If there’s one thing I love as much as classic cars, it’s heavy-ass-music! So, when I saw the announcement of James Hetfield’s car collection donation last year, my ears perked up like the first time I heard Metallica’s Kill Em’ All. Well, that love of heavy music and wicked rides has converged. The cars are currently on display at the Petersen Automotive Museum under the “Reclaimed Rust” banner.

With deep roots in Southern California’s car culture, James Hetfield is no stranger to wicked rides. As you can imagine, given his high level of income and celebrity status, he owns some extremely rare and beautiful cars. But, rather than purchase these custom rides already built, Heftield finds inspiration from rusty shells hiding in open fields, as he alludes to in the video.

So, these labors of love are crafted much like the music he makes, with an artistic flair that’s given us countless albums and snarling guitar riffs. Of course, being the benevolent thrash metal god that he is, James sought to share his love of vintage iron by donating and showcasing some of his most prized beauties with the world.

As Hetfield puts in the mini-documentary above, “these cars are show cars, and they are drivable, but they’re also beautiful to look at. They’re pieces of art. I have them sitting here in my garage in Northern California, and I want more people to see them – simple as that. I’ve had my time with them. I’ve gotten the life out of them, and the Petersen Museum is the pinnacle of any collection. To be a part of that is an honor.”

While the Petersen Museum is currently closed to the public due to Covid-19, you can still view the collection, among many others, on its website, here.