About Car Classic

Art Center’s Car Classic celebrates the very best in automotive design, showcasing the College’s strong ties to industry and honoring many of our noteworthy alumni. Past events have featured such sought-after speakers as alumni Chris Bangle, Henrik Fisker, Syd Mead, Shiro Nakumura, Harald Belker, Ken Okuyama, Chuck Pelly and Frank Stephenson.

Art Center’s celebrated Transportation Design alumni serve as a reminder that behind every beautifully designed car is an innovative and talented designer. Art Center students explore the balance between form and function—not only looking at style and design, but also considering technology, engineering, sustainability and the overall driving experience—to meet the tremendous opportunities that exist for transportation designers today.

High-caliber speakers. Influential alumni. Beautiful vehicles. Inspiring students. Creative surroundings. Art Center Car Classic is not to be missed!

Highlights of Car Classic include:

California Vehicle Design Studio Showcase
With more than 20 advanced design studios located in Southern California, the region strongly influences trends in transportation design. The California Vehicle Design Studio Showcase will feature more than a dozen concept vehicles and the Art Center alumni who continue to influence global movements in transportation design.

Panel Discussions
Throughout the day, dynamic panel discussions are a unique opportunity to hear influential and innovative designers speak about the influence California culture has had on their work.

Strother MacMinn Tribute
Perhaps no other individual has had a more profound impact on transportation design than Strother MacMinn. In addition to founding the College’s legendary Transportation Design Department and educating innumerable students, in 1973 he worked with Toyota to establish Calty, the first industry studio in Southern California.

Awards Ceremony
Several award trophies, designed and individually handcrafted by an Art Center Transportation Design student will be presented.

Campus and Studio Tours
Attendees have the opportunity to tour Art Center’s historic Hillside Campus and studio classrooms, observing first-hand the designers of the future demonstrating their craft.