Oh my gawd' ... those gems sparkle ! How awesome is that ? Niekamp and Spencer yes .... but everything else included is jaw dropping !!! I can't wait to see the new and approved (!) digs. Stunning photos. I love you Tom Davison !!
Just because some of those cars don't fit the definition of hot rod or custom, does not mean that they aren't drool worthy. I'm gonna have to go dry out my ipad now. Thanks.
What I enjoyed at the Peterson (The First) was that most, or at least a lot, of the vehicles were ones that I remember either seeing growing up or might have even owned one of them, though they were in a better condition that I could ever build. With the Peterson Part Douc, I see vehicles that remind me of runway models and haught contour Rodeo Drive Stores. Amazing size 0 women wearing $10,000.00+ dresses. Beautiful to look at but way out of my league. High Brow comes to Low Brow Southern California Automotive History.
I love the differences... there isn't a place anywhere large enough to show or even to view every "important" car in the world - let alone store or maintain them properly. Special cars like the ones now on display simply HAVE to be maintained and curated by private enterprises or people like the Peterson's all over the world - the auto auctions, the private collectors, the historians (magazine and book publishers), the Concours and car show promoters, the museums, etc.. If not, we would likely never see them. At least the Peterson is making an effort to rotate the cars and provide a good mix - including rods and race cars important to America and American auto racing. The down side, regular-Joe-wise, is that they are very often over restored, over-valued, and curated only by the wealthy - yes, the very ones who need to get the credit for saving our history are, at the very same time, the same people or institutions who have the history books written - and undoubtedly make sure that someone is preserving the "right" pieces (and further escalating the value of their own collections). I don't begrudge them for it, and certainly appreciate their efforts, regardless of the "cost" to me. Otherwise I wouldn't be able to see them at all. Gary
I wonder what the story is on the Flathead in the last picture, with the SBC water pump pulley in the generator location? Underdriven?
I went last weekend and I gotta say- it's top notch. Waaay better than it was. What I really liked is the way the cars are staged- you are able to get all the way around them and they are all spaced out real well, so you can get up close and far enough away to take in all the details. The precious metal exhibit was kick ass! So many incredibly rare cars in one room...
Thanks for the effort put into all of your photography and writing. I love the sweeping curves on the Bugatti and French coach work you posted, good design is always inspiring regardless of whether it's affordable. If they are too valuable to drive, at least they are viewable and not in a private vault somewhere.
Thanks for the great coverage of the New Petersen Museum. I am taking a group there in a couple of weeks and will now know what to expect. I am sure Pete would be happy.
I ran into Tom a few times while I was in California for the roadster show, the Petersen being one of them. It was good catching up with him. He was very excited about the shots he was getting, and commenting on how good the lighting was. Great guy and great shots!
What can a car guy say? One word comes to my simple mind. WOW! What beautiful cars, the photographs are simply put, ART WORTHY! Thanks so much Tom for taking us who will never make it to the museum on a eye candy tour! Thank you Ryan for posting it all up for us to see! Joe
Thanks Tom for the nice article and beautiful photography. I am trying to get there this week and you have given more inspiration. My overall opinion is what a great monument to industrial design and beauty at it's finest. It gives one a chance to see the work of builders to the stars and the builders with a heart. All to the delight of gearheads near and far!! TEB
The Spencer Roadster. Great example of excellent proportions, perfect stance and simplicity. To me the all time best. That upper pulley on the flathead has me scratching my head. Maybe these old eyes are missing something. Like what it's attached to.
Having been working through the issues of how to get a decent fan setup on my flathead for my 31 coupe, I think the pulley on the flatty is probably fitted to an idler bolted to the generator mount so that the fan can sit up high enough to do some good. something like this part from my engine, maybe with the pulley machined off.
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