent…
connoisseurship of the car
I am back from an extraordinary symposium at Miles Collier’s Revs Institute in Florida, exploring the world of collectable cars at this end of an era. The engine note, the feedback through steering wheel from rubber tyre grip, the scent of warm motor oil, the conversation by the gas station on the road trip, will be history…
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