If you ever head to Los Angeles, one destination that should be on your list is the Petersen Automotive Museum. Located on Wilshire Boulevard, even the building stands out, thanks to the abstract metal “skin” on it.
The museum regularly gets new displays, and vehicles swap out all the time. In other words, you may or may not see everything on this list, but I guarantee that visiting will be a great time.
This is a childhood fantasy of mine. Few cars are as beloved as the DeLorean DMC-12 that serves as a time machine. You get to see one of the original cars up close, and gawk at all the nerdy details from the movies. For example, the Flux Capacitor blinks behind the driver’s seat, all the controls are present, and you can even see what time has been set for traveling.
I especially enjoyed how you can see scorching and exposed welds in the rear modifications. It adds a level of grit you probably subconsciously process in the movies, but don’t really notice until the car is sitting right in front of you at the Petersen Automotive Museum.
If you’re a fan of BMW films, you need to see “The Escape,” if you haven’t already. BMW took a break from making excellent short films starring Bimmers (oh, and some people, too) but returned to that practice in the fall of 2016.
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I’m not going to explain the plot of “The Escape” here, because you should just watch it (the movie’s under 14 minutes long). What’s crazy about the 2017 5 Series at the Petersen Automotive Museum is that it was the car that was actually shot with live rounds during filming. You get to see bullet holes in the hood, driver’s front fender, windshield and the driver’s headrest (complete with a nasty exit wound on the backside). It’s pretty crazy to see in person.
If you were a kid in the late 1980s, Tim Burton’s “Batman” movie was huge, like epic beyond any hype films get these days. I still have my die-cast version of the Batmobile, and seeing it in person is a little surreal. Sure, the car makes quite the impact on the screen, but in the flesh it commands attention and respect.
The Petersen Automotive Museum keeps the cockpit open, so you can see all the controls inside. Driving the Batmobile looks like it’s about as complicated as flying a plane. Other details, like the bat symbols in the wheels, are fun to see up close.
You can’t see a Toyota 2000GT just anywhere, considering only 351 were made originally, and some haven’t survived. This supercar was a first not only for Toyota, but also for Japan. It proved that the little island nation could compete with the big boys in the automotive industry, and not just make small, economical vehicles.
Aside from being rare, the 2000GT is a gorgeous vehicle. It features clean lines, those classic fender-mounted side mirrors I love, and a panache I wish modern Toyotas had. I can only imagine what it would be like to drive such a car on Silverstone or Road Atlanta, especially after getting so close to one.
This car looks cool, because it’s a nice, clean build. But when you learn the story behind it, the coolness factor explodes. Frank Mack was one determined guy, logging 3,000 hours in three years working on this 1927 Ford Model T to make it something more. The only thing he didn’t do on the car without help was the upholstery.
The customizations include E&J accessory headlights, Dayton wheels, and 3/4-inch nerf bars that Mack fabricated by hand. To see a custom build of this quality and level of creativity pulled off by some guy working in his garage is truly inspiring.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Since the museum is in Los Angeles, you’d expect some celebrity cars. You get plenty of them, including different ones used in movies and TV shows. By far the most interesting, in my opinion, is Cadzzilla.
In the beginning, this car was a regular 1948 Cadillac Sedanette fastback. Billy F. Gibbons from ZZ Top commissioned the build, drawing inspiration from Japanese movie monsters, hence the name. It’s a monster on many levels, thanks in part to the 500 cubic-inch V8 engine stuffed under the hood. You might recognize it from different ZZ Top album covers.
Most of the first floor is occupied by Bugattis, which is quite the sight to behold. Choosing just one to highlight wasn’t an easy task, because the brand has produced so many amazing cars. This one stuck out, thanks to several factors.
First off, Bugatti only made 38 Type 55 Super Sports during its run from 1932 to 1935. That the company created such a vehicle during the Great Depression is inspiring. You can look at pictures and think the car looks great, but seeing it in person allows you to truly appreciate the elegant details that are everywhere. Even better, housed under the hood is a supercharged twin-cam engine, which was absolutely fiery for its time.
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