Concept and production cars on the cutting edge are showcased in the WEDGE REVOLUTION @ PETERSEN MUSEUM.
Innovative cars that pushed the limits of automotive design will take center stage in the newest exhibit, WEDGE REVOLUTION @ PETERSEN MUSEUM. The Wedge Revolution: Cars on the Cutting Edge will open on August 2nd and explore the emergence, evolution, and impact of head-turning, wedge-shaped concept and production automotive design from the 1960s to the 1980s.
Located in the museum’s Design Gallery, the cutting-edge show, co-curated with Tesla Chief Designer and wedge design aficionado Franz von Holzhausen, will showcase a wide range of vehicles embodying the bold, angular styling that defined this unique era in automotive design. It will highlight the transitional period when designers moved from decorative curves and chrome to clean lines, flat surfaces, and geometric forms. The “wedge style” represented a new design philosophy based on minimalism and aerodynamics.
The WEDGE REVOLUTION @ PETERSEN MUSEUM will showcase a diverse range of production cars and concept models from renowned designers and manufacturers, including early and influential vehicles like the ‘66 Cannara I, ‘70 Lancia Stratos HF Zero, ‘74 Lamborghini Countach LP400 “Periscopio,” top, ‘79 Aston Martin Bulldog, and the ‘76 Chevrolet Aerovette, below. The exhibit will also include modern references to wedge design, such as the Tesla Cybertruck and the 2016 Lo-Res Car. Designs by Marcello Gandini, Sergio Coggiola, William Towns, and Jerry Palmer will also be featured.
“The wedge era produced some of the most daring and forward-thinking designs in automotive history,” said Terry L. Karges, executive director of the Petersen Automotive Museum. “This exhibit allows visitors to see how wedge design continues to influence the vehicles we see on the road today.”
The Wedge Revolution: Cars on the Cutting Edge opens on August 2nd and will be on display through September 2026. To purchase tickets or for more information about the Petersen Automotive Museum, please visit https://www.petersen.org/exhibits