Cars

Where the magic happens

Plugged into Porsche

It was six months after Paul Howse graduated from the Royal College of Art when, after an out-of-the-blue phone call from Frank Stephenson and, subsequently, joining McLaren’s fledgling design team, he was thrust into the deep end after his initial theme for the P1 was chosen, much to his disbelief. Together with now-chief designer Rob Melville, and under Stephenson’s careful direction, the car was refined and slowly came to life. 

Held at Messums Wiltshire, a monastic barn-cum gallery space, from 5–29 May, Art in Motion – Knowledge and Design will see seven post-War European automotive icons, including the AC Cobra 289, Lamborghini Miura, Ferrari 288 GTO, and McLaren F1, assembled in this remarkable setting.

Prancing Horse prototype

Happy birthday to you…