Petersen Automotive Museum Showcases Hollywood Icons in New Exhibit
The world renowned Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, California, is opening a new exhibit paying homage to some of Hollywood’s most iconic vehicles. The new display is said to be a continuation of the recent “Hollywood Dream Machines: Vehicles of Science Fiction and Fantasy” exhibit, this time branching out to all genres of film. That being said, many of the new additions include those from fantastical films and sci-fi showings of the past.
Like this iconic 1959 Cadillac Miller-Meteor used in the Ghostbusters franchise. This vehicle, dubbed the “Ecto-1,” served as the team’s go-to ride throughout the original 1984 film and sequel, as well as a reprised role in the recent Ghostbusters: Afterlife reboot. The “Ecto-1” saw numerous updates in appearance over the years, but it will be on display in its original 1984 condition.
Seeing the “Ecto-1” in person may make you feel like you’ve gone back in time, as will the equally-famous 1981 DeLorean from Back to the Future. A design iconic in its own right, the producers chose the DeLorean DMC-12 as the basis for Doc Brown’s time machine due to its stainless-steel construction and gullwing doors. Multiple versions of the DeLorean saw screentime during the franchise, but the one on display is the only example to appear in all three films. Other sci-fi and fantasy rides include the Batmobile from 1989’s Batman and ‘92’s Batman Returns, and one of the Moto-Terminator motorcycles that appeared in Terminator: Salvation. Returning to the confines of reality, the 1976 Ford Gran Torino driven by the titular characters of Starsky and Hutch will also be in the spotlight.
Being situated in such close proximity to Hollywood’s most influential production studios, the Petersen Automotive Museum is in a prime location to feature these silver screen icons. Our own Stephanie Hart reported on the museum’s “Bond in Motion” exhibit, which is the first official exhibit in the United States to feature original vehicles from the James Bond films. Some of the most prominent examples include the 1964 Aston Martin DB5 and submersible 1977 Lotus Esprit S1. The new exhibit will officially open to the public on March 12th in the Omaze Hollywood Gallery, located on The Otis Booth History Floor.