Petersen Automotive Museum

05/19/2026

Check out this week's YouTube video! INSIDE BMW's ZENTRUM
https://youtu.be/jbxYU6TEFRk

Welcome to the heart of BMW in America! In this special Garage Tour episode, the Petersen Automotive Museum goes inside BMW’s massive Spartanburg, South Carolina manufacturing campus — the global home of BMW X models and one of the most important automotive factories on the planet.

Guided by BMW Group Classic’s Tom Plucinsky, we take an unforgettable tour through the BMW Zentrum, where some of the brand’s rarest, fastest, and most legendary machines are on display.

From the earliest BMW Dixie to the iconic E30 M3, the revolutionary Z1, the legendary Z8, and even the actual James Bond “GoldenEye” BMW Z3 movie car, this is a deep dive through more than a century of BMW history.

Along the way, Tom shares incredible insider stories from BMW Motorsport history, the evolution of BMW M, and his own experiences driving some of these legendary machines.

With over 11,000 employees, 1,500 vehicles produced every day, and exports to more than 120 countries, Spartanburg isn’t just a factory — it’s the epicenter of BMW performance and innovation.
Rare cars. Racing history. Motorsport legends. BMW icons everywhere you look.

This video is sponsored by BMW North America.

Welcome to the heart of BMW in America! In this special Garage Tour...

05/12/2026

Check out this week's YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qsoXuybsJs

The Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ1 wasn’t built to cruise the Italian coast — it was built to dominate the track.

In this episode from the Petersen Automotive Museum, we take a deep dive into one of the most uncompromising race cars of the 1960s: the 1964 Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ1. Nicknamed the “Baby GTO,” this featherweight masterpiece combined Alfa Romeo engineering, Zagato aerodynamics, and Autodelta racing pedigree into a machine capable of embarrassing much larger competitors on the world stage.

From its revolutionary tubular spaceframe chassis to its iconic Kamm tail design and high-revving twin-cam engine, the TZ1 represents a golden era of lightweight performance and purpose-built motorsport engineering.

Want to learn more about the TZ? Check out ‪‬ video airing on THURSDAY May 14!

This isn’t just a vintage Alfa Romeo — it’s one of the purest driver’s cars ever created.
Subscribe to the Petersen Automotive Museum for more legendary cars, untold automotive history, and exclusive access to rare vehicles from around the world.

The Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ1 wasn’t built to cruise the Italian coast ...

05/05/2026

Check out his week's YouTube video! What happens when inventors, dreamers, and entrepreneurs try to reinvent the American automobile? In this Deep Dive, Jonee explores two of the strangest and smallest cars ever built in the United States: the 1956 Eshelman Deluxe Adult Sport Car and the charming 1947 Crosley Pickup.

From lawnmower-powered “sports cars” to lightweight micro-trucks built for postwar America, these tiny vehicles tell a fascinating story of innovation, ambition, and some truly wild ideas. Along the way, we dive into failed flying machines, rocket boats, copper-brazed engines, and the rise — and fall — of America’s microcar movement.

Give it a watch!

What happens when inventors, dreamers, and entrepreneurs try to reinvent the American automobile? In this Deep Dive, Jonee Eisen explores two of the stranges...

04/28/2026

Check out this Week's YouTube video!

In part two of our James Hetfield (yes, of Metallica fame!) Collection deep dives, we explore Aquarius—a stunning custom build that blends 1930s French Art Deco design with 1950s American hot rod style.

Donated by the Hetfield family in 2019, this one-of-a-kind car features flowing fenders, bold sculptural details, and a modern LS3 V8 under the hood. Built by Rick Dore Customs with hand-shaped aluminum bodywork, Aquarius is a perfect mix of vintage inspiration and modern performance.
Thanks for watching—stay tuned for more from the Hetfield collection!

Missed Pt. 1 of our Hetfield Deep Dives? Click to learn about the Black Pearl: https://youtu.be/2srk7-Kkc_g

And if you want to rep the Petersen in style, you can grab the super comfy quarter-zip featured in this video online or in-store at the Petersen Retail Store: https://petersenstore.org/collections/all-apparel

This video is presented by Vredestein

https://youtu.be/nKNcL6EJANY

5 likes, 1 comment. "METALLICA's Art Deco Hotrod experiment! | James Hetfield's "Aquarius""

04/21/2026

Check out our latest YouTube video!

In this episode from the Petersen Automotive Museum, we take a deep dive into one of the rarest and most ambitious cars ever created. Built during a transformative era for Aston Martin, the One-77 wasn’t just another grand tourer—it was a bold statement that the brand could compete at the very top of the hypercar world.

Check it out:

8 likes. "IS THIS THE FASTEST ASTON MARTIN EVER?! | One-77"

04/07/2026

Check out this week's YouTube video! Join Associate Curator Kristin Feay for an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at our newest exhibition: "A Fast & Furious Legacy: 25 Years of Automotive Icons." In partnership with Universal Pictures, the Petersen Automotive Museum is proud to showcase 23 screen-used vehicles and production prototypes that defined a generation of car culture.

Click to act:

A Fast & Furious Legacy: 25 Years of Automotive Icons | Exhibit Walkthrough"I live my life a quarter mile at a time." Join Associate Curator Kristin Feay for...

03/31/2026

REVENGE AT 200 MPH: The Ford GT40

Check out our latest YouTube video! What happens when one of the biggest car companies in the world gets humiliated… and decides to fight back?

This is the story of the Ford GT40 — a machine born from pure rivalry, engineered with purpose, and driven by one mission: beat Ferrari at Le Mans.

Join us at the Petersen Automotive Museum as we take a deep dive into one of the most legendary cars ever built — the 1967 Ford GT40 Mark III (Chassis 1105). From corporate betrayal to motorsport domination, this isn’t just a car story… it’s a revenge story at 200 MPH.

REVENGE at 200 MPH: The Ford GT40 | Deep Dives at the Petersen Automotive MuseumWhat happens when one of the biggest car companies in the world gets humiliat...

03/25/2026

Check out our latest YouTube video! Inside the World's Most LUXURIOUS CADILLAC Seville | GUCCI EDITION

Step into the world of opulence, elegance, and 1980s excess as we explore one of the most unique luxury cars ever made—the 1984 Cadillac Seville by Gucci.
In this episode from the Petersen Automotive Museum, we dive into the fascinating story of how Cadillac went from being “the standard of the world” to reinventing itself in the face of rising European competition. From the introduction of the Seville in the 1970s to the bold (and controversial) bustleback design of the 1980s, this is a tale of innovation, risk, and unmistakable style.

Step into the world of opulence, elegance, and 1980s excess as we explore one of the most unique luxury cars ever made—the 1984 Cadillac Seville by Gucci.In ...

03/17/2026

This Thursday, we’re saying goodbye to a fan-favorite icon in our 4x4 exhibit! Tomorrow is the last day to see 1970 Ford Bronco “Big Oly” in person — we’ll be going live with a Deep Dive on our YouTube channel in case you missed it!

Don’t worry, we’ve got an awesome new addition coming in the same day! 👀 any guesses?

“Legends of the Dirt” is powered by

03/17/2026

Check out our latest YouTube video! We've collaborated with carwow to put the 2001 Honda S2000 from Fast & Furious and our Sweepstakes 1978 Porsche 911 SC Targa! Who do you think will win...!?

Huge thank you to:

Vredestein - For providing the ultimate grip and helping Suki drive as fast as possible!
Rugged Radios - For keeping the comms crystal clear between vehicles
OPTIMA Batteries - For charging up Suki to her fullest potential!

CLASSIC PORSCHE VS. SUKI’S HONDA S2000! The Ultimate Drag Race: Nostalgia vs. Nitro!What happens when an air-cooled legend takes on a Hollywood icon? We team...

03/16/2026

A few highlights from yesterday’s opening of “A Fast and Furious Legacy”! Because it was just too good not to share more!

03/14/2026

Today was everything we hoped for and MORE. Thank you to everyone who came out and supported us for our opening Cruise-In!

Now… back home in LA, AND open to the public, “A Fast and Furious Legacy: 25 Years of Automotive Icons”

Click the link in our bio to learn more!

03/13/2026

Tomorrow we celebrate the public opening of “A Fast & Furious Legacy: 25 Years of Automotive Icons”

We cannot wait for everyone to experience this exhibit! Head to the link in our bio to learn more.

03/12/2026

We’re getting so excited for our upcoming exhibit, but we can’t forget that there’s just a little over a month of our “Totally Awesome!” 80s & 90s takeover!

Come check it out before this nostalgic automotive experience heads out!

“Totally Awesome!” is sponsored by Chase Private Client.

03/10/2026

Check out our latest YouTube video! The story of the EB110 is pretty epic tale - you can see the EB110 in person in "Totally Awesome! Car & Culture of the '80s and '90s"
Hihttps://youtu.be/pqvD-IWukag

Bea is back for another deep dive — and this time we’re looking at the legendary Bugatti EB110.When it debuted in 1991, the supercar world was already stacke...

03/09/2026

Reportedly costing $3.6M ($8.7M today), the 1995 Lotec C1000 was a 1-of-1 supercar that the world had never seen the likes of before.

The story goes that a very wealthy Emirati oil baron decided that he wanted to build the fastest car in the world. Even faster than the legendary Jaguar XJ220 which could hit a top speed of 217mph. Working closely with Lotec, a German race car manufacturer, they built the C1000 with a full carbon monocoque chassis and a Mercedes twin-turbo V8 pushing an incredible 1,000 horsepower… all in 1995! They claimed that the Lotec C1000 could hit upwards of 268 miles an hour, although it was never proven…

This car is currently on display at the Petersen Automotive Museum as part of their Totally Awesome! exhibit.

03/06/2026

Check out our latest YouTube video!
Welcome to the very first episode of our Hetfield Collection Deep Dives series! In this debut chapter, we’re taking an in-depth look at one of the most stunning cars in the Petersen Vault, presented by — The Black Pearl, the handbuilt Art Deco rolling sculpture imagined by James Hetfield and brought to life with legendary custom builder Rick Dore.

Welcome to the very first episode of our Hetfield Collection Deep Dives series! In this debut chapter, we’re taking an in-depth look at one of the most stunn...

03/05/2026

Would you believe us if we told you this hotrod started out as a Jaguar, and was completely reimagined by a rockstar?

Our latest YouTube video dives into the story behind 1948 Jaguar “Black Pearl” customized by lyricist, rhythm guitarist, and singer James Hetfield with the help of Rick Dore — head to the link in our bio to check it out!

To see the cars Hetfield donated to the Museum in person, come on into the Vault, presented by

03/03/2026

One for the books — thank you, .icerace

There’s nothing like watching incredible machines pushed to their limits, surrounded by a community that makes it all even better.

Where to next?

02/27/2026

The 1999 Honda Spocket Concept redefined versatility at the turn of the millennium. Designed as both a sports car and a pickup, the Spocket transformed at the touch of a button with rear seats folding into a truck bed, while the clamshell top retracted for open-air driving.

Even its technology was ahead of its time, replacing traditional mirrors with rear-view cameras and integrating GPS navigation and fully electric controls.

Check it out in “Totally Awesome! Cars & Culture of the ‘80s and ‘90s”

“Totally Awesome!” is sponsored by Chase Private Client.

02/24/2026

This week's YouTube video is a sit down with Dustin Williams and his 2005 Mitsubishi Evo from Tokyo Drift, which will be headed into our next exhibit, "A Fast & Furious Legacy: 25 Years of Automotive Icons," opening on March 14th!

Check it out:

In this special sit-down, shares the incredible story behind his 2005 Mitsubishi Evo 8 — the original APR-built Evo that inspired the legendary red...

02/23/2026

Check out this morning’s highlights from our Cruise-In! Which one is your favorite?