Petersen Museum opens “Totally Awesome!” exhibit June 7, spotlighting cars, culture, and icons from the radical '80s and '90s.
The Petersen Automotive Museum is turning back the clock to one of the most memorable eras in car and pop culture history. Opening June 7, the museum’s new exhibit, “Totally Awesome! Cars and Culture of the ’80s and ’90s,” will showcase the outrageous vehicles and unforgettable media moments that shaped a generation.
Set within the Mullin Grand Salon, the exhibition is the museum’s first full-scale retrospective focused solely on the vibrant aesthetics and innovations of the 1980s and 1990s. The showcase features a diverse lineup of rare concept cars, period production models, movie and TV vehicles, motorcycles, and interactive tech that helped define the digital dawn.
“This exhibit celebrates the cars people drove and dreamed of driving in the ‘80s and ‘90s,” said Terry L. Karges, executive director of the Petersen Automotive Museum. “From high-performance vehicles and pop culture icons to synth soundtracks and oversized shoulder pads, this exhibit is nostalgia on overdrive.”
Among the standout vehicles on display:
- 1981 DeLorean DMC-12 “Time Machine” from Back to the Future
- 1995 McLaren F1, one of the world’s most legendary supercars
- 1985 Lamborghini Countach 5000S, the poster car of a generation
- 1987 Buick GNX, the very first one ever built
- 1986 Chevrolet Corvette Indy Concept, a futuristic design study
- 1998 Volkswagen Beetle from Austin Powers
- 1984 Pac-Man Rod, a quirky tribute to gaming culture
- 1995 Nissan NISMO GT-R LM Road Car and 1985 Audi Sport Quattro Group B, celebrating motorsports excellence
The exhibit also includes hands-on elements like vintage video games and interactive technology displays, aiming to fully immerse guests in the sights, sounds, and vibes of the era.
“Totally Awesome!” opens June 7, 2025, and promises to be a high-octane time capsule for car lovers and pop culture fans alike.