Dick Messer, director of the Peterson Auto Museum in Los Angeles, joined WebRidesTV’s Amber Goetz for an exclusive tour of the various exhibits around the legendary museum, including the “Cars and Guitars of Rock and Roll” exhibit. The Petersen Automotive Museum, recognized internationally for its innovative design, is dedicated to the interpretive study of the automobile and its influence on our culture and lives. Encompassing more than 300,000 square feet, its exhibits and lifelike dioramas feature more than 150 rare and classic cars, trucks and motorcycles.
Covering four floors, the facility features permanent exhibits on the first floor that trace the history of the automobile. The second floor is composed of five large changing exhibition galleries with state-of-the-art displays of race cars, classic cars, vintage motorcycles, concept cars, celebrity and movie cars, and automotive design and technology.
The May Family Children's Discovery Center is located on the third floor. Designed to spark interest in science by way of the automobile, the 6,500 square-foot, interactive "hands-on" learning center teaches children basic scientific principles by explaining the fundamental functions of a car.
What would the Peterson Auto Museum be without an area dedicated to the now world famous Chip Foose? Foose has won a long list of awards for his projects, cars and his long history in the industry. Some of these include 7 “America’s Most Beautiful Roadster” awards, 3 Detroit Autorama Ridler awards, and has won the Good Guys Street Rod of the Year Award 5 times.
More recently, Foose’s Hemisfear has hit the market. It was officially designed in 1990 when Foose was attending design school at the Art Center. This design was unveiled at the 2006 SEMA show and showed its similarities to the Plymouth Prowler. The Prowler itself was inspired by Foose’s Hemisfear.
Foose started his own design company in Huntington Beach California. Before this, he worked for famous Hot Rodder Boyd Coddington. He prides himself on his creations and has attained worldwide acclaim for them. His fame was increased when TLC approached him to help them with the Overhaulin’ show. In addition to this, he still is a design consultant for the Big Three automakers.
