Petersen Museum’s ‘All-American Cruise-In’: A Hot Rod Dream
Petersen event featured timeless vehicles and a panel of superstars close to Carroll Shelby in celebrate the success of Ford v. Ferrari.
If you are local to Los Angeles and haven’t been to the legendary Petersen Automotive Museum, we suggest you change that fact quickly. This place is a haven for those with an appreciation for both the automobile and the history surrounding it. Even if you’re not yet a diehard gearhead, by the time you leave this place, you will be.
Last weekend, we enthusiastically attended “Bruce Meyer’s All-American Cruise-In” at the Petersen. The cruise-in event is held monthly and usually features a new theme each month. This particular event focused on a celebration of American icon Carroll Shelby and the Hollywood blockbuster Ford v. Ferrari.
Not only did the Petersen event host some amazing cars from both the museum and local enthusiasts, but there was also an exclusive panel discussion with some high-profile folks from the auto world. Among those invited to speak at the cruise-in were A.J. Baime, author of the best-seller Go Like Hell: Ford, Ferrari, and Their Battle for Speed and Glory at Le Mans, which inspired the blockbuster film Ford v. Ferrari. Other speakers included Carol Shelby’s grandson, Aaron Shelby; legendary Shelby driver Allen Grant; Daytona Coupe designer Peter Brock; Ken Miles‘ son, Peter Miles;Â and Shelby Crew Chief, Charlie Agapiou. The panelists were joined and moderated by Petersen Museum founder Bruce Meyer.
Heavy Metal Parking Lot
When arriving to the cruise-in, held on the third floor of the Petersen’s parking structure, we were surprised to be greeted by a unusually foggy and cold Los Angeles morning. However, thanks to some complimentary coffee and bagels, the crowd seemed definitely happy to be there. With a couple hundred folks in attendance, it was packed on that single floor of the parking structure.
People of all kinds were in attendance, and the overall vibe showed appreciation for being in the presence of some truly special vehicles. There was without a doubt a strong Mustang presence, with a whole subsection of the lot dedicated to the ‘Stangs and Shelby models of all time periods and ages, including both GT500s and GT350s.
Among the Fords present, there also a couple of GT40 models and Ford GTs, both the first and second generation. It was honestly stunning to see all three generations lined up side by side. Even though those legends might be separated by decades of time, it is clear that each shares each other’s racing DNA.
Other notable vehicles on the scene included Meyer’s famous Shelby Cobra, serial number 001, the first to ever be built. Not to mention, this car was signed by Carol Shelby himself right across the dash. When asked what one car Meyer would take from his collection if he only could have one, he simply stated: “The Cobra.”
Additionally, many of the vehicles used during filming of Ford v. Ferrari were present to provide a nice touch. We’d be surprised if this wasn’t one of the largest gatherings of classic Shelby vehicles ever. The presence of Shelby Cobras, Daytona Coupes, GT40s, GT350Hs, was absolutely impressive.
Equally as impressive were the stories that the panelists shared during their discussion. Meyer was a great host to these unique individuals that he described as “some of the greatest American hot rodders of all time.” Each of the guest speakers took his time to provide some context for the stories and the experiences each has had as members of the Shelby family.
The panel members made some elaborations about scenes in the movie that they believed needed more context or didn’t receive sufficient emphasis. They especially made the point that they were unhappy about Shelby’s key American engineer, Phil Remington, being essentially left out of the movie. According to Brock and many of the figurehead Shelby employees on the panel, “Without Phil, there was no Shelby American, no racing, no wins at Le Mans.”
If you missed the recent “All-American Cruise-In” event, check out the Petersen’s event calendar for upcoming events. We can guarantee that you won’t want to miss the next one!
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