LeMay, America's Car Museum is going Italian

































For the first time, a 1927 LaSalle 303 Roadster  from LeMay – America's Car Museum, a soon-to-open, four-story,

165,000 square feet Washington automotive museum, is entered in the Mille Miglia, the famous vintage car road

rally that winds from Brescia, Italy to Rome and back.  Also, Harley Earle-designed car will also be on display when

Tacoma, Washington museum opens in May 2012.


“We purchased the Harley Earle-designed LaSalle in 2005 to participate in the Mille Miglia, one of the most

prestigious automotive events in the world,” said Scot Keller, chief marketing & communications officer for ACM,

which is slated to begin welcoming guests in May 2012. “It’s one of a handful of American cars that are Mille-

eligible, so it’s quite an honor and privilege to participate in this historic event. This reinforces what we’re trying to do

as a museum – to be deeply involved in the enthusiast community.”


According to Keller, the blue, two-toned LaSalle is a veteran of two Pebble Beach Motoring Classics and was

displayed at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance and the New York Auto Show. It’s also been worked on by

noted American car aficionado Nicola Bulgari, the jewelry heir (Bulgari watches, etc.) and international businessman

who’s also an ACM board member.


“Nicola graciously supported the project by prepping the car at his shop in Allentown, PA,” said Keller. “Nicola is an

avid American car collector and enthusiast. He’s really passionate about this project.”


Driving the V8-powered LaSalle in the 1,000-mile Italian trek, which crosses seven regions – Lombardy, Veneto,

Emilia Romagna, the Marches, Umbria, Lazio and Tuscany – will be Keith Flickinger, owner of Precision Motor Cars

and a member of the ACM steering and collection committees. “Keith’s company manages Nicola’s car collection in

the U.S.,” said Keller. “He’ll handle the LaSalle beautifully during the one thousand miles of the Mille Miglia.” 


Keller said the LaSalle shares a history with the Mille Miglia, which originally began as an open-road endurance

race. “The Mille Miglia started in 1927, same year as the ACM LaSalle. It’s fitting they selected the LaSalle to be in

the event, which is now a world-class road rally that attracts some of the world’s most magnificent cars.”


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