I'll be in LA next Tuesday through Friday with plenty of time to kill. I've been there before and done the typical tourist stuff, so I'm looking for car guy stuff.
I'll be in LA next Tuesday through Friday with plenty of time to kill. I've been there before and done the typical tourist stuff, so I'm looking for car guy stuff.
Drive Mulholland.
The Peterson.....
Search Craigslist for a hooptie. Drive it home.
head to the Rainbow bar and grill and see if Lemmy is hanging out at the bar.
Plus 1 on the Peterson but make sure and spring for the "vault tour" which gives you a guided tour to the basement. That was the best part of the visit for me.
http://www.socalcarculture.com/events.html
The Peterson is a great stop. Right around the corner is La brea tar pits. In old movies, they would have to drive a long way to get to the tar pits to dump a body. The tar pits were in the middle of nowhere. It's amazing to see how the area has built up over the years.
See if you can scam an earlier flight and go see Peter Brock at the Petersen.
February 1 Peter Brock Day at the Petersen Museum, Los Angeles, CA: This is a must attend event! Cruise-In is from 9-11am. MotoMan TV interview with Peter Brock 11am-1pm (it’s free but you MUST RSVP toSandy at sscott@petersen.org to reserve a seat). Following the show is an autograph/question session. If you can’t attend in person, from 11-1pm PST (2-4pm EST) you can watch the show live via www.youtube.com/MotoManTV
If you have a hard time getting back out of LA, I hear this guy can help:
My first thoughts were that you could do some hand fishing or take a swamp tour.
Some non-Petersen museum options...
Justice Brothers have a funky car collection in the lobby of their headquarters and a couple additional buildings.
Free to get in during normal business hours.
http://www.edjusticejr.com/private.html
So-Cal Speed Shop is in the general vicinity. They offer free, fairly quick tours of the shop and whatever is being worked on.
NHRA Museum is worth a visit too.
More GRM-ish is Toyota's Museum in Torrance.
http://www.toyotausamuseum.com/
I fired off an email to Susan listed as the contact, and was able to arrange a visit. Very low-key, and a fascinating collection. Examples of most US-market vehicles from the past 40+ years, and an eclectic mix of racing machinery.
Not far from there is Eatalian, a killer Italian place owned by a couple Italian brothers who sold their pizza shop to come live the American dream. Had a great breakfast there.
Not sure if the Petersen are still offering tours of the basement, but that is every bit as cool as the actual museum.
Frank Corrente's Cadillac Corner is a super cool lot on La Cienega
http://correntecadillac.com/
I think this is the vintage dealer my wife and I walked through 5ish years ago:
http://www.heritageclassics.com/
They were cool with letting us take a quick peek on a slow afternoon.
See if Steel Panther are playing in town. Saw them at the House of Blues on Sunset last summer. One of the more hilarious things I've ever witnessed, and was actually a really good concert too. (And cheap by concert standards these days.)
In reply to jde:
Steel Panther puts on a great show!
Forgot...AutoBooks-AeroBooks in Pasadena:
http://www.autobooks-aerobooks.com/
Very dangerous toward one's wallet...
I've wanted to go to the Peterson the past 2 times I had a free day there. But they are apparently closed on Mondays 
Check out wurstkuche if you can. German beer with in house made bratwurst. Its full of hipsters usually but its good eating and drinking. http://www.wurstkuche.com
Once you get north of the mulholland or Topanga canyon the PCH gets less crowded and makes for a great cuise. There's a seafood place called Neptune's Net I enjoyed a nice lunch at over looking the ocean last spring. And I intend to do it again after Long Beach in April 
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