Impossible to miss on the corner of Wilshire and Fairfax — the building is sheathed in swooping ribbons of stainless steel over a red skin — the Petersen tells the story of the automobile and Los Angeles's defining relationship with it. Three floors range across early classics, hot rods and customs, movie and celebrity cars, and rotating exhibits of supercars and design.
The real treasure is downstairs in the Vault, a guided tour (booked separately) through the museum's reserve collection of rare and historically significant vehicles. Even for non-enthusiasts it is an engaging couple of hours, and a natural pairing with LACMA and the tar pits across the street.