Petersen Automotive Museum, Los Angeles Photos

The Petersen Automotive Museum not only has a large collection, where each car is distinguished by rarity, history, value or connection to Hollywood film or movie stars, but the museum has created movie-like sets which capture the context in which cars of each era would be observed. Such scenes include early auto showrooms, first California drive-ins and strip malls, and even a typical California family garage. Neon artwork also adds flash to the Petersen. The Petersen sits across Wilshire Blvd. from the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

See also: Los Angeles & Orange Counties, Automobile Museums
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Petersen Automotive Museum (6060 Wilshire Blvd.).

Pillars on facade of Petersen Automotive Museum.

Racing cars mounted on exterior wall of Petersen Automotive Museum.

Blacksmith's shop with Carl Breer's steam car (1901) made in LA at Petersen Automotive Museum.

Cadillac Model A runabout (1903) & motorized wagon (c1900) at Petersen Automotive Museum.

American Motor Car underslung Model 50 Traveler (1906-14) from Indianapolis at Petersen Automotive Museum.

Chevrolet series 490 Coupe (1922) at Petersen Automotive Museum.

Ford Model T (1922) as depicted Laurel & Hardy's film Hog Wild in 1930 at Petersen Automotive Museum.

Mack Bulldog Model AC truck (1919) at Petersen Automotive Museum.

Ford Model 1.5-ton panel truck (1934) formerly used by Steve McQueen at Petersen Automotive Museum.

Ford Model 1.5-ton panel truck (1934) used for educational transport at Petersen Automotive Museum.

Early gas station display at Petersen Automotive Museum.

White tanker truck (1921) at Petersen Automotive Museum.

Collection of early gas pumps at Petersen Automotive Museum.

Early Crown gas pumps at Petersen Automotive Museum.

Replica of fanciful dog-shaped snack shack at Petersen Automotive Museum.

Billboard with highway patrolman hiding behind it at Petersen Automotive Museum.

Harley-Davidson (1932) motorcycle with highway patrolman display at Petersen Automotive Museum.

Franklin Model 10c Sedan (1924) with air-cooled engine from Syracuse at Petersen Automotive Museum.

Replica of early California Ford auto sales room at Petersen Automotive Museum.

Twin Coach Helms Bakery delivery truck (1931) at Petersen Automotive Museum.

Nash 482R coupe (1930) at Petersen Automotive Museum.

Replica of early strip mall with 1939 Packard at Petersen Automotive Museum.

Packard Super Eight Phaeton (1939) used by Juan & Evita Peron of Argentina at Petersen Automotive Museum.

Replica of grocery store in early California strip mall scene at Petersen Automotive Museum.

Pontiac station wagon (1939) parked at strip mall display at Petersen Automotive Museum.

Speed shop display at Petersen Automotive Museum.

Cadillac series 62 convertible (1959) at Petersen Automotive Museum.

California garage display with Studebaker (1963) & Triumph (1958) at Petersen Automotive Museum.

Treasures of the Vault room with highlights of Petersen Automotive Museum collection.

Rolls-Royce Phantom I Aerodynamic Coupe (1925/34) with round door at Petersen Automotive Museum.

Grill of Rolls-Royce Phantom I Aerodynamic Coupe (1925/34) at Petersen Automotive Museum.

Round door & rear wheel covers of Rolls-Royce Phantom I Aerodynamic Coupe (1925/34) at Petersen Automotive Museum.

Lincoln limousine (1942) used by Presidents F.D. Roosevelt & Harry S. Truman at Petersen Automotive Museum.

Front-end of Lincoln limousine (1942) used by Presidents F.D. Roosevelt & Harry S. Truman at Petersen Automotive Museum.

Chrysler Imperial Parade Phaeton (1952) used by President Dwight D. Eisenhower at Petersen Automotive Museum.

Open seats of Chrysler Imperial Parade Phaeton (1952) used by President Dwight D. Eisenhower at Petersen Automotive Museum.

Rear deck of Chrysler Imperial Parade Phaeton (1952) used by President Dwight D. Eisenhower at Petersen Automotive Museum.

Chaika Parade Convertible (1962) used by Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev at Petersen Automotive Museum.

Chaika Parade Convertible (1962) used by Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev at Petersen Automotive Museum.

Tucker (1948), personal car of Preston Tucker, at Petersen Automotive Museum.

Davis 3-wheel Divan (1948) at Petersen Automotive Museum.

Plymouth Explorer by Ghia (1954) at Petersen Automotive Museum.

Rolls-Royce Phantom V Limousine by Chapron (1961) at Petersen Automotive Museum.

Rolls-Royce Phantom V Limousine by Chapron (1961) at Petersen Automotive Museum.

Ford GT40 Mark III (1967) at Petersen Automotive Museum.

Front hood of Ford GT40 Mark III (1967) at Petersen Automotive Museum.

Bugatti Veyron 16.4 (2006) at Petersen Automotive Museum.

Bugatti EB110 (1993) at Petersen Automotive Museum.

Neon artwork over DeLorean DMC12 & Mercedes Benz McLaren SLR at Petersen Automotive Museum.

DeLorean DMC12 (1981) with 24k gold-plating at Petersen Automotive Museum.

Mercedes Benz McLaren SLR (2005) at Petersen Automotive Museum.

Entrance to Hollywood Star Cars wing at Petersen Automotive Museum.

Mach 5 prototype (1999) for Speed Racer film & cartoons at Petersen Automotive Museum.

Delahaye type 178 Drophead Coupe (1949) once owned by Elton John at Petersen Automotive Museum.

Cadillac series 62 Coupe by Ghia (1953) first owned by Rita Hayworth at Petersen Automotive Museum.

Volkswagen Beetle (1963) star of Herbie the Love Bug at Petersen Automotive Museum.

Hannibal 8 (1965) used in The Great Race film at Petersen Automotive Museum.

Replica of 1937 Mercedes Benz used in Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) as modified from Jaguar at Petersen Automotive Museum.

Jaguar XKR (2002) driven in Bond film Die Another Day at Petersen Automotive Museum.

Detomaso Pantera (1971) owned by Elvis Presley at Petersen Automotive Museum.

Indian motorcycle (1912) used by Steve McQueen at Petersen Automotive Museum.

Motorcycle gallery at Petersen Automotive Museum.

Travel trailer (1939) built for aviator Charles Lindbergh at Petersen Automotive Museum.

Airstream Clipper trailer (1936) at Petersen Automotive Museum.

Custom hot rod gallery at Petersen Automotive Museum.

Mockup of Studebaker-Packard Astral (1957) atomic-powered hover car at Petersen Automotive Museum.

Escalator between galleries at Petersen Automotive Museum.

Mockups of cars as drawn by children at Petersen Automotive Museum.

Mockups of cars as drawn by children at Petersen Automotive Museum.


All photos on this page are originals by & copyrighted by Jim Steinhart.
All rights reserved. Permission required to use.