The 90s was a good time for cars because there was a race to see which auto company could develop a faster and a fancier car. In doing so, many gems were developed, though so were a few duds. There were smooth bodies, aerodynamic fronts, as well as a whole variety of engines. Sure, the cars were fast, but they were fast for the 90s. Today, these very superheroes of the day will feel slow to the driver used to a 200mph speedway.
Then there is the obvious cost too. The expensive cars of the 90s have not been able to retain their values today, and are available rather cheap. The exceptions are the rare ones. This is both good and bad for the consumer. For those who retained these cars hoping for them to give out a handsome return as a classic, they have proved to be a disappointment. And for those looking to buy one of these yesteryear stars as a first car, or simply as a beloved collectible – its great news. One could, of course, hold on to a 90s car for sheer driving pleasure or sentimental value, but financial returns are not their strong point. So here go 25 90s cars that are fast and fun, but pretty much worthless today in terms of their selling point. Don’t make the mistake of thinking these cars are bad though. Aged as they may be, they are still a dream to drive…
25 The Iconic Mazda RX-7
Remember the Mazda RX-7? No? Remember rotary engines? Yep, that one. For some, this rotary engine was an issue but for most motorheads, it was the coolest thing since sliced bread, at least according to TopSpeed. And this was so because it could be tuned, by rotary engine experts that is, to just about rip the road. Even un-tuned, it cranked out some 280 horsepower and with its small frame and light body, it was a great drift car and race car. And just about the coolest car of the 90s! You can get one for $8-20,000 now.
24 Mercedes Benz SL-Class: The Cool Classic
Initially, Mercedes cars used to have the number first and the letters later, like the iconic 300SL. In 1994, they reversed this order and we saw the rise of the SL320. These cars were sheer luxury and driving pleasure combined and came in a convertible or hardtop two-door roadster option. The other options depended on the engines—an inline-six, a V8, or the fully-loaded SL600 with a V12 that churned out 350+ horsepower. The top-loaded version was some $120,000 then but can be had for a mere $40,000 now, according to AutoList.
23 The Mustang Cobra: All Hiss, No Sting
According to Hagerty, the 1990s was the time when the JDM car market really started to pick up. This sparked off a war between the domestic muscle cars like the Mustang and the imported hits like the Nissan GTR or Skyline. At the time, the Cobra Mustang had what sounded like a beefy 5.0-liter V8 but it cranked out just 235 horsepower, which was mighty at the time but barely passing muster now. Even a base Mustang GT churns out far more horsepower, which is why you can get a 90s Cobra Mustang between $10k and $20k with ease today.
22 Pontiac Firebird: Badge Engineering At Its Best
Don’t remember the Firebird? Well, it’s a Camaro clone. In the 1980s and well into the 90s, GM was churning out rebadged models by the dozen. And so emerged the Pontiac Firebird, but it still has its own fans. Also, remember they used a Firebird to make the Knight Rider car KITT—and that affirmed the Firebird’s collector value, as did its general appeal. Of course, it was also in direct competition to the Mustang, though it shared the body platform of the Camaro. You can get it for under $10,000 today.
21 The Dark Lord In The Lamborghini Diablo
Seriously, next to Demi Moore and Sharon Stone, this was probably the most pinned-up image of the 90s. According to Super Street Network, the Diablo was the car to have in the 90s, equipped with a 6.0-liter V12 engine that managed to crank out a whopping 595 horsepower! Now when we say whopping, remember, it’s all relative. But with models like the Gallardo, the Aventador and the Murcielago later, the Diablo lost popularity and production, though its head-turning charm remains. You can get one for under $100k if the Diablo still holds your heart.
20 The Lightning (Fast) Ford F-150 SVT Lightning
The SVT bit does not stand for much, being simply Special Vehicles Team, a division of Ford that turbocharges everything it touches. While trucks and SUVs have come to rule the roost of the domestic market of today, they were intensely popular in the 90s, as well. And then, trucks were used to race and with a supercharged 5.4-liter V8, the Lightning could hold its own. Now, of course, even base models can go faster. According to AutoList, a late-90s Ford F-150 SVT Lightning can be had for $10-20k now if there are still fans around.
19 The Very Fast Jaguar XJ220
The Jaguar doesn’t hold the same fort it once used to, despite the XJ220 holding the title of one of the rarest cars in the 90s. And pretty much the fastest car of the 90s as well. A twin-turbo, 3.5-liter V6 engine ripped out 680 horsepower, which was the top of the line for the 90s. Not now though; today 680 horsepower is still good, but not among the seriously impressive cadre. The mighty do fall…
18 The Underrated Supercar: Bugatti EB110
Why did we dub this a worthless car? Because while it made Bugatti a power to be reckoned with, its dismal sales literally bankrupted the company. The Veyron and the Chiron have raised the ante again, but the EB110 was what started it all for Bugatti. It had a quad-turbo, 3.5-litre V12, that churned out a respectable 553 horsepower. We know it’s not crazy power for today, but for the 90s, it was perhaps too much. The car never took off and is pretty rare in the classic market as well. According to TheStreet, one car is available in Germany for a cool million bucks.
17 Old Isn’t Always Gold: Ferrari 550
Now, if you have always hankered for a Ferrari but never had the wherewithal to buy a new one, the used 90s model of the Ferrari 550 can be had for $100-200k. Pricey, yes, but come on, it is a Ferrari after all. The engine was a powerful 5.5-liter V12 but strangely cranked out a rather low (by Ferrari standards) 485 horsepower. There are people who tuned and milked a lot more from it, but then you need the know-how of a Ferrari technician (magician)…
16 The Star Of Ronin: BMW M5
The M cars of BMW should stand for "masterpiece" if it doesn’t already because it has always produced all-stars. The 1990s M5 was an amazing all-rounder as well. It cranked out 400 horsepower on a 4.9-liter V8 engine and had a rather boxy, if iconic, front. The design is what sets the Ms apart because not too much has changed over the years in the contours of the car, though what lies under the hood is a different story altogether. You can get one for under $20k now, according to AutoList.
15 The Walker Car: Toyota Supra
So this one is for all you F&F and JDM fans: the original ten-second car from the movie that kickstarted it all. Now the thing is, you could hype up what they show in the movies and think of beating a Lambo or a Ferrari in a stock Supra. Not happening too often in real life, though, considering a normal Supra had a 3.0-liter, twin-turbo I6 engine that cranked out 276 horsepower. Walker’s tuner was a different ball game. The used prices range madly, from about $20k to $80k for tuned models.
14 Want A Cop Car? How About A Crown Vic?
Ford’s Crown Victoria was the quintessential cop car in both real and reel life. It’s an important part of the history of automobiles here, and frankly, the cop Crown Vics were built a lot different than the stock cars available for public use. With a hefty 4.6-liter engine, the stock car could churn out 201 horsepower. According to Complex, of course, a cop car could do a lot more. A stock used car can be had for as little as $3,000 but you may have shell out more for a cop's old Crown Vic.
13 The Stormy Truck: GMC Syclone
The GMC Syclone may have looked like a work truck but in reality, it was anything but. With a turbocharged 4.3-liter V6, it could crank out some 280 horsepower. For the 90s, it was cool. The load it could carry was laughable, but it could leave many a cool car biting the dust, a true sleeper if ever a truck was one. Its lightweight body helped it match the power of bigger trucks, the reason why a used 90s model still sells for $20-50k, depending on the tuning and the number of miles under its belt.
12 The Tiny Sports Car: Mazda Miata
If you look at the horsepower of the Mazda Miata, you wouldn’t understand why anybody would call it a sports car. A 1.6-liter I4 engine was able to crank out a maximum of 115 horsepower—very low by today’s standards! Back in the 90s, though, the Miata could hold its own. According to Motor1, the reason behind it was its power-to-weight ratio, as it was as light as a car could be with rather striking looks. A 90s Miata can be had for under $5k if you look hard enough.
11 Transformers Bumblebee: Chevy Camaro
Unless you manage to get your hands on a COPO Camaro, the 90s version was no great shakes. The Chevrolet Camaro was all looks and style and raced with the Mustang and the Firebird in sales and popularity. Hundreds of thousands were churned out and can be found dotting the landscape in various states of abandonment today because its prices kept dropping. A stock one can be had for under $5k, though the 3.5-liter V8 version can be had for around $15k.
10 The Tuner World Star: Nissan Skyline
While the Fast and the Furious franchise certainly enhanced the JDM theme and gave the tuners back home something to talk about, the Skyline has always been a revered car. Be it the lesser known R33, or the more famous R34, the way these cars were built means they can be built up to the extreme. So much so, in fact, that many tuners are illegal in many states because none of the cop cars can catch them! A tuned one can put you back by almost $50k but a stock option can be had for $10k.
9 Dangerous And Mean: The Dodge Viper
Today, no one really remembers the Viper but once upon a time, it was one of the meanest things on the road. This all-star of a muscle car hid a staggering 8.0-liter V10 under its hood that could put out 400 horsepower in seconds, according to TopSpeed. The car was eye-catchingly beautiful, but technology has left the Viper far, far behind. The Viper is now more of a straggler than a success. The Viper is now available at $30-50k in the used car market and the engines still revs as sweet as ever.
8 The Car Nobody Wanted: Volkswagen Golf GTI
Mention VW and the freshest thing in any consumer’s mind is the falsifications they recently fibbed up when it came to emissions requirements. Sales-wise, despite the financial hit VW just took in fines and recalls, it is still a market leader. In the 90s, they produced the GTI, a 1.8-liter, four-cylinder, 110-horsepower car that looked boxy and was cramped. Then they brought out the Jetta that sold like hotcakes. If you still hanker for this nimble car that was a riot to drive (in the 90s, that is) you can easily have one for under $5k.
7 The Bad Boy Of the 90s: Mitsubishi Eclipse
Very, very iconic at the time, the Mitsubishi Eclipse would not get a second glance today. Most of the 90s Eclipses were liveried in neon colors and sported flashy spoilers to give them some serious attitude. A stock car wasn’t all that great to look at but there were plenty of Eclipses produced and sold in the 90s. Enough for it to go out of fashion and favor so much so you can get a well-used one for as little as $2,000 now! Its 2.0-liter inline-four cranked out 210 horsepower, which was rather respectable for the 90s.
6 The Very Rare Ferrari F50 GT
Frankly, for the rich and the famous, this isn’t a worthless car. And if you have one of these languishing in your barn, you are going to be a millionaire. Why? Because it sells for more than a million, and many call it the most beautiful car ever made by Ferrari. However, let’s talk engine specs. With a 4.7-liter V12 engine, it chopped out 513 horsepower which was very powerful in the 90s. But even a base 2018 Ferrari can chew out an F50 GT!