A: When it comes to Supercars, of course, and an upcoming $16 million exhibit at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles.

 

“Supercars: When Too Much is Almost Enough” opens March 5 and runs through Oct. 16. Like supermarkets, supermodels and supercomputers, supercars represent an extreme. More than mere transportation, they offer a bold and extroverted means to express oneself.

 

Supercars have existed since the first decade of the 20th century and while their mechanical and design specifications have evolved from era to era, they have always had in common immensely powerful engines, minimal passenger carrying capacity, adventurous mechanical specifications and a commanding presence. Such attributes guaranteed that supercars always had far more power and performance than would ever be thought necessary for everyday motoring.

 

Included in the exhibition will be examples of supercars ranging from the big-bore monsters of almost a century ago to the more recent and recognizable small-bore forced-induction supercars. Even though such vehicles could never be considered even remotely practical, the panache and prestige they confer upon their owners effectively guarantees that there will always be a steady, if miniscule, market for them.

 

Supercars on display will include a Bizzarini Manta, Bugatti 57C Atalante, Bugatti Veyron, Ferrari 400 Superamerica, Ferrari F-40, Ferrari F-50, Ford GT-40 Mark III, Jaguar XJ220, Lamborghini Miura, Lamborghini Countach, Maserati MC-12, Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR, Mercedes Targa Florio, Pagani Zonda, Pegaso Z-102B, Porsche 959 and Vector W8.

 

In conjunction with both the supercar and a concurrent “Scooters” exhibit set to open in June, the museum will be holding a “Scooters and Supercars Day” in July—possibly the only place n the world to see vehicles by Ferrari, Lamborghini, Vespa, and Honda all proudly parked next to one another. Guest of honor Steve Saleen will speak about his racing and manufacturing endeavors and technical how-to sessions with Griot’s Garage car care products throughout the day.

 

Learn more at petersen.org.