Simeone Museum features ‘Best of Britain’ car exhibit
More than 35 British automotive beauties are on display until March 14 at the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum in Philadelphia. The “Best of Britain” show features cars that organizers say demonstrate the beauty and power of British sports cars.
Jonathan Stein, associate publisher of Hagerty’s magazine, helped round up the cars on display, along with Ragtops and Roadsters’ Dave Hutchison and Harry Hurst, of the Simeone Foundation Museum.
“We wanted to display a cross-section of the British cars that took America by storm, such as MGs, Austin-Healeys, Triumphs and Jaguars,” said Stein. “But we also wanted to show more esoteric machines; that’s why we have such rarities as a pair of factory race cars, several vintage racers, the only left-hand-drive Frazer Nash LeMans coupe, and cars built by lesser known companies including Elva, Turner, Ginetta and HRG.”
Cars in the show also include a 1935 Triumph Gloria Southern Cross, a 1960 MGA Twin Cam Coupe that raced at Sebring, and a 1966 Aston Martin DB6, one of the most potent sports cars of its era. One headliner is a 1934 Squire, one of just seven made and considered by many to be among the most beautiful British sports cars ever made.
The other cars on display are:
• 1933 Squire Roadster
• 1935 MG P-Type Lester
• 1935 Triumph Southern Cross
• 1938 Aston Martin 15/98
• 1949 Healey Silverstone
• 1950 HRG 1500
• 1950 MG TD
• 1952 Jaguar XK120 OTS
• 1952 Nash-Healey Roadster
• 1954 Frazer Nash Le Mans Coupe
• 1958 A.C. Bristol
• 1958 Jomar Coupe
• 1958 Lotus Seven
• 1959 Elva Courier
• 1959 Lotus Elite
• 1959 MGA Twin Cam Coupe
• 1959 Turner Mk.I Climax
• 1960 MGA Twin Cam (Sebring)
• 1960 Triumph TR3A
• 1961 Triumph Italia 2000 GT
• 1962 Austin-Healey 3000
• 1962 Daimler Dart
• 1962 Morgan Plus 4
• 1963 Triumph TR4
• 1965 Sebring Sprite
• 1965 Aston Martin DB6 Volante
• 1966 Jaguar XK-E Coupe
• 1966 Sunbeam Tiger
• 1967 Ginetta G4
• 1968 Aston Martin DB6
• 1968 TR5 PI
• 1971 TVR Boss Tuscan
• 1974 MG B
• 1974 MGB GT V8
• 1976 Triumph TR6
• 1978 Triumph TR7 Coupe
• 1980 Triumph Spitfire
The “Best of Britain” show is included with regular museum admission, $12 adults, $10 seniors, $8 for students. Children under 8 are admitted free. The museum is open Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Wednesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information call (215) 365-7233, or visit the Web site at: www.simeonemuseum.org.
