I've been to a lot of auto museums and there is none finer than the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles. Every vehicle there would be the main attraction at most other car museums.
The building is so well designed and you can really see the cars from different angles. The lighting is also really good for taking photos. The $15 admission is a great value. For an extra $20, you can take a 90 minute guided vault tour of 100 vehicles. Unfortunately we did not have time to take that.
You start on the History Floor (third floor) and go down. The History Floor shows how Hollywood and Los Angeles really embraced cars and made them part of our culture.
1936 Scout Scarab - One of most aerodynamic vehicles in its day. One of only an estimated 9 built.
First ever CNG (compressed natural gas) vehicle - A 1939 FIAT 508C Balililla converted to run on CNG because of of the gas shortages in Italy leading up to WW2.
Then you go the Industry Floor (second floor) and see automotive design and technology.
Jean Bugatatti's Masterpiece- 1936 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic
1990 BMW 535i Painted by Matazo Kayama
The first floor is the Peter and Merle Mullin Artistry Floor that shows artfully designed vehicles and also how some vehicles are used as a canvas for artists.
Tips:
Parking is not included and is $12. I would suggest using a parking meter outside (or free parking a few blocks away) instead. Your admission ticket is valid all day. There are so many great cars, it's hard to take them all in at once. A lunch at the nearby Fairfax Farmers Market or Canters Deli on Fairfax makes a good way to break up the day. Or you can walk across Wilshire Blvd to the La Brea Tar Pits and come back again.
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