VRoom VRoom...!!!! Petersen Automotive Museum

 Welcome to  Petersen Automotive Museum !! 

On June 11, 1994, Robert E. Petersen and his wife, Margie, fulfilled a longtime dream when they became founding benefactors to start the Petersen Automotive Museum, donating $5 million to the Los Angeles County Natural History Museum. In April, 2000, the Petersens contributed an additional $24.8 million dollars to the Los Angeles County Natural History Museum to retire the bond debt and establish the Petersen Automotive Museum as an independent nonprofit organization. Overall, their gifts to the Petersen Automotive Museum total over $30 million, one of the largest gifts to any museum in the United States.

Petersen Automotive Museum is located at the corner of Wilshire Boulevard and Fairfax Avenue where 75 years ago the world's first linear shopping district dedicated to the emerging auto age was developed -- the Miracle Mile -- with its wide store windows set close to the sidewalk and street, and large rear entrances to accommodate the traffic.There are three floors.These three floors of automotive history take the visitor through time and traces the automobile's influence on the culture of Los Angeles.

The first floor follows the history of the automobile with lifelike dioramas and settings, allowing visitors to experience the automobile as it relates to everyday life.

The second floor is devoted to five, rotating exhibition galleries with state-of-the-art presentations of race cars, classic cars, hot rods, motorcycles, movie and celebrity cars, and more automotive technology and design

The May Family Children's Discovery Center is located on the third floor. Designed to spark children's interest in science by way of the automobile, the 6,500 square-foot, "hands-on" learning center teaches basic scientific principles using the fundamental elements of a car.

Arfons Green Monster Jet Car:

Built and driven by Art Arfons,the 1964 the Green Monster is a three time holder of the World Land Speed Record.This vehicle is powered by a 15,000-pound thrust General Electric J-79 Jet engine from a B-58 Hustler Bomber that Arfons bought in damaged condition for $ 5,000.He repaired the engine ,installed it in his new car,which was anchored to buried concerte in his backyard,then fired it.The engine rattled windows over a wide area and incinerated his chicken coop.He persuaded Firestone to sponsor the project by contributing tires and wheels valued at $ 500,000.When at Bonneville he took the three-day old World Record from his brother,then lost it eight days later.Though Arfons recaptured it after only two weeks,he lost the record again the following year.He set his Final World Land Speed Record of 576.553 miles per hour on November 7,1965,only to lose it again eight days later. 

1911 American Underslung model 50 Traveler:

The American motor  car company produced the first "underslung" automobile by mounting the chassis beneath the axles.The car used extremely large tires to gain back come of the ground clearance lost by lowering the frame.Because the large tires helped the car pass over holes and ruts,the American Underslung was ideal for fast touring over the unpaved roads of the day.

1901 BREER: 

Carl Beer made the steam engine and the boiler ,the crankshaft and the connecting rods,the levers and other controls,and the wooden body.He bought the chassis and guages and  hired local carriage workers to paint the car and upholster the seats.The 2 -cylinder double acting steam engine generated about 5 horsepower.The car has two gears-forward and reverse.Beer restored the car in his later years when he worked at Chrysler at Detroit.

1915 STUTZ WHITE SQUADRON RACER:

Design of the white squadron Stutz engine borrowed heavily from the 1914 Mercedes grand pix car.It featured a single overhead camshaft operating four valves per cylinder  and was design to complete against the advanced European Race Cars.Earl Coopers's no 8 car raced successfully for several years before being sold to a collector.During the 1930's Cooper repurchased the car and restored it.Cooper donated the Stutz to the Los Angeles county Museum of National History in 1938.

The Automobile on Film:

This exhibit is based on  a scene from the Laurel  and Hardy movie Hog Wild, made in 1930.It was filmed on location just south of downtown Los Angeles .

 The building in the background was the south branch of the Los Angeles of the public library:it later became a part of the Southern California Campus.The Trolleys were the familiar Yellow and the brown car of the Los Angeles Railway.

Like the Keystone Kops and other films comedians Laurel and Hardy found the Ford Model T to be perfect vehicle for their work.It was by far the most common car,immediately recognizable to many people in the audience.

1922 FORD MODEL T TOURING,AS DEPICTED IN HOG WILD(1930):

Starring Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy. Low price and reliable,the mass produced Ford Model T is regarded as the car the put America on the road.It was the first vehicle to be manufactured on a moving assembly line which enable Ford to bulid a staggering 15 million before production ended in 1927.Like other actors of the day Laurel and Hardy often drove Ford model Ts in their movies because they were plentiful and extremely inexpensive on the used car market.These features were specially appreciated by the movie production companies who could be expected to modify,wreck or demolish several during the course  a single shoot.

1915 FORD Model T Roadster:

Regarded as the car that put"America on Wheels",the FORD model T was popular because it was larger ,less expensive, and offered better performance than other lost cost cars of the day. Due to the enomous popularity of the of the Ford model T,more after market accessories were created for them than for any other car.In addition to mundane items such as special springs,bumpers and steering wheels,a wide array of performance equipment was offered by specialist manufacturers to cater to the  needs of the backyard mechanics anxious to become a part of what was to become the hot rod movement.

 1962, Instant "T" :

Prior to the introduction of the Instant "T",all hot rods were individually built one-of-a-kind creations.In response to the growing popularity of hot rods ,Ted McMullen established U.S Speed Sport Manufacturing in 1962 to  series-produce an affordable and attractive replica Model "T" roadster body.It was the first street rod taht could be purchased in a kit form for home assembly.This provided buyers an oppurtunity to construct their cars over a period of time,as fast as slow as their schedules-and -budgets-would allow.When the first featured article appeared in Hot Rods Parts illustrated magazine in the early-1960s the car was appropriately dubbed the Instant" T" .Based on a 1923 Ford Roadster Pickup Platform ,this example was the first Instant "T" ever built and served as the original floor model.

Noted East Coast Hot rod builder Richie Willett crafted this striking speedster using rare original speed equipment and a highly modified FORD model T touring car body mounted on a custom fabricated chassis.Designed in an art deco style ,it is powered by a specially prepared 1933 Ford model C four -cylinder engine equipped with dual Winfield carburetors.Other creative touches include a custom engineered rear suspensionand in board rear brakes to reduce unsprung weight and improve handling.

"CHRYSLER"

1922 ,WILLYS-KNIGHT:

when John North Willys acquired the Edwards knight company in 1914,he continued production of the car under his own name Its inventor Charles Knight recievd a royalty of  $ 100 on each car produced.The Knight sleeve-valve engine had been used mostly on expensive luxury automobiles because it was smoother  and quieter than normal"poppet valves" engines of the day.But as conventional engines were improved,the Knight was finally forced out of production by its high manufacturing costs and high oil consumption.

1932 TWIN COACH DELIVERY TRUCK:

This distinctive Twin coach delivery truck became a trade mark for the HELMS BAKERY company of Los Angeles.Long time residents still recall the characteristic"toot-toot"of the horn that sent them hurrying out to the streets for fresh baked goods. The Truck's original design was the inspiration of William Fegeol ,who patented its integral chassis and body constuction .The low floor and upright driving position allowed the driver  to hop in and out quickly at frequent stops.A slightly modified version of the design was later produced by the Detroit Industrial Vehicle Co.  

1931 FORD Model A Coupe:

Although the FORD model  T was the best selling,low price automobile in America in the mid -1920s,the growing popularity of competitive makes meant the even buyers of inexpensive cars were yearing for more style and substance .The first Model A was built in October 1927.It offered buyers more comfort and performance than anything else in its class.Nine different models were available ranging in price from the $500 Tudor Sedan to the $ 1200 town car.By the end of 1931 ,Ford has sold over 3.5 million Model As.  

1921 WHITE Tanker Truck:

 White abondoned production of its expensive automobiles in 1918 to concentrate on trucks .White trucks were durable and relaible.A distinguishing feature was the sturdy frame that wrapped around to form the front bumper.The White was one of the most popular trucks for use as tankers.

1923 FORD Model TT United Parcel  Service Delivery Truck:

Like their model T passenger cars,Ford truck were popular because they were rugged ,reliable and inexpensive to buy and operate.To enhance marketability ,Ford offered their commercial vehicles in a variety of configuartions ,including open or closed cab.This delivery truck ,an open cab model was fitted with an enclosed cargo box. and was originally used by United Parcel Service(UPS) to deliver packages.

1927 Mc FARLAN Boattail Roadster:

McFARLAN was best known for its large and expensive "Twin-Valve Six" cars.The  company attempted to capture a share of the growing middle class market with the 1926 introduction of this straight eight.This car carries the badge of Le Baron ,a popular coach builder ,but the body was constucted in Los Angeles during the 1960s in a style based on sporting cars of the thirties.

1924, Franklin,Model 10 C Sedan:

Built in Syracuse,New York, Franklin was the most popular  domestic air-cooled  car prior to the Chevrolet Corvair.They used wooden frames for lightness and comfort and for full elliptic  suspension for a smooth ride and minimal tire wear.Franklin was touted  as the ideal car for extremes climate because its aircooled engine could neither  boil over nor freeze.One year after this car was built,Franklin adopted  a grille resembling that of a conventional  water -cooled  automobile in response to customer demand for vehicles with a more mainstream appearance

1932 Ford Model BB Tow Truck:

Ford Model BB Trucks had the appearance of a slightly scaled -up version of Ford passenger cars.The BB chassis came equipped with a variety of options,such as towing equipment.In the 1930s,hoisting a car normally required only attachment the hook and cranking up the chain by hand.

1932, Duesenburg J Convertible Coupe by Murphy

Although more than 50 Model  Duesenburgs of the 481 originally built were equipped with convertible coupe coachwork by Walter M murphy Co of Pasedena,it is unlikely that any two were exactly the same.In addition to color,trim and fabric choices,buyers could specify side-or rear-mounted spare tires ,forward-or -rear -hinged doors,disappearing or non-disappearing  top ,trunk or rumble seat ,and a  variety of other  details.Although most Murphy convertible coupes were mounted on the lighter -weight and more nimble short wheelbase chassis ,a small number were built upon the stately and comfortable  long wheelbase platform normally reserved for limousiness and other formal coachwork.

1939 PONTIAC  Station Wagon:

During the 1930's and 1940's most manufacturers subcontracted constuction of their station wagon bodies.this 1939  Pontiac has Mahogany body panels framed in white ash built by Hercules CO.An alternate choice ,a body which birch panels laos framed in white ash was built by lonia Manufacturing .Genuine wood was attractive but it required frequent maintenance Pontiac produced its last true "Woody" in 1949.

1955,BUICK Century California Highway Patrol:

Like musclecars of the mid-to late-1960s the 1955 Buick Century was built on the smallest Buick platform available for the year,but powered by the division's largest engine.The combination of light weight and high horsepower was appreciated by the law enforcement agencies,many of whom used them for patrolling freeways and turnpikes where they were well suited for high-speed pursuits.Of the 737,330 Buicks manufactured in 1955, a mere 268 were Century two-doors Sedans.

1957 FORD Thunderbird:

Marketed as a sporty yet luxurious boulevardier,the Thunderbird was introduced in 1955 in response to the Chevrolet Corvette,Which had been launched two years earlier.Temporarily discontinued  after 1998 ,the Thunderbird was reintroduced for 2001 as a two place personal car that embodied the spirit of the well remembered original version.

1946 ROSS PAGE SPECIAL:

The Ross page special was one of the  few newly designed  and built cars to race in the first Indy 500 after World War II.Manufactured by Frank Kurtis,It features a rear faring made of Plexiglas,a novelty for the day.The car race unsuccessfully in 1946,1947 and 1948 and then withdrawn from Indy competition

Safety Firsts:

For seven decades Chrysler has contributed for driving safety.As part of the nation's safety efforts,Chrysler has often been the first to introduce and engineer safety features to the automotive industry.Listed below are some safety"firsts" engineered by Chrysler Corporation.

1932: Power brakes

1937: Safety padding on back of front seats

1940: Safety rim-wheels

1949: Safety cushion dash panel

1958: Automatic car speed warning and control

                                          1966: Safety front shoulder harness

                                          1971:Chrysler's Four wheels sure brakes

                                          1975: Ultra high -strength door impact beam

                                          1981: Bumper system with Ultra high strength titanium steel alloy.

                                          1989:Four wheel anti lock  brake system on a four wheel drive vehicle.

                                          1991: Driver-sides airbags for minivans

                                          1992:integrated Child-restraint seating

                                          1995:All mechanical airbag restraint  system for the jeep Cherokee.

                                          1999: "Fit for a kid" child seat inspection service at dealerships.

Hollywood ...Cars of the stars:

"Herbie" The Love Bug "1963 Volkswagen":

This car starred in 1997 made-for  T.V Disney movie.

1904 WINTON FLYER:

Driven by Steve McQueen in The Reivers(1969) built by Von Dutch.McQueen took possession of the car after completion of the movie and retained it until  his death in 1980.

1975 CADILLAC:

 Eldorado convertable,It was decorated and formely owned by Nudie.His creations were worn by  John Wayne,cher,John Lennan,Hank Williams,Sr., Elton John,Elvis and many others.

1927 ROLLS- ROYCE:

 Phantom I Town car by Hooper of London Inskip of NewYork Previously owned by Fred Astaire.He used it until 1950  and used it both in London and in NewYork.

2001 HONDA:

 S 2000 Driven in 2 Fast and 2 Furious(2003)

1966 BATCYCLE:

 Ridden by Adam West and Burt Ward in Batman(1966).The Batman feature film was produced  to take advantage of the excitement generated by the then -popular TV series.

view slide show here.. 3 albums:

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http://s210.photobucket.com/albums/bb267/bhawana_2007/Museum/?action=view&current=83843a5e.pbw

http://s210.photobucket.com/albums/bb267/bhawana_2007/Museum/?action=view&current=549a54ee.pbw

TO BE CONTINUED ....!!!!