Burton Morris Amalgam Art Car Goes to Broad Arrow Auction August 18

Description

Considered among the most highly regarded of motorcar model builders, Amalgam is a creator of scale cars that rival the quality of fine watches and revered works of art and are cherished as such by their proud caretakers. This Speedster model, currently retailing for over $15,000, precisely captures the smooth and simple shape of the car that was crucial to the momentum of the then-nascent Porsche brand in the United States. In exacting scale detail, Amalgam brings to life the true character of the Speedster, a name that remains coveted by Porsche enthusiasts still today.

A Pittsburgh native, Burton Morris creates his signature Pop Art pieces for display in the most prestigious gallery halls, museums, and celebrity collections throughout the world. Millions first viewed his works hanging in Central Perk, the fictitious coffee shop on the long-running NBC series Friends. Since then, his skills have produced bold signature artwork for the United Nations, Ford Motors, and Rolex, to name but a few.

Amalgam and Morris have combined their skills to support one of America’s truly magnificent motoring events, the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix. Now in its 40th year, the PVGP is the world’s largest vintage race still conducted through the streets of a major city. The PVGP combines a 10-day festival of automotive events, culminating with a show hosting more than 3,000 cars and 200,000 spectators. Unfolding in the undulating hills of a Pittsburgh city park, the PVGP ranks as one of the larger car shows in the world, and all while vintage racers swiftly climb and descend through tightly sculpted city streets, across bridges, and past landmark structures. Throughout its 40-year history, the PVGP has fiercely held true to its charity mission: produce a world-class collector car event to raise funds for the residential care, treatment, and support of autistic and intellectually/developmentally disabled individuals in the Pittsburgh region. To date, more than 6 million dollars has gone to that cause through the tireless efforts of volunteers and partners of the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix.

This lot represents an unrepeatable opportunity to obtain an Amalgam model wearing the original artwork of a world-renowned artist, with the proceeds directly benefiting the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix charities.

(left to right) 2022 Grand Marshal Ray Shaffer, Broad Arrow’s Ramsey Potts and the PVGP’s Dan Holmes with the Amalgam art car at Shop 412 during this year’s PVGP Tune-Up.

Acknowledgements

There are so many people to thank for bringing this project to auction.

Burton Morris Internationally recognized artist whose signature art icons cover the Porsche 356 Speedster. Burton also created our poster for 2022! Burton is a Pittsburgher who attended the first two Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix’s while a student at Carnegie Mellon University, next door to Schenley Park.

Ramsey Potts Senior Car Specialist at Broad Arrow. Pittsburgh native and longtime car enthusiast and worldwide ambassador for the PVGP! His enthusiasm for the PVGP and cars is contagious. He was the first person we called when we wanted to take the car to auction.

Dan Holmes  Longtime PVGP volunteer and incredibly talented graphic artist who worked with Burton Morris to make this dream car possible, including disassembling the Amalgam Car to apply the artwork and putting it back together.

Paul Pigman  Allegheny Region Porsche Club member and Amalgam representative that got the original 1:8 scale car for us to create. The car has a $15,000 value before the artwork was applied.