Japanese Manufacturing & Car Culture Showcased in L.A.
Two new exhibits debut at Petersen Automotive Museum, highlighting ingenuity & the customization trends between Japan and the U.S.
Ahead of their public opening, 6SpeedOnline was recently treated to a preview of two brand-new exhibits at Los Angeles’ famed Petersen Automotive Museum: “The Roots of Monozukuri: Creative Spirit in Japanese Automaking” and “Fine Tuning: Japanese-American Customs.”
The curated experiences take attendees through an exploration of 60 years of Japanese cars in the U.S. and bring to the forefront just how much each country’s culture has influenced the other’s manufacturing and tuning trends.
“The Roots of Monozukuri” exhibit highlights the synthesis of Eastern and Western manufacturing philosophies and methods with an eclectic display of rare, early-model Japanese vehicles. Monozukuri is understood as “the art, science, and craft of making things,” and its concepts have helped Japanese manufacturers challenge domestic market dominance for nearly 50 years.
As a supporting sponsor of the exhibit, Nissan brought a selection of historically-significant vehicles from the Lane Motor Museum in Nashville, Tennessee, to illustrate the creativity, innovation, and craftsmanship that’s been the foundation of long-term success for many in the Japanese automotive industry.
Thes 1966 Nissan Silvia CSP311 pictured above was hand-built to customer specifications and is an early example of incorporating unique design elements from an international team. Rarely seen outside of Japan, its clean looks made it an instant classic. The Silvia would go on to inspire one of Nissan’s most-beloved cars, the 240Z.
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