Petersen Museum Tesla Exhibit Chronicles The Past, Present, And Future Of the Brand
Tesla has a lot of history, despite being a new brand.
Tesla might be a new company and not the first brand out there to produce an electric car. Still, as probably the most prolific EV manufacturer, Tesla’s rise to notoriety didn’t come from thin air. Tesla has history, so much history that the Petersen Museum in Los Angeles has now dedicated an entire exhibit to the brand. It’s an in-depth look complete with interesting and once-forgotten concepts from the past.
Officially called “Inside Tesla: Supercharging The Electric Revolution,” the exhibit “explores the company’s history, from early inspiration and humble beginnings to its rise as a world leader in electric vehicles and clean energy technology,” according to a press release from the Petersen Museum. The collection claims to have the most comprehensive look at the brand’s past, present, and future. It has models, and actual prototypes from the brand, on display, for public viewing.
For example, the museum has an aerodynamic styling buck of the original Tesla Roadster. Introduced in 2008, this aerodynamics testbed is dated 2005. Likely a sealed-up clay model, this totally blacked-out block would have been used to evaluate the original Tesla Roadster’s aerodynamic and drag efficiency.
Then, the Petersen Museum has the original Model X concept. Notice how the subtle changes in the roofline, wheelbase, and front and rear overhang have been altered to get us to the Model X that Tesla sells today.
The exhibit goes further into the future, referencing the modern Tesla Roadster, Cyberquad, Cybertruck prototype. There’s even the “not-a-flamethrower” from Elon Musk’s Boring Company operation. There’s even an original 2003 Lotus Elise “Mule 1” development prototype, although we don’t have pictures of it yet.
The exhibit will officially open on November 20 Mullin Family Grand Salon and Phillip Sarofim Porte Cochere, on the first floor. Tickets and more information can be found on the Petersen Museum’s website.
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Kevin has been obsessed with cars ever since he could talk. He even learned to read partially by learning and reading the makes and models on the back of cars, only fueling his obsession. Today, he is an automotive journalist and member of the Automotive Press Association. He is well-versed in electrification, hybrid cars, and vehicle maintenance.
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