After making the pitch to the big wigs at BMW, it's a wonder if Herve Poulain ever fully realized how grand the Art Car Project would become. His vision, a series of BMW cars painted by commissioned world-class artists, was a unique take at blending automobiles with the arts. As both an art aficionado and and a racecar driver, it could be suggested that Poulain understood the importance of his undertaking, but now, 40 years later, BMW's Art Car collection stands as one of the most eclectic, remarkable, and incomparable collections of art in the world, and it all began with the work of Alexander Calder. The CSL is not only one of Calder's more unique pieces: it was also one of his last. In the same year of the car's unveiling, Alexander Calder passed away unexpectedly, leaving behind an equally unforeseen legacy. His art, of course, will forever be remembered as the work of perhaps the most innovative sculptor of the 20th century. However, the legacy of the Art Car was entirely unbeknownst to him. We made 100 of these and each are individually numbered!
