Petersen Automotive Museum Vault

2005 Ferrari 575 Superamerica — Derived from the 575M Maranello coupe, the Pininfarina-designed Superamerica was fitted with a roof panel that could be lowered for a targa effect.  For open air motoring, the driver simply releases a catch on the windshield header and pushes a switch on the center console. The glass roof then rotates backward on the axis of its rear edge and comes to rest upside down on top of the trunk lid. An innovative electrochromic layer in the top allows the driver to control the level of interior light while reducing heat and glare.  The Superamerica, which derived its name from a small series of ultra exclusive limited production Ferrari coupes of the 1950s and 1960s, is powered by a 351 cubic inch V-12 engine that delivers 532 horsepower. (Parked next to a Ferrari F50 and a 1991 Ferrari F40.)

1967 Ford GT40 MkIII — Of the seven Ford GT40 Mark IIIs built, only four were delivered with left hand drive like this car.  This rare street-legal example (serial #MK3 1105) was originally owned by well-known Austrian conductor Herbert von Karajan, who drove it sparingly—and never in the rain.  The Mark III differed from earlier versions in that it had round rather than oblong headlights, an extended rear deck with room for luggage, a less rigid suspension and a more comfortable interior.  Powered by a 289-cubic-inch 306-horsepower Ford V8 engine coupled to a ZF 5-speed manual transmission, the low-slung car can accelerate from zero to 60 miles per hour in just 5.3 seconds. Top speed is approximately 165 miles per hour.  The GT40 model designation was derived, in part, from its low height, which was a mere 40 inches from ground to roof. (Parked next to a 2005 Ford GT.)

Volkswagen Beetle, in "Herbie" livery, built for one of the many movies (inside the cabin is a lever used to raise the front decklid so the vehicle may "talk"). Parked next to is a "NASCAR Herbie" from the movie "Herbie: Fully Loaded."

1886 Benz Patent-Motorwagen — One of the 25 exact full-scale replicas built by John Bentley Engineering in the U.K. between 1986 and 1997. (Parked next to a 1903 Cadillac.)

1926 Ford T built by Lil John Buttera, 50th Anniversary Hot Rod Magazine 1927 Ford T, Ala Kart II (replica of the AMBR-winning Ala Kart), 1930 Chevrolet, Van Halen "Hot For Teacher" 1932 Ford Phaeton, 1932 Ford built for Mr. Petersen, 1932 Ford Miller Automotive Special (original condition), 1932 Ford “Orange Twist” – won America’s Most Beautiful Roadster in 1988.

1957 Norton w/ Busmar sidecar, 1917 Harley-Davidson Model J, 1904 Studebaker Doctor’s Carriage

Left to right: 1913 Mercer Type 35-J Raceabout, 1912 DeDion Bouton, 1914 Series H Royal Mail Roadster

The car in the foreground is an air-cooled 1924 Franklin. Next is a 1922 Chevrolet, then a 1915 Buick, a 1914 Chevrolet, a 1912 DeDion Buton, 1913 Mercer, 1903 Cadillac, 1886 Benz Patent-Motorwagen replica by John Bentley

The black car is a 1952 Ferrari 212/225 Barchetta, a gift from Enzo Ferrari to Henry Ford II. It was the last Barchetta ever made, a left hand drive example completed with unique white wall tires and polished wheels. Interestingly, it was parked inside Ford's studio while they were working on the 1955 T-Bird (in white behind it)... note the similarities.

Left to Right: 2008 Ferrari Superamerica, 1995 Ferrari F50, 1990 Ferrari F40

1972 Ferrari 365 GTS/4 "Daytona" Spyder — The Gumball Rally was one of the earliest cross-country race movies.  The competitors’ vehicles included a Chevrolet van, Shelby Cobra, Kawasaki motorcycle, Rolls-Royce, this Ferrari, and others.  Raul Julia, the Ferrari’s driver, portrayed a reckless Italian who plucked the rear-view mirror from the windshield because “what’s behind…is not important.”  One of only 120 built, the Ferrari Daytona Spyder was the ideal choice for an actor playing an international playboy during the 1970s.  It was dashing, self-indulgent, and irresistible to the women characters.

1998 GM Cadillac Fleetwood "Popemobile" — While today's "Popemobiles" are manufactured on Mercedes-Benz platforms, GM built a custom sled for the Pontiff's Mexican visit in the late 1990s. Unfortunately, the front-wheel drive four-door lacked a bulletproof bubble so the Vatican never used it.

1948 Chevrolet Fleetmaster — Priced at $1,628, the convertible was the second most expensive Chevrolet for 1948, exceeded only by the wood-bodied station wagon at factory price.  Standard equipment included a power top, 90-horsepower “Stovebolt” six-cylinder engine, and DeLuxe two-spoke steering wheel.  With total model year production of 775,982, Chevrolet outsold archrival Ford by a wide margin to retain its position as America’s best selling car.  Academy Award-winning actor Jack Nicholson drove this convertible in "The Two Jakes" (1990) before donating it to the Petersen Automotive Museum in 2003.    

1913 ROLLS-ROYCE 40/50 Silver Ghost Roi de Belge Tourer — By Woodall Nicholson

1961 Rolls-Royce Phantom V Limousine — By Chapron (cost $55,000 new and was the most expensive vehicle sold new that year).

Right to Left: 1957 Plymouth Pro Street Fury, 1968 Chevrolet Biscayne, 1967 Dodge Coronet 440 “WO23” Dragcar.

1957 Jaguar XK-SS "Green Rat" owned by Steve McQueen. Built for racing, it was fitted with a 3.4-liter inline-six topped with a six-pack of side-draft Weber carburetors. It generated upwards of 275 horsepower, meaning the lightweight (about 2,000 pounds) two-seater was capable of a 0-60 sprint in about five seconds — amazing performance for a street car in that era!

1957 Jaguar XK-SS "Green Rat" owned by Steve McQueen. Built for racing, it was fitted with a 3.4-liter inline-six topped with a six-pack of side-draft Weber carburetors. It generated upwards of 275 horsepower, meaning the lightweight (about 2,000 pounds) two-seater was capable of a 0-60 sprint in about five seconds — amazing performance for a street car in that era!

1925 Rolls-Royce Phantom I Aerodynamic Coupe (aka "Round Door Rolls") — Owned by the Raja of Napara and passed through several owners before landing in Belgium in 1932. Through a turn of events, it ended up in a junkyard in New Jersey in the 1950s, before being saved and restored. Purchased by the Peterson Museum in 2001, and re-restored to its present condition.

Clockwise: 1960 Barbershop Car, 1967 Boothill Express, 1978 Stagefright, 1999 Speed Racer Mach 5, 1954 Plymouth “Sniper”

1953 Bosley GT Mark I, 1963 Chevrolet Corvette “Outer Limits”, 1929 Rolls-Royce Phantom I Derby Speedster by Brewster

1959 Ford Thunderbird "Macabre Mobile"Driven by Elvira, Mistress of the Dark (Cassandra Peterson), 1964 Calico Surfer by George Barris, 1956 Ford Thunderbird Bonneville Racer