- [Glen] Nothing gets the nostalgic heart racing like a
look back over some of your favorite cars from yesteryear.
Everyone remembers their best 90s rides,
whether it be for the speed,
the precision
or the downright craziness.
It was undoubtedly a fantastic era for motor engineering.
I'm Glen and let me transport you back to our younger years
with these 15 banging vehicles from the 90s
that we still have dibs on.
- [Female Voice] Number 15.
- [Glen] The Dodge Viper (SR I)
was the very first generation of the famous
Viper sports car tested in 1989 as a prototype
before acting as a pace car in 1991,
and finally being rolled out onto the shelves in 1992.
As with many Dodge cars,
the Viper was nothing if not powerful, with its 8-liter V10
boasting a top speed of 165 miles per hour.
The Viper can also roar from zero to 60 in just 4.6 seconds
before covering a quarter mile in 12.9.
There was always a satisfying rumble
from the Viper's side pipes every time you rev the engine.
But this car was more than a powerhouse.
The steering capabilities were truly ahead of their time
even if the brakes did leave a little bit to be desired.
Absolutely mental but stupendously brilliant.
- [Female Voice] Number 14.
- [Glen] Forget us looking back on this 90s car from 2019.
The Nissan Figaro was retro even for its time.
Nissan revealed four slightly strange concept cars
to the public at the 1989 Tokyo Motor Show
under the title, Back To The Future.
All four were based off the same K10 Nissan Micra
but with individual and playful retro designs.
The Figaro was one of those four.
A little two-seater convertible that threw things
back to the classic Italian cars of the 1960s.
All four of the retro Nissan sold out in a matter of weeks.
Yet a total of 20,000 Figaros were created,
many of which now reside in the U.K.
A small front engine, front wheel drive retro convertible
that despite being based on the past
is still remembered far into the future.
- [Female Voice] Number 13.
- [Glen] Proof that quality beats quantity,
the Lister Storm was truly one of the greatest performers
of the 90s despite there only being four vehicles produced.
Production began in 1993 but due to its staggering price
not many Storms made it out of the factory gates.
In fact only three have survived to this day.
Lister does maintain its own racing models however.
Through the 90s and even into the early 2000s,
the Lister Storm was the fastest 4-seat Grand Tour car,
featuring the largest V12 engine fitted
to a production road car since World War Two.
The Storm boasted a blistering
top speed of 208 miles per hour
and could race from zero to 60 in just 4.1 second.
- [Female Voice] Number 12.
- [Glen] The Plymouth Prowler,
later referred to as the Chrysler Prowler,
was produced between 1997 and 2002.
And it's certainly isn't a car you will forget in a hurry.
Chrysler engineers have said to have had completely
free rein in terms of design on this project
as long as it fit the sportster and retro brief.
What we were left with is essentially
a hot rod with a mustache.
The Prowler is certainly unique to look at
and it was beautifully unique to drive too.
Despite only sporting a V6 engine,
it still had a similar horsepower output rating
to the Magnum V8s of the same era.
Paired with its lightweight body
weighing in at just 2,832 pounds,
the Prowler can really shift off the line.
- [Female Voice] Number 11.
- [Glen] Made in the bubble era of Japan car design,
the Toyota Sera encapsulates
the wonderfully weird world of the 90s.
Manufacturers in Japan were able to design
with freedom during this time,
filling every conceivable niche
with quirky cars including the Sera.
Unfortunately, the vehicle was only ever sold
in its homeland, meaning Americans were unable
to experience the silly joy that it could bring.
The 16,000 Seras made came with a 1.5-liter engine
with 110 horsepower and ridiculous Gullwing butterfly doors.
It also weighed in at just 2,000 pounds
making it agile and nippy too.
Perhaps one to leave in the 90s,
but look back on with fond admiration.
- [Female Voice] Number 10.
- [Glen] If you thought the Sera was a bit weird,
welcome to the Daihatsu Midget II.
The Midget, unsurprisingly,
is a single or 2-seater mini truck created by
the Japanese automobile manufacturer, Daihatsu.
But this strange little truck wasn't a flop,
selling an impressive 80,000
in its first year of production alone.
The second generation and update on the 1957 version I
was in production from 1996 to 2002.
The second gen definitely looked to be more stable
than the original 3-wheel truck that resembled
something between a Reliant Robin and a tuk-tuk.
Each Midget II was equipped with a 660cc engine
meaning it wouldn't break any records
but it could get you from A to B with ease.
- [Female Voice] Number nine.
- [Glen] The Honda Acura first burst
onto the scene in 1984 as a concept vehicle
but later hit the shelves in 1990
for the public to purchase.
A mid-engine sports car,
the NSX changed the game in terms of supercars.
For a long time, supercars had been more about visual appeal
and crazy speed than perfect performance.
But Honda really put the pressure
on the likes of Ferrari with the NSX.
An all aluminum body, a 3-liter V6 engine,
aerodynamics inspired by an F16 Fighter Jet,
and even input from motor racing legend Ayrton Senna,
Honda really thought this one through.
It's safe to say that anybody who was lucky enough
to drive one of these was not in a hurry
to hand the keys back over.
- [Female Voice] Number eight.
- [Glen] The original Volkswagen Beetle is still
one of the most iconic designs of all time,
whether that is for the right or wrong reasons.
The new Beetle was introduced in 1997,
drawing inspiration from its predecessor
but sporting a front engine, front wheel drive design.
VW really played a binder with this one
as they combine the nostalgia around the original Beetle
design but combined it with affordability, safety and fun.
The fastest model boasted a top speed of 131 miles per hour
and can go from zero to 60 in just 6.5 seconds.
So the Beetle didn't hang about either.
Retro meets modern.
No wonder the new Beetle flew off the shelves.
The fact VW commissioned at least
six extra versions of the car
reflects its popularity among people from all walks of life.
- [Female Voice] Number seven.
- [Glen] To this day, the Porsche 911
is one of the most household names in car history.
Porsche released the GT1 in 1996
in order to compete in the GT1 racing class
but they were rather sneaky with their design.
Most car manufacturers would develop
a racing version of one of their road going cars
as vehicles had to be road legal to meet requirements.
Porsche however flipped the table designing a race car
before making a road going version of it.
Only 20 to 25 street legal versions were created
but boy could they move with top speeds
of 191.4 miles per hour and zero to 62 in 3.9 seconds.
The race version could go even further though
with a top speed of 205 miles per hour.
The GT1 finished first and second in its class
at the 1998 Le Mans 24 Hours race, riding it into history.
- [Female Voice] Number six.
- [Glen] From a legendary performer
to an underrated classic, the Isuzu VehiCROSS.
This compact SUV was produced between 1997 and 2001
and came fitted with bags of character.
Don't let this slightly quirky exterior paint job fool you.
This futuristic looking vehicle was a tough, robust,
highly competent off-roader.
The majority of the 6,000 made across the four years
were sent to America at a time
when SUVs were really hitting their stride.
The beauty of the VehiCROSS is that not only was it sleek
on the tarmac but once the road ran out,
it really came into its own.
With a top speed of 114 miles per hour
and zero to 60 in 9.3 seconds,
this vehicle should always be remembered
as a resounding underdog in SUV history.
- [Female Voice] Number five.
- [Glen] For any car fanatic, the name speaks for itself.
The F50 was released in 1995
as part of the 50th anniversary of Ferrari,
just as the F40 had been 10 years previously.
This most recent birthday present
was all about linking the road and the track
with Ferrari basing the design around its racing cars.
It was effectively an F1 car for the road.
They used a carbon fiber chassis, a V12 engine
and a four wheel independent suspension in this beast
and it didn't disappoint.
The F50 could do zero to 60 in just 3.8 seconds
and reach a staggering top speed of 194 miles per hour.
Happy birthday indeed.
- [Female Voice] Number four.
- [Glen] Hummer, synonymous with a no nonsense attitude
overwhelming size and battering ram style power.
The H1 was no different,
designed as a four wheel drive utility vehicle
and based closely off the earlier military Humvee.
The H1 too was originally designed purely for military use
but hit the civilian market eventually due to a high demand.
It was produced between 1992 and 2006
although it was originally known simply as the Hummer,
before GM bought the marketing rights
and changed it to the Hummer H1.
Built to go places a vehicle shouldn't be able to go,
it's no wonder people remain so fascinated
with the H1 for so long.
And it is still looked back on with fondness today.
- [Female Voice] Number three.
- [Glen] Even the name sounds fast.
And car fans will know all about the F1's pedigree.
Originally a concept by Gordon Murray,
he was eventually able to convince McLaren founder,
Ron Dennis to back his project.
I'm sure all involved are whole heartedly glad they did
as the F1 went on to make history.
In 1998 the XP5 prototype became the fastest production car
ever, reaching speeds of over 240 miles per hour,
a record that lasted for around seven years.
Not content on being a lightning fast road car,
a race version of the F1
won the 24 Hours of Le Mans race in 1995.
Simply one of the finest feats in motor history.
- [Female Voice] Number two.
- [Glen] In its light gray paint job,
perhaps one of the coolest looking cars of all time,
like something straight out of a James Bond film,
the Jaguar XJ220 oozes class, style and elegance.
But don't let it fool you.
This resting Jag can bounce into attack at any moment
reaching top speeds of over 214 miles per hour.
Jaguar also claims that a prototype
broke the record for a production car.
Believe it or not the classic XJ220
came about from a concept car designed
by informal Jaguar employees in their spare time.
When first revealed in 1988
at the British International Motor Show in Birmingham,
this Jaguar became an overnight success,
convincing the company to change its original plan
not to sell the iconic car to the public.
Around 1,500 deposits were taken after this unveiling
with delivery set for 1992.
- [Female Voice] Number one.
- [Glen] Released in 1990
as a long term successor to the iconic Countach,
the Diablo would remain in production for the next 11 years.
Designed by the infamous Marcello Gandini,
the Diablo is racing from zero to 60 in just 3.9 seconds,
and replaced by the Murcielago,
rounding off a trio of grounding breaking Lambos.
And there we have it, 15 incredible cars from the 90s
that we remain fond of to this day.
But you guys must have some more ideas out there.
Feel free to add your favorites
that didn't make the cuts in the comments below
and maybe they will make a future video.
(lively music)
- Hey guys, this is Cassie.
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