Every decade since the invention of the automobile has seen cars and pop culture mix in different ways, and the 1980s and 1990s were certainly no exception. To celebrate that co-mingling at the end of the 20th Century, the Petersen Automotive Museum has rolled out an all-new exhibit dubbed "Totally Awesome! Cars and Culture of the '80s and '90s" — and the show features more than 30 truly iconic vehicles from the time.

Located in the museum's Mullin Grand Salon space, the exhibit does more than just line up cool cars; it builds a world around the two decades in focus. Think neon-soaked fashion, classic arcade machines, and interactive displays that capture the chaos and charisma of the time. Acid-washed denim and cassette tapes are as central to the experience as turbo lag and analog gauges.

petersen museum totally awesome 1980s 1990s cars and culture exhibit

The stars of the show are, of course, the cars, and the list includes some heavy hitters. Perhaps the greatest road car ever, the McLaren F1, is in attendance. The one-off Lotec C1000 supercar is present too, and right beside it, you'll find a Vector M12. The former uses a twin-turbo V8 to make 986 horsepower; the latter is the famously failed brainchild of Jerry Wiegert that shared underpinnings with the Lamborghini Diablo. Similar to the Lotec, some of the cars are concepts or engineering demonstrations, a list that includes the Dodge Copperhead, Buick Wildcat, and Ford Indigo.

totally awesome exhibit

The world of motorsports is represented, of course; a real Audi S1 E2 Group B rally car sits ahead of a Panoz Esperante GTR-1. These two cars couldn't have been much more different, as one saw stunning success and the other is more or less forgotten today.

But perhaps the vehicles with the broadest possible appeal are the ones from film and TV. Influential cars that made a big splash on the silver screen include a replica of the Ferrari California from Ferris Bueller's Day Off, and a DMC DeLorean fully outfitted for time travel in the fashion of Back to the Future. The Pac-Man Rod makes an appearance, too.

petersen museum totally awesome 1980s 1990s cars and culture exhibit

“This era defined what it meant to be behind the wheel, as cars became bold expressions of personal identity,” said Terry L. Karges, executive director of the Petersen Automotive Museum. “The exhibit is a full sensory time machine that brings the energy, creativity, and unforgettable style of the ‘80s and ‘90s roaring back to life, and it’s unlike anything we’ve ever done before.”

Those interested in going back in time a bit can purchase tickets on the Petersen's website. It'll remain on display until April 2026, so there's time to plan a trip or two (or three) to see everything.