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Petersen Auto Museum, CA Part 1 1886 to 1959

1959 Cadillac Ghostbusters ECTO-1

The famous Petersen Auto Museum on Wilshire Blvd in Los Angeles, CA is one of the world's largest collections of automobiles. Founded in 1994, by magazine publisher Robert E. Petersen who created Hot Rod, Motor Trend, Car Craft and other magazines.

In 2015 the museum underwent an extensive $125 million renovation. The 300,000 sq ft building’s façade features a stainless-steel ribbon assembly.

The museum has over 100 vehicles on display on its three floors. And another 250 cars kept in a vault in the building's basement level. The Vault contains the rarest vehicles ever assembled spanning over 120 years of automotive history. A total of 350 cars!

American classics, the personal rides of Hollywood legends, award-winning hot rods and concept cars that pushed the boundaries of innovation are all on exhibit.

Enjoy Part 1 of 2. Stay tuned for Part 2 coming to a theater near you soon! Mario

1 The Petersen Automotive Museum is an automobile museum located on Wilshire Blvd in Los Angeles, CA. One of the world's largest collections of automobiles.

2 Petersen Auto Museum CA. Founded in 1994 by magazine publisher Robert E. Petersen. In 2015, the museum underwent an extensive $125 million renovation.

3 1886 Benz 1st Practical Car. The Petersen Automotive Museum is a nonprofit organization specializing in automobile history and related educational programs.

4 1913 Mercer Runabout. The museum has over 100 vehicles on display in its 25 galleries on 3 floors. The remaining 250 cars are kept in a vault in the building's basement level.

5 1916 Scripps-Booth Model D Touring Car. The ground floor focuses on automotive artistry, showcasing an array of extravagant automobiles.

6 1925 Rolls-Royce Phantom. The second floor is concerned with industrial engineering—including design, performance, and a collection of interactive teaching exhibits.

7 1927 Rolls Royce Phantom owned by Fred Astaire.

8 1928 Chevy Model AC Imperial Landau. The third floor chronicles the history of the automobile, with an emphasis on the car culture of Southern California.

9 1929 Ford Roadster. The Vault contains over 250 of the rarest vehicles ever assembled spanning over 120 years of automotive history hidden beneath the Museum.

10 1930 Nash 482R Coupe - the only known survivor today.

11 1930's Rolls Royce Phantom III.

12 1932 Ford Flathead Roadster Hot Rod.

13 1933 Cadillac Fleetwood Town Car owned by Joan Crawford.

14 1936 Bugatti Type 57C.

15 1939 Packard Twelve Landaulet.

16 1941 Cadillac Series 62 Coupe owned by Clark Gable.

17 1942 Chevy Fleetline Aerosedan.

18 1942 Chevy Suburban.

19 1942 Lincoln Limo President FDR's Armored car.

20 1947 Ferrari 125S Spyder Chassis number 001. It was the company's first vehicle, of which only two were made equipped with the now-legendary V-12 engine.

21 1948 Bentley MK VI.

22 1948 Chevy Fleetmaster Convertible. Formerly owned by actor Jack Nicholson.

23 1948 Tucker in Black Front View.

24 1948 Tucker in Black Rear View.

25 1950 Mercury Monterey. Sylvester Stallone's Cobra Movie Car.

26 1953 Buick Custom. Love that paint job.

27 1952 Ferrari 212 Barchetta. Jay Leno drives Henry Ford II's all-original '52 Ferrari on exhibit at the Petersen Auto Museum. This was a gift to Henry Ford from Enzo Ferrari.

28 1952 Hudson Wasp owned by Steve McQueen. The Hudson Hornet dominated the 1952 NASCAR season with its handling.

29 1953 Buick Wildcat Concept Car.

30 1954 Pontiac Bonneville Special Concept Car.

31 1954 Plymouth Explorer Concept Car.

32 1954 Kaiser Darrin with Sliding Doors.

33 1954 Mercedes Benz 300SL Gull Wing owned by Clark Gable.

34 1955 Chevrolet Biscayne Concept Car.

35 1955 LaSalle II Roadster Concept Car.

36 1955 Mercury D-528 Concept Car.

37 1956 Chevy Bel Air Convertible.

38 1956 Cosmic Concept Mystery Car.

39 1956 Jaguar XKSS formerly owned by Steve McQueen.

40 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air called “Trendsetter”.

41 1957 Chevrolet called “Double Trouble”.

42 1957 Ford Fairlane Skyliner.

43 1957 Jaguar XKSS.

44 1957 Lincoln Premier owned by actress Jayne Mansfield.

45 1958 Chevrolet Impala called “Dead Presidents”.

46 1958 Chevrolet Impala called “Final Score”.

47 1958 Chevrolet Impala.

48 1958 Plymouth Fury from the movie “Christine”.

49 1959 Chevy Impala.

50 1959 Cadillac Ecto-1 from “Ghostbusters” Movie.

Video and audio clips

Petersen Auto Museum Tour

World's greatest car collection Petersen

More Cars of the 1950s
More Cadillac Coverage

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Comments

Mario on Nov 17, 2024 said:

The Petersen Car Museum is one of the best in the world. Besides classic cars from all eras they also have many of the Concept Cars that I have posted in past Pages.

Their inventory is huge and the Petersen Family is constantly adding more and more to their collection.

It was a difficult decision to pick 100 of their best cars and I had to make two Pages with 50 cars each. Part 2 of the Petersen Museum will be posted in a week so enjoy Part 1 for now.

I will be posting many more various Pages over the winter that I've been working on all year to help my friends George and Rob as well as all American Torque members until the car shows start up next Spring.

Enjoy! Mario

[Reply to this comment]

57timemachine on Nov 17, 2024 said:

This has been on my bucket list for a while but going to L.A. kind of scares me. Knowing how dangerous that city is, especially for an obvious tourist. I will take the 56 Chev, the 52 Hudson and the 58 Plymouth. Mario, thanks for sharing. Cheers.

[Reply to this comment]

Mario on Nov 18, 2024 said:

I know what you mean George. L.A. may not be the best place to visit as a tourist right now. I too would love to spend 3 days in the Petersen Museum! Hopefully things will turnaround and get better.

I always liked the 1913 Mercer Runabout. What a classic Runabout car.

So many classic cars, antiques, hot rods, fifties cars, concept cars even a 1948 Tucker! It would be a dream come true seeing all these in person all 350 of them.

Thank you for your comments and good picks. Cheers, Mario

[Reply to this comment]

azmuscle on Nov 18, 2024 said:

Well what a good morning to wake and be holding a fresh cup of java and finding this.

This is only part 1!! I see cars in here I've never seen before. And it looks like you have everything in here except the kitchen sink. I know that comes in Part 2.

Like George, I'm afraid to go to LA even as a citizen. Thanks for at least giving me the opportunity to view its treasures, sitting comfortably in my recliner with my trusty .38 next to me ;-)

This one took a lot of work, I can tell. What do you put in and what to leave out? Tough call. Good call to make, Part 2.

My truck goes in for alignment today and then back home to deal with the stuck gas float when I have time. So this is a good substitute for my lack of ability to get to any local car shows. Our shows that were at night are now flipping to daylight hours due to the chillier temps. Yes, it even gets chilly here in the desert.

Time to get the 51 out of chilly storage and warm it up for the trip to the garage. I'll return to review this thread again, and probably again. Nice work Mario, stay busy with this and leave the snow shoveling to the kids. Oh, sorry, I used that forbidden four-letter word: SNOW!! ;-)

[Reply to this comment]

Mario on Nov 18, 2024 said:

Thank you Rob for always having gracious comments and insights. That makes 3 for 3 wanting to go to the Museum but not thrilled about it being in L.A.

Enjoy your java and when you can let me know your picks. So many it's hard but you can narrow it down.

Great news your truck is going in for that alignment today. One less task out of the way. And your car shows are now in daylight hours. Makes it easier to drive to.

I'm OK with Snow. I'm used to it living in NY my whole life. That's why I have a Jeep 4X4, works great in the snow.

Cheers to you, Mario

[Reply to this comment]

azmuscle on Nov 18, 2024 said:

I think I like Sylvester Stallone's 50's Mercury the Cobra Car. It's like me, lean, and low and mean looking. That's a lie. I'm chubby or HUSKY as we used to shop for jeans. I am low, getting shorter every year, and it's my face that frightens little kids and small animals.

I like the Kaiser Darrin with the sliding doors just for being different. And who wouldn't want a TUCKER in the garage for a Sunday Cruise?

Dem are my choices Mario....;-)

[Reply to this comment]

Mario on Nov 18, 2024 said:

Nice choices Rob. You picked all winners and unique one of a kinds. So many to choose from makes it difficult.

Good luck with your 51 and hope you get it on the road soon. Cheers, Mario

[Reply to this comment]

57timemachine on Nov 21, 2024 said:

Oh Oh Oh I forgot to mention that I am also taking the 1941 Caddy, the 1942 Chev Suburban and the 1948 Chev. Not that I care for rag tops but I love the year of vintage for these classic automobiles. Cheers.

[Reply to this comment]

Mario on Nov 21, 2024 said:

Ah yes George, the 41 Caddy and the 48 Chevy owned by Hollywood stars are really good looking classic cars.

The last of the pre and post war cars before the Fifties rolled in. That was the era of the Greatest Generation, people born from 1901 to 1927 also known as the the WWII Generation. Our parents.

[Reply to this comment]

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Petersen Auto Museum, CA Part 1 1886 to 1959

1959 Cadillac Ghostbusters ECTO-1

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