The Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles is Worth the Drive

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The Petersen Automotive Museum originally opened in June 1994 in a former Ohrbach's department store building at Fairfax and Wilshire in Los Angeles.

The museum underwent extensive renovations in 2015 and was re-opened in December 2015 with a uniquely new facade and interior spaces were configured to accommodate 25 changing exhibits in the four floor, 300,000 square foot masterpiece, with over 150 vehicles on view.

We stopped by in June 2016 and enjoyed the greatly varied exhibits, including the stunning Mullin "Rolling Sculpture" exhibit, the "Precious Metal" exhibit of silver cars presented by Rolex, Automobiles in the Movies, Hot Rods and Customs, the interactive Disney/Pixar Cars Mechanical Institute, "Howlin': Select Vehicles from the Nearburg Collection," vintage motorcycles, Forza Motorsport Racing Experience (race car simulator) and much more.

The Cars Mechanical Institute is sure to please the younger crowd.

The Cars Mechanical Institute is sure to please the younger crowd.

The Petersen Automotive Museum is open seven days a week, 10AM to 6PM. Admission is $15 for adults, $12 for seniors/students with ID and $7 for children (free 2 and under). Parking is available for $12 (free for the first 30 minutes). Visit petersen.org to learn more.

1959 Corvette XP-87 Stingray Racer in Precious Metal exhibit by Rolex

1959 Corvette XP-87 Stingray Racer in Precious Metal exhibit by Rolex

My boys most enjoyed the "Automobiles in the Movies" exhibit and of course the interactive Forza Motorsports Racing Experience, which was a videogame like experience. Younger kids I suspect will enjoy the Discovery Center. I was personally wowed the most by the Precious Metal collection, as well as the Mullin collection (most of which I had previously seen and enjoyed at our local Mullin Automotive Museum in Oxnard). Something we did not take the time to do, that I would recommend you consider, is the "Vault Tour." For an additional $20 take an hour long tour of the unique vehicles currently stored in "the vault" rather than on general display. petersen.org/portfolio-item/the-vault.

The Mullin Collection on display includes the $30-40 million 1936 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic.

The Mullin Collection on display includes the $30-40 million 1936 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic.

The kids were excited to see this Back to the Future car at the Petersen,

The kids were excited to see this Back to the Future car at the Petersen,

This Rolls Royce hood ornament caught my attention.

This Rolls Royce hood ornament caught my attention.

A 1903 Thor Camelback motorcycle that is so pristine it looks nothing like 100+ years old!

A 1903 Thor Camelback motorcycle that is so pristine it looks nothing like 100+ years old!

California Department of Motor Vehicles Now Offers 1960s Legacy Plates

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image is for illustration only. final design of the plate will differ. (Image courtesy of dmv)

image is for illustration only. final design of the plate will differ. (Image courtesy of dmv)

State legislation introduced the California Legacy License Plate program offering car owners the chance to purchase replicas of California license plates similar to those issued in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. Out of these three decades, only the 1960s plate reached the required 7,500 orders before January 1, 2015. As a result, California drivers can now relive the 1960s with a black and gold replica available for your motor vehicles.

The plates are available  at www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/detail/legacyplates/index or by mail or at your local DMV office or auto club.

The plate costs $50 for either a sequential or a personalized plate. Renewal fees are $40.

The plates will not look EXACTLY like plates issued in the 1960s because current law requires plates to be reflectorized, but I don't think most folks will really notice the difference!

NHTSA Issues Rule Requiring Backup Cameras on New Cars By May 1, 2018

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Recently, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued a final rule requiring rear backup cameras in all new vehicles under 10,000 pounds by May 2018. This new rule is expected to reduce the risk of fatalities and serious injuries caused by backover accidents.

The rule requires all vehicles under 10,000 pounds, including buses and trucks, manufactured on or after May 1, 2018, to come equipped with rear visibility technology that expands the field of view to enable the driver of a motor vehicle to detect areas behind the vehicle to reduce death and injury resulting from backover incidents. The field of view must include a 10-foot by 20-foot zone directly behind the vehicle. The system must also meet other requirements including image size, linger time, response time, durability, and deactivation.

On average, there are 210 fatalities and 15,000 injuries per year caused by backover crashes. NHTSA has found that children under 5 years old account for 31 percent of backover fatalities each year, and adults 70 years of age and older account for 26 percent.

Many children are killed or seriously injured in backover incidents. A backover

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The World's Most Valuable Car, the 1936 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic, on Display Again at The Mullin Automotive Museum in Oxnard

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The world's most valuable car, the 1936 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic, is on display again at The Mullin Automotive Museum in Oxnard. The 57SC Atlantic is on loan to the museum from its unnamed owner, who purchased the car for somewhere in the range of $30 to $40 million in 2010. There is some interesting information about the 57SC Atlantic at www.supercars.net/cars/2705.html. The Mullin Automotive Museum is a "must see" activity for anyone in the area. The cars in the museum are historic works of art and you can see them in person right here in Ventura County. Trust me, you won't regret it.

 

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First 2011 Chevy Volt Ordered in Ventura County Arrives at the Murphy Auto Museum on January 7th

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The Murphy Auto Museum finally received the 2011 Chevy Volt ordered by Museum Director Dr. Dan Murphy.  It was the first order placed in Ventura County.  Dr. Murphy was able to take delivery last Friday, January 7th, at Paradise Chevrolet in Ventura. (Note from Conejo Joe: I believe Volt pricing starts in the $41,000 range). Volt is not cheap, but certainly interesting. It'll take you 35 miles gas free, then gas kicks in for another 340 miles, or a total range of 375 miles.