Have you ever pondered that the road is, in its own distinct manner, an art gallery, brimming with ancient artifacts, remnants of people’s lives, and technological progress? Imagine every passing car as an initial concept, in its clay form, existing long before becoming a fusion of steel, carbon fiber, and glass; essentially a sculpture, merely an idea?
What often eludes us as consumers, and even as aficionados, is that automobiles are essentially artworks. Practical art, undoubtedly, but still a union of effective engineering and aesthetic elegance. We all know that one person who says, “I’m only concerned with getting from point A to point B,” a statement that typically makes us car enthusiasts cringe because contemporary cars offer so much more.
However, the vintage vehicles lack the modern technological wizardry, they compensate with remarkable elegance and allure. They serve as the cornerstone of present-day automobiles; the experiments and successes of automotive evolution.
RM Sotheby’s
Consider, for instance, the Alfa Romeo B.A.T. 5, 7 & 9 vehicles from the mid-1950s. While these are prototypes never designated for mass production, they were roadworthy, a distinguishing feature compared to most contemporary concept cars. These vehicles were crafted to explore the fusion of aerodynamic aesthetics with functional efficiency using standard engines of that era.
And now, they are available for purchase, provided you have a few million dollars ready to burn a hole in your pocket. RM Sotheby’s is hosting the auction at the Contemporary Art Evening Auction in New York towards the month’s end. They are being auctioned as a single lot, as it’s only fitting. The lot also includes some noteworthy non-automobile items:
An unparalleled opportunity, B.A.T. 5, 7, & 9, will be sold as a single lot and displayed alongside features such as a Mark Rothko painting from 1958, masterpieces by Clyfford Still and Brice Marden from the Baltimore Museum of Art, as well as a stunning Robert Ryman painting from 1980 that has been part of the Crex Collection since its purchase from Konrad Fischer.
The years 1953, 1954, and 1955 saw the introduction of BAT 5, 7, and 9. These automobiles were crafted by Carrozzeria Bertone in Turin, Italy, under the creative influence of Nuccio Bertone and Franco Scaglione. Thus, the acronym BAT stands for Berlina Aerodinamica Tecnica, representing a significant step in technological advancements and eventually leading to the production of the Alfa Romeo Sprint Speciale in 1959. Despite their age, these concepts remain truly iconic.
I have previously argued that owning a car means owning a piece of art. These three magnificent Alfa Romeo concepts from the 1950s are indeed masterpieces. Anyone willing to lend me a few million dollars? I promise to repay!
RM Sotheby’s