Visit to the new Petersen Automotive Museum in L.A.

Bmachine

Well-Known Member
Site Donor $
Site Donor $$
Messages
3,534
Reaction score
1,792
Location
Northern California coast
I finally took some time to get up there. I had heard that the CSL Calder Art Car was only going to be there for another week so it was a good excuse.

Overall the extensive renovation the museum went through over the last couple of years is really impressive. Not that there was anything wrong with the previous version, mind you. But the new one is super clean and the cars are simply extraordinary. In particular the current exhibition focuses of French cars of the 30's, 40's and 50's. Some truly magnificent automobiles.

http://petersen.org

The Calder Art car was interesting in several respects. Mainly because it is built as a race car but with a few really strange details:
- Chrome trim on a race car?
- Door locks on a race car?
- Strange lights illuminating the number on the door. They look like something you would find on an RV. On top of that they are oriented against the air flow.
- Flattened tube ends on a roll cage? Huh?

Anyway, it looks really awesome nonetheless.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_0392.jpg
    IMG_0392.jpg
    79.4 KB · Views: 100
  • IMG_0393.jpg
    IMG_0393.jpg
    64.3 KB · Views: 94
  • IMG_0396.jpg
    IMG_0396.jpg
    68.3 KB · Views: 89
  • IMG_0397.jpg
    IMG_0397.jpg
    70.4 KB · Views: 85
  • IMG_0399.jpg
    IMG_0399.jpg
    58.9 KB · Views: 92
  • IMG_0400.jpg
    IMG_0400.jpg
    77.3 KB · Views: 95
  • IMG_0404.jpg
    IMG_0404.jpg
    66.2 KB · Views: 100
Last edited:

Bmachine

Well-Known Member
Site Donor $
Site Donor $$
Messages
3,534
Reaction score
1,792
Location
Northern California coast
And here are some of the other exhibits in the museum
 

Attachments

  • IMG_0405.jpg
    IMG_0405.jpg
    79.2 KB · Views: 92
  • IMG_0406.jpg
    IMG_0406.jpg
    66.3 KB · Views: 89
  • IMG_0407.jpg
    IMG_0407.jpg
    64.8 KB · Views: 78
  • IMG_0411.jpg
    IMG_0411.jpg
    36 KB · Views: 91
  • IMG_0414.jpg
    IMG_0414.jpg
    34.1 KB · Views: 80
  • IMG_0419.jpg
    IMG_0419.jpg
    78.2 KB · Views: 86

Bmachine

Well-Known Member
Site Donor $
Site Donor $$
Messages
3,534
Reaction score
1,792
Location
Northern California coast
Number illumination lights were required for cars in 24 hour races.

Makes sense. Thx Chris. What makes less sense is that they have their least aerodynamic side facing the air flow.
Also odd that the driver side has one light, the passenger has two.
 
Top