News

First Entries Confirmed for Trailblazing Cars of the World Display

15 June 2015

Coventry Transport Museum has named the Ferrari F40, Porsche 911, original Range Rover and Jaguar C-type as the first entries in a special Trailblazing Cars of the World display, as part of the museum’s re-launch celebrations on Saturday 20 June 2015.

The Ferrari F40 was the first road-legal production car to break the 200mph barrier, while the Porsche 911 has been in production since 1963, making it one of the Cars of the Century and one of only two cars in history to have remained in continuous production for more than 50 years. The Jaguar C-type, built from 1951 to 1953 pioneered the use of disc brakes, first used in the 1952 Le Mans 24-hour race, which the car won. Disc brakes went on to replace the traditional drum brakes on almost all new cars produced, saving countless lives and winning races all over the world with the same basic concept as pioneered on the C-type still being used today. The original Range Rover of 1970 established a whole new sector of all-terrain vehicle for Europe, and remains in production today as the pinnacle of luxury SUVs the world over.

The Trailblazing Cars of the World display will showcase a line up of these and many other of the most pioneering and iconic cars of the past 70 years, and is open to the public as a free live show from 1pm on Saturday 20th June 2015 on Millennium Place outside the Museum. Visitors will also be able to enjoy live-action stunts from Terry Grant, who holds over 20 World Records and is known as one of the greatest performers in the industry.

The red carpet will be rolled out to celebrate the unique Car Catwalk, presented by petrolhead duo Harry Metcalfe, EVO magazine and Harry’s Garage founder, and television presenter Amanda Stretton.

Culture Coventry chief executive Gary Hall says: “The Trailblazing Cars of the World line-up is one of the highlights of the re-launch celebrations following the Museum’s £9.5m Redevelopment. We’ve been really excited to be able to name just some of the cars that will be on display – many of which were made here in Coventry.

“Saturday should be a fantastic day with stunts from Terry Grant right here in the square and the Trailblazing Cars of the World catwalk – and best of all, it’s free! We want to see as many faces as possible – old and new – to celebrate Coventry’s rich transport heritage on display both inside and outside the Museum.”

More information about the event.

Coventry Transport Museum’s redevelopment project is funded by the European Regional Development
Fund, Heritage Lottery Fund, Garfield Weston, as well as Biffa Award and WREN via the Landfill Communities Fund, and Arts Council England.

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