When is a car a work of art? This is a question very quickly answered upon entering the Nave at the Decorative Arts Museum on the rue de Rivoli. Think of the 17 handcrafted sports cars on display as “Haute Voiture.”  Chosen from one of the biggest collections of prestigious automotive collections in the world, by curator Rodolphe Rapetti in a setting designed by Jean Michel Wilmotte, this small exhibition is an homage to the great European vehicles of the 20th century and includes Bugatti, Alfa Romeo, Bentley, Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar, Porsche and, of course, Ferrari. Marked by their extraordinary beauty of lines, colors and materials, they are also efficient, precision mechanical monsters to be reckoned with.

The public is allowed to get up close and personal (touching only with the eyes and not the fingers) the super sleek varnishes of candy apple red, saffron yellow, ebony black vehicles. After admiring the leather interiors, high gloss wooden dashboards, and chrome trim of roadsters like the 1958 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa, the 1938 Bugatti 57 or the 1930 Mercedes Benz SSK, the public is invited to view short video clips showing off the handcrafted engines, the power of the motors, and even Mr. Lauren enjoying his “objet d’Art” on the road around his estate.

The collection on display is a collection of both sports cars, and racing vehicles, meticulously renovated and maintained for the viewing pleasure of the public.

L’Art de l’Automobile: Chefs d’Oeuvre de la Collection Ralph Lauren. Musée des Art Décoratifs. 107, rue de Rivoli. 75001 Paris. Tel : 01.44.55.57.50. Website : http://www.lesartsdecoratifs.fr. Open Tues-Sun 11018h (Thurs till 21h). To Aug. 28, 2011. Admission: 9 Euros.