Check Out The 12 Coolest Exotic Cars from the ‘Art Basel of Automobiles’

Which is your favorite?

Dan Carney

Sep 8, 2018

Cisitalia__Rene__Staud_2 — 1947 Cisitalia 202 SC

Touting itself as ‘the ultimate global show for automotive masterpieces,’ Grand Basel is the four-wheeled equivalent to the famous Art Basel show, with the cars exhibited in boxes that are meant to be the 3D analog to the frames surrounding paintings.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYL6IHRqqbw

The art inherent in such designs prompts actor and noted automotive enthusiast Idris Elba to ask “How is this not art?” when behind the wheel of one of the classics for the Grand Basel video.

Lamborghini_Miura__Paul_Hammer_1 — 1968 Lamborghini Miura

The Basel, Switzerland gathering of 113 artistically significant cars is dubbed Celebrating Excellence in Motion and marks the launch of a world tour of the collection, which features a special exhibit of the work of Italian designer Giorgetto Giugiaro.

GBB 2018-Maserati_Ghibli_Spyder-©Grand Basel — 1969 Maserati Ghibli Spyder. ‘Designer of the century’ Giorgetto Giugiaro named this his greatest creation.

He is the ‘car designer of the century,’ behind iconic vehicles like the DeLorean, Lotus Esprit, Maserati Merak, DeTomaso Mangusta, Maserati Ghibli and the IsoRivolta Grifo.

Porsche__Paolo_Carlini_4 — 1956 Porsche 550 1500 RS Spyder

Giugiaro was a proponent of the 1970s ‘creased-and-folded’ design theme, beginning with his Volkswagen Golf and Scirocco, before expanding the theme to supercars like the BMW M1.

Pegaso__Dan_Savinelli_6 — 1954 Pegaso Z-102 Series II Saoutchik Cabriolet

The cars selected for the main Grand Basel exhibition are special because they represent a limited number of top-of-the-range automobiles – not just the most dignified and luxurious classic cars, but also one-off contemporary editions and technically-advanced concept cars.

GBB 2018-BMW_M1_R-©Grand Basel — 1981 BMW M1 R. This race edition was twin-turbocharged to boost power from the original 277 horsepower to more than 1,000 hp.

Selection criteria include each car’s cultural meaning, conceptual innovation, condition, provenance, rarity and value.

GBB 2018-IsoRivolta_Grifo-©Grand Basel — 1969 IsoRivolta Grifo. It is considered a classic grand touring car, with four comfortable seats and small block V8 power borrowed from the Corvette.

“Grand Basel presents international connoisseurs, experts and collectors with the epitome of automotive culture,” explained Grand Basel global director, Mark Backé.

GBB 2018-Corvair_Testudo-©Grand Basel — 1968 Corvair Testudo. This Giugiaro design debuted in 1963, pioneering exposed pop-up headlights two years before the Lamborghini Miura. The rear-engine, air-cooled flat six-cylinder engine Chevrolet Corvair-based chassis was meant to compete with the Porsche 911.

“It will appeal to a broad enthusiast audience interested in automobile aesthetics, technological sophistication, art and culture,” he added.

GBB 2018-GFG_Style_Sibylla_GG80-©Grand Basel — 2018 CFG Style Sibylla GG80. This is an electric concept car *Giugiaro debuted at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show.*

Grand Basel’s advisory board includes Garage Italia founder Lapo Elkann, who also backs the Maxim-supported Squadra Corse Garage Italia Americas Ferrari racing team that just won the World Challenge GT Sprint X Amateur class championship.