A Dozen Classic Cars Everyone Should Know

The Petersen Automotive Museum has gathered its all-stars into a single exhibit.

Dan Carney, Senior Editor

July 14, 2023

12 Slides
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The Petersen Automotive Museum's "Splendor and Speed" exhibit.Petersen Automotive Museum / Mitokino

The Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles has a famously incredible collection of classic cars and motorcycles.

A problem with such a large collection and the schedule of specialty exhibits focusing on particular niche models is that it is possible for the collection’s most amazing and noteworthy cars to be missed.

The museum is solving that problem with Splendor and Speed: Treasures of the Petersen Collection, a roundup of a dozen of its most desirable and influential cars in a single place for easy viewing.

Another Stunning Gathering of Mythical Hypercars

The cars are supported in the exhibit by nearly 100 original mid-20th-century design models and works of automotive concept art, more than 30 minutes of rare film footage, and numerous one-of-a-kind artifacts.

“The display is a fitting reflection of the exceptional assortment of vehicles we have in our collection,” said Petersen Automotive Museum Executive Director Terry L. Karges. “We are delighted to have visitors view the museum's most cherished vehicles and artifacts.”

Click through the photo gallery to see the glamorous dozen cars that are showcased in this exhibit.

About the Author

Dan Carney

Senior Editor, Design News

Dan’s coverage of the auto industry over three decades has taken him to the racetracks, automotive engineering centers, vehicle simulators, wind tunnels, and crash-test labs of the world.

A member of the North American Car, Truck, and Utility of the Year jury, Dan also contributes car reviews to Popular Science magazine, serves on the International Engine of the Year jury, and has judged the collegiate Formula SAE competition.

Dan is a winner of the International Motor Press Association's Ken Purdy Award for automotive writing, as well as the National Motorsports Press Association's award for magazine writing and the Washington Automotive Press Association's Golden Quill award.

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He has held a Sports Car Club of America racing license since 1991, is an SCCA National race winner, two-time SCCA Runoffs competitor in Formula F, and an Old Dominion Region Driver of the Year award winner. Co-drove a Ford Focus 1.0-liter EcoBoost to 16 Federation Internationale de l’Automobile-accredited world speed records over distances from just under 1km to over 4,104km at the CERAM test circuit in Mortefontaine, France.

He was also a longtime contributor to the Society of Automotive Engineers' Automotive Engineering International magazine.

He specializes in analyzing technical developments, particularly in the areas of motorsports, efficiency, and safety.

He has been published in The New York Times, NBC News, Motor Trend, Popular Mechanics, The Washington Post, Hagerty, AutoTrader.com, Maxim, RaceCar Engineering, AutoWeek, Virginia Living, and others.

Dan has authored books on the Honda S2000 and Dodge Viper sports cars and contributed automotive content to the consumer finance book, Fight For Your Money.

He is a member and past president of the Washington Automotive Press Association and is a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers

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