Petersen’s World-Class Mercedes Exhibit Caps 100-Year History With Rare Cars

The Petersen Museum in Los Angeles opens 'World-Class: 100 Years of Mercedes-Benz' on May 23, 2026, a 42-vehicle show spanning the brand’s 140-year history, plus advertising art and trivia. Loans from private collectors and a few Mercedes pieces highlight landmark designs from pre-merger era to modern icons, including prototypes like the Hobel and C112, and celebrity-owned classics (Disney’s Pagoda SL, Clark Gable’s 1956 300Sc). Highlights also include the 540K Cabriolet, 540K Stromlinienwagen, W154 Formula 1 car, 300SL family, and other race cars, with some items never seen in person by many visitors. The exhibit — housed in the Petersen’s largest hall — runs through April 25, 2027, and aims to condense a century of Mercedes engineering into a single, accessible display.