The Petersen Auto Museum in Los Angeles takes a few visits to see. There are too many unique cars and other vehicles to try to take it all in on one visit. Their info placards are really informative. Southern California’s impact on car culture is huge with hot rods, engineering and film. The Petersen really shows that.
The Petersen had a publishing empire and were responsible for founding the museum. Not only are a lot of cars there donated by them, Margie Petersen donated 100 million to the museum in 2011.
Below are some of my favorite vehicles the Petersen has:
The Title Image is a 1904/05 FN , the first quantity produced motorcycle with the unique 4 cylinder engine. Collectors still vie for the last few remaining ones.
The 1947 Cisitalia 202 Coupe was built by an Italian Sports car manufacturer that used Fiat mechanical parts. It was and still is considered a work of art. Even the New York Museum of Modern Art acquired one after an inclusion in a exhibition.
The 1951 “Hirohata Mercury” was restyled for a customer by George and Sam Barris. The chopped top gave it the distinctive Barris brothers look. They ran a famous Southern California custom car shop.
I believe seeing a few of those 1968 Volkswagen Type 2 Single Cab Pick Ups while stationed in Germany in 1970. Though being stationed in Germany once again with the US Army from 1990 until 2006 it was very rare to ever see a Pickup Truck there. Instead, most had wheeled carts that they attached to their cars when needed to haul large cargo.
Terrific collection! Visiting this museum is almost enough to make me want to travel to the City of Angeles again.