Andrea with a silver 2019 Rünge RS010.

Petersen Automotive Museum

In March, I received an email from my friend Phil.

“We took a road trip in January,” he reported. “Visited Phoenix and Los Angeles The Petersen car museum in L.A. was very nice.”

I looked up the Petersen museum and was bummed to see that it was less than one mile away from the General Consulate of Spain. I visited that consulate twice between November and January for visa purposes. Talk about missed opportunities–twice!

But Andrea and I were in the L.A. area again for various reasons. This time, I was sure not to squander another chance.

As it turned out, we had only a couple of hours to peruse. Therefore, we did not visit The Vault at the Petersen Automotive Museum, which housed another 250 cars. But the three other levels had plenty of unique and notable automobiles.

Between the three levels, there was a virtual potpourri of the following:

  • Older, classic, and historical vehicles
  • Movie cars
  • Concept cars
  • Super- and hypercars
  • Cars from the James Bond movie franchise

Andrea had a couple of favorites. They included a 2019 Rünge RS010 that was hand-built in Minnesota. Its body was hand-formed from aluminum alloy and its four-cylinder engine was mid-mounted.

Andrea with a silver 2019 Rünge RS010.
Andrea with a silver 2019 Rünge RS010.

Another one she liked was this three-wheel, 1955 Fuji Cabin 5A that cost $650 new (about $7000 in 2022’s dollars).

Andrea with a 1955 Fuji Cabin 5A.
Andrea with a 1955 Fuji Cabin 5A.

It reminded me a lot of the Corbin Sparrow electric three-wheeler I used to see frequently in the San Francisco Bay Area in the early 2000s. Its 40-mile real-world range, however, limited its appeal. The Corbin became defunct in the face of hybrids and longer-range EVs.

If I to pick favorite, it might have been this 1999 Z8:

A silver 1999 BMW Z8, also used in a James Bond movie.
A silver 1999 BMW Z8, also used in a James Bond movie.

Another BMW that I liked was this i7 concept that made it to production largely unchanged except for the doors:

BMW i7 concept car.
BMW i7 concept car.

BMW has churned out many turds recently, so the two cars were a pleasant reminder that their design department isn’t completely hopeless.

Below are many other vehicles I liked or thought were notable.

A Black 2020 Ferrari Monza SP1.
A Black 2020 Ferrari Monza SP1.
A red 1953 Bosley GT Mark I.
A red 1953 Bosley GT Mark I.
2018 Skynet Moto-Terminator.
2018 Skynet Moto-Terminator.
Andrea with the 1981 DeLorean "Time Machine" from the Back to the Future movie.
Andrea with the 1981 DeLorean "Time Machine" from the Back to the Future movie.
Felix with one of the original Batmobiles.
Felix with one of the original Batmobiles.
2001 Lincoln MK 9 concept car.
2001 Lincoln MK 9 concept car.
2002 Mercury Messenger concept car.
2002 Mercury Messenger concept car.
A black 1956 Corvette.
A black 1956 Corvette.
A silver Porsche 914.
A silver Porsche 914.
A 2022 Hennessey Venom F5 Roadster with an estimated top speed of 311 miles per hour.
A 2022 Hennessey Venom F5 Roadster with an estimated top speed of 311 miles per hour.
2040 DeLorean Omega concept car.
2040 DeLorean Omega concept car.
2019 Automobili Pinifarina concept car.
2019 Automobili Pinifarina concept car.
A 1995 GM EV1 electric car. I got to test drive one of these in 1999.
A 1995 GM EV1 electric car. I got to test drive one of these in 1999.
A yellow 1996 Corbin Sparrow. I used to see many of these around the San Francisco Bay Area in the early 2000s.
A yellow 1996 Corbin Sparrow. I used to see many of these around the San Francisco Bay Area in the early 2000s.
A red 2008 Tesla Roadster.
A red 2008 Tesla Roadster.
The 2021 Sondors Metacycle.
The 2021 Sondors Metacycle.
A 1964 Aston Marton DBS used in the James Bond films.
A 1964 Aston Marton DBS used in the James Bond films.
A replica of the 1886 Benz Patent-Motorwagen, regarded as the first practical self-propelled automobile.
A replica of the 1886 Benz Patent-Motorwagen, regarded as the first practical self-propelled automobile.
A silver 1954 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL "Gullwing" coupe.
A silver 1954 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL "Gullwing" coupe.
The 2022 DeLorean Alpha5 concept car was styled by Italdesign, which also styled the original DeLorean DMC-12. The Alpha5 will be all-electric if it ever makes it to production.
The 2022 DeLorean Alpha5 concept car was styled by Italdesign, which also styled the original DeLorean DMC-12. The Alpha5 will be all-electric if it ever makes it to production.
The 2014 Lotus C-01 motorcycle, the first motorcycle by Lotus.
The 2014 Lotus C-01 motorcycle, the first motorcycle by Lotus.