The 1990s was a great era for sports car enthusiasts and a golden period where automakers released definitive models that have stood the test of time. From redesigns of existing models to the unveiling of fresh ones, the ’90 marked an age when some of the most iconic cars in history were manufactured.
It was in the 1990s when crazy homologation specials like the McLaren F1, Honda NSX, and Porsche 911s were unveiled. Sports cars of this era proved to be much faster and more reliable. They featured incredible powertrains that delivered stunning performances. That being said, featured here are some of the best sports cars from the 1990s.
10 1990 Honda NSX
There are so many reasons why everyone adores the NSX. First off, the Honda NSX is a historical icon. Honda used the help of the legendary Ayrton Senna to develop a mid-engined sports car. And the result was a car powered by a 276-horsepower 3.0-liter, double-overhead-cam, all-aluminum V6.
Moreover, the car featured a steering and five-speed manual gearbox that set new standards for feel and feedback, and its ride was praised by many for its compliance. In general, the NSX was a masterpiece in every aspect. It changed the entire supercar segment due to how easy it was to drive, and forced the likes of Ferrari to go back to the drawing board.
9 1995 Ferrari F50
The Ferrari F50 was an incredible automotive masterpiece and a force to be reckoned with; one of the most iconic Ferraris of all time. The F50 was a road-legal sports car resembling a Formula One racer. The F50 came with a 4.7-liter naturally aspirated V12 with an incredible output of 520 horsepower.
The gorgeous exterior curves made the F50 a beauty to behold. And the fact that the roof could come off, meaning the driver could hear the incredible sound from the engine meant it was a blast to drive.
8 1998 McLaren F1
The 1998 McLaren F1 is simply one of the best performance cars in the automotive industry. Designed by the legendary Gordon Murray, the F1 featured a central steering column, much like those racecars in Formula 1. However, what made the F1 great was how it became the world’s fastest production car in its time, pushing a top speed of 240 mph.
Undoubtedly, the F1 is one of the finest sports cars of its generation, if not one of the greatest cars of all time. It stayed the fastest production car until Bugatti introduced the Veyron in 2005 with a top speed of 254 mph.
7 1992 Dodge Viper
For drivers who desired a bit of muscle from their 1990s sports car, the Dodge Viper was the go-to vehicle. The car came equipped with a monstrous 8.0-liter V10 engine that cranked out 400 horsepower and 450 lb-ft of torque. Moreover, it took 4.5 seconds to hit the 0-60 mph and made the quarter-mile run in 12.9 seconds.
Apart from the mad performance, the Dodge Viper also featured stunning exteriors. The perfect blend of exotic exterior and performance placed the Viper among the best sports cars of its era.
6 1993 Toyota Supra
The 1993 Toyota Supra is one of the most outstanding sports cars of the 1990s. The Supra left the factory with a 2JZ-GTE twin-turbocharged iron-block 3.0-liter inline-six that cranked out 320 horsepower and 315 lb-ft of torque.
This power was a bit more than what the rivals offered at the time, and it gave the Supra quick acceleration of 0-60 mph of just 4.6 seconds. The car performed exceptionally. Its ability to keep up with more expensive sports cars made it highly desirable.
5 1992 Jaguar XJ220
In the 1990s, Jaguar did not make a lot of noises, but when it did, it was a big roar. The Jaguar XJ220 is probably one of the finest sports cars from the automaker. Under its hood lay a 3.5-liter twin-turbo DOHC V6 engine that delivered 542 horsepower and 475 lb-ft of torque. And with a well-behaved five-speed manual gearbox, this power was sent to the rear wheels.
Per 90s’ standards, the XJ220 was a bullet. It accelerated from 0-60 mph in just 3.6 seconds and had a top speed of 213 mph. In all, the 1992 XJ220 is probably one of the fastest and most powerful sports cars ever built.
4 1992 Mazda RX-7
Soon after Mazda came up with the Miata in 1989, the automaker decided it was going serious with the third generation of the RX-7. It was a light and elegant car that was incredibly fun to drive – as long as one could fit inside the cabin.
Powering the 1992 RX-7 was a 1.3-liter twin-turbo engine backed by a five-speed manual to produce 255 horsepower. Soon, the RX-7 found its way to the dragstrip and street races, thus becoming a favorite among drift racers. And although it might have been a small sports car, it was mighty in terms of performance.
3 Nissan Skyline GT-R
While most people may be familiar with the current Nissan GT-R models, the 1990 Nissan Skyline GT-R was an iconic model that rivaled the likes of the Supra and the NSX. It may not be one of the popular models produced by the automaker, but it is one of the best models they released in the 1990s.
It was stylish, elegant, and comfortable. Under its hood was a 2.6-liter twin-turbo straight-six engine officially rated at 276 horsepower, but many claimed it actually produced around 320 horsepower. The 1990 Skyline GT-R models could reach 0-60 mph in about 5.6 seconds and attain a top speed of 156 mph.
2 Corvette Grand Sport
In the mid-1990s, GM seemed to have lost its luster, and many purists feared the mighty ZR-1 might be the end for the Corvette. However, in 1996, Chevrolet stormed the market with a courageous, one-year model that resurrected one of the greatest names in Corvette history, the Grand Sport.
The C4 Grand Sport Special Edition was a limited run of 1000 cars, painted in Admiral Blue with an Arctic White Stripe and red hash marks on the driver’s side front fender. In addition, the Grand Sport package featured the black wheels from the C4 ZR-1 and a 330-horsepower LT4. The first production was a success, and since then, these cars have become hot collector’s items.
1 Porsche 993 GT2
The 993 Porsche 911 Turbo was already a fast car for its time, with an engine output of 400 horsepower. But Porsche wanted a race car for the streets, so it built the track-focused, road-going 911 GT2 in 1993 to meet the GT2 regulations.
The result was a lightened fast car that accelerated from 0-60 mph in 3.7 seconds and attained top speeds of 184mph. Its engine got a boost of up to 430 horsepower and featured a rear-wheel-drive system. Soon, the 993 GT2 earned the nickname “Widowmaker” due to how difficult it was to control in the hands of inexperienced drivers. However, the 993 GT2 was an incredible sports car that was fun to drive for brave and skilled drivers.