Chip Foose from Pen to Pavement

Story by Richard Parks, Photographs by Roger Rohrdanz

The 2006 Grand National Roadster Show�s AMBR (America�s Most Beautiful Roadster) car was on tour at the time that we visited, but will be returning soon. Other Foose inspirations included the 0032 Roadster, seen on the Jerry Titus TV show. This 1932 Ford Roadster won the 2000 AMBR Award. Foose won the 2003 Ridler Award for his 1934 Mercury Stallion. It is modeled on a Mercury designed marque even though the brand wasn�t in existence in that year. The Ridler Award is a very prestigious honor named after Don Ridler, the promoter of the Detroit Autorama Show. The Ridler is the coveted award sought after by customizers and designers in the hot rodding community. The Stallion is owned by Ron Whiteside. Foose also designed and built the 1935 Chevrolet Grand Master, owned by Bob and Wes Rydell. This car is driven to car shows, but looks every bit as grand as the show cars that are trailered and never driven on the streets. It is powered by a �96 Chevy LT-4 Grand Sport Corvette engine. Another Foose car that appeared on the Jerry Titus TV show is the 1932 Ford Coupe named The Little Foose Coupe, owned by Chuck Svatos. Kendall created the very interesting show cards for the exhibits, which gives a great deal of information concerning the cars. He also led a grand tour and his knowledge of the cars was astounding.

Leslie Kendall, the Museum�s curator, gave us a tour of the Foose exhibit and the museum, including the cars in storage, waiting to be displayed. The Robert and Margie Petersen car collection contains around 90 vintage and custom automobiles, including race cars, from the very earliest dates to the present. Kendall is an expert on the history and restoration of these cars. The displays, backgrounds and thought that went into the museum is amazing. It is very hard to see everything in just one day. At one time the Petersen was part of the Los Angeles County system of museums, but has since become a separate foundation. Southern California has many great auto and car racing museums, and the Petersen is one of the best.

Kendall explained that the Petersen is a 501.c3 Foundation and all donations are tax deductible. There is a large group of members who support the museum and raise funds to keep the Petersen going. The Petersen has over 160 cars in their impressive collection, some on loan and others owned by the Foundation that oversees the Museum. The Petersen, as it is called, is the result of the efforts of Margie and Robert Petersen, and their friends and supporters. Robert �Pete� Petersen founded Hot Rod Magazine just after World War II. Returning servicemen liked the magazine and it has become an icon for hot rodders and racers ever since. The Petersen Publishing Company expanded to other areas, and was eventually sold. But Robert and Margie Petersen never lost their love of automobiles and the collection that they have assembled is varied and impressive, and their gift to us is this grand museum.

Some of the cars that Kendall pointed out to us included well-known sports and racecars. The Pierson Brothers land speed racing coupe is a showstopper. Outside, and a bit too big to bring inside the museum is Art Arfon�s Green Monster Bonneville record setting jet-powered car. In the early 1960�s, men such as Arfon�s, Craig Breedlove and others, set and reset the land speed record in a dizzying race against the clock and the elements. Also on display were elegant touring cars, French Marques with smooth and soft lines, from the master coach builders of the 1930�s. Kendall pointed out the differences between the English, German, Italian, French and American coachbuilders. He showed us the Elvis Lincoln, one of many owned by the famous singer. There was a rare full scale 1929 Austin 7, though it looked like a miniature car. They have the Aga Khan car, which he gave to Rita Hayworth, and the Dick Van Dyke Avanti. The 1946 Mercury, owned by Agnes Moorehead, customized to form a separate compartment for the chauffeur. They have the modern Stephan Papadakis drag car coupe, and the pilot production Viper Serial number 00007 car. Such cars developed by the manufacturers are supposed to be destroyed, but this car survived to continue it life as a museum car. They have a rare 1951 Skorpion fiberglass bodied car based on the Crosley design, the first production car to use fiberglass in its construction. Some of the older cars included a 1903 Cadillac and a 1912 Rolls/Royce. For the auto enthusiast, there is no better museum than the Petersen.

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