The New Retro Classic Cars of the 80s and 90s
Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car
Living the retro dream at Radwood.
What’s satisfying about ‘80s and ‘90s automotive nostalgia is that anyone can relive it, or unearth it in a few easy clicks. Search up music videos, or clips from the Fast and the Furious and it's all right there in a synth popular culture mashup. There’s the nomenclature, the music, and yes, the fine cars. Cars of those eras were distinct from one another, and therefore easier to spot.
The first Fast & Furious dates back to 2001, but the cars in the original were top performers out of earlier times from the 1995 Toyota Supra to the 1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse that introduced Paul Walker’s character to the world.
“The iconic cars of the 1990s all seem to have one thing in common: style and speed,” says Tabetha Hammer, Chief Executive Officer of America’s Automotive Trust. “From the McLaren F1 and one of the greatest Ferraris ever built, the F40, to the Mazda Miata and Mitsubishi Eclipse, these cars not only looked good going down the road, but were spirited and fun to drive at that. Even the Ford F-150 SVT Lightening – it was all about light, nimble, good looking vehicles.”
A string of 1990s films featured cars in central parts of the plot. “Let’s also not forget about some of the great pop culture films of the 90’s like Days of Thunder, Wayne’s World, and Cadillac Man that certainly drive a particular interest for cars of the era,” Hammer says. Other classics have nothing to do with car plots, but show great second looks, like the 1986 Porsche 911 Carrera Cabrio 3.2 featured in the 1988 film Mystic Pizza starring Julia Roberts and Lilli Taylor.
“If looking for that iconic ‘90s car, you simply can’t go wrong with the Miata.”
Other ways to rediscover ‘80s and ‘90s car moments can be found on a Youtube scroll of music videos, the closest thing that existed to social media influence during that time. Throughout the 80s and 90s popular videos played on repeat, and offered glimpses into what stars wore and drove as references, which varied from aspirational to over the top.
Billy Ocean made the most overt car video of the era with his 1988 single “Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car” as he sang while driving a white Porsche 911 through a carwash and onto a drive-in movie parking lot. A yellow BMW 8 Series starred in Prince’s 1993 video “Sexy MF.” In “White Knuckle Ride” a Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7 was at the center of the Jamiriquai song. Missy Elliott flexed in a Hummer for 1997’s smash hit "The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)."
HOW TO GO RETRO
Many of the 80s and 90s cars still exist today, and are still affordable compared to other eras. So what should a young, burgeoning collector think about when considering the first classic buy?
Hammer suggests starting with the Mazda Miata. “If looking for that iconic ‘90s car, you simply can’t go wrong with the Miata. As they say, ‘Miata Is Always The Answer.’ The Miatas are great for every day drivers, show goers or to put a roll case in and go auto crossing.” It’s spirited driving character makes the Miata, also known as the MX-5, an enduring purchase.
It’s hard to predict exactly when, but some of these cars are likely to gain value over time. “I think it’s safe to say that the McLaren F1, Mazda Miata, Acura NSX, Toyota Supra, BMW M coupe and Ferrari F40’s – amongst many others – have already shown their historic, and now financial, value.” At auction these cars command thousands of dollars. Or millions in the case of the rare 1995 McLaren F1, which was auctioned for $15.62 million in 2017.
If you’re considering indulging in an old school ride, experts caution to do the research first, and to buy the model in the best shape.
“Examples of this era of cars are starting to show their age, so it’s important to be sure you’re buying something you can enjoy and doesn’t require a ton of work,” Hammer says. “The idea of a project is fun – but, unless you have the resources and skills to really do it, buy something you can jump in and drive.
Radwood shows the boombox’s place in car culture.
WHERE TO GO RETRO
If you weren’t driving in the 1990s, or if your memory is foggy, plan a visit to Radwood, to find 80s and 90s rides at the center of the celebration. Radwood bills itself as “an automotive event focused on the 80s and 90s” that takes place in different US cities each year. It’s not just cars, but a time capsule, similar to the Goodwood Festival of Speed in England, a motorsports festival that pays homage to the 1950s and 60s, as collectors show up wearing period costumes of the day. Goodwood inspired the Radwood concept.
“It’s the lifestyle thing of culture and art fashion,” says Art Cervantes, founder of Radwood. “You’re going to see boom boxes. You’ll see people walk around walkmans and discmans.”
A handful of Radwood events are scheduled in the second half of 2021. In this era it all comes back to digital dreaming, where you can live vicariously through others’ nostalgia. “For me it’s social media first. It’s a really easy way to engage and see what’s out there for someone who grew up in the era or has a nostalgia for this era,” Cervantes says.
At Radwood, the star cars range from Lamborghini Countaches, to customized Calloway Corvettes and Ruf Porsches. But there’s also room for nostalgic family cars such as a Toyota Tercel wagon.
Indulging in nostalgia can actually be healthy for the mind, according to Dr. Wing Yee Cheung, an associate professor in psychology at the University of Winchester in England who studies nostalgia. She spoke with The New York Times, “We feel that we have lost footing at the present time, and we gain some comfort by taking a step back and revisiting something that reminds us of a time that we used to feel more connected with other people. It gives you energy to cope with what is going on now and move forward.” No better way to trip back into the past, than through the cars that drove you there.
Editors’s note: Cars from the Radwood era will be featured in an exhibit at the Lane Motor Museum n Nashville, Tenn. opening May 27.
Photography courtesy of Radwood.