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Overwhelming popularity persuades Petersen Museum to extend vault tours

Michael Harley — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 14:28:00 EST

Filed under: Classics

As a jaded automotive journalist, exposed to some of the world's finest automotive machinery on a regular basis, it takes something extraordinary to raise my pulse. Yet here I was, standing in the chilly underground vault of the famed Petersen Automotive Museum, and I was getting choked up.

Last month, the Los Angeles museum opened its hidden storage garage (located beneath its concrete parking structure) to the public for guided tours intended to last just a few weeks over the holidays. Officials expected a handful of visitors would pay the additional $25 fee for the private up-close-and-personal 90-minute excursions. Instead, enthusiasts flooded the lobby each day and some even lined up out the doors.

To satisfy demand, Petersen officials have announced that they are extending the intimate vault tours... indefinitely (twice a day on weekdays, and four times a day on weekends). Visitors may call and reserve a space in advance (recommended), or show up and attempt to grab any remaining slots.

Whetting your appetite, we lugged our camera equipment (sorry, public photography is not allowed on the tours) downstairs to shoot a select gallery of just some of the vault's rare treasures - nearly all with colorful and storied histories. Click through the gallery (most have been captioned) to learn about vehicles like Steve McQueen's 1957 Jaguar XK-SS "Green Rat," a mint 1967 Toyota 2000 GT, GM's hand-built Cadillac Fleetwood-based 1998 "Popemobile" and a 1972 Ferrari "Daytona" Spyder from The Gumball Rally motion picture.

Overwhelming popularity persuades Petersen Museum to extend vault tours originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Jan 2013 14:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Petersen Automotive Museum co-founder Margie Petersen passes away at 76

Jeff Sabatini — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 13:59:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Celebrities

Margie Petersen, philanthropist and wife of late automotive publisher Robert E. Petersen, died on November 25, succumbing to breast cancer at the age of 76.

Mrs. Petersen was best known in automotive circles for helping her husband found the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, which opened in 1994, and serving on the Board of Directors of the Petersen Automotive Museum Foundation. Earlier this year, she made a $100 million contribution to the museum that bears her name, which included her family's private car collection.

But Mrs. Petersen's philanthropy extended beyond the automotive world, as the long list of organizations she worked with included Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Cedars Sinai Research for Women's Cancers in Los Angeles, St. John's Health Center in Santa Monica, California, Boys and Girls Club of Hollywood in Los Angeles, and Friends of Robinson Gardens in Beverly Hills, California, among many others.

Born Margie McNally, in her youth Petersen was a model and actress. She and her husband had two sons that died in a plane crash in 1975. Robert E. Petersen died from cancer himself in 2007, after a lifetime of publishing such esteemed car magazines as Hot Rod and Motor Trend.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Petersen Automotive Museum at 6060 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90036, or the charity of your choice in Mrs. Petersen's honor.

Click past the jump to read the entire press release.

Continue reading Petersen Automotive Museum co-founder Margie Petersen passes away at 76

Petersen Automotive Museum co-founder Margie Petersen passes away at 76 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 29 Nov 2011 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bonhams to auction off Bruce Willis muscle car collection

Noah Joseph — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 16:01:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Auctions, Celebrities

Auction house Bonhams is gearing up for another landmark event, scheduled to take place in just a few days at The Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles. Enthusiasts undeterred by the financial crisis will find all manner of automobile and automobilia at the auction, including several Steve McQueen artifacts, a land-speed record-breaking 1949 Vincent motorbike, and a selection of muscle cars from the collection of action movie star Bruce Willis.

Bruce will be offloading a prized collection of classic American steel, including a pair of Corvette roadsters (an original '57 and a '67 Stingray), a 1955 Chevy Nomad, a '69 Dodge Charger and the piece de resistance, a 1968 Shelby GT500 convertible. The star factor is sure to add to their value, and the latter is expected to fetch upwards of $150,000. For a closer look, head on down to The Petersen, or just click on the images in the gallery below to see what officer John McClane is selling.

Gallery: Bruce Willis muscle cars

[Source: Bonhams via Luxist]

Bonhams to auction off Bruce Willis muscle car collection originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 22 Oct 2008 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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