Totally Awesome: Cars and Culture of the ’80s and ’90s Opens at the Petersen Museum

By globanow.com

There’s something magical about the ‘80s and ‘90s—a time when neon was king, cassette tapes ruled the dashboard, and every car commercial promised a sleek, futuristic lifestyle. Now, all that rad nostalgia is roaring back to life with “Totally Awesome: Cars and Culture of the ’80s and ’90s,” the newest exhibition at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles. And let’s just say—it’s not just a car show. It’s a time machine back to two of the most colorful, culture-defining decades in history.

The Petersen Museum: More Than Just Cars

Located on the corner of Wilshire and Fairfax, the Petersen Automotive Museum has long been a cathedral for car lovers. But this new exhibition isn’t just for gearheads—it’s for everyone who ever had a Trapper Keeper, watched Back to the Future on VHS, or dreamed of driving a DeLorean through a time vortex.

“Totally Awesome” is a celebration of the wild, weird, and wonderful aesthetics that defined pop culture between 1980 and 1999. From fashion and film to video games and television, the show uses iconic cars to tell the story of a generation raised on MTV and arcade machines.

What You’ll See: Cars, Culture, and Pure Nostalgia

At the heart of the exhibition is a jaw-dropping collection of over 30 iconic vehicles, each with a unique cultural story. Among the stars on display:

• 1981 DeLorean DMC-12 – Immortalized by Back to the Future, this gull-winged time machine is a must-see.
• 1989 Batmobile – Straight from Tim Burton’s gothic Gotham, it’s brooding, bulletproof, and badass.
• Lamborghini Countach – The ultimate poster car of the ’80s, complete with sharp lines and scissor doors.
• 1993 Toyota Supra Mk IV – A JDM legend that helped launch the Fast & Furious franchise.
• Ferrari Testarossa – Miami Vice meets high-performance engineering.

But it’s not just the cars that make this show special. The interactive elements and immersive sets are designed to transport you right into the eras themselves. Picture this: Walking into a re-creation of a ‘90s teenager’s bedroom, complete with glow-in-the-dark stars, Nirvana posters, and a Sega Genesis console humming in the corner.

Pop Culture on Wheels

Cars in the ’80s and ’90s weren’t just about getting from A to B—they were cultural icons. Knight Rider’s KITT isn’t just a Pontiac Trans Am; it’s a sentient, sarcastic crime-fighting sidekick. The A-Team’s GMC Vandura van wasn’t just transportation; it was a rolling fortress for TV’s most beloved misfit heroes. And let’s not forget the pastel-soaked world of Miami Vice, where a white Ferrari Testarossa became the symbol of cool.

The exhibit showcases how these vehicles became extensions of pop culture, influencing everything from movie aesthetics to music videos. It also explores how the automotive industry began to adopt bold new colors, designs, and technologies to match the changing tastes of young drivers who were suddenly hooked on video games, skateboarding, and hip-hop.

More Than a Throwback: Social and Cultural Context

While the vibes are fun and retro, “Totally Awesome” doesn’t shy away from deeper discussions. The exhibit explores the socio-economic shifts that shaped car ownership in these decades—like the oil crises, the rise of Japanese automakers, and the early environmental movement.

You’ll find thoughtful commentary on the increasing diversity in car culture. In the ’90s, for example, Latino and Black car communities brought lowrider culture and hip-hop into the mainstream, creating an entirely new visual and musical language around cars. The Petersen’s curators make sure to spotlight these essential contributions with both reverence and celebration.

Fashion, Music, and Tech: It’s All Here

Cars don’t exist in a vacuum—they exist in style. That’s why the exhibition goes beyond sheet metal and dives into fashion, music, tech, and toys of the era. Expect to see:

• Walkmans and boomboxes sitting next to modded street racers.
• Members Only jackets and Zubaz pants on mannequins posed with hot hatches.
• Arcade machines where visitors can actually play Out Run and Cruis’n USA.
• Movie memorabilia including props from The Fast and the Furious, Speed, and Days of Thunder.

It’s the kind of sensory overload that makes older millennials and Gen Xers beam with glee—and gives younger visitors a crash course in just how cool things used to be.

Star Power and Car Clubs

As part of the exhibit launch, Petersen hosted an opening gala attended by celebrities, car collectors, and social media influencers alike. Special guests included automotive YouTubers, actors from some of the original films, and even musicians whose hits graced the soundtracks of that era.

There are also plans for themed car meets, panel talks, and throwback movie nights at the museum throughout the exhibit’s run. Whether you’re into lowriders, imports, muscle cars, or minivans—you’ll find your tribe here.

Why This Matters in 2025

In an era dominated by electric vehicles, autonomous tech, and minimalist design, the “Totally Awesome” exhibition feels like a joyful rebellion. It reminds us that cars were once loud, weird, fun, and unmistakably human. They weren’t always about zero-to-sixty; sometimes, they were just about the ride.

The exhibition also taps into a broader cultural trend: the resurgence of retro. We’re seeing Gen Z rediscover cassette tapes, thrift ‘90s windbreakers, and binge old sitcoms. There’s something comforting about the chaos of the past—especially when today’s tech-heavy world can feel too clean, too curated, too quiet.

Final Lap: Why You Should Go

Whether you lived through the decades or are discovering them for the first time, “Totally Awesome: Cars and Culture of the ’80s and ’90s” is a dazzling, deep dive into a world of mullets, muscle cars, mixtapes, and magic. It’s a rare exhibition that balances education, entertainment, and emotional nostalgia.

This isn’t just a walk through automotive history—it’s a celebration of identity, freedom, rebellion, and fun. And it proves that, no matter how far we drive into the future, there’s always value in looking back in the rearview mirror.

So dust off your denim jacket, lace up those high-tops, and head to the Petersen Museum. Because the past is parked, polished, and ready for you to explore.

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Conclusion

Totally Awesome: Cars and Culture of the ’80s and ’90s” isn’t just an exhibition—it’s a full-throttle blast from the past. By blending iconic vehicles with the unforgettable music, fashion, and pop culture of two dynamic decades, the Petersen Automotive Museum has created a space where nostalgia and innovation collide. Whether you’re reliving your youth or discovering the charm of analog life for the first time, this exhibit offers a unique journey through a time when cars weren’t just transportation—they were identity, attitude, and pure expression. It’s bold, it’s colorful, it’s loud—and it’s totally awesome. Don’t miss it.