Petersen Museum shifts into idle for major remake

The Petersen Automotive Museum has put on the brakes, shutting down for a year while it undergoes an $80 million remodel.

Before closing down, the Miracle Mile museum held a 20th anniversary fundraising bash this weekend with a concert by the Beach Boys. Museum officials announced a new, $125 million fundraising effort to pay for the renovation and museum operations.

The remodel will include extensive changes inside and out of the museum. That includes a striking new exterior wrap that’s being made by the firm that did the exterior of Walt Disney Concert Hall.

One new feature of the rebuilt Petersen will be a simulated race experience that allows visitors to pick a car from the museum’s collection and race it on a world-famous track.

The Petersen will also get into the real racing business. Starting next year, the museum host a series of races for professional drivers with vintage cars at a track in Palm Springs.

The museum itself is scheduled to reopen in December 2015.

Here’s more on the Petersen renovation from the L.A. Times and Autoblog.com.