Current Treasures of the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles
Last month, Roz and I went to Los Angeles to visit our youngest daughter Dana. It was also an opportunity to tour the amazing Petersen Automotive Museum. Here are some treasures on display and hidden in the Petersen Vault.
Enjoy,
Howard Kroplick
Clay Model for the Tucker Torpedo Prototype.
With the assistance of Rob Ida and Mike and Sean Tucker, archivist Laura Fisher arranged for us to visit the clay model of the Tucker Torpedo prototype.
Tucker 1030
Petersen's Tucker is a highlight of the Petersen Vault Tour.
1966 Batmobile
Through May 2020, the Petersen Museum has a special exhibit: Hollywood Dream Machines: Vehicles of Science Fiction and Fantasy.
1989 Batmobile
As depicted in Batman (1989) and Batman Returns (1992)
Based on a 1967 Chevrolet Impala, this was one of five cars authorized by ht studio for promotional purposes.
Star War's Sorosuub X-34 Landspeeder
1954 Plymouth Explorer by GHIA
1955 Mercury D-528 Concept
1981 DeLorean DMC-12 "Time Machine"
Driven in Back to the Future (1985), Back to the Future II (1989) and Back to the Future III (1980).This is only example to appear in all three films.
Builder: Universal Studios
Based on: 1981 DeLorean
Comments
Hello Howard, thanks for a fun tour at the Peterson Museum! Here’s a picture of George Barris (designer of the original Batmobile) and me in my art booth at the Glenmoor Gathering in Ohio, circa 2009. George was often the Grand Marshall, sweet guy and full of great stories (he pointed out people in my art for whom he had done custom car work).
Best wishes, Chris Osborne
The 1955 Lincoln Futura Concept Batmobile (1966) in my opinion will always be a tough design to beat. I tried comparing but I cannot find anywhere a 1967 Impala on the 1989 Batmobile, not even the doors match!
My friend Carl Casper built the Batman Returns car I got to see it at his shop in Louisville and again last year in at the Kruse museum before it closed in Indiana
These cars look amazing. Hope I have a chance to get here on an upcoming LA trip.
Thanks for the recommendation of the Peterson Automotive Museum in LA. Will try to catch it next time we are there.
Over weekend we went to the Gene Autry Museum of Western Art. What a treat to see how The West and LA were developed.
Also recommend the Aviation Museum in Santa Monica.
JF Purcell
Volunteer, Nassau County Photo Archives
Checked out their website to learn the story behind the interesting architecture surrounding the museum. A creative mind came up with this design for sure!