Neon Rides: Cars and Culture of the ’80s and ’90s

Neon Rides revisits the vibrant and often overlooked vehicles of the 1980s and 1990s, a period once dismissed by traditional collectors and now ripe for reappraisal.

Defined by wedge-shaped silhouettes, turbocharged ambition, and the unapologetic embrace of design excess, these machines were born at the crossroads of analog grit and digital possibility. From underappreciated oddities to cult classics, the cars of this era reflected a world in flux—politically, culturally, and technologically.

Neon Rides is a visual and cultural excavation of a moment when car culture broke from the past and rewired our relationship to identity, aspiration, and speed. Developed in collaboration with the Petersen Automotive Museum, the book combines archival imagery, cultural commentary, and curatorial insight to celebrate a misunderstood chapter in automotive history. It captures the spirit of an era where pop culture, performance, and personality collided, leaving behind tire marks that still matter today.

The Petersen Automotive Museum is a world-renowned institution dedicated to exploring and presenting the history, culture, and artistry of the automobile. Located in Los Angeles, it houses one of the most comprehensive and diverse automotive collections in the world, with exhibitions that span design, innovation, and global car culture. Through its dynamic programming and forward-thinking curation, the Petersen continues to shape conversations about the past, present, and future of mobility.