The Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, California, will open a new exhibition dedicated to the cars and automotive culture of the 1980s and 1990s, from June 7, 2025.
Dubbed Totally Awesome! Cars and Culture of the ’80s and ’90s, the exhibition features a curated selection of concept and production cars, motorcycles and iconic vehicles featured in film and television from the RADwood era. The exhibits are being brought to life by interactive elements, including video games and technology that defined the era.
The 1980s and 1990s were a pivotal time in automotive design, as the industry embraced computer-aided design and Japanese manufacturers led the way. Technological features such as digital dashboards, turbocharging and futuristic styling became hallmarks of the era.
Meanwhile, films such as Back to the Future, Knight Rider and Wayne’s World enriched automotive pop culture and inspired a new generation of enthusiasts.
Exhibition highlights include a 1995 McLaren F1 – arguably the most iconic supercar ever built – alongside a 1995 Nissan NISMO GT-R LM Road Car, a screen-used 1981 DeLorean DMC-12 from Back to the Future, a 1988 Cizeta-Moroder V16T and a 1985 Lamborghini Countach 5000S, among many others.
“This exhibit celebrates the cars people drove and dreamed of driving in the ’80s and ’90s,” explained Petersen Automotive Museum executive director Terry L Karges. “From high-performance vehicles and pop-culture icons, to synth soundtracks and oversized shoulder pads, this exhibit is nostalgia on overdrive.”
Totally Awesome! Cars and Culture of the ’80s and ’90s opens on June 7, 2025, and runs through April 2026. To purchase tickets, or for more information about the Petersen Automotive Museum, please click here.
