Petersen Automotive Museum Honors 50th AGPLB With Special Historic Vehicle Exhibit

Petersen Automotive Museum Honors 50th AGPLB With Special Historic Vehicle Exhibit

The Petersen Automotive Museum will host a special exhibit celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach. The exhibit, open from March 20 through April 8, will feature five historic race cars that played a significant role in the event's history.

Located in the museum's lobby, the display will allow visitors to closely examine race cars that once competed on the streets of Long Beach. Admission to view the historic cars in the museum lobby will be free of charge.

The exhibit will showcase vehicles from three major racing eras: Formula 5000, Formula 1, and IndyCar, illustrating the progression of open-wheel racing at North America's leading street race. These cars will also participate in the Historic Formula Exhibition during race weekend, marking the first time all three types will race together.

Among the featured cars will be the 1974 Formula 5000 Dan Gurney All-American Racers Eagle 755, which secured the 1975 Long Beach pole position with Vern Schuppan behind the wheel (Image Credit: AeroSport Photography via FB/META - 2018). It was also the first car to navigate the Long Beach streets and is currently owned by Tom Malloy.

Representing the Formula 1 era (1976-83) will be the 1976 March 761, previously driven by Italy’s Vittorio Brambilla and currently owned by Richard Griot, alongside the 1980 McLaren M30, most notably driven by Alain Prost during the 1980 F1 season and now owned by Sean Allen.

The IndyCar era will be highlighted by the 1981 All-American Racers Eagle 8100, driven in-period by Dennis Firestone, who remains its current owner. Additionally, the 1999 Reynard, driven by Bryan Herta in the same year and currently owned by Erich Joiner, will be displayed.

Grand Prix Association of Long Beach President and CEO Jim Michaelian emphasized the importance of racing in Long Beach, noting that the exhibit offers a unique opportunity to honor its legacy. He highlighted that fans would not only see these legendary cars up close but also witness them in action during race weekend.

Renowned for its world-class exhibits, the Petersen Automotive Museum, located on Los Angeles' Miracle Mile, is dedicated to preserving and showcasing automotive history and innovation. It offers immersive displays and educational programs, making it a prime destination for car enthusiasts and historians. More information about the museum and its exhibits is available at http://www.petersen.org.

The 2025 Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach will take place from April 11-13, featuring the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. Additional events will include the Super Drift Challenge, Robby Gordon’s SPEED Energy Stadium Super Trucks, GT America Powered by AWS, and the Historic Formula Exhibition.

Tickets for the Acura Grand Prix range from $54 for a Friday General Admission ticket to $215 for a three-day pass, which includes reserved seating for Saturday and Sunday in the grandstand's upper levels. Pre-paid parking packages, handicapped seating, NTT INDYCAR SERIES Paddock passes, Super Photo tickets, and various hospitality packages are also available.

Fans can purchase tickets, select seating, and secure parking and paddock passes online at gplb.com or by calling the ticket hotline at (888) 827-7333.

Further updates on the 2025 Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach can be found on social media platforms, including Facebook (GrandPrixLB), X (GPLongBeach #AGPLB50), Instagram (GPLongBeach), YouTube (GPLongBeach), and through the official Grand Prix app available on Google Play and the Apple App Store.

... notes from The EDJE