Los Angeles’s Petersen Automotive Museum has launched a nostalgic trip back to the raddest era of car culture: the "Totally Awesome! Cars and Culture of the ’80s and ’90s" exhibit. Open now in the Mullin Grand Salon until April 2026, this immersive display is a feast for both gearheads and casual visitors alike. Let’s explore that fantastic car exhibit!
Time Machine Vibes & Unexpected Icons
As soon as you walk in, the neon-clad energy of the time wraps around you. The scene was set with bright carpets, old arcade games, TVs from the MTV era playing loops of old music videos, and fashion mannequins that defined an era. The multisensory setup is meant to immerse you in the style, tech, and music of the time so the cars feel like they belong in a living, breathing cultural ecosystem.
Show-Stopping Rides and Concept Sparks
The exhibit spotlights more than 30 vehicles from 1980-1999, spanning dreamlike concepts to blockbuster stars:
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1984 Cadillac Seville by Gucci: Decked out in Gucci monogrammed vinyl, gold accents, and plush leather, this rare, opulent ride is one of just 10 left.
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Concepts & Supercars: Eye-popping prototypes like the 1989 Pontiac Stinger and 1997 Chrysler Copperhead mingle with icons: the 1996 Nissan GT‑R Nismo 400R, AMG-tuned G-Wagen, a trippy GMC Syclone pace car, a 1988 Cizeta V16T, a purple Vector M12, and the record-setting Lotec C1000 with its 1,000 hp.
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Hollywood Legends & Movie Stars: Fans can soak in cinematic nostalgia with the McLaren F1, the Ferrari from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, and a cameo after Back to the Future. Chances are, even in a room of megastars, these wheels will still steal the show.
Why It Matters: More Than Just Eye Candy
Senior Associate Curator Autumn Nyiri explains that the exhibit follows a chronological narrative, threading together technological shifts and cultural moments while selecting cars that embody those chapters. Many are on loan from private collections, making this an unrepeatable showcase. Here are some key features of the exhibit:
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Tech Revolution: The 80s and 90s saw computer-aided design become mainstream, ushering in smarter electronics, turbocharged engines, digital dashboards, and motorsport-derived safety innovations.
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Cultural Intersection: Cars intersected with cable TV, arcades, fashion, and music, turning vehicles into powerful cultural symbols. This exhibit interweaves arcade games, vintage MTV loops, and era-accurate fashion to showcase.
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Design Expression: Reflects retro-futurism: bold colors, sharp angles, wild gull-wing doors, and wind-tunnel-aided profiles.
As you can see, “Totally Awesome!” isn’t just another car exhibit—it’s a sensory-rich tribute to two prophetic decades when cars reflected personal identity, cultural shifts, and technological breakthroughs. Whether you’re a die-hard supercar fan or just love the neon, arcade, and MTV-infused aesthetic, this exhibition at the Petersen is a can’t-miss time machine.
Images: Petersen Automotive Museum
