When the Petersen Automotive Museum reopened after being remodeled inside and out, it was the red-ribboned exterior that drew the most comment. But it was the “Precious Metal” display in the Bruce Meyer Family Gallery on the second floor that drew the longest and longing attention of car enthusiasts.
Arrayed around the gallery were some of the world’s most spectacular vehicles, all of them wearing silver-colored bodywork. Long-time car collector and Petersen board member Bruce Meyer had convinced each car’s owner to loan their vehicles to the museum for an extended period.
Silver cars were featured when the Meyer gallery opened | Larry Edsall photoHow is the museum going to follow up on such a spectacular debut, some of us wondered? We even asked Meyer, who simply smiled and said he was working on something.
On Tuesday, we learned what that something will be when the Petersen announced that the silver cars will be replaced by red cars. “Seeing Red: 70 Years of Ferrari” will be unveiled at a preview April 27 and open to the public from April 29 through April 2018.
Among the 11 cars on display in the gallery will be a 250 GTO, 166MM, 250 TR, 250LM, as well as the 1955 857 Sport, 1980 312 T5 and 2001 F1 racer driven by Michael Schumacher.
“The exhibit is a celebration of seven decades of beautiful and fast automobiles and the man, Enzo Ferrari, who brought them to the attention of the world via sheer force of will,” the museum said in its news release.
“Few brands have captured the imagination of the world more than Ferrari. For 70 years, Enzo Ferrari’s prancing horses have thrilled car enthusiasts both young and old with their racing and road cars.”
“We’re so thrilled to bring some of the world’s most beautiful Ferraris to the Petersen,” Meyer is quoted in the news release. “Seeing that Rosso Corsa paint and the beautiful curves of the body work is always enough to make your heart skip a beat.
Seeing Red also applies to the outside of the ribbon-wrapped museum“ ‘Seeing Red’ will be one of the most significant gatherings of Ferraris in the world and I’m so pleased to be able to share it with the public in our gallery.”
“This new exhibit is another example of how the Petersen views cars, as art, and nothing is more appropriate than red Ferrari models,” added Terry Karges, the museum’s executive director. “We’re confident this exhibit will help us continue our success and really get people talking and learning about Ferrari.”
The exhibition opens with a special event April 27 that will feature a tribute to American Ferrari racer Phil Hill.
For more information, visit the Petersen’s Ferrari website.
