The BMW 3.0 CSL, with which Alexander Calder laid the foundation stone for the BMW Art Car Collection in 1975, will be on display at the Irish Museum of Modern Art from I April – 21 June 2009. The car will be displayed alongside a collection of Calder’s jewellery. The exhibition of the Calder car will be the first time one of the collection of 16 BMW Art Cars has been shown in Ireland.

In 1975 the BMW 3.0 CSL was driven in the 24-hour race at Le Mans, by the American Sam Posey as well as Jean Guichet and Hervé Poulain from France. It was the first and last time the car was used in racing. After seven hours, the car had to give up due to a defective prop shaft. The car has been on display since then.

Since 1975, prominent artists from throughout the world have designed BMW automobiles of their times, all making extremely different artistic statements. It was originally the French racing driver Hervé Poulain, who had the idea of letting an artist have his or her way with an automobile. Poulain commissioned American artist Alexander Calder to paint his BMW racing car in the early 70\'s; this was the spark which led BMW to establish the Art Car Collection.

Exhibition opening hours: Tues to Sat 10am to 5.30pm, except Wednesday 10.30am to 5.30pm. Sunday and Bank Holidays, 12 noon to 5.30pm. Closed Monday.