For most Gen Y’ers Scion started the Art Car movement with its patronage of the street scene and numerous collaborations by some of today’s leading graff artists decorating and customizing xB box cars seen on billboards and displayed at SEMA and Hot Import Nights car shows. But combining cars and art was actually an idea conceived in the mid ’70s by art auctioneer and Le Mans racer, Herve Poulain—he wanted to link the two worlds he played in. He had friend and US artist, Alexander Calder paint up his ’75 BMW 3.0 CSL “Batmobile” then took it racing.

Someone at BMW took notice. Then they took it to a whole next level engaging contemporary modern artists leading their game at the time—artists like Andy Warhol, Frank Stella, and Roy Lichtenstein—you’ve probably heard of them. They had them paint some cars—full blown race cars. Cars that were actually going to hit the track and probably bang some fenders. You know what they say, “Rubbing is racing!” Imagine American Gladiators using Warhol and Lichtenstein canvases to beat the crap out of each other and you’ve got a not so pretty picture (sorry!) of how insane the concept is. But it worked and believe it or not the cars survived and still exist, and are on display at the BMW Welt museum in Munich. They are priceless. So when it comes to Top Art Cars, only the BMWs count. Here they are:

5. 1986 BMW M3 by Ken Done (Australia)

In the mid-eighties, Ken Done was kind of an Aussie version of Keith Haring. BMW had him paint up an Autofiends favorite  E30 M3 Touring Car in his psychedelic-barrier-reef-on-acid style. 

4. 1975 BMW 3.0 CSL by Alexander Calder (USA)

The “Batmobiles” were BMWs answer to the Ford Capris dominating the European Touring Car Championship of the time, and this was the first BMW Art Car.

3. 1977 BMW 320 “Gruppe 5” by Roy Lichtenstein (USA)

Combining Lichtenstein with a BMW 3 series in the ‘70s was cool. Doing it in mega-spoilered Gruppe 5 race trim was positively sub-zero.

2. 1976 BMW 3.0 CSL by Frank Stella

Our favorite BMW of all time probably—the ultimate Batmobile that totally creamed the Capris, and Stella’s graff design really compliments the race cars lines. But…

1.1979 BMW M1 Gruppe 4 by Andy Warhol

Andy Warhol plus full race version of BMW’s first (and so far only) mid-engined super car. Completely looney to take this on track and now utterly priceless. ‘Nuff said!