Lamborghini’s landmark Aventador donation elevates Petersen Automotive Museum
The Peterson Automotive Museum in Los Angeles has landed a key addition supporting its goal of expanding its collection of trailblazing vehicles from the last 25 years. Lamborghini donated an Aventador from the model’s debut in 2011, or its 2012 production year—but this isn’t just any 2012 Aventador. Instead, it’s the first Aventador to land in North America, where it was revealed at events like private previews in New York, Miami, and now its long-term home of Los Angeles. Still, this Aventador wasn’t just a display piece. It also competed in multiple track events and facilitated service training for Lamborghini technicians. Terry L. Karges, executive director of the Petersen Automotive Museum, said: “Receiving a donation from a marque like Lamborghini is always a milestone moment for our museum. We are so grateful that they have supported our effort to grow our collection of significant vehicles from the past 25 years.”
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Behind the debut Aventador’s innovation
The Lamborghini Aventador, the automaker’s flagship successor to its Murciélago, broke onto the scene in 2011 with an unprecedented carbon fiber monocoque shell. The whole occupant cell, with tub and roof, was a single component weighing just 325.18 lbs, fostering high levels of passive safety and rigidity for more precise driving. Lamborghini added a new 12-cylinder engine with 700 horsepower that could be showcased with an optional transparent engine bonnet. This model’s transmission was also unique, promising the fastest shifting time of just 50 milliseconds. The Aventador would proceed to beat sales records for all of the brand’s other V12 models.
You’ll find North America’s first Lamborghini Aventador displayed at the Peterson Automotive Museum’s Vault. The Vault contains over 300 vehicles from around the world, organized into sections like motorsports, Hollywood, early automobiles, and more, through more than 120 years of history. However, the first Aventador in North America isn’t the only Lamborghini you’ll find at the Peterson Museum. This Los Angeles facility is currently showing a 1985 Lamborghini Countach 5000 S and a 1989 Lamborghini LM002 SUV. You’ll also find a 1988 Cizeta V16T, developed by a group of former Lamborghini employees. The Peterson Museum previously displayed a 1968 Lamborghini Miura P400.
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Andrea Baldi, CEO of Automobili Lamborghini Americas, stated: “The Lamborghini V12 is essential to the DNA of the brand. It’s a symbol of Lamborghini’s performance and engineering prowess, with a legacy of being at the heart of some of the most iconic supercars ever created. With our donation to the Petersen Automotive Museum, this Aventador has found a special home to be admired by auto enthusiasts and passionate fans of the brand.”
Final thoughts
The Peterson Automotive Museum is displaying this 2011 Aventador to emphasize the vehicle’s cultural and engineering significance. With first-of-its-kind design choices like a monocoque chassis made entirely from carbon fiber, the Aventador’s debut immediately turned heads. Buzz surrounding the vehicle was amplified by its new independent shifting rod transmission with rapid shifts, and a redesigned cockpit with highlights such as a fighter-pilot-inspired ignition button. The Peterson Automotive Museum’s effort to expand its collection of significant vehicles from the past 25 years appears to be heading in the right direction with Lamborghini’s latest donation.
This story was originally reported by Autoblog on Aug 22, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Autoblog as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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