Petersen Automotive Museum

1889 Benz car

Yesterday we went to see the Petersen Auto Museum. Ros said "Not more cars!", but when we got there it was actually quite interesting. Lots of cars from movies and TV shows, as well as some esoteric vehicles indeed. To the right is where it all started for the internal combustion car, Carl Benz's 1889 tricycle car with a single cylinder engine. Top speed - 10 mph! Still this was twice as fast as a horse. Not much shelter from the elements.

1901 Car

12 years later we had graduated to four wheels and added an extra cylinder. Top speed 15 mph, still no protection from inclement weather. Also note lack of safety equipment, no seat belts, no airbags, not even doors! At least it had a dashboard and headlights.

Early electric car

Electric cars are not new! Here is a fine example from the 20's steered with a tiller from the back seat! Gives a whole new meaning to the term "back seat driver".

Ford Model T

Here's yours truly seated in the car that changed the world for the masses, the Ford Model T. Was the world's first mass produced car, thus lowering the cost so that the man in the street could afford to buy one. Easy to drive, one pedal for forward, one pedal for reverse and poor brakes. Stamping on the reverse pedal was more effective. Also very uncomfortable to sit in.

Green Hornet

Lots of cars from movies and TV series. This one from the Green Hornet. Kato, his assistant, was played by Bruce Lee. Checkout the size of the beast, and the guns mounted on the front.

K.I.T.T

Here's K.I.T.T from the Knightrider series. We almost have autonomous cars now, perhaps this series was more visionary than we thought?

Robocop

This is the car that Robocop drove in the eponymous movie about a future where policing had been outsourced to private firms.

Flying police car

And who can forget Back to the Future II, complete with flying cars. We were promised flying cars in the 50's! Where's my flying car?!

Jurassic Park

Dinosaurs anyone?

Minority Report

I can remember Tom Cruise getting trapped in an assembly line making this car to the left in the film Minority Report.

Honda 50

Finally, there were some blasts from the past. Anyone remember the ubiquitous Honda 50
motorcycle? They were everywhere when I was growing up. In Asian countries it was not unusual to see whole families riding these, Dad driving, Mum behind him often holding a baby while an older child sat behind Mum hanging on for grim death.

Mirror bike

Just one more, anyone fancy riding this motorbike, covered in mirrors. Can just imagine the chaos that would cause on public roads.
Ros and I had lunch at the restaurant there before wending ourselves back home for a well-earned rest.