Having lived in California for 15 years before moving back to the East Coast, I've always harbored a love-hate relationship with a state that's beautiful, exciting and demanding.
For Porsche fans, California must rank as the hands-down favorite for coastal cruises, amazing Porsche sightings, specialty shops and a deep-rooted Porsche history and culture that has helped the brand succeed in the U.S. The downside to California, of course, is the horrendous traffic that traps your beloved Porsche in perpetual gridlock when it really wants to rev up and play.
I recently returned to Los Angeles for a week-long stay, and — checking the love side of the equation — visited the Petersen Automotive Museum on Wilshire Boulevard. If you want to see astounding Porches (and other collectible cars), put the Petersen on your itinerary.
If any city deserves a top-notch automotive museum it's definitely Los Angeles — the honorary birthplace of the American hot rod, sports car club racing and the gear-head revolution that has celebrated the transformation of the car far beyond its earliest utilitarian intent into a personal expression of originality and performance.
The Petersen Automotive Museum opened in June 1994. It was funded and curated by Robert E. Petersen and his wife Margie. As you may know, Mr. Petersen built a magazine publishing empire that included car-buff titles such as Hot Rod, Car Craft, Rod & Custom, Sports Car Graphic and Motor Trend. Mr. Petersen died in 2007, while she passed away in 2011.
In 2015, the museum underwent a $90 million renovation to the original upscale department store circa 1962. The results are architecturally cutting edge, with revamped modern interiors to facilitate changing exhibits such as these stunning Porsches.
Below is a look at some of my favorite Porsches on display at the Petersen Automotive Museum.
1970 Porsche 914/6 GT successfully owned and driven by Bill Koll.
The 1986 962 Rothman Porsche that won Nürburgring that year. The car possessed a top speed of 217 mph.
Porsche's 1980 936/80 Martini Racing. From 1976 to 1981, the factory 936 won the 24 Hours of Le Mans three times. The car sported a turbo flat-6 engine with 540 horsepower.
The iconic 1969 Porsche 917K Gulf Wyer that gave Porsche its first overall wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1970 and 1971. Its flat 12-cylinder engine propelled the car up to 240 mph.
The 1980 Porsche 935 K3 built by Erwin and Manfred Kremer. This car was driven at Le Mans by Brian Redman, John Fitzpatrick and Dick Barbour. It produced 740 horsepower and a top speed of 217 mph.
The mid-engine 1964 904 Carrera GTS was the first car built by Porsche with a fiberglass-reinforced plastic body and ladder-type chassis. The car was raced by the famous Vasek Polak team.
A 1957 356A coupe. This car was built to emulate the Porsche Factory Werks 1600 GT Coupes that featured aluminum doors and hood. It has a four-cylinder powerplant from a late-model 912.
From left: the 1980 Porsche 935 K3, 1969 917K Gulf Wyer, 1980 936/80 Martini Racing and the 1986 962 Rothman's.
