The Petersen Automotive Museum has added eight new cars to its vault of historical vehicles. Although not a part of any current exhibitions, visitors can stroll through the vault to see the museum’s collection.
The eight cars are a 1959 Deutsch-Bonnet HBR5 Coupé, a 2015 Chevrolet Camaro art car, a 1964 Chevrolet Impala “Gypsy Rose,” a 1960 Plymouth XNR Replica, a 1982 Knight Industries Two Thousand “K.I.T.T.” car, a 1948 Bentley Mk VI “New Look” Saloon, a 1939 Packard Twelve Landaulet, and a 1974 Dale Mock-Up.
They will join a 250-strong collection of vehicles featuring iconic cars, motorcycles, and trucks that span more than 120 years. Although visitors can see The Vault, they have to pay extra for the privilege.
“During the closure, our team continued to curate our collection and build exhibits to tell new stories about the automobile and appeal to a wide range of enthusiasts,” said Petersen Automotive Museum Executive Director Terry L. Karges. “We are excited to be open again and are committed to providing a more intimate and safer place for our guests to gather.”
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Among the new vehicles are K.I.T.T. from TV’s Knight Rider series and custom legend “Gypsy Rose,” widely seen as one of the most significant lowriders ever made. It also features a reproduction of the Plymouth XNR that was designed to bring the company into the mid-century and compete with the Corvette despite its failure to launch.
The Deutsch-Bonnet HBR5 Coupé was a French sports car that used advanced materials like Duralinox (an aluminum-magnesium alloy). The New Look Bentley, meanwhile, was one of the first produced after WWII and featured a highly streamlined body.
As for the Packard, 1939 marks the last year that the legendary V12 was produced, while the Dale was famously built by Twentieth Century Motor Car Corporation, which was itself established by con artist Geraldine Elizabeth Carmichael.
The Petersen Automotive Museum reopened on March 25. Visitors are required to buy tickets ahead of time and to wear a mask.
