Are the nineties the most productive decade for classic cars?
Just ten years ago, cars from the nineties were still young used cars; in the meantime, the first model years with a nine at the beginning have already developed into classic cars, while the later cars have all become youngtimers. And while just ten years ago many a vintage car enthusiast questioned the nineties cars' right to exist as classic cars, the defensive attitude seems to be waning. The people who drove these cars when they were new are now typically all around 50 or more years old and full of fond memories of those days.
Even today, it seems clear that the nineties were a very rich decade for cars. Thanks to the Mazda MX-5 and the like, the convertible had become a trend and hardly any manufacturer could do without one or more offerings in this very attractive niche. The Alfa Spider 2.0, the Saab 900 and exotic models such as Caterham, TVR and Venturi remain unforgotten. There were also really cheap convertibles from Peugeot or Suzuki.
The coupé category also shone with plenty of choice, including the Opel Calibra, the Volvo 480 ES, the Mazda MX-3 and the Maserati Biturbo. And then there were also saloons, estate cars, hatchback compacts, minivans and even off-road vehicles, albeit in manageable numbers.
Compared to ten, twenty or thirty years previously, the choice had increased significantly. And there were cool cars among them, built in significant numbers and of good quality.
Although the technology used had become more complex (and electronic) compared to the 1950s or 1970s, in many cases it was still manageable 30 years later.
Above all, however, the nineties still offered largely analog driving pleasure. Apart from ABS and possibly ESP, hardly anything got in the driver's way. Manual gearboxes were still the dominant power transmission in many types of vehicle and the background noise was also pleasant.
If these cars have not fallen victim to scrappage schemes or deportation campaigns and have been reasonably well maintained, then they may well live for a long time and make up a significant proportion of the classic car universe in ten or twenty years' time. These vehicles will take us back to the good old days at the weekend, when we have left the stress of the electric everyday car in the underground garage.
A drive in the MG RV8or the Chrysler Viper RT/10 will be just as much fun in the future as it is today, but will be even more different from the usual individual transportation. And a VW Corrado, a Fiat Coupé, a Volvo 240 Classic or a BMW 325i Touring will also inspire us (after all, they already do today).
We don't even have to talk about the super sports cars of the time, because the McLaren F1, Ferrari F40, Bugatti EB110 GT or Jaguar XJ220 will probably be just as unaffordable in the future as they are today. But a Lotus Esprit, a Porsche 968 or a Lancia Delta HF Integrale might not be. Dreaming is allowed!
Here's to the nineties, cheers!
