I won’t miss the tropical color choices, or the strange gel-pen inspired “sport graphics”, but the 1990s did bring about some interesting ideas for gearheads. Monochromatic paint styles, the use of tweed in the interiors, Mickey Thompson steamrollers on the back of a twelve-second Chevelle…ok, I kid. The 1990s gave us an improved version of the Fox Mustang’s formula for success, a re-imagined Chevrolet Caprice that made big four-door barges badass, and we got to see a no-shit horsepower war play out between Ford and Chevrolet. Do you remember Coletti’s Boss Mustang and Moss’s ZL-1 Camaro? I do. Other options, like the Viper, the Corvette, the Supra, the Skyline, the Sy/Ty turbocharged freaks from GMC, and the legions of sporty Japanese coupes all have their places in the market, but today’s Question Of The Day is simple: which car should be a collector’s item that isn’t already?
I’m offering up two options: the Oldsmobile Cutlass Calais Quad 442 and the Geo Metro XFi. Hear me out. And stop laughing for a second. The Quad 442, in W41-R configuration, came out screaming with over 180 horsepower and as much as 190 with the W41 package. This is a tiny little cookie-cutter GM front-driver on a platform from the 1980s that was able to run a 14-second quarter bone-stock from a wicked-up Quad 4 engine. That’s worthy on it’s own right, and we’ve heard of Quad 4s making nearly 700 horsepower with some major re-working. The car is small and is a wicked handler, to boot, and they don’t look half-bad…again, for a 1980s GM Xerox car. The reason for the Geo is even simpler: because f*** your Prius. In a test against Toyota’s smug-mobile and a Honda Insight, a used and abused Metro trumped both modern-day eco-boosters. Simple, easy, and more basic than the pumpkin-spice and furry-boot crowd that will appear shortly, the Metro was honest and simple, if spartan.
Do you have any good calls that most people wouldn’t think of? Let’s hear ’em!
I think the MN-12 platform Ford Thunderbird SC is a great platform that doesn’t get a lot of attention. They are spacious, comfortable and good handling cars. Sister cars were the 1989 and 1990 Cougar XR7’s that had the same engine. They were criticized when new for being a bit heavy but many newer cars are closing in on that weight. The 3.8 was a torquey motor for its day but I bet dropping in a new Coyote would make a really fun car.
Totally agree, though I prefer the pre-1994 tbirds with no grille cutout around the hood emblem.
I agree with you about the T-Bird and Cougar. Their styling was beautifully sleek and as true to the brand, the rich man’s T-Bird, Lincoln Mark VIII, used the T-Bird as its styling que. To me a car’s styling is the biggest part of what a classic is. Sure innovative engineering plays a part but the sheer beauty of the car is what is important to me to be classic.
C’mon McTaggart – you’re really reaching again – there’s this little cross country thing called “Drag Week’ going on right now. You used to post something daily from it in the past years. Call up Kyle @ 1320 Video and see if he’ll loan you some stuff with substance to post!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
First generation of the SHO Taurus a subtle, stealthy shock to many at 5.0 Mustang owner back in the day.
How about a truck? Being a Mopar guy I think the 2nd gen Dakota R/T is a good candidate. 360ci 245hp 340ish torque in a sculpted body that has some handling. Now that makes for a good time.
Not a frigg’n thing. When some little sensor goes out and it will not run.Because no one will know how to diagnose those “old computers’ and no one will make the little electronic box that will allow it to run. And no one will be willing to push their Chevy Citation in and out of shows .
Ed.B, good call on the Dakota. A guy at work had one with a 5 speed manual and was a cool truck. I wish I would have bought it when he got rid of it.
GMC Syclone; 1992 25th Anniversary Camaro; 1993 Camaro Indy Pace Car; 1996 Impala SS
Syclone and Typhoon for sure! 4th Gen F-bodys finally bringing some muscle back to the pony car game.
Anything with the GM 3.8 supercharger V6, especially if the engine is transplanted into something small and light
96′ Impala SS and Buick Roadmaster Estate. Some of the best cars i’ve ever owned. The B Body platform in general is just great. A 92ish Dodge 2500 club cab with a Cummins is also high on the list.
Early 90s Lincoln Mark V11 . Some could be Special Dealer installed Paxton / McCollouch belt driven SUPERCHARGER ! Was a Real SLEEPER some used by Bob Bondurant School.
I have a difference of opinion to many. To me an ugly car, no matter who built it, is not a classic. So the GEO Metro XFi might someday be a certifiable collector car but with it’s generic 90s subcompact styling it will never be a classic. Same with calling any of the subcompacts of the 80’s classics. Almost all shared the boxy VW Rabbit design and all looked alike. How can that be classic?