FAQ: 1954 Mercedes-Benz 220A Cabriolet Art Car by Hiro Yamagata

What makes this 1954 Mercedes-Benz 220A Cabriolet special?

This vehicle is a one-of-a-kind art car created by contemporary artist Hiro Yamagata as part of his Earthly Paradise series, featuring hand-painted tropical imagery on a meticulously refurbished classic Mercedes-Benz Cabriolet.

Who is Hiro Yamagata and what is his connection to this car?

Hiro Yamagata is a world-renowned contemporary artist who hand-selected this specific Mercedes-Benz chassis for his celebrated Earthly Paradise series, personally painting it with vibrant tropical imagery and signing the left-rear fender.

What specific artwork appears on the car?

The car features a midnight blue base with intricate tropical-themed imagery including a Scarlet Macaw on the hood, a peacock along the rear bodywork, vibrant hibiscus flowers, palm trees, a rainbow, and a burst of multicolored birds, all inspired by the natural beauty of Fiji.

Where can this art car be viewed?

The 1954 Mercedes-Benz 220A Cabriolet art car is proudly displayed as part of the Ron Sturgeon Collection at the DFW Car & Toy Museum located at 2550 McMillan Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 76137.

What is the Earthly Paradise series and how rare is this car?

The Earthly Paradise series debuted in 1994 and was exhibited in museums across Los Angeles, Austria, Italy, and Japan; only a select few of the 24 envisioned cars were completed, making this 220A an exceptionally rare artifact.

What are the mechanical specifications of this Mercedes-Benz?

The car is built on the W187 platform with a 2.2-liter M180 inline-six engine producing 80 horsepower, paired with a column-shifted four-speed manual transmission, and features luxurious details including VDO instrumentation and a three-spoke steering wheel.

Who is Ron Sturgeon and what is the DFW Car & Toy Museum?

Ron Sturgeon is a dedicated car collector for over 30 years who founded the DFW Car & Toy Museum, which features his extensive collection in a 150,000 square foot facility in North Fort Worth with free parking and admission.

When was the car prepared for its artistic transformation?

The car was meticulously refurbished in 1996 before being coated in a roughened matte white acrylic, ready for Yamagata’s brushstrokes as part of his artistic transformation.

How rare is this particular Mercedes-Benz model?

This is one of only 1,278 Cabriolet A models bodied by Sindelfingen between 1951 and 1955, making it a rare automotive specimen even before its artistic transformation.

What are the museum’s hours and contact information?

The DFW Car & Toy Museum is open Tuesday-Saturday from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm, located at 2550 McMillan Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 76137, with more information available at dfwcarandtoymuseum.com.