Perhaps no film franchise has endured the type of absurd lineage as Fast & Furious, and in just a quarter century’s time. From its humble beginnings as a celebration of street racing culture in the 2001 debut to shedding its main characters entirely by the third installment, Tokyo Drift, to bringing them all back together again (and then some) just two movies later. Now with over ten films in and counting, Fast & Furious has brought cars to a whole new audience while still getting bigger and brasher with each new entry.
Believe it or not, it’s been 25 years since Vin Diesel’s Dominic Toretto and Paul Walker’s Brian O’Conner first became the best of frenemies under the backdrop of L.A.’s street racing scene. And to celebrate the milestone, L.A.’s own Petersen Automotive Museum collaborated with Universal Pictures to bring a handful of the most iconic vehicles from the franchise’s past to the public starting this weekend (and before you ask, no, Bow Wow’s green Hulk-mobile will not be there).
The Stars of the Show
The exhibit’s two crown jewels are exactly who you’d expect. Brian O’Connor’s 1994 Toyota A80 Supra, specifically Stunt Car #3 from the original film, is here in its Lamborghini Diablo Candy Pearl Orange glory. This is the car that made Supras collector items overnight, and helped cement the 2JZ engine as something approaching mythology. It’s worth remembering that the original production team had to quickly source a white, non-turbo Supra shell and build it out almost entirely from scratch under technical advisor Craig Lieberman. Many of its go-fast cosmetics were exactly that: cosmetics. But the cultural output was anything but superficial. A screen-used example later sold at auction for around $550,000.
Beside it sits Dom’s 1970 Dodge Charger R/T in its familiar glossy black with chrome accents. Dom’s Charger has always been less a car and more a psychological object for the character: a family heirloom he spent most of the first film too afraid to drive, before ultimately crashing it into a semi in the iconic finale. The Petersen has the cleaner version featured in Fast 6.
The Rest of the Garage
The supporting cast is strong. Dom’s 1993 Mazda RX-7 and Letty’s 1997 Nissan 240SX round out the first film’s roster alongside the acid-green 1995 Mitsubishi Eclipse that introduced NOS purges and underglow to an entire generation of multiplex audiences. Suki’s pink 2001 Honda S2000 from 2 Fast 2 Furious is also on deck. All told, 23 vehicles spanning the first through tenth films make up the collection, including six cars from Vin Diesel’s personal collection and one on loan from Paul Walker’s family.
The fact that this is being hosted at the Petersen is worth something on its own. The museum has been L.A.’s premier automotive institution since opening on Wilshire in 1994, the same year as the franchise’s spiritual birth. Having gone through its own $125 million architectural transformation in 2015, the Petersen is a legitimate cultural venue worthy of this jubilee celebration.
Spec Sheet
Exhibit Name: A Fast & Furious Legacy: 25 Years of Automotive Icons
Location: Petersen Automotive Museum, 6060 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA
Galleries: Propulsion Gallery and Ross and Beth Myers Galleries
Number of Vehicles: 23
Opening Date: March 14, 2026
Closing Date: April 2027
Highlight Vehicles: 1994 Toyota A80 Supra (Stunt #3), 1970 Dodge Charger R/T, 1995 Mitsubishi Eclipse, 2001 Honda S2000, 1993 Mazda RX-7, 1997 Nissan 240SX
Costumes: Two from Universal Studios archives
Pricing & Availability
“A Fast & Furious Legacy: 25 Years of Automotive Icons” opens March 14 and runs through April 2027 at the Petersen in Los Angeles. General admission is $21 for adults, $19 for seniors, and $13 for youth. Tickets and full exhibit info are available at Petersen.org/exhibits.
Recap
Petersen Automotive Museum Fast Furious 25th Anniversary Exhibit
The Petersen Automotive Museum is teaming up with Universal Pictures to host “A Fast & Furious Legacy: 25 Years of Automotive Icons,” a 23-car exhibit featuring screen-used heroes and stunt vehicles from across the franchise, opening March 14 in L.A. The headliners are Brian O’Connor’s iconic orange Supra and Dom Toretto’s black Charger R/T.
