Geared up for a classic event

Shanghai Super Classic (SSC), Asia's first automotive culture and art crossover show, opened at the Shanghai Port International Passenger Terminal at the Northern Bund on May 20, showcasing 28 classic cars with a combined value of more than 207 million yuan ($30 million).

Having been planned for over four years, the 40-day exhibition includes century-old antique cars, prewar and postwar classics, limited edition super cars, F1 racing cars, cars built when China was newly founded, contemporary classics and new energy concept cars.

The biggest highlights include a 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 - alone worth more than $5 million - a 1965 Hongqi limousine, and a rare 1976 Lamborghini Countach LP400 periscopio.

"SSC is not a traditional automobile industry exhibition, but an automotive culture exhibition that pays tribute to the classics, but looks forward to future development which integrates the automobile with technology, art, fashion and lifestyle," says Zhou Yi, the curator of the exhibition.

"I have participated in many overseas exhibitions and classic car events. I was so excited to find this business model that is mature in foreign markets but still untapped in our region," she adds.

Zhou says, China has become the world's largest producer and consumer of automobiles - the country produced more than 24 million passenger cars in 2017 according to the International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers. She pointed to the 10 consecutive years of growth and the fact that the 1,000th race of the FIA Formula 1 World Championship being held in Shanghai this year as proof that the industry is booming and evolving.

Despite the nation's automotive industry lagging behind the rest of the world for nearly 70 years, Zhou believes that the nation is on the cusp of a great era in Chinese automotive culture. SSC will play its part by taking visitors on a journey through the history of the automobile industry and how it has helped shape the evolution of social development and human civilization.

James Goldcrown, one of the world's hottest graffiti and fashion artists, who designed the "go viral love" wall, will showcase some of his designs at the exhibition.

The works of French sculptor Zoe Vayssieres, mosaic glass artist Chen Weide, post-impressionist contemporary oil painter Li Zili, and photographer Wang Gangfeng will also be on show, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in more conventional forms of art, alongside the (mostly) four-wheeled masterpieces made from metal, rubber and carbon fiber.

Another noteworthy highlight is a complete private collection of 248 Supreme skateboards, dating from 1998 to 2018 and is the only set of its kind in the world. It has been installed in the "Back to the Future" themed Hall of the exhibition and is valued at 5.39 million yuan.

A variety of cross-border and interactive experiences, including a Li-Ning pop-up store and a Hollywood motorcycle show will also be available to help visitors to celebrate the event.

"The auto show is static, but the immersive style of exhibition, the experiences and activities, as well as various forums and parties are dynamic, all help visitors understand the story behind each car," Zhou says.