As gearheads, the thought of a societal lockdown normally springs ideas of taking to the streets to enjoy the best traffic-free roads you can find. Unlike BMW and its recent gaffe with the BMW i8 Coupe, we won't encourage you to do that and instead advise you to stay home and self-isolate, but we're also willing to tell you just how to satiate your automotive needs while you do.
If you've never heard of the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, you've been living under a rock. Not only is it home to an incredible collection of cars, bikes, and trucks, but the building itself is an architectural wonder after it underwent a $90-million renovation in 2015. It's an absolute must-visit for American motorheads, but with the current Coronavirus crisis, it's not at all advised. Thankfully, the folks over at the PAM have teamed up with Hagerty to bring you a livestreamed tour of The Vault - a 60,000 square foot facility with more than 250 cars and bikes ranging from classic racers to insane hotrods.
The tour is made up of a one-hour livestream, with viewers able to select a package that takes their fancy. Four available themes can be selected from, including Performance/Hot Rods, Presidential/Post War, Pre-War, and a Full Vault Tour. Depending on which tour you choose, you get to see trucks and cars spanning a history of more than 120 years, including some of the earliest cars from the 20th century, head-of-state vehicles, and the personal cars of a number of historical Hollywood legends.
The tours cost just $3 for anyone who wishes to watch, but the Petersen Automotive Museum has asked that those who do stream to make a donation, with donations going towards the maintenance and upkeep of the more than 250 vehicles in the collection, as well as paying the salaries of all the employees who can no longer work during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Among the cars that can be seen, viewers will lay eyes on icons such as the Delorean DMC12 and even a classic Batmobile. There's something for the motorsport fans, too, with the likes of a Chip Ganassi Racing Lexus-Riley Daytona Prototype on display, as well as a Porsche 934 - the motorsport variant based on the Porsche 911 Turbo. There are numerous bikes, trucks, and customized, award-winning hot-rods, and pieces of automotive history like the record-setting Jaguar XJ220 (long before the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+ was even a dream) are bound to feature. For those keen to schedule a tour, the experience can be unlocked at petersen.org, and while you're at it, consider making a donation to help feed the employees that aren't able to work during this tough time.