Mobile Masterpieces: The History of BMW's Art Cars

Bystanders will have plenty to take in at this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans, but one car -- a wildly painted BMW M3 GT2 -- will turn more heads than any other car lapping the Circuit de la Sarthe. Although it will be battling for a place in the winner’s circle, the M3 is more than just a GT2 competitor -- it also happens to be BMW’s 17th Art Car, a project that melds German engineering with world renowned artists. Previous projects have been showcased in venues as varied as the Louvre, the Guggenheim, and pit row at Le Mans. Since the latest Art Car will have its fifteen minutes (or 24 hours) of fame this weekend, we found it fitting to run through all of BMW’s mobile masterpieces -- some of which were given the opportunity to compete in Le Mans endurance races of long ago.