The Petersen Automotive Museum has announced a temporary exhibit for the month of June, offering a third reason Audi enthusiast’s really shouldn’t miss visiting the Los-Angeles-based facility this year. “Totally Awesome! Cars and Culture of the ’80s and ’90s.”, set to open on June 7, helps you revisit the cultural impact of cars from the so-called “Rad Era”. Amongst them – a 1985 Group B-spec Audi Sport quattro S1 E2.
The feature display will be located in the Petersen’s Mullin Grand Salon. Other cars include:
- 1985 Audi Sport Quattro Group B rally car
- 1996 Vector M12
- 1995 McLaren F1
- 1995 Nissan NISMO GT-R LM Road Car
- 1991 Koenig C62
- 1981 DeLorean DMC-12 “Time Machine” used in “Back to the Future”
- 1984 Pac-Man Rod
- 1985 Lamborghini Countach 5000S
- 1986 Chevrolet Corvette Indy concept
- 1987 Buick GNX, the first GNX ever built
- 1988 Cizeta V16T
- 1989 Lamborghini LM002
- 1998 Volkswagen Beetle featured in “Austin Powers”
- and more
Located in the museum’s Mullin Grand Salon, “Totally Awesome! Cars and Culture of the ‘80s and ‘90s” will celebrate the rad vehicles and aesthetics of the ‘80s and ‘90s with a curated collection of concept cars, production models, motorcycles and memorable vehicles from film and television. Visitors will also enjoy interactive elements, including the video games and technology that strongly influenced the era.
“This exhibit celebrates the cars people drove and dreamed of driving in the ‘80s and ‘90s. From high-performance vehicles and pop culture icons, to synth soundtracks and oversized shoulder pads, this exhibit is nostalgia on overdrive,” said Terry L. Karges, executive director of the Petersen Automotive Museum. “We can’t wait for visitors to experience this vibrant celebration of an era that redefined the road and pop culture.”
What Do We Know About “IN YN 31”
Typically the Petersen Museum lists in-depth details about each car on display. Given Totally Awesome hasn’t opened just yet, we’re not finding any deep dive info on the car they plan to exhibit. However, the great thing about these old WRC rally cars is that they were registered for the road.. So, noting the registration of IN YN 31, the #5 on the door and the driver and co-driver names as well (Hannu Mikkola, Arne Hertz), a quick check of the archives reveals this car is the one belonging to Steve Rimmer, owner of Dirtfish Rally School.
Rimmer’s got an incredible Group B collection, including a Sport quattro, but the S1 E2 is no doubt a crown jewel amongst them. The car is one of just 20 real S1 E2s Audi Sport built for Group B rallying. Mikkola and Hertz ran the car at the 1985 Olympus Rally… the one in Tacoma, Washington and the race that Dirtfish sponsors today. It also won its class at the prestigious Quail Motorsport Gathering during last year’s Monterey Car Week.
More Reasons To Go Include S1 Hoonitron and Ken Block’s Sport quattro
Worth remembering should you be tempted to make the trip to Los Angeles to see the S1 E2, the Petersen is also currently hosting a temporary exhibit dedicated to Ken Block. So, under the same roof you’ll also find Block’s black livery Audi S1 Hoonitron and his white Sport quattro replica known as the “Turbo Monster”.
The two Ken Block associated cars are also rarely out for public view in the U.S.A. The Hoonitron belongs to Audi AG and is on loan from Germany, while the Sport quattro was Ken’s personal car and is owned and operated by the 43 Institute managed by Ken’s wife Lucy.
“Totally Awesome! Cars and Culture of the ’80s and ’90s” opens on June 7 and will be on display through April 2026. To purchase tickets or for more information about the Petersen Automotive Museum, please visit Petersen.org/exhibits.
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