BMW Art Car Miniatures: A treasure trove for collectors

The BMW Art Car Collection is a unique blend of art and automotive technology and showcases the creative genius of some of the most renowned artists of our time. Since 1975, BMW has worked with artists to transform their cars into moving masterpieces that reflect contemporary culture and individual art styles.

In 2003, BMW introduced the BMW Art Car Museum Edition, a series of 1:18 scale miniatures that perfectly replicate the original Art Cars. These miniatures are not just scaled down versions; They are carefully crafted to incorporate every artistic detail of the originals, making them perfect works of art in their own right.

The Museum Edition is sold at BMW dealers. Each piece comes in an elegant acrylic display on a gray base with the artist’s name and car model, as well as a small “Art Car” book, all in a red box. Today these miniatures are highly sought after by contemporary art collectors and their value is constantly increasing. In addition, they are often exhibited in museums or at art fairs.

The entire collection currently numbers 17 miniatures, with notable exceptions being the conceptual works of Olafur Eliasson and Cao Fei, for which there is no official museum edition. For enthusiasts and collectors, the ArtCarMiniature website (www.artcarminiature.com) is a treasure trove of information, production numbers and photos about these miniatures.

As we look forward to the new year, BMW Group Culture has announced the release of Art Car Miniature #20, Julie Mehretu’s V8 Hybrid, which will be available in the first few months of 2025. (Photos: BMW and Jacopo Tagliavini)