One of the leading carmakers, Hyundai has opened a new museum in South Korea. The brand has conducted a new exhibition called ‘PONY, the timeless’ in Seoul, South Korea. The brand’s timeless exhibition was recently unveiled with a grand opening celebration on 7th June. This exhibition has embarked on the presence of a group of VIP guests from different sectors like art, fashion, and architecture.
About the Hyundai Heritage Exhibition
The exhibition follows the highly anticipated Hyundai Reunion event in Lake Como, Italy in May. In the event, the stunningly restored Pony Coupe Concept made its grand reappearance after its debut at the 1974 Turin Motor Show. This exhibition presents a unique opportunity to delve into the remarkable journey of Hyundai Motor. From its humble beginnings to its remarkable growth alongside the development of the country.
The visitors are taken on a captivating tour through the timeline of Pony, exploring its historical background and archival treasures. Moreover, the brand also provided a glimpse of groundbreaking design and the philosophical underpinnings that have shaped its legacy. It is a truly immersive experience that invites everyone to witness the incredible evolution of both the brand and the nation.
The Exhibition Showcase and Conclusion
The immersive journey into the Pony era begins on the fifth floor. Where the visitors are captivated by a vibrant display of videos, music, and paintings from the 1970s and ’80s. On the fourth floor, the visitor is greeted by an extensive collection of archived records. These records trace the Pony’s humble beginnings to its remarkable global expansion through export. Moving further, the third floor showcases the beautifully restored Pony Coupe Concept.
Moreover, it pays homage to the extraordinary talent of Giorgetto Giugiaro, the automotive designer behind its iconic design. The floor also houses the awe-inspiring N Vision 74 concept, which recently made waves at the Hyundai Reunion. Finally, the exhibition concludes on a nostalgic note with a captivating photo gallery. This gallery brings the countless memorable moments people have shared with Pony throughout the years.
The History of Hyundai PONY
The first model of Hyundai was made in collaboration with Ford in 1968 called Cortina. However, the brand decided to introduce its own first model at a later stage. For that, Hyundai hired George Turnbull in February 1974, the former managing director of Austin Morris at British Leyland. Later in 1975, Hyundai officially introduced the Pony in the market with Mitsubishi-sourced engines. However, the first-generation model was well accepted by the market. The carmaker produced approx. 2.98 Lakh units of PONY from 1975 to 1982.
In 1982, Hyundai launched the second generation of the Pony with restyled aesthetics and the same Mitsubishi powertrains. This generation was exported to Canada as the least expensive model in the market. However, the second generation of Pony had poor quality but was better built and more refined than its European models. This made it one of the top-selling models in the market. Moreover, this model was rebadged as Excel for European markets.
Currently, the new generation Hyundai ioniq5 shares a slew of its design attributes with the first generation Pony. The carmaker has designed the new Ioniq5 for resembling the design of their first model, the 1975 Pony.
Hyundai introduces RETRACE Series
The brand has introduced an exciting initiative known as the RETRACE Series. This delves into the captivating journey of Hyundai Motor, with its first theme centred around the iconic Pony. At its heart lies the RETRACE Collection, a comprehensive book that achieves the rich history of the company. This extraordinary compilation unveils the previously undisclosed records from the development phase of the Pony.
Accompanying the collection is the remarkable RETRACE Magazine, which explores the profound concept of ‘ownership’ through the lens of Pony. The Pony is the vehicle that started car ownership in Korea. And it has enduring impact on Korean culture is beautifully captured in the magazine’s subheading, ‘Forever Yours.’
Official Statement
Speaking at the event, Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung said, “In an age where artificial intelligence and robotics have a profound impact on the way we live and work, we wanted to share our past and future with you in the best possible way. In this exhibition, we returned to our roots and respectfully commemorated the history that made us a global brand today. We realized that our future is also shaped by the experience we gained while producing the Pony, which is Korea’s first independently developed serial production model.
Chairman Jaehoon Chang said, “Hyundai has a history of facing challenges and constantly seeking innovation. This legacy serves as an important milestone for us on the way to achieving our “Progress for Humanity” philosophy. I hope the ‘Timeless PONY’ exhibition and RETRACE Series will be an opportunity for people to reminisce about the past and be inspired for the future.”