Hurray for Hollywood Movie and TV CarsHurray for Hollywood Movie and TV Cars

The Petersen Automotive Museum's "Cars of Film and Television" exhibit showcases some of our favorite fictional characters' rides.

Dan Carney, Senior Editor

March 31, 2022

11 Slides
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"Back to the Future" DeLorean DMC-12 time machine.Image courtesy of the Petersen Automotive Museum

The Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles always keeps our attention with its fantastic exhibits of cool cars and for this show's theme, the museum is spotlighting cars that have famously appeared in Hollywood television shows and movies.

It is called the "Cars of Films and Television" in the Omaze Hollywood Gallery, and the exhibition is included with the purchase of a general admission ticket to the museum.

Alas, my favorite TV car, Jim Rockford's gold Pontiac Firebird from The Rockford Files is absent, but there are more than enough other fun machines to hold fans' attention.

This display has some iconic vehicles from Back to the Future and Ghostbusters, some classics that were just part of the scenery in films like Red Notice and Lovecraft Country, and some extreme special creations such as the motorcycle Terminator for Terminator Salvation.

Whichever your preferred style, there are some of each kind of famous ride here, so click through our gallery to get ready for a visit in person.

 

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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