1961 International Harvester Scout 80

Back in 1961, International Harvester decided to take on the Jeep CJ, using the Scout 80. It was billed as a more civilized way to go off-roading. Today, the Scouts enjoy a strong, dedicated cult following, but most people have forgotten they even existed.

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This particular Scout 80 at the museum is the 22nd made, out of a total 100,000. Unlike later models of the Scout, this one was more of a pickup, complete with a fold-down windshield. International Harvester later offered a full-length top for the vehicle, making it one of the earliest SUVs on the market.

2015 McLaren P1

This car was one of three to prove the hybrid powertrains can be good for more than just driving slow in the left lane. Even people who had no idea what they were looking at seemed taken aback by the exposed carbon fiber body, striking lines and aggressive stance of the P1.

If you aren’t aware, McLaren limited production of the P1 to a mere 375 worldwide. That means you won’t get many opportunities to see this supercar in person, especially stationary and where you can walk right up to it at the Petersen Automotive Museum.

1993 Mazda RX-7 Concept

Most people agree that the third-gen Mazda RX-7 was the best ever made. The car looks amazing, even by today’s standards. It’s especially interesting to see how Mazda toyed with the idea of eliminating sharp angles, which were prominent on the second generation, and go with something so fluid.

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Because this is a concept vehicle, it’s a one-of-a-kind example, so you can only see it at the Petersen Automotive Museum. While the final product is more beautiful and dramatic, being able to see such a wonderful work of art in progress is amazing. Eventually, it turned into something that looked athletic and performed that way, thanks in large part to the sequential twin turbo setup.

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