Many people will tell you that the heart of the American auto industry is in Detroit. For others, the place that leads the US and possibly the world in terms of personalising the horseless carriage and taking it closer to artistic endeavour is Southern California. The perfect weather, near boundless wealth, and the fact that the automobile is a necessity — at least in LA, which has poor public transport alternatives — have created an environment that delights in all things automotive.
It’s the natural setting for what many consider the Holy Grail of car museums, the Petersen Automotive Museum. This magical kingdom, a Disneyland for car enthusiasts, is firmly rooted in California’s car culture, but it also vaunts an artistic approach to displaying its wares.
THE ART OF THE AUTOMOBILE
Unlike many famous car museums around the world, the Petersen is comparatively young. It was founded on 11 June 1994 by magazine publisher Robert E Petersen and his wife, Margie. The Petersen Automotive Museum is now owned and operated by the Petersen Automotive Museum Foundation. The Petersen also has philanthropic ideals. Naturally enough, it was the late Mr Petersen who purchased and put together the
