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Since automotive design is basically an artistic endeavor, art has always been a part of automotive life. However, for many years automotive art was the product of design studies, design departments of automobile manufacturers, or aligned with automotive advertising. Automotive fine art did not exist as a separate art genre. However there were a few car lovers who happened to be artists and enjoyed painting cars simply because they loved the subject matter. But for an artist to be successful, there must be a market. And there were automotive enthusiasts who were interested in buying art.

So in 1983, a group of six artists received invitations to display their works at the Meadowbrook Concours in Detroit. During this exhibition, these artists decided to form an alliance devoted to exchanging ideas and keeping current on trends in automotive art and so the Automotive Fine Arts Society was born. The artist credited with founding this society is Ken Eberts who has been its president since that time. Ken is recognized as one of the world’s leading automotive fine artists. He originally worked in the design department at Ford Motor Company. Then in 1968 he embarked on a second career in automotive fine art. Since then, his works have appeared in magazines, on Christmas cards, posters, and book covers. Ken also has an interest in architecture and many of his automotive works include an automobile set against the backdrop of an interesting building.

He has been a two-time winner of the Peter Helck Award and the Richard Teague Award for the ‘body of work that best exemplifies the spirit of the automobile.’

Bill Neale is also a member of the Automobile Fine Arts Society. In addition to automobiles, Bill paints the people associated with the industry such as drivers and owners. Bill has an aviation background and both cars and airplanes are often featured in his compositions. Bill’s work has appeared in all of the prestigious automotive magazines such as Road & Track, Car & Driver, and Automobile Magazine. He has done posters for many Automobile Concours d’Elegance and other automobile events such as the Monterey Historic Races, Houston Classi-Chassis and Carroll Shelby Nationals. He is the poster artist for the Colorado Grand Rally. He is also the recipient of numerous awards from Europe, the United States and South America including the prestigious Peter Helck and Athena awards.

Jim Dietz is another contemporary artist who paints automobiles. However, Jim is a historical artist who specializes in aviation and military subjects as well as automobiles. Jim is a graduate of the Art Center College of Design. He began his career in art as an illustrator doing automotive ads, movie posters and book covers. But in 1978 he changed from commercial illustration to historical art. In 1997, Dietz won the Stanley Wanlass Award for ‘excellence in strength of design and composition echoing the spirit of the automobile’ at the Meadow Brook Concours d’Elegance. He also won a Peter Helck Award in 1999 and 2,000 at the Pebble Beach Concours’ d’Elegance. In addition, he has received numerous other awards for his aviation and military art. Like Neale and Eberts, he represents the best of a new genre in art.

The Automotive Hall of Fame was originally founded on October 18, 1939 in New York City by a group of men that had devoted their lives to the automotive industry. They met in New York City with the intention of creating an organization that would forever perpetuate the memories of the early automotive pioneers as well as the leaders in the industry at the time. The original organization was known as the ‘Automobile Old Timers’ and has since had its name changed to the Automotive Hall of Fame. The organization is dedicated to honoring automotive people from all of the industries segments and from around the world.

The Automotive Hall of Fame was originally based in Washington D.C. but has since moved and made its permanent home in Midland, Michigan. Midland is roughly 120 miles out of Detroit, the hub of the automotive world in the United States. The organization moved to D.C. in 1960 and then left for Midland in 1971. The first Automotive Hall of Fame building was constructed in Midland, Michigan in 1975.

After 22 years in Midland, the Automotive Hall of Fame decided to move once again. This time, in 1997, the organization moved to Dearborn, Michigan. Since its inception over 60 years ago, the Automotive Hall of Fame has enshrined over 200 members that include pioneers from Benz, Bosch, Bugatti, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Citroen, Daimler, Dodge, Durant, Duryea, Ferrari, Ford, Honda, Maybach, Olds, Peugeot, Porsche, Renault, Sloan and Toyoda. The Automotive Hall of Fame welcomes nearly 30,000 visitors on a yearly basis.

There are four categories recognized by the Automotive Hall of Fame. Those four categories are induction, the distinguished service citation, the industry leader of the year, and the young leadership and excellence award. To become an inducted member in the Automotive Hall of Fame that person must either be retired from the industry or deceased. The Hall of Fame’s standards say that that person “must have significantly impacted the development of the automobile or the motor vehicle industry.” Usually there are anywhere from four to eight members inducted each year.
The distinguished service citation is the organization’s oldest award and was initiated in 1940. To win this award, one must either be employed in the industry or recently retired. Anywhere from five to six people are given this award each year. The industry leader of the year award is given to one individual each year that demonstrates outstanding industry leadership. The fourth award, the young leadership and excellence award, is awarded to people in the industry 35 years or younger. The award is given out annually and is awarded to only four people. The purpose of the award is to recognize the future of the industry and its next generation of leadership within the industry.

Anyone can nominate candidates for each award by simply logging onto the Automotive Hall of Fame’s website. The Automotive Hall of Fame is operated by a Board of Directors currently headed by Chairman Jason Vines who is the Senior Vice President of Communications for the Compuware Corporation. There are also two vice chairmen, a treasurer, a secretary, executive directors, a president, directors, and directors emeriti.