Inside the Petersen Automotive Museum’s 'vault'

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A look inside the cars that compose "The Vault" collection at the Petersen Museum.

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A look inside the cars that compose "The Vault" collection at the Petersen Museum.

Ivette Lopez/KPCC

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A look inside the cars that compose "The Vault" collection at the Petersen Museum.

Ivette Lopez/KPCC

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A look inside the cars that compose "The Vault" collection at the Petersen Museum.

Ivette Lopez/KPCC

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The original "Greased Lightning" car from the motion picture "Grease" on display at "The Vault" at the Petersen Automotive Museum.

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The original "Greased Lightning" car from the motion picture "Grease" on display at "The Vault" at the Petersen Automotive Museum.

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A look inside the cars that compose "The Vault" collection at the Petersen Museum.

Ivette Lopez/KPCC

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A look inside the cars that compose "The Vault" collection at the Petersen Museum.

Ivette Lopez/KPCC

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A look inside the cars that compose "The Vault" collection at the Petersen Museum. In this picture, a 1948 classic car is on display.

Ivette Lopez/KPCC

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A look inside the cars that compose "The Vault" collection at the Petersen Museum.

Ivette Lopez/KPCC

Hidden away in the basement of the Petersen Automotive Museum, in a room they call “the vault,” are about 150 cars that aren’t on regular display.

They include Saddam Hussein’s limo, a popemobile, 3 original Muntzs and Greased Lightening, among many, many others.

A select few get tours and Larry Mantle recently ventured down there to see the many famous cars that are housed there, as well as the Petersen’s current exhibits dedicated to the cars owned by Steve McQueen and The World’s Greatest Sports Coupes.

Guests:

Terry Karges, Executive Director, Petersen Automotive Museum

Leslie Kendall, curator, Petersen Automotive Museum