Petersen Auto Museum [Pics]

[FasterTraffic]

The wife and I called in a babysitter and took a rare evening to ourselves to tour the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles. They recently started offering guided tours of "the Vault," where they store and maintain cars not on display and some of the super-rare models. That motivated me to cross the Orange Curtain and visit the museum.

http://i714.photobucket.com/albums/ww142/polemic/PetersenAutoMuseum/DSC_0368_zps9dced733.jpg

http://i714.photobucket.com/albums/ww142/polemic/PetersenAutoMuseum/DSC_0374_zps54c13d15.jpg

http://i714.photobucket.com/albums/ww142/polemic/PetersenAutoMuseum/DSC_0393_zps25127185.jpg

Wolfpack! (Yes, it's that car.)
http://i714.photobucket.com/albums/ww142/polemic/PetersenAutoMuseum/DSC_0382_zpsa5ca5adb.jpg

http://i714.photobucket.com/albums/ww142/polemic/PetersenAutoMuseum/DSC_0390_zpsd2277364.jpg

http://i714.photobucket.com/albums/ww142/polemic/PetersenAutoMuseum/DSC_0386_zps0c9c1a8c.jpg

http://i714.photobucket.com/albums/ww142/polemic/PetersenAutoMuseum/DSC_0387_zpsf2189278.jpg


No private photography allowed in the Vault so you'll have to make do with these pictures from Autoblog... :leaving:

Petersen Automotive Museum Vault Photo Gallery - Autoblog (http://www.autoblog.com/photos/petersen-automotive-museum-vault/full/#photo-5553804)

I don't see it in that gallery but there was also this...

http://www.petersen.org/uploads/images/vehicles/dual_ghia/Dual_1958_Ghia_Front_Side.jpg
A total of 104 Dual-Ghias were built, 102 convertibles and two hardtops. Owned by “Rat Pack” members like Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin, the Dual-Ghia was so exclusive that aficionados were known to say: “a Rolls-Royce was what one settled for if one could not get a Dual-Ghia.”

Another one Autoblog missed...
http://www.petersen.org/uploads/images/vehicles/bugatti/Bugatti_1939_Type_57C(2).jpg
Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, the Prince of Persia and future Shah of Iran, received this striking supercharged Bugatti as a gift from the French government on the occasion of his first wedding. The dramatic body was constructed by Vanvooren of Paris in the style of Figoni & Falaschi, one of the most progressive coachbuilders of the day. Advanced features include fully skirted fenders, a top that conceals beneath a metal panel when down, and a windshield that can be lowered into the cowl by means of a hand crank mounted under the dashboard. In 1959 the Bugatti was sold out of the Shah’s Imperial Garage for a sum equivalent to approximately 275 U.S. dollars. It was subsequently owned by a succession of Bugatti enthusiasts, but never publicly shown until after receiving a complete restoration in 1983.

[ApexOversteer]

Love that Scaglietti Corvette...

[wwomanC6]

Some cool cars there!

[VatorMan]

:cool:

[jaxgator]

What is this? How in the hell do you see out of the sides? :confused5:

http://i714.photobucket.com/albums/ww142/polemic/PetersenAutoMuseum/DSC_0390_zpsd2277364.jpg

[burtonbl103]

:cool:

[FasterTraffic]

What is this? How in the hell do you see out of the sides? :confused5:

1970 Lancia Stratos HF Zero


(The "Zero" might refer to visibility.)

[jaxgator]

1970 Lancia Stratos HF Zero

:cert:

(The "Zero" might refer to visibility.)

:funny:

[99 pewtercoupe]

Sweet:)

[PetersenMuseum]

The wife and I called in a babysitter and took a rare evening to ourselves to tour the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles. They recently started offering guided tours of "the Vault," where they store and maintain cars not on display and some of the super-rare models. That motivated me to cross the Orange Curtain and visit the museum.

Hi, this is David M. from the Petersen. Great shots from your visit. From an OC transplant, thanks for crossing the Orange Curtain to pay us a visit.

Figured I should let you all know about our huge Corvette event coming up on March 1 & 2. Seminars, panels, a gala, and we're filling our parking structure with 500 Corvettes, plus a special exhibit inside. Thanks again for the photos. I hope it's OK that I've shared this thread on our social media. Thought the shots were worth seeing :)

[PetersenMuseum]

1970 Lancia Stratos HF Zero


(The "Zero" might refer to visibility.)

Haha wouldn't be surprised if you were right about that. Luckily (for other drivers), the Lancia Stratos HF Zero was a concept car by Bertone, so it never truly hit the streets. Wedge designs do owe a lot to this car, though.

The Lancia Stratos, however...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxKtqnUZU5k

[78SA]

Beautiful cars! Much better than the ones I posted. :lol:

[FasterTraffic]

Hi, this is David M. from the Petersen. Great shots from your visit. From an OC transplant, thanks for crossing the Orange Curtain to pay us a visit.

:seasix: Worth the trip.