The Petersen Automotive Museum is soon to open a new exhibition, called 'Aerodynamics: From Art to Science.' It's a look back at over a century of thought and innovation in automobile design, where different disciplines combine to in the pursuit of creating a more efficient car.

Leslie Kendall, the exhibition's curator, sees a direct link to modern automobile design. "The timing for an exhibition of aerodynamic vehicles has never been better. Now that most automakers have turned their attention to perfecting the aerodynamic qualities of their cars, museum visitors will be fascinated to learn that the pursuit of sleeker, more efficient shapes actually began during the early 1900s. Not every visitor will find all of these early cars attractive, but they will certainly find them interesting."

One such car that may provoke debate about its design merits is the 1928 Martin Aerodynamic (pictured above). To the eye it looks like the sort of design that could be a concept design in a contemporary car show. You know the ones, a boxy throwback to the 1960s, with space for a driver and passenger up front, and a dance floor in the back. The Martin Aerodynamic will be one of the 12 cars on display, along with the 1940 BMW 328 Mille Miglia.

The full list of cars on show is:

• 1928 Martin Aerodynamic
• 1935 Chrysler Airflow
• 1938 Mercedes-Benz 170H
• 1937 Airmobile
• 1938 Delahaye Type 135M Competition Roadster by Figoni et Falaschi
• 1941 Tatra T87
• 1939 Meteor Lakester
• 1940 BMW 328 MM Kamm Tail
• 1948 Fiat 1100S
• 1955 Ghia Streamline X 'Gilda' (pictured at top of page)
• 1957 Moto Guzzi V-8
• 1965 Citroen DS
• 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona
• 1971 McLaren M8E
• 1979 Ford Probe 1
• 1992 Oldsmobile Aerotech
• 2001 M-Pulse
• 1996 General Motors EV1
• 2006 Bugatti Veyron

Aerodynamics: From Art to Science - hours and admission

Aerodynamics: From Art to Science opens on Father's Day, June 16, and will run until May 27, 2013. The Petersen Automotive Museum is situated at 6060 Wilshire Blvd. (at Fairfax,) Los Angeles, California, with the exhibition housed in the Gordon R. Howard Gallery. The museum open is Tuesday through Sunday, 10.00 am - 6.00 pm.

Admission prices are as follows:

• Adults - $10.00
• Seniors (62 and over) - $8.00
• Students with I.D. - $5.00
• Active Military with I.D. - $5.00
• Children (5-12 years) - $3.00
• Children under 5 - Free
• Museum members - Free