As a global hub for car culture, SoCal has long served as a vital center for preserving the legacy of the road. The region’s deep connection to automotive history provides the ideal setting for an in-depth look at the evolution of design and mechanical excellence, tracing the impact of a single brand on the modern world.
In this spirit, the Petersen Automotive Museum is gearing up to debut a major new exhibition celebrating a century of Mercedes-Benz innovation. World-Class: 100 Years of Mercedes-Benz opens this Sunday, May 23, and will remain on view through April 25, 2027, bringing together dozens of vehicles that helped shape the history of the automobile.
The exhibition looks back to the company’s earliest beginnings in the late 19th century, when automotive pioneers Carl Benz and Gottlieb Daimler developed some of the world’s first motor vehicles.
Rare classics and iconic designs
The exhibition features more than 40 vehicles spanning decades of Mercedes-Benz history, from the 1938 540K Autobahnkurier and 1954 300SL Prototype to performance-driven models like the 1991 C112 and 2002 CLK-GTR Roadster.
Several Hollywood-connected cars will also be on display, including a 1956 300 Sc Cabriolet once owned by Clark Gable and a 1964 230SL purchased by Walt Disney. The exhibition additionally highlights the brand’s racing legacy with historic “Silver Arrow” cars such as the 1938 W154 Grand Prix racer and the 1989 Sauber-Mercedes C9 prototype.