25 years ago, a new cinematic phenomena swept across movie screens around the world—The Fast and the Furious. Based loosely on, or maybe inspired by, the real-world import scene that saw a new generation of racers and hot rodders take to the streets on their own terms and in their own cars, the film resonated with audiences everywhere. Why? Maybe because there was a wide enough spectrum of characters in the movie that each viewer saw someone they could identify with. Or maybe it was because of the cool cars and crazy, improbable chase scenes. Or maybe it was Devon Aoki. Who knows?Now the cars of The Fast and the Furious are on display at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles in an exhibit that will make you giggle with delight at the same time you’re cringing from the inane dialogue.“To us, this is a showcase that we’re able to do for a generation of fans,” said Petersen Automotive Museum assistant curator Kristin Feay. “It’s just time. 25 years, a generation of fans who grew up on this franchise is now able to look back and think, ‘What impact did this have on culture?’ And after a quarter century you can make that analysis. Here’s how it’s changed culture.”For the better, all the way!Six of the muscle cars are from Vin Diesel’s private collection. Many other cars came from private collections in Germany and The Netherlands. Some are from private collections in the US. All are worth getting to Los Angeles to see. Now go win a drag race, so you can live your life a quarter mile at a time.1993 Toyota SupraThis particular car is Stunt #3, used to film sequences in The Fast and the Furious in 2001. It was the principal car of Brian O’Conner, played by Paul Walker. The 4-Wide Drag RaceFrom the original movie, titled simply, The Fast and the Furious. From left to right: 1993 Mazda RX-7, ’95 Honda Civic, ’96 Acura Integra GS-R, and ’95 Mitsubishi Eclipse.1995 Nissan 240SXDriven by Letty Ortiz, Dom’s love interest, this 240SX was a real tuner car, owned by Helen Jasmine Cho. It has genuine JDM parts and a Nissan SR20DET engine in place of the stock KA four. It even has nitrous!The graphics were designed by Troy Lee and Universal’s art department. This car appeared in the “Race Wars” scene. 1967 Ford MustangThis was driven in Tokyo Drift. The character Sean Boswell gets it from his dad, and swaps an RB26DETT engine from a Nissan Skyline in place of the original V8.2005 Mitsubishi Evo IXAnother car from the real tuner scene, this one was built by APR Performance. In the movie Tokyo Drift, it was given to Boswell by Han, aka Sung Kang. Ten of these were built, and destroyed, for the movie. 1970 Chevelle SSThis is the car Dom drives at the end of the first movie, when Brian lets him get away. It appears again nine years later when Dom is working on it in Panama.1969 Ford MustangThis was driven by Roman in Fast & Furious 6. As you’ll recall, he has to leap from it just before it’s crushed by a tank. 1968 Dodge Charger DaytonaDriven by Dom in Fast & Furious 6 in a street race against Letty, who has amnesia and can’t remember who he is (don’t ask). It later chases a tank in Spain.1972 Plymouth GTXAnother Dom car, this one from The Fate of the Furious.1963 Corvette Grand SportThis Grand Sport recreation came from Mongoose Motorsports and was modeled to resemble the real thing. Of the 12 replicas used in the movie, only three survive. 1968 Dodge Charger R/TThis was Dom’s father’s stock car, according to family lore.2022 Flip Car 2.0This is the second Flip Car in the series. This one was seen in Fast X. Its six-wheel design mimics that of the Tyrrell P34.1993 Ford Mustang LXThis was driven by Jakob Toretto, yes, Dom’s little-known half brother who may or may not have been responsible for their father’s death (long story). 1966 Chevrolet Impala SSThis purple Impala fits the purple character of supervillain Dante Reyes, who we don’t meet until Fast X, but who is still miffed that La Familia killed his father in Fast 5. 1998 Toyota SupraThis was owned by Paul Walker and saw screen time in the final drag race of Furious 7.2016 Nissan GT-R Track EditionWe saw this in Furious 7, when Brian and Ramsey have to evade a bullet-firing drone through the streets of LA.Dom’s Dodge ChargerSuki’s Honda S2000Letty’s Nissan 240SXThe 4-Wide Drag RaceDom’s Chevrolet Chevelle SSNote the quote on the wall...Mitsubishi Evo IXCostume DesignsThere are two outfits in the exhibit, one worn by Dom and the other by Suki, one of the racers from 2 Fast 2 Furious. Both were stored at the Universal Archives and Collections, and they were lent to the Petersen by them. Movie PosterThis one is from Fast 5.Movie PosterGal Gadot in Fast 5.