Petersen Opens Trio Of New Exhibits

The official start of summer is only a week away, some kids are already out of school, and all parents are royally freaking out figuring out how to keep the kids busy and, ideally, entertained. Fear not, my fellow Gen X parental units! The Pete has you covered with not one but three exciting new exhibits sure to entertain all – kids, active-duty parents, and empty nesters alike.

Maranello Masterpieces: The Legacy of Enzo Ferrari

The Petersen’s latest tribute to “il Commendatore” and his creations celebrate all things Ferrari. Opened Father’s Day weekend, the exhibit is perfectly-timed for those making a trek to the Rodeo Drive Concours d’ Elegance less than three miles away and coincides with Ferrari’s stunning victory at Le Mans with its 499P hypercar after a 50-year absence.

Tifosi will see beautiful classics including the 1947 Ferrari 125 S, the 1956 Ferrari 250 GT Tour de France, the 1957 Ferrari 500 TRC, the 1984 Ferrari 512 BBI, and the 1966 Ferrari Dino Berlinetta GT Prototype. More modern Ferraris including the 2004 Enzo and the 2017 F12 will also be on display.

Splendor and Speed: Treasures of the Petersen Collection

Opened in early May, the “Splendor and Speed” exhibit offers museumgoers a chance to see a carefully curated selection of the Petersen’s “crown jewels” normally reserved for Vault viewing.

Stop by the Bruce Meyer Family Gallery on the second floor of the museum and get up close and personal with some of the finest selections the museum’s permanent collection, including Steve McQueen’s 1956 Jaguar XKSS, the 1932 Ford “Ray Brown Roadster,” the 1967 Ford GT40 Mark III, and my personal favorite — a priceless car that to me is the epitome of the Petersen — the 1925 Rolls-Royce Phantom I Aerodynamic Coupe by Jonckheere.

Fast/Forward: Strother MacMinn's Sports Cars of the Future

“Fast/Forward” opened on June 3rd and showcases classic sports cars from the heyday of jet era design, the Fabulous 50s. The end of WWII and the beginning of the space race fueled a golden era of automotive design permeated by a futuristic and optimistic aesthetic.

In 1959, Southern California car designer and educator Strother MacMinn published a book highlighting the best “sports cars of the future.” The installation presents some of the cars that MacMinn featured in his books – what the Petersen refers to as “revolutionary vehicles for a revolutionary age.”

Vehicles on display include the 1956 Ferrari 410 Superamerica by Ghia, the 1955 Chrysler Falcon by Ghia, the 1955 GMC LaSalle II Roadster, the 1955 Chrysler Ghia Gilda, the 1954 Alfa Romeo BAT 7 and a newly restored “Le Mans Special” coupe.

For more information and to buy tickets, visit the Petersen Automotive Museum website.