Remember These Cars? We Sure Do
Almost everyone has a nostalgic car moment - it may be a dream ride you had a poster of as a child, or a memory you made in your parent’s vehicle. Those memories are priceless, and now some of those cars are worth a small fortune, too.
(1993–2002)
Toyota pushed the envelope off the table with the Supra, which came stock with the legendary 2JZ-GTE, a 3.0L inline-6 twin-turbo engine. Tuners can take it past 1,000 hp (horsepower) and being featured on “The Fast & the Furious” shot the car’s popularity into the stratosphere.
Acura NSX (First Gen) (1990–2005)
Built with input from the motorsports celeb Ayrton Senna, the NSX is a supercar with the performance to rival Ferrari and Honda reliability, but it could still be used as an everyday vehicle. It drove under the radar for many years, but it’s recently gained attention among collectors.
BMW M3 (E30) (1986–1991)
BMW created the M3 to homologate for Group A touring car racing, so you can imagine how it drives: smooth as butter with handling to die for, and no modern tech diluting the driving experience. The M3’s got a cult following, and they worship it like a deity.
Nissan Skyline GT-R (R32) (1989–1994)
Nicknamed “Godzilla” because it had the power to rival a monster Kaiju, the Skyline GT-R had tech so advanced it could have come from the future. It never officially went on sale in the U.S. - hence its desirability - but importers have kept it relevant on American shores.
Mazda RX-7 (FD) (1992–2002)
The RX-7 looks like a fighter jet with a .3L twin-turbocharged rotary engine (the 13B-REW) that revs high and keeps the vehicle responsive - it couldn’t be more reactive if it was a part of you! It’s big on the tuner market so finding an untouched one is rare; JDM variants are even more valuable.
Porsche 911 (930 Turbo) (1975–1989)
When a vehicle’s nicknamed “the Widowmaker” you know you’re in for a white-knuckle ride, and the 911’s 3.0L (later 3.3L) flat-six turbo engine didn’t disappoint! The boost lag was epic, the speed boost that followed was face-melting, and all that danger ramped up the value for collectors.
Lamborghini Countach (1974–1990)
Italian designer Marcello Gandini penned the Countach, a wedge-shaped exotic creature with scissor doors and a shrieking V12 engine that shook bones as it passed. It was a common sight on childhood posters everywhere, and less than 2,000 were made in total, so it’s gold on wheels.
Ferrari Testarossa (1984–1996)
The Testarossa was made famous by “Miami Vice” but anyone who saw it found it appearing in their childhood dreams. Its 4.9L flat-12 engine gave it Ferrari finesse, and it was one of the last of the brand to use one, which only adds to its collectibility.
DeLorean DMC-12 (1981–1983)
Who wouldn’t want a DMC-12 after seeing it race through time on Back to the Future? The stainless steel body and gullwing doors were iconic, and even though the real thing was a disappointment (it didn’t travel through time and could barely crawl out the garage) it has legendary pop culture fame.
Ford GT (1st Gen Reboot) (2005–2006)
Fans of Le Mans will need no introduction to the Ford GT that dominated Ferrari and left tire prints all over excitable racing fans’ hearts. Its 5.4L supercharged V8 could make 550 hp and just over 4,000 units were made, so it will have fans salivating.
Honda Integra Type R (DC2) (1997–2001)
With the Integra Type R, Honda stripped anything that wasn’t essential from it, added rigidity by seam-welding it and hand-built a 1.8L VTEC engine that screamed at 8,000 rpm (rotations per minute) like it was announcing judgement day. Pristine models are worth $100k+ at auction.
Datsun 240Z (1970–1973)
When Nissan dropped the 240Z it was half the price of flashy Euro sports car imports and had specs to make drivers drool - an inline-six engine, rear-wheel drive and independent suspension. It took decades, but now collectors are vacuuming them up.
Toyota MR2 (AW11 or SW20 Turbo) (1984–1999)
The AW11 had fun go-kart handling while the SW20 was a true Ferrari challenger, all turbocharged excitement condensed into a much smaller vehicle. No one took them seriously for years, until they did - then values skyrocketed, and everyone’s looking for rare rust-free units for their collection.
Mazda Miata (NA Special Editions) (1989–1997)
Mazda paid homage to classic British roadsters with the Miata, but added power steering and reliability. They were cheap, so base models ended up used and abused; however, the special editions were rare and collectors hoard them like dragons with treasure.
Buick GNX (Grand National X) (1987)
If Darth Vader drove a car it would be the GNX! Created as a collab with ASC/McLaren, this beast had a turbocharged V6 engine that could scare off most exotic cars and leave the brave ones eating dust. Just 547 units were made, and not all of them survived.
Chevy Impala SS (Classic Trims) (1961 or 1996)
Both the classic 1961 model Impala SS and the later remake with its available V8s are getting pings on collectors’ radars now, for different reasons. The original 409 or its rare trim packages are not new collectibles, but they maintain a high value; now, low-mileage ’96 SS can hit $80k+, too!
Ford Mustang Boss 429 (1960s–1970s)
If you loved cars as a kid, you probably worshipped Mustangs, including the classic Mustang Boss. It was a real powerhouse, and the epitome of the brand before insurance premiums and emissions regs killed their horsepower.
BMW 2002 Turbo (1973–1974)
BMW’s first turbocharged production car, the 2002 came with the KKK turbo engine (yeah, that name didn’t age well - it stands for Kühnle, Kopp & Kausch) and a reversed “turbo” decal so other cars could see what just smoked them. Just 1,672 units were made, and unrusted models are premium.
Toyota Land Cruiser (FJ60/FJ62) (1981–1990)
The big, chunky Land Cruiser was a solid choice for family road trips, and could outlast everything else in the neighborhood - FJ62s even had a more “modern” fuel injection. Now they can circle six figures thanks to the vintage 4x4 boom.
Jeep Grand Wagoneer (SJ) (1984–1991)
With its faux wood siding, plush leather seats and snarling V8 engine, the Grand Wagoneer is ’80s luxury at its finest, and it had real off-road cred too! If you had rich neighbors you probably saw one, but now restomods can hit the $300k mark.
Volkswagen Type 2 (21-Window Bus) (1950s–1960s)
The 21-Window VW Microbus, or Samba, was the choice of freedom-lovers everywhere, whether they were taking friends to catch some surf or hitting the road for a peaceful protest. Many were left discarded and eaten by rust, but even basic pristine models can fetch $250k+ these days.
Ford Bronco (Early Gen) (1966–1977)
When we say the Ford Bronco, we’re not talking about OJ and his infamous slow-speed chase, we’re talking the OG Bronco, a rugged off-roader beloved by farmers and surfers alike. Now they’re huge hits with the restomod crowd.
Toyota Hilux Pickup (4x4) (1984–1988)
The “Top Gear” team tried everything they could to destroy the Hilux, from driving it up volcanoes, exposing it to floods and taking it across the desert. It wouldn’t die, and even lived to see its popularity boom with the rest of the 4x4s in the ’80s and ’90s.
Chevy Blazer K5 (1969–1991)
Chevy’s Blazer K5 was arguably the ultimate American SUV - a V8-powered beast on or off-road with a removable roof and brawn to spare. They were affordable and abundant for a long time, now they’re hard to come by and expensive!
Range Rover Classic (1970–1995)
Even before the term luxury SUV was coined, the Range Rover Classic was showing them how it was done with its upscale interior and go-anywhere practicality. They were undervalued for the longest time, now their Range Rover legacy has pushed up their desirability.
Volvo 240 Wagon (Turbo Trims) (1981–1993)
For a long time, the 240 Wagon was dismissed as “nerd cars,” and now it’s a nerd’s world, baby! This box of goodness could weather any storm and turbo trims added an extra zing. Manual models are especially desirable these days.
Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing/Roadster (1954–1963)
The 300SL was the first consumer car to feature a fuel injection, making it the fastest production car of its day! As if that legendary status wasn’t enough to make it a collector’s item, it has those iconic gullwing doors, too.
Chevy Suburban (Square-Body Classic) (1973–1991)
The Suburban was the golden standard SUV before the boom. It was big, rugged and could haul whatever you wanted - school kids, trailers, you name it. It’s not nimble or cute but it has presence and collectors’ attention.
Dodge Ramcharger (1974–1993)
In order to compete with the Bronco and the Blazer, Dodged released the Ramcharger, a roomy beast with a big V8 engine and, in earlier models, a removable top. They were overlooked for a long time, so they’re rarer - clean ones go for large sums of money now.
Ford F-150 Lightning (Gen 1) (1993–1995)
The F-150 Lightning was a muscle truck for the street that packed a 5.8L V8 under its hood capable of 240 hp. It was a limited run when it came out; add that to its underappreciation, and you have a rarity enthusiasts love.
Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser (1968–1977)
A family wagon with a glass roof that felt like freedom, the Vista Cruiser had muscle car roots (some came with 455 V8s) and pop culture fame thanks to “That ’70s Show.”If you can find a clean one, it’s a vintage favorite.
Subaru Brat (1978–1994)
Was it a rally car or a pickup truck? No one knew how to categorize the quirky Brat - especially since the seats in its bad classed it as a “passenger car” for tax reasons - but that eccentricity and the sheer rarity of the models make them valuable.
Chrysler Town & Country Woody Wagon (1940s–1950s)
We’re talking the original, hand-crafted Woody, full of chrome and elegance. They’re now classics that belong in museums, so it’s no surprise their exquisite craftsmanship has collectors fighting over them.
AMC Eagle Wagon (1980–1988)
A 4WD station wagon that was years ahead of its time, the Eagle Wagon was practicality on wheels with a jeep drivetrain and a Concord wagon body. They were jokes for the longest time, now the people who have one in their garage are laughing.
Toyota Previa Supercharged (All-Trac AWD) (1991–1997)
The “space egg” All-Trac version came with a mid-engine layout, extra power and AWD that was originally only appreciated by JDM fanatics. Now people love its weirdness and fun drive feel, which is reflected in its rising value.
