BMW displays Calder art car, racers and classics at Amelia Island

The first BMW art car -- a 1975 3.0 CSL wearing a paint job designed by Alexander Calder -- headlined a class of significant cars from the German automaker at the 2014 Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance. It was joined by a BMW M-powered McLaren F1 GTR, a first-generation 320i, winners of the 1975 12 Hours of Sebring, a BMW 320 Turbo race car, and the first BMW convertible.

The Calder art car is the first in a series that has spanned more than 40 years of Roundel history. The series began when French driver and art aficionado Herve Poulain and BMW Motorsport director Jochen Neerpasch asked Calder to add his creative touch to a BMW. He came up with the unique livery seen on the CSL, which competed in the 1975 24 Hours of Le Mans. A few more 3-series Art Cars followed, followed by Andy Warhol's interpretation of the BMW M1. Artists including Ken Done, C

By Jake Lingeman