It's History! A Hot Rod, Custom Car And Lowrider Receive National Honors In Washington

Experience the interactive Multimedia News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8080551-hva-2017-cars-at-the-capital/

Each vehicle will be exhibited in the HVA's beautifully illuminated glass display case on the walkway between the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum and National Gallery of Art. The exhibition will run from April 12 to May 4, 2017. The exhibition is free to the public. The display schedule is as follows:

April 12 – 19          Gypsy Rose  1964 Chevrolet Impala "lowrider"

April 20 – 26          McGee Roadster  1932 Ford V8 "hot rod"

April 27 – May 4    Hirohata Merc  1951 Mercury Coupe "radical custom"

"These cars are iconic examples from the early days of the hot rod, custom and lowrider movements," said Mark Gessler, President of the Historic Vehicle Association. "They are uniquely American and reflect the exceptional talent and unique cultures of the designers, artisans and mechanics that modified production cars for speed and style."

Gypsy Rose is a 1964 Chevrolet Impala designed to go "low and slow" when it cruised East LA in the 1970s. It was known as one of the most extravagantly painted lowriders of the period, landing it a spot in the opening credits of the 1970s sitcom "Chico and the Man" and on the cover of Lowrider Magazine in 1980. "You're only going to find certain iconic cars that are still around. That was one of them, and I think that was our foundation, our cornerstone of all lowriding," said Joe Ray, Editor of Lowrider Magazine.

The McGee Roadster is a hot rod based on a 1932 Ford V8 Roadster. It was built by Bob McGee, a soldier, who upon returning from the war, attended and played football for the University of Southern California. McGee raced the car on the dry lakebeds of California and used the car to promote hot rod safety. The iconic car was featured on the cover of Hot Rod Magazine in 1948. "Hotrodding is something so important to our American heritage, and it was almost forgotten. This car exemplifies the pinnacle of that," said Bruce Meyer, owner of the McGee Roadster and founding chairman of the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, California.

The Hirohata Merc is a 1951 Mercury Coupe that was purchased by Bob Hirohata and extensively customized by master craftsmen Sam and George Barris at their shop in Lynwood, California, in 1952. It was striped by Von Dutch and featured modified design elements from Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Ford and Lincoln. Under Hirohata's ownership, it was driven cross-country from Los Angeles to Indianapolis and on to Detroit and back. The car collected more than 150 trophies during the first several years it was shown. In 1959, at the age of 16, Jim McNiel purchased it from a used car lot for $500. "The Hirohata Merc really isn't mine, it's had an effect on a lot of people's lives. When they come to see it, a lot of them, they just break down. It's all about the history of the car," said Jim McNiel.

"The custom riders represent the highest levels of vernacular auto engineering. The three vehicles featured at this year's exhibition not only created a whole new category of uniquely 'made in America' cars but also influenced builders and designers around the globe," said Richard O'Connor, Chief, Heritage Documentation Programs, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. "We support HVA's efforts to make this rich history available to the public."

This three-week exhibition expands upon the two-week 2016 HVA Cars at the Capital exhibition that featured President Taft's 1909 White Steam Car and President Reagan's 1962 Willys "Jeep" CJ-6.

The 2017 Cars at the Capital exhibition is underwritten in part through the generous support of our partners: Shell (including its Pennzoil and Quaker State brands), Hagerty, American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM) and TEN: The Enthusiast Network (including its Automobile, Hot Rod and Lowrider brands).

"Shell is pleased to partner with HVA in presenting these three iconic cars," said Mark Henry, Vice President, North America Marketing, Shell Lubricants. "The ingenuity exhibited in each of these builds showcases a desire by the owners to express themselves through car design – a passion we admire and celebrate at Shell."

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About Shell Lubricants
The term 'Shell Lubricants' collectively refers to the companies of Royal Dutch Shell plc that are engaged in the lubricants business. Shell Lubricants companies lead the lubricants industry, supplying more than 12 percent of global lubricants volume. * The companies manufacture and blend products for use in consumer, heavy industrial and commercial transport applications. The Shell Lubricants portfolio of top-quality brands includes Pennzoil®, Quaker State®, FormulaShell®, Shell TELLUS®, Shell RIMULA®, Shell ROTELLA® T, Shell SPIRAX® and Jiffy Lube®. http://www.shell.com

*Kline & Company, "Global Lubricants Industry November 2016: Market Analysis and Assessment."

About the Historic Vehicle Association
The HVA is dedicated to preserving and sharing America's automotive heritage. In 2014, the HVA established the National Historic Vehicle Register in partnership with the U.S. Department of the Interior, Heritage Documentation Programs and Library of Congress to document historically significant automobiles in America's past. The HVA is supported by over 400,000 individual historic vehicle owners, key stakeholders and corporations, as well as individual benefactors. Please visit: historicvehicle.org

SOURCE Historic Vehicle Association