Robert E. Petersen 1926 – 2007

Biography

Entrepreneur. In 1948 he founded Hot Rod Magazine,  which was instrumental in the evolution of hot-rod auto culture. He went on to create the largest special interest publishing company in America. His consumer magazines included Motor Trend,  Car Craft,  Guns & Ammo,  Sport,     Motorcyclist,  Hunting,  Mountain Biker,  Photographic,  Teen,  and Sassy. When he sold his company in 1996, Petersen Publishing’s annual revenue was $275 million. In 1994, he fulfilled a lifelong dream with the opening of a 300,000 square-foot automotive museum. The Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles stands as the nation’s premiere automotive museum, serving thousands of visitors each year. He died of cancer.  (bio by: John “J-Cat” Griffith)  Family links:  Spouse:  Margie McNally Petersen (1935 – 2011)*  Children:  Robert Petersen (1964 – 1975)*  Richard Petersen (1965 – 1975)* *Calculated relationship