Petersen Automotive Museum

The Petersen Automotive Museum is located on Wilshire Blvd in Los Angeles, California. The Museum Building is more than 300,000 square feet and features more than 150 rare and classic cars, trucks and motorcycles in it's exhibits and lifelike dioramas. I like to visit the museum whenever I'm in LA. They rotate the selection of cars in many of the areas so there's always something new to see in the Grand Salon. The parking is $6.00 and the entry fees are $10 for Adults, $5 for seniors, $3 Children (5-12) and Free for children under 5.

The Otis Chandler Gallery is dedicated to motorcycles. There's a nice selection from the turn of the century thru modern times.

Otis Chandler Gallery I: A panoramic view of the Otis Chandler Gallery display at the Petersen Museum.
Otis Chandler Gallery I: A panoramic view of the Otis Chandler Gallery display at the Petersen Museum.

1948 Vincent HRD: This beautiful 1948 Vincent HRD is part of the Otis Chandler Gallery at the Petersen Museum.
1948 Vincent HRD: This beautiful 1948 Vincent HRD is part of the Otis Chandler Gallery at the Petersen Museum.
This 1948 Vincent HRD is a great looking motorcycle and in perfect condition.

The Hollywood Gallery includes some very intrersting vehicles.

Bat Cycle: As part of the Bat Man display they have the Bat Cycle.
Bat Cycle: As part of the Bat Man display they have the Bat Cycle.
The Bat cycle looks very cool.

Herbie The Love Bug: The 1953 VW Bug - Herbie "The Love Bug"
Herbie The Love Bug: The 1953 VW Bug - Herbie "The Love Bug"
Kids will enjoy seeing Herbie "The Love Bug"

The Mark V: Oh yeah, This would definetly get some attention even in LA.
The Mark V: Oh yeah, This would definetly get some attention even in LA.
This is the one car in the Celebrity Gallery that I would want to drive.

McQueen Triumph and Norton Manx: Steve McQueen's 1964 Triumph he rode in a trials event and a very cool 1953 Norton Manx.
McQueen Triumph and Norton Manx: Steve McQueen's 1964 Triumph he rode in a trials event and a very cool 1953 Norton Manx.
Steve McQueen's 1964 Truimph TR6SC that he rode in the 1964 International Six Days Trial (ISDT) I really liked the Norton Manx parked next to Steve's Triumph.

1930's Richfield Station: An example of a 1930's Richfield gas station.
1930's Richfield Station: An example of a 1930's Richfield gas station.
One the first floor the vehicles are posed in period displays. This 1930's Richfield gas station is very nice. There is also a great collection of gas pumps from the originals thru current gas pumps.

Foose Gallery: One of the beatiful cars in the Chip Foose Gallery. There were also many design drawings and sketches.
Foose Gallery: One of the beatiful cars in the Chip Foose Gallery. There were also many design drawings and sketches.
This is just one of the Foose custom cars in the gallery display. Chip does excellent work and the attention to detail is incredible.

Hot Wheels Gallery I: One of the cars in the Hot Wheels Gallery.
Hot Wheels Gallery I: One of the cars in the Hot Wheels Gallery.
Here's one of the Hot Wheels Funny Cars on display. There is a very good selection of Hot Wheels die cast cars and there's even a series of molds that show how the cars are made.

Location Info

Petersen Automotive Museum
6060 Wilshire Blvd
Los Angeles, CA, 90036
See map: Google Maps, Yahoo! Maps, MapQuest
Author: Dwight Domonkos /// submitted on October 20, 2006 - 6:00pm.
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Dwight Domonkos

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Dwight is a longtime motorsports and motorcycle enthusiast. He's been riding full-time since the early 1990's (but he did borrow a few friends' bikes for a quick trip to the grocery store in his younger days.)

Dwight is a Roadcarvin.com co-founder and serves as editor and photographer, and manages business development.

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