75 Years of Transportation Design at Art Center

Since Art Center launched its Transportation Design major 75 years ago, you could argue that most cool cars have come from the mind of an Art Center graduate.

The Pasadena, California, institution celebrated three-quarters of a century of transportation design last weekend with a gathering of distinguished alums including Franz von Holzhausen, Henrik Fisker, Freeman Thomas, Sasha Selipanov, Daniel Jimenez, and Chuck Pelly. Four Transportation Design department chairs came, including Ron Hill, Ken Okuyama, Stewart Reed, and current chair Marek Djordjevic.

There was even a reunion of participants in the Fisher Body Craftsman’s Guild (FBCG). And, of course, about 70 cool cars parked on the lawn of the school's Sculpture Garden. At top is designer Okuyama’s KODE Birdcage.

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Tristram Buckley's Jaguar Roadster in British Racing Green

Joey Shimoda's 1964 356

2023 Hennessey Venom F5

Morris Halperin's 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB4

Mercedes 180D

Studebaker Commander.

Maserati 3500 GT

Carol Kurtis' 1954 Kurtis M

Lamborghini Countach with morning dew still on it

A pair of BMW Isettas

Past chair of Transportation Design Stewart Reed's Citroen SM

Paul Kirley's Minimalist Kustom Roadster

Aaron Weiss' 1937 Rolls-Royce Phantom III

RC stands for "Release Candidate" on this prototype Tesla Cybertruck, no doubt brought by Tesla Art Center alum Franz von Holzhausen.

Art Center alum Henrik Fisker himself brought this Fisker Ocean, on sale now for just $38,000, he told us.

A student identified only as Kenji brought this "Hong Kong Taxi." It's a Toyota Comfort, the most common taxi in Tokyo, making up about 70% of the fleet, but in Hong Kong they make up 99% of the fleet.

The original Z was sold from 1969 to 1978. This one is a 1971 240Z.

Mike Regalia's 365 GTB/4. We also saw this one at the San Marino Motor Classic.

Past Transportation Design chair Ken Okuyama's 1961 KODE Birdcage