HAVE YOU BEEN TO THE PETERSEN MUSEUM LATELY?

Wanting to make sure I visited the “People’s Champ: The Impact of Ken Block” exhibit at the Petersen Automotive Museum before it went away, I made a short trip to see what was on hand—and was blown away by the caliber of cars they had throughout the museum itself (Editor’s note: The Ken Block exhibit is now past, but you can still view it online here). 

Back from Monterey Car Week

I was pleased to learn a few of the most notable examples from Pebble Beach during the recent Monterey Car Week would make their way down to the Petersen for a limited time. The Gordon Murray S1 LM was sitting front and center in the lobby.  One of five made, all commissioned to the same owner in different specs, a tribute to the 30th anniversary of the McLaren F1 GTR win at Le Mans. A bonus in the lobby was seeing Christian von Koenigseggs hand-built CC Prototype, winner of The Quails Evolution of the Supercar award. 

Editor's note: To see more images by Christopher Carreiro of vehicles from Monterey Car Week that are now in the Petersen Autumotive Museum, go to LACar's Facebook gallery here.

Totally Awesome! Cars and Culture of the ‘80s and ‘90s   

This exhibit is a cross-section of computer-era automotive design and pop culture. In the words of the Petersen: “Totally Awesome! explores the intersection of automobiles and popular culture in the last two decades of the 20th century. As much as ever, motor vehicles of this era were powerful symbols of personal expression, social status, and technological advancement. However, an expanding media landscape and the dawn of the digital age played impactful new roles in shaping vehicle design and the way automobiles were marketed to the public. Cars of all types reflected social and stylistic shifts at a transformative time in history.”

Editor's note: To see more images by Christopher Carreiro from the "Totally Awesome: Cars and Culture of the '80s and '90s" exhibit now in the Petersen Autumotive Museum, go to LACar's Totally Awesome Facebook gallery here.

People’s Champ: The Impact of Ken Block 

As stated by the Petersen Museum: “This groundbreaking exhibit unites Ken Block’s most famous builds—like the tire-shredding Hoonicorn, the monstrous Hoonitruck, and more—giving fans an up-close look at the vehicles that revolutionized driving culture. Explore exclusive artifacts from his life and career, and immerse yourself in the stories behind his unparalleled influence on the industry. Whether you’re a lifelong fan or new to the world of Ken Block, this is your chance to experience the legacy of a true game-changer.”

Editor's note: To see more images by Christopher Carreiro from the "People's Champ: The Impact of Ken Block" exhibit now in the Petersen Autumotive Museum, go to LACar's Facebook gallery here.

But Wait, There's More

The rest are miscellaneous but equally important examples of the Petersen’s caliber of curation.  1991 Köenig Specials C62 //while 100 examples of the Porsche 962 were produced this C62, however, is on3 of three road legal customs.  Truly amazing.  Gordon Murray S1 LM // One of five, all to the same owner, once it leaves the museum you may never see this car again 1996 Nissan Skyline R33 GT-R LM. One hard copy in existence, a true unicorn. 

Editor's note: To see other images by Christopher Carreiro from the Petersen Autumotive Museum, go to LACar's Facebook gallery here.