FRANK STELLA, Art Car: Limited Edition BMW Minichamps of Frank Stella's 1976 Le Mans The Graph Car, Scale 1:18, 3.0 CSL No.21, 2004

FRANK STELLA, American, b. 1936

Die-cut metals, mixed media art car automobile design elements

5 x 12 x 8 inches

Engraved on the plate on the front of the automobile by artist F. Stella '76. This model comes housed in a plexiglass display box in the original red BMW presentation packaging. (shown)

Edition 3000

Foundry: Frank Stella for BMW

For the art loving automobile collector -- or for the car loving art collector - the perfect gift!

In 1976, Frank Stella was commissioned by BMW to create the Art Car. The artist was a passionate motor racing fan, so he was determined to create a stunning and innovative design for the BMW 3.0 CSL coupe. The result was his legendary "Graph Car." According to the company's website: "During his BMW Art Car conception, the American artist switched gears from his usual random style of painting and sought inspiration for the vehicle's technical aura. The result: a black and white square quid with an evenness and precision reminiscent of oversized graph paper. Within this grid, pattern-like, dotted lines run across the bodywork, suggesting that Stella may have wished to cut out the car and reassemble it in a new shape. The grid pattern - a feature of both Stella's earlier and later creative periods - is often used by him as a kind of stage upon which a painted drama takes place."

The BMW Art Cars series began in 1975 when the company commissioned Alexander Calder to paint a car for his friend Herve Poulain, auctioneer and driver in the 24-hour race at Le Mans. There are only 18 BMW Art Cars in existence, created by artists hand-selected by BMW including: Alexander Calder, David Hockney, Jenny Holzer, A.R. Penck, Jeff Koons, Roy Lichtenstein, Robert Rauschenberg, and Andy Warhol.

However, in 2004, as a special promotion, BMW decided to produce three of the Art Cars, including Frank Stella's celebrated "Graph Car" as a collectible miniature, in a limited edition of only 3000. (The other two chosen for this special edition were Sandro Chia and A.R. Penck.) These BMW Art Car Miniatures were created on a scale of 1:18, boasting a wealth of details and a level of manufacturing precision that matches the originals. Every artistic aspect of Frank Stella's original Graph Car has been captured in order to create perfect pieces of art in miniature. The edition quickly sold out.

However, it was Frank Stella's designs for the Art Car that have gained the most media attention in recent years. Stella's 1979 M1 Procar (a different model than this) was the only Art Car created for a private individual with BMW's blessing. It was later donated to the Guggenheim museum, which auctioned the car off at Bonham's in 2011 for a whopping $854,000.

This Frank Stella Miniature Art Car - the Le Mans The Graph Car Minichamps is new and comes with an acrylic display case in the original red box.

Makes a distinctive and memorable gift! Comes in the original packaging; the box is in vintage condition with agewear but the car inside is fine!