1951 La Carrera Panamericana Mexico Endurance Road Race Very Rare

Date: 1951 
Artist: Unknown   
Size (in): 33.75" x 25.25"
Size (cm): 88 x 64
Condition: A-
Linen Backed: Yes  

This rare vintage original poster was issued for the second running of the La Carrera Panamericana, a grueling endurance road race across Mexico that ran from 1950 to 1954.  This event was widely considered to be the “most dangerous road race” in the world.  The race was cancelled in 1955 for safety reasons and was then resurrected and run again yearly from 1988 to about 2016.  

This poster is designed in a bold, mid-century modernist graphic style that features an abstract dynamic illustration of a race car wheel combined with a stylized driver's helmet in profile aptly capturing a profound sense of high-speed motion. The striking artwork utilizes a dramatic color palette of deep black, forest green, and rich red accents, paired with bold yellow and white typography.  The vertical text along the margins highlights the race route’s immense journey of more than 2,600 kilometers from Tuxtla Gutiérrez to Ciudad Juárez.  The ANA logo for the Asociación Nacional Automovilística is printed in the lower right corner of the image area.  

This vintage original poster has been professionally mounted to an archival linen backing.  The poster showed light handling wear and moderate toning from age prior to linen backing.  The original colors are strongly retained and the poster displays beautifully.   Overall condition is very good for this very rare vintage original poster from the 1951 second running of Mexico’s thrilling La Carrera Panamericana endurance road race.