There's now a roster of must-see meccas for motoring enthusiasts around the globe, containing rarely seen gems including a $40 million Bugatti and James Bond's Aston Martin. <br /><br />With nearly 95,000 square feet of exhibit space the Petersen is already making waves thanks to the building's wild design. The design, by New York-based firm Kohn Pedersen Fox, is meant to capture movement in car design. Inside you'll find three floors with 28 galleries devoted to the history, industry and art of automobiles. Among the Petersen's treasures are Steve McQueen's 1956 Jaguar XKSS and the famed Ferrari 308 GTS from Magnum, P.I.
1. Petersen Automotive Museum, Los Angeles, California —
There's now a roster of must-see meccas for motoring enthusiasts around the globe, containing rarely seen gems including a $40 million Bugatti and James Bond's Aston Martin.

With nearly 95,000 square feet of exhibit space the Petersen is already making waves thanks to the building's wild design. The design, by New York-based firm Kohn Pedersen Fox, is meant to capture movement in car design. Inside you'll find three floors with 28 galleries devoted to the history, industry and art of automobiles. Among the Petersen's treasures are Steve McQueen's 1956 Jaguar XKSS and the famed Ferrari 308 GTS from Magnum, P.I.
Petersen Automotive Museum
Delightfully quirky, the Louwman is one of the oldest private collections of automobiles in the world, though its current quarters designed by American architect Michael Graves in 2010 is anything but stodgy. Be sure to see James Bond's Aston Martin and Elvis' Cadillac.
2. Louwman Museum, The Hague, Netherlands —
Delightfully quirky, the Louwman is one of the oldest private collections of automobiles in the world, though its current quarters designed by American architect Michael Graves in 2010 is anything but stodgy. Be sure to see James Bond's Aston Martin and Elvis' Cadillac.
Louwman Museum
The famed Italian marque has experienced a renaissance thanks to its long-awaited reintroduction to the U.S. market, and the newly renovated museum pays tribute to its rich heritage with six floors of stunning automotive art. Alfa has long been overshadowed by Ferrari and Maserati, but anyone who visits the museum will come away suitably impressed.
3. Museo Storico Alfa Romeo, Arese, Italy —
The famed Italian marque has experienced a renaissance thanks to its long-awaited reintroduction to the U.S. market, and the newly renovated museum pays tribute to its rich heritage with six floors of stunning automotive art. Alfa has long been overshadowed by Ferrari and Maserati, but anyone who visits the museum will come away suitably impressed.
alfa romeo
The firm that has designed some of the sexiest cars on the planet treated itself to a new exhibition space for its 85th anniversary last year. They've now gone beyond cars to creating everything from apartment buildings to private jets.
4. Museo Pininfarina, Cambiano, Italy —
The firm that has designed some of the sexiest cars on the planet treated itself to a new exhibition space for its 85th anniversary last year. They've now gone beyond cars to creating everything from apartment buildings to private jets.
Pininfarina
Porsche spent $106 million (100 million euro) to open this architectural tour de force in 2009, setting a new world standard for top luxury car brands and how to show off prestige, power and racing prowess, including 17 wins at Le Mans. Some of the most beautiful cars on Earth can be found inside its walls.
5. Porsche Museum, Stuttgart, Germany —
Porsche spent $106 million (100 million euro) to open this architectural tour de force in 2009, setting a new world standard for top luxury car brands and how to show off prestige, power and racing prowess, including 17 wins at Le Mans. Some of the most beautiful cars on Earth can be found inside its walls.
Jochen Keute/Jochen Keute
The company that invented the horseless carriage is currently celebrating its museum's 10th anniversary with several showcases devoted to manufacturer's most recognized creations. Over 160 vehicles are on display in 178,000-sq.-ft. of exhibition space.
6. Mercedes-Benz Museum, Stuttgart, Germany —
The company that invented the horseless carriage is currently celebrating its museum's 10th anniversary with several showcases devoted to manufacturer's most recognized creations. Over 160 vehicles are on display in 178,000-sq.-ft. of exhibition space.
Mercedes-Benz
In 2012, the Ferrari founder's birthplace was transformed into an exhibition space honoring the creation of the most lusted-after cars in the world. Under its distinctive yellow roof is a rotating display of Ferrari road and race cars alongside rare memorabilia and many of Signor Ferrari's prized possessions.
7. Museo Enzo Ferrari, Modena, Italy —
In 2012, the Ferrari founder's birthplace was transformed into an exhibition space honoring the creation of the most lusted-after cars in the world. Under its distinctive yellow roof is a rotating display of Ferrari road and race cars alongside rare memorabilia and many of Signor Ferrari's prized possessions.
Marco Vasini/AP
In 2008 the Bavarian marque opened its museum on its imposing new BMW Welt campus in Munich. Aside from cars it contains engines, airplanes, motorcycles and other artifacts from a century of engineering excellence.
8. BMW Museum, Munich, Germany —
In 2008 the Bavarian marque opened its museum on its imposing new BMW Welt campus in Munich. Aside from cars it contains engines, airplanes, motorcycles and other artifacts from a century of engineering excellence.
Marcus Buck
Cars from the Art Deco era are the personal passion of businessman and philanthropist Peter W. Mullin, whose private museum contains some of the world's most precious vehicles. This includes a 1936 Bugatti Type 57C Atlantic valued at $40 million. It's open to the public just two days each month.
9. Mullin Automotive Museum, Oxnard, California —
Cars from the Art Deco era are the personal passion of businessman and philanthropist Peter W. Mullin, whose private museum contains some of the world's most precious vehicles. This includes a 1936 Bugatti Type 57C Atlantic valued at $40 million. It's open to the public just two days each month.
Mullin Automotive Museum
Quite small compared to the other museums on this list, Lamborghini's shrine to avant-garde automotive design is nonetheless a must-see for anyone whose ever been infatuated with its otherworldly sports cars. The intimacy of the setting gives it a more personal feel.
10. Museo Lamborghini, Sant'Agata Bolognese, Italy —
Quite small compared to the other museums on this list, Lamborghini's shrine to avant-garde automotive design is nonetheless a must-see for anyone whose ever been infatuated with its otherworldly sports cars. The intimacy of the setting gives it a more personal feel.
Jared Paul Stern
10 must-visit automotive museums from around the world
CNN  — 

In recent years car museums have evolved from a manufacturer’s afterthought to must-see destinations in their own right. And when the Petersen Automotive Museum re-opens next month in Los Angeles, lovers of speed, style and beauty will really have something to celebrate.

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“Our goal is to make it one of the world’s top automotive museums as well as a cultural destination for everyone who appreciates art and design,” the museum’s executive director Terry Karges tells CNN.

When the Petersen opens to the public on December 7, it will join the newly renovated Museo Storico Alfa Romeo in Italy, as well as others on the roster of must-see museums for car fanatics around the globe. Here are the ones you should know about.