To coincide with the 50th anniversary of Rancho Mirage, Preservation Mirage worked with the current ‘Rancho Super Car Wash’ operators and owner to obtain a full historic designation for the city’s only neon sign, ensuring it remains a permanent fixture on Highway 111 for generations to come. The harsh desert environment has taken a toll on the pink elephant over the years, Preservation Mirage commissioned artist John Pirman to create an original work of art depicting the most iconic Rancho Mirage landmark, all proceeds will fund the full restoration of the historic sign.
 
The ‘Rancho Super Car Wash’ Pink Elephant Digital Archival Print is an original work of art struck on 100% rag matte Moab paper using archival digital inks measuring 24” x 38” and signed by the artist. Printed to order and should arrive within four to six weeks.

Framing for the Archival Print is available from Modernist Frame & Design in Palm Springs, CA. Preservation Mirage has arranged a 30% discount that includes a white matte frame, UV plexiglass, museum mounting/spacers. Custom framing is also available at a discount.
 
ABOUT THE PINK ELEPHANT
The Anderson family in Seattle owned and operated one of the city’s first automated car washes. In 1956, they opened a second ‘Elephant Super Car Wash’ on Battery Street and commissioned Campbell Neon founder and designer Beatrice “Bea” Haverfield, known as the “Queen of Neon”, to create a large rotating pink elephant with 380 blinking lights – a masterpiece of motion, light, and kitsch. 
 
In 1966 Richard Fromme, whose wife Marilyn was the daughter of Eldon Anderson, opened the ‘Rancho Super Car Wash’ in Rancho Mirage and used a similar pink elephant sign to attract attention. Of the seven original car washes, only the Rancho Mirage location is still in operation and only three of the iconic signs remain. In 2022, the two Seattle signs became historic landmarks; the large sign was donated to the Seattle Museum of History and Industry’s neon collection, while Amazon stepped in to restore the smaller sign which now stands near its headquarters.
 
ABOUT JOHN PIRMAN
John Pirman John Pirman is a mid-century modernist, artist and designer based in Sarasota, Florida, where he is associated with Architecture Sarasota. His work has been seen in The New York Times, Vogue, Wallpaper and Fortune, among other publications. He has created campaigns for The New York Botanical Gardens, The Ringling Museum of Art, Viacom and American Express. For fifteen years John designed holiday cards for the Museum of Modern Art. His private commissions and limited edition prints are collected widely.