It usually takes a few generations of buyers before seeing a vehicle reach the bottom of its depreciation curve and begin to trend upwards. Now that kids of the 1990s are starting to buy their childhood dream car, we are beginning to see values rise in some unexpected vehicles. While most enthusiasts could have predicted collectibility in rare European sports cars, few people considered that products from 1990s America would be worth saving.
Once cast to buy here pay here lots of cash for clunkers, clean examples of these cars are now few and far between, and the market is beginning to recognize that. It was only a few years ago you could find examples of these cars on your local Craigslist for minuscule amounts before unexpectedly rising in value. Today some of these classics have reached unprecedented values and are showing little sign of stopping.
8 Jeep Grand Wagoneer
By the time the Jeep Grand Wagoneer rolled into the 1990s, it was already one of the oldest new cars on the market. With a primary platform dating back to 1963, the Jeep Grand Wagoneer had dated leaf spring suspension and even still breathed through a carburetor when the final examples rolled off the assembly line in 1991. When Chrysler took over AMC, some modern appointments like a trip computer and rear wiper made an appearance. Still, the Grand Wagoneer stayed true to its formula for the most part, and buyers didn't seem to mind paying a premium for it either. Despite a steep base price of $28,500 for its final year in 1991, demand never relented.
With stiffer competition in the luxury SUV field and new safety standards being implemented, by 1991, it was no longer financially viable to keep the Grand Wagoneer around. Chrysler pulled the plug after releasing a series of 1,500 final edition cars. For many years the ungainly and inefficient Wagoneer only found homes among dedicated off-road enthusiasts and in the comfortable garages of their affluent original owners. Things started to change as demand for vintage SUVs perked up in the 2010s. Today a pristine 1991 final edition will set you back around $40,000. Good driver quality examples from the facelifted '87-'91 era regularly reach $20,000 or more on various auction sites.
7 1997 Dodge Viper
When the Dodge Viper was introduced for the 1992 model year, many consumers were surprised at its features or lack thereof. With no airbags, stability control, or ABS, the original Viper offered an authentic sports car experience. Something that was quickly becoming out of the ordinary as technology rapidly evolved in the 1990s and changed our ideas of performance.
With automobile complexity at an all-time high, enthusiasts yearning for a traditional sports car experience are looking back and taking the first generation car under consideration. As one of the last actual analog sports cars, desirability is at an all-time high, with pristine examples fetching at least $50,000. If you would like to step into one, you can't afford to wait any longer, as new sale records are being set regularly.
6 Chevrolet Tahoe
The Chevrolet Tahoe arrived on the automotive scene for the 1992 model year just as American families were beginning to take a hard look at SUVs. Initially, a Blazer sub-trim, the Tahoe offered passenger car amenities and comfort with rugged offroad capability. After finally becoming its own model in 1995, the first generation Tahoe stuck around for the rest of the 1990s out until GM introduced the second generation for the 2000 model year.
Like other first-generation SUVs of the 1990s, the first generation Tahoe is beginning to see modest growth. With clean examples, few and far between SUV enthusiasts have to search long and hard for excellent examples. When they come across one, the value is still are in the reach of average buyers. This pristine example from 1999 recently sells for $15,250. If you are looking to get into a reliable and rugged Tahoe, make sure and hurry, as buyers could have picked up this same SUV only a few years ago for a quarter of the price.
5 GMC Typhoon
As more buyers opted for SUVs, it wasn't long until manufacturers began to explore sport variants of their existing models. One of the earliest examples was the GMC Typhoon. Based on the existing GMC Jimmy, the Typhoon featured a plethora of unique equipment under the hood spiking up the 4.3 L V-6, including a Mitsubishi turbocharger. With performance adding up to 280 horsepower and a 0-60 time of just 5.3 seconds, the Typhoon was a successful early foray into the performance SUV market.
With only 4,697 examples produced between 1992 and 1993, the Typhoon was almost instantly a collector's item. Today's vintage SUV market only highlights its rarity. While scouring Craigslist for a project, you may be able to find a reasonable example, but on auction sites, clean cars have brought as much as $26,000.
4 Ford Taurus SHO
When Ford introduced the Taurus SHO for the 1989 model year, there was little to differentiate it from its standard mundane siblings. A hood, wheels, and body cladding let other drivers know that your family sedan was packing a 220 hp V-6 capable of propelling the sedan to 60 in just 6.6 seconds. These numbers are average by today's standards but were healthy upon its introduction. Throughout the early 1990s, the SHO received horsepower bumps and revised styling before being adapted to the all-new third-generation 1995 Taurus. This SHO featured a powerful Yamaha V-8 transforming the sedan into an even bigger sleeper.
Both the classic original show and the curvier third-generation car maintain cult followings. Each vehicle has its benefits. While the older example is less powerful, the newer V-8 models are prone to engine issues. Value has not caught up with the car's rarity yet but is beginning to creep up. Clean first-generation cars are now selling at auction for as high as $13,000, while later models command a bit less.
3 Chevrolet K5 Blazer
The second-generation Chevrolet K5 Blazer arrived in the 1990s with architecture dating back to 1972. Besides a few niceties to keep it current with the GM line, like added interior features, a modern nose, and some fresh trim, the truck kept its same formula until being replaced after the 1991 model year.
The K5 Blazers values have increased substantially in the past few years and are only reaching higher. Many enthusiasts love the final facelifted Blazers as they offer more comforts and modern features while still retaining the rugged, reliable aspects of the older trucks. Today a nice K5 Blazer will set you back approximately $25,000, with fully restored examples fetching even more—an apt reflection of the newly exploding vintage SUV market.
2 Dodge Daytona IROC R/T
Special edition Chryslers of the 1980s and 1990s are beginning to see some traction as enthusiasts recognize their rarity and value. The Dodge Daytona IROC R/T is a perfect example of a forgotten Chrysler product finding new life in the 2020s. With a fresh, dynamic facelift for the 1992 model year, the Daytona was further enhanced by the IROC R/T package. A peppy 224 horsepower turbo4 mated to a five-speed manual made the coupe an endearing option for those looking for an economical but fun sports car.
Today, though few and far between, a pristine example such as this can fetch around $8,000. Already a number quite a bit higher than most Chrysler products from this era, but still an affordable one to jump into if you are looking for a unique weekender.
1 Jeep Cherokee (XJ)
Introduced for the 1984 model year, XJ Jeep Cherokee provided buyers with a smaller and more cost-effective alternative to the larger Grand Wagoneer. Immediately after introduction, the rugged little XJ proved itself to American buyers, and it remained for sale in its basic form until 2001. A myriad of engines was available to choose from, including the highly reliable 4.0L I6. Through the 1990s, after Chrysler picked up the brand, a few refinements that improved daily driving comforts were added as well as some additional safety equipment, but for the most part, it stayed true to its Jeep heritage.
Today the XJ Cherokee remains hot, providing comfortable daily transportation with rugged offroad capability. It is increasingly difficult to find clean stock original examples these days, so pristine cars can sell as high as $20,000. Despite this, you can still get lucky and find examples floating around on Craigslist for relatively reasonable amounts if you don't mind not being the first to modify one.