Larz Andersen Auto Museum 15 Newton Street - Larz Anderson Park Brookline, MA 02445 he latest exhibit at the Larz Anderson Auto Museum - entitled L’Automobile, a Century of Innovation and Style - features the best of French automobile style, design and innovation. France embraced the automobile at its inception, and ever since the French have been significant players in the industry worldwide, developing arguably the most complete range of car design and execution from austere practicality and economy to flamboyant art deco luxury. Cars from the museum’s own collection will show early experiments with automobile layout and power source, and the evolution, by the end of the first decade of the 20th Century, of the standard car template of front engine, central gearbox and rear drive. Examples of French engineering excellence include the fabulous cars of Bugatti and Voisin, while the influence of Art Deco can be seen in the flamboyantly styled of cars from Delage, Delahaye and Talbot Lago. Finally, the modern era will be represented by mass produced, but often idiosyncratic cars from Citroen, Renault and Peugeot. The exhibit shows that despite the ravages of two world wars the French have had an enormous impact on what we drive today. They have been at the center of making cars more reliable, putting them to the test during the Le Mans 24-hour race, the Monte Carlo, and Paris to Dakar rallies. Their innovations, which have included the front wheel drive, rear engine layouts, hatchback and minivan bodies, and op and pop art styling, have been exported around the world. Directions: From Route 9 in the Newton - Brookline area, take Lee Street in Brookline to its end. Take left onto Newton Street, bear right at slight fork for two blocks. See entrance on left to Larz Anderson Park at 15 Newton Street. Complete directions may be found on our website. Contact: John Sweeney, Executive Director Phone: 617-522-6547 Fax: 617-524-0170 send E-mail visit Website Hours: Tuesday through Sunday 10 to 5. Admission: Adults, $5. Children, $3. he Larz Anderson Automobile Museum holds one of the oldest and most respected private automobile collections in the world. Opened to the public in 1915, it is located on a quiet 64-acre oasis of parkland, just five miles from downtown Boston, in Brookline, Massachusetts. The museum's mission is to place the automobile in the context of the dramatic social and economic changes that have occurred in the U.S. during the 20th century, and to provide a central resource for our understanding of the automobile’s influence in our lives. Each year its curators embark on a journey to present a unique view of the automobile and how it has transformed the way we live---highlighting the evolution of the car from rich man’s toy to everyday necessity, showing its myriad purposes and variations. Our exhibition for 2004 promises to be one of our most unusual and thought provoking. An evening lecture series, concerts, school tours, and Sunday lawn events showing cars and motorcycles from all countries and periods will augment exhibits. The museum is a focal point for vehicle enthusiasts, collectors, vintage racers, and families with an interest in automotive history. Funding for this website is provided by Community Crossroads Foundation, The Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities, and the museums and historic sites of the Greater Boston History Project.