Indeed, the classic car world has a tendency to turn less expensive fun cars into luxuries. There are cheaper former auction vehicles that are getting prime time attention by collectors. However, there are also many 1980s and ’90s sports cars that are still decent offering a lot of fun and potentially good investment, a good combination for any collector.
They represent an era of turbocharged engines, agile chassis and mechanical integrity before driver aids became increasingly dominant and have proved popular investments thanks to lower production numbers, links to racing and implementation of technology that distinguishes them from today’s regular road cars. Whether Japanese performance cars, German sports coupes or American muscle cars, all 10 models listed here would enhance any future classic car garage.
1. Mazda RX-7 (FD3S)
It’s hard to think of a Japanese sports car more instantly recognisable than the third-generation RX-7, more popularly known as the FD3S. It entered the US market with a flowing bodywork and swoopy lines that contrast sharply with the boxy performance cars of its era, and its brawny twin-turbocharged rotary engine only added to its appeal. The unique character of this motor made it seem like a completely different animal to the many piston-powered coupés and convertibles on the road; it still remains a hugely engaging drive that can be appreciated by connoisseurs of Japanese cars.
FD RX-7 Collectability Highlights:
- Third-generation Mazda sports car
- Sequential twin-turbo rotary engine
- US sales from 1993-1995
- Clean examples worth $40,000-$60,000
- Pristine cars exceed six figures
Mazda sold the FD RX-7 in the United States only from 1993 through 1995 and thus there were fewer examples to find on the market. Today, well-maintained examples range from $40k to $60k, with clean, low-mileage cars already closing in on the six-figure range. When evaluating this model as a collector car, preserving original specifications is a priority; collectability is stronger for unmolested examples since the supply of identical cars is less. With a rotary engine, sleek styling and a dedicated following, the Mazda RX-7 can be an enticing Japanese sports car choice for collectors who are after a unique powertrain and a distinct styling signature.
2. Acura NSX
When Honda launched the mid-engined Acura NSX in 1991 it bucked the notion that an exotic sports car needed to be a pain to live with on a day-to-day basis, creating a refined performer with all the road-going usability you could need. An all-aluminium chassis provided the lightweight foundation for a naturally aspirated, mid-mounted VTEC V6 that was a delight to drive, and the car’s development programme famously benefitted from input from F1 driver Ayrton Senna. By the virtue of its technological brilliance and all-round execution, the NSX showed that a Japanese maker could take on its more established rivals with engineering, not generalised exclusivity.
NSX Collector Appeal:
- Introduced to America in 1991
- All-aluminium chassis construction
- Mid-mounted VTEC V6 engine
- Fewer than 20,000 first-generation cars
- Early examples worth $70,000–$100,000
However, while the total production of the first-gen NSX was fewer than 20,000 cars worldwide, of which almost 10,000 were sold in the United States between 1991-2005, the price for an early model is currently around $70-100K with later versions equipped with the NA2 3.2-litre engine and six-speed manual easily crossing $120K. This is in part a reflection of the NSX’s extensive engineering, limited production run and exotic-car performance characteristics combined with the all-important fact that it’s still a usable daily driver. For any collector who wants to own a Japanese supercar that’s been very well put together, the first-generation NSX remains a strong consideration.
3. Toyota Supra Turbo (A80)
The fourth-generation Toyota Supra Turbo, known popularly as the A80, is one of the most iconic Japanese performance cars of its generation. The formula the 2JZ-GTE engine has become legendary for its ability to reliably handle large power increases with relatively simple modifications is well known amongst gearheads, and Toyota had indeed delivered a capable performance car platform. As a result, the turbocharged Supra, with its distinctive styling, timeless engine, and rapid 0-60 and quarter-mile acceleration, has generated a following which extends to nearly every corner of the globe.
A80 Supra Market Highlights:
- Legendary 2JZ-GTE inline-six engine
- Approximately 11,200 US sales
- Sold from 1993-1998
- Clean examples worth $60,000+
- Rare manuals exceed $200,000
In the United States, Toyota sold approximately 11,200 Supras from 1993-98. Many are now heavily modified or damaged from accidents. Finding a completely stock, well maintained twin-turbo model is becoming a challenge, especially if you want one that will accelerate to 60 in less than five seconds. A clean car is going to cost between $60,000 and over $200,000. Hardtop manual models with little to no miles may be toward the upper end of the range, as they’re most coveted by collectors. The A80 Supra has a lot to offer from the standpoint of engineering to look at and a collector’s edition to consider, though potential buyers should be cautious of how well the car has been taken care of and/or altered.
4. Porsche 968
The Porsche 968 is the matured incarnation of the 944 platform. Considered one of Stuttgart’s best handling front-engined sports cars in the era prior to the arrival of the Cayman. Unlike the 944, instead of an oversized multi-cylinder engine, Porsche fitted a 3.0 litre 4-cylinder engine, one of the largest 4 cylinders in modern production and with 236hp it provides great power and response. What makes the 968 such a desirable modern classic is a combination of a refined chassis, communicative steering and limited numbers in production. For some sportscar drivers, driving enjoyment is about more than just raw power, the 968 is just such a car.
Porsche 968 Buying Highlights:
- Final evolution of the 944
- 3.0-litre four-cylinder engine
- Power output of 236 horsepower
- Around 12,800 produced worldwide
- Prices start near $25,000
All told, Porsche built around 12,800 968s worldwide from 1992-1995, so the model is not quite as common as the 911. Good examples can be had for around $25k, with the best cars selling for around $50k. The 968 is in a very affordable range for enthusiasts who want a rare coupe with a manual that isn’t prohibitively expensive like so many of Porsche’s other great classics, and the excellent handling dynamics and the intuitive feedback through the steering continue to be thoroughly enjoyable on winding back roads. As 911 prices continue to make strides into the stratosphere, the 968 seems set to find a new wave of fans.
5. BMW M3 (E36)
The BMW E36 M3 combined a naturally aspirated high-revving inline-six engine with an optimum chassis setup to create the driving experience that owners had come to expect from the M3 badge. The car’s balance and response made it an excellent handling performance machine, whether on the racetrack or a two-lane country road. US-market models received a less powerful engine than the European model, but even these 240-horsepower engines maintained the strong driving dynamics that made the E36 M3 so beloved. In fact, the model’s motorsport history and enjoyable road driving attributes have made it highly sought after among preserved examples.
E36 M3 Collector Highlights:
- High-revving inline-six engine
- US models produced 240 horsepower
- European versions produced 286 horsepower
- Around 30,000 US sales
- Current values of $20,000–$45,000
Number made 30,000 in USA; production 1995-99. An increasingly difficult market for an original and well cared for example. Values can range from $20,000 to $45,000 and it is the alternative for those priced out of earlier generations of M3s. Track-oriented chassis, high-revving engine and domination in racing gives this generation M3s a passionate following; original condition is preferable as heavily modded cars are unlikely to command a price premium. An enthusiast’s choice with fewer compromises as a “veritable” BMW performance car for those seeking an analogue to the German marque, the E36 M3 is still available and priced within reach.
6. Nissan 300ZX Twin Turbo (Z32)
With history in the 70s and 80s, the Japanese car market was reaching a new level of performance engineering by the mid 90s. Nissan released the 300ZX Twin Turbo as the Z32 model and built it up with all sorts of technology as a flagship sports model, with a highly intricate mechanical package and bodywork. Powered by a 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged V6 engine which gave it 300hp, the Z32 also came equipped with the Super HICAS four-wheel-steering system; present was a low-slung, wide-body stance for confident road presence, with the sweeping cockpit design featuring dedicated instrument pods and driver-oriented controls.
Z32 Engineering and Performance:
- 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged V6
- Power output of 300 horsepower
- Super HICAS four-wheel steering
- Approximately 80,000 US sales
- Five-speed manual twin-turbo models sought-after
The Z32 still looks good today; it’s a broad-shouldered, wide-bodied, low-slung feel that remains current. Nissan also built just 80,000 Z32s across all body styles and transmissions in the US over the cars seven-year run. 5spd, twin-turbo models account for just a fraction of that, though; a well-maintained twin-turbo will cost between $25,000 to $50,000. Low-mileage examples up that to well over $70,000, though, and the car’s intricate mechanicals make it a bear to fix. The complex mechanics help make well-kept Twin-Turbo 300ZXs desirable to enthusiasts searching out Japanese performance engineering, if you’re one of those people.
7. Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1 (C4)
The high-revving ZR-1 engine. Few motor sports projects have been so high profile yet secretive as the Chevrolet ZR-1 “King of the Hill” Corvette. Chevrolet’s engineers were tasked with creating a world beating supercar in the form of a C4 Corvette but it was difficult to know just what its performance potential was since it was being compared to managery European competitors. The front engine/ rear drive ZR-1 was to get its character from the 32-valve LT5 V8, an aluminium design producing 75 horsepower. An impressive high-revving driver with a 7,000rpm red line, the ZR-1 was, however, visually distinguished from its donor by protruding wide bodywork and massive eleven-inch-wide rears.
Corvette ZR-1 Performance Highlights:
- Lotus and Mercury Marine collaboration
- All-aluminium 32-valve LT5 V8
- Power output of 375 horsepower
- 7,000rpm engine redline
- Only 6,939 examples produced
As one might expect from a performance car with such a flamboyant body, the ZR-1 was no slouch, capable of well over 180mph in coupe form. It was a genuine rival to European performance cars, that were usually (though not always) a lot more expensive to buy new. Chevrolet manufactured a total of 6,939 ZR-1s during the couple’s 1990-1995 production run and, today, driver quality examples fetch around $30,000 while concours quality cars will fetch close to $60,000. Limited numbers, special engine technology and a legacy that makes the ZR-1 such an important model in the lineage of the Corvette all make the C4 ZR-1 an interesting proposition for a collector of American performance cars.
8. Dodge Viper RT/10
This was the concept of the original Dodge Viper RT/10. Unlike most modern roadsters which provided both comfort and practicality, Chrysler’s aim was to create a vicious road-racer. Huge sculpted bonnet lines led to a 400bhp 8.0-litre V10 powerplant. The engine delivered power to the ground via a design that intentionally placed driver involvement centre-stage. The side exit exhaust pipes and big scooped bonnet formed part of the car’s unmistakable visuals. A number of standard road-going features were omitted in the creation of the RT/10 a machine that was not too keen on giving an easy life to its occupant.
Viper RT/10 Collectability:
- Original Viper roadster
- Massive 8.0-litre V10 engine
- Power output of 400 horsepower
- Fewer than 6,000 produced
- Values around $45,000–$75,000
Having done its own thing from the outset, the RT/10 went the whole hog in terms of standard equipment, with no door handles on the exterior, flimsy roll-up windows, and little weather protection. Less than 6,000 of the lightweight roadsters rolled off the assembly line between 1992 and 1995, with even a handful of those being wrecked on the track or through abuse. Estimated values range from $45,000 to $75,000, and while that’s still a steep purchase price, the giant V10 engine and straightforward setup make the original Viper a great option for enthusiasts looking for raw, unfiltered thrills. With all the advancements in modern performance cars relying on electronic control systems, the original Viper’s provocative personality stands apart from the crowd.
9. Mitsubishi 3000GT VR-4
The Mitsubishi 3000GT VR-4 was one of the most futuristic and extensive Japanese grand tourers ever built. Full-time all-wheel drive, front and rear active aerodynamics, four-wheel steering, twin-turbo V6. Despite a weight of around 3,800 pounds, it was capable of accelerating from 0-60 in less than five seconds and its pop-up headlights and cockpit of digital gauge displays added to its high-tech appeal. The VR-4 was emblematic of the ’80s and ’90s obsession with computer-controlled tech married to a big-bang engine and high-impact styling.
3000GT VR-4 Technology Highlights:
- Full-time all-wheel drive
- Active front and rear aerodynamics
- Four-wheel-steering system
- Twin-turbocharged V6 engine
- Under-five-second 0–60mph acceleration
The VR-4’s advanced technology made the 3000GT a complicated machine mechanically, and maintenance costs have resulted in fewer clean, original examples remaining. A parked vehicle that is original in appearance that has been maintained well, is a desirable collector item and cost of great running cars are generally between $15,000 and $35,000. The vehicle’s unique combination of four-wheel drive, twin turbo engine, and active aerodynamic packages result in a driving experience that is very different from many typical Japanese sports cars. As the 3000GT VR-4 has unique technical features, the experience of its technology-focused era, and the 3000GT fits well with the growing interest in early Japanese performance cars.
10. Porsche 944 Turbo
The 944 Turbo refined the manufacturer’s front-engined transaxle architecture, pairing generous weight distribution with turbocharged engine prowess. The turbo model boasted a high output four, with significant torque, and eventually 247 horsepower. Classic Porsche enthusiasts can also thank the brand for a well-planned interior, with a real focus on functional controls. The turbo model’s reputation for road-going fun is based largely on its communicative chassis, neutral handling balance, and pin-point steering. The 944 turbo provided simply a very balanced driving experience, with a real sense of connection to the car, and it was a blast on tight country roads.
944 Turbo Buying Highlights:
- Front-engine transaxle layout
- Near-perfect weight distribution
- Turbocharged four-cylinder powerplant
- Later versions produced 247 horsepower
- Around 25,000 produced globally
Production amounted to around 25,000 examples over the model’s existence from 1986 to 1991, although finding an original, unrestored and well-kept example is becoming increasingly difficult as the 944 Turbo attracts a greater level of collector interest. Solid, driver-quality examples are typically valued between $20,000 and $45,000, making it a more affordable way into classic Porsche driving experience. Its well-balanced handling, brisk turbo-charged performance and accurate steering mark it out against higher-priced rear-engined Porsche models an exciting vintage sports car for those who don’t want to pay top dollar for a 911.
