One of the key highlights of the third day of activities at the FIVA booth at Rétromobile was the Hall of Fame induction ceremony of REVS Institute founder Miles Collier. The award, which recognizes individuals who have made an exceptional and lasting impact on motoring history and heritage was awarded to Mr. Collier in recognition and celebration of his half century of intimate involvement of activity with automobiles. In particular, he is known as an advocate of the automobile as being among the most important technological artefacts of the twentieth century, a view further brought forth by his seminal book “The Archaeological Automobile”. “The Archaeological Automobile” in effect serves as both a call to action and as a legacy resource. It not only assigns the automobile its rightful place at the cultural centre of the contemporary world but also calls for preserving “humanity’s treasure trove” of automotive heritage and knowledge for future generations.
In furtherance to Mr. Collier’s advocacy for the recognition of the automobile as a cultural artefact, in 2008, he founded the REVS Institute based in Naples Florida. REVS mission statement is a dedication to the study and preservation of the automobile. It endeavors to showcase the status of the automobile as a cultural icon, an agent of change as well as a symbol of human progress. It does so by collecting and documenting history and making it available to a new era of scholars and thought leaders. In essence it serves as a hub to spotlight the automobile as part of our cultural heritage. It should come of no surprise that REVS is commonly referred to as a haven for scholars, enthusiasts and preservationists alike, as, it not only holds classes, pursues research and hosts events but also serves as a platform connecting communities of interest together.
Outside the realm of his work protecting and preserving automotive heritage and his activities at REVS, Mr. Collier is also a former race driver and the first recipient of the SVRA (Sports Vintage Racing Association) Driver of the Year Award in 1984. His father was instrumental in the emergence of sports car racing in the United States and was one of the first members of the Sports Car Club of America. Furthermore, apart from his racing background, Mr. Collier is also a trained artist, successful businessman and philanthropist
The induction of Mr. Collier to the FIVA Heritage Hall of Fame epitomizes much of what FIVA stands for. FIVA shares the belief that the motor vehicle has revolutionized our world and that we owe it to the future generation to remember, celebrate and protect our automotive heritage
Following the wonderful and remarkable induction ceremony, of Miles Collier, the evening came to a close with the launch of the book “A Century of the Concours d’Elegance”, a unique work analyzing the role of the Concours d’Elegance in recognizing the automobile as an object of design and a reflection of its time. The work, written by former FIVA President Patrick Rollet and former FIVA Vice President, Gautam Sen together with authors Daniel Cabart and Denis Cohignac, provides a truly scholarly insight and human narrative on the Concours d’Elegance.
To see the induction ceremony of Mr. Collier and the book launch of “A Century of the Concours d’Elegance”, kindly click the below link.
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