Explore James Hetfield’s extensive collection of customized vintage cars

The world may now see the guitarist and singer of Metallica’s Reclaimed Rust exhibition at the Petersen Automative Museum.

Iron Fist, James Hetfield’s customized concept vehicle

Fans of Metallica and automobile lovers may now see James Hetfield’s collection of customized vintage cars, which was previously on exhibit at the Petersen Automative Museum in Los Angeles. 

Under the title Reclaimed Rust, Hefield displayed a number of his vehicles at the Bruce Meyer Family Gallery, including his 1937 Lincoln Zephyr “Voodoo Priest” and 1948 Jaguar “Black Pearl,” in addition to a number of mementos and artifacts related to Metallica.

The museum’s Shell Reinish guides viewers around the collection in the latest film, presenting the cars and the narratives that go with them.

It was announced earlier this month that a book based on the show will be available on July 28. 

The book, titled Reclaimed Rust: The Four-Wheeled Creations of James Hetfield, was particularly commissioned to bring the automobiles to life and includes images shot by renowned automotive photographer Scott Williamson of Photodesign Studios. 

“Reclaimed Rust to me means that old guitar, sitting there with songs still in it, waiting for someone to pick it up and breathe life into it again – and I’ve done that with many of these cars,” Hetfield said in a recent interview.

In Kansas, I’ve seen automobiles parked in fields and thought, “They have a story to tell; let’s bring this thing back to life.”