The Coolest ’90s Cars We’d Do Anything to Own Again
- Written by Mitchell Down
A Nostalgic Ride Through the Best Cars of the ’90s
You ever get hit with a wave of nostalgia so strong it makes you question every life choice that led you to selling your old car? Maybe it was a moment scrolling through Marketplace when you spotted a mint-condition Nissan 180SX, or a late-night YouTube deep dive into ‘90s car ads that made you realise—we really had it good back then.
The ‘90s were a golden era for cars in Australia. It was before everything got too high-tech, too expensive, or (let’s be honest) too dull. This was when you could buy something fun, slap on a set of fat mags, and cruise around without worrying about software updates, touchscreens that freeze mid-drive, or getting a pre-purchase inspection just to make sure the car wasn’t hiding a world of pain. You just handed over the cash, hoped for the best, and hit the road.
Some of these cars we outgrew. Some we wrecked. Some we tragically sold for peanuts, only to see their prices skyrocket in recent years. And now? Now we’d give just about anything to have them back.
Here are the ‘90s rides we still dream about.
1. Nissan Silvia S15 – The Last of a Legend
What we had: A lightweight, rear-wheel-drive dream that defined a generation of street racers and weekend warriors.
What we lost: Affordability.
The S15 was the peak of Nissan’s Silvia lineup, and if you were lucky enough to own one back in the day, you probably remember the feeling of turbo spooling up and pushing you into the back of your seat. These things were everywhere in the early 2000s, mostly because they were cheap, fast, and ridiculously easy to modify.
But here’s the kicker—try buying one now. A clean S15 in 2025 will set you back over $40,000, if not more 1]. That’s more than some new cars. And the worst part? We all knew someone who sold theirs for under $10K just a few years ago. Pain.
2. Toyota Supra A80 – Fast, Furious, and Financially Out of Reach
What we had: A twin-turbo inline-six monster that became a JDM icon.
What we lost: The ability to buy one without selling a kidney.
The Supra was cool before Paul Walker made it legendary, but let’s be honest—Fast & Furious sealed the deal. This car had it all: insane tuning potential, pop-up headlights (on the early models), and a silhouette that still looks futuristic today.
In the ‘90s, Supras were performance bargains. Now? Good luck. If you want a twin-turbo model, $150,000 is your new reality. The joke’s on us for thinking they’d stay cheap forever.
3. Holden HSV GTS-R – Aussie Muscle at Its Peak
What we had: A bright yellow, 215kW V8 brute with a body kit that screamed ‘Move or be moved’.
What we lost: The golden era of Holden performance cars.
If you were around in 1996, you’d remember when HSV decided to go completely mental and release the GTS-R. With its 5.7L V8 and race-inspired styling, this was the Aussie answer to the muscle car wars. It was loud, brash, and everything we loved about Holden.
Today, these things are unicorns. Prices have exploded, and with Holden gone, anything with an HSV badge is practically an investment piece. Imagine telling your 18-year-old self that the car you flogged around on P-plates would one day be worth a few hundred grand or so 2].
4. Subaru WRX GC8 – The P-Plate Dream
What we had: Rally-bred AWD, a turbocharged boxer engine, and the soundtrack of blow-off valves at every set of lights.
What we lost: The days when hooning in a WRX didn’t cost a fortune.
If you were a car-loving teenager in the late ‘90s or early 2000s, chances are you desperately wanted (or owned) a GC8 WRX. These things were everywhere, usually with a cannon exhaust, gold wheels, and a boot full of subwoofers playing Ministry of Sound 2001.
Back then, you could pick one up for $10K. Now? A clean one will set you back $30K or more, because people finally realised that fast, fun, all-wheel-drive turbo cars don’t come cheap anymore.
5. Mazda RX-7 FD – The One That Got Away
What we had: The sexiest rotary-powered car ever made.
What we lost: Affordable rotaries that didn’t require a mechanical engineering degree to maintain.
The RX-7 FD is arguably one of the best-looking cars to ever come out of Japan. Low, wide, and built for handling, it had the perfect power-to-weight ratio and one of the most unique engines in automotive history—the 13B rotary.
Of course, the issue with rotaries is… well, rotaries. They need love, money, and occasional sacrifices to the reliability gods. But man, when they worked, they were magic.
In the ‘90s, these were underappreciated. Now? They’re pulling $100K+ in the right condition. And if you see one for sale that’s ‘just needs a rebuild,’ you already know what you’re in for.
Honourable Mentions (Because We Couldn’t Pick Just Five)
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VI TME – The king of rally-bred sedans.
Honda Integra Type R (DC2) – The best-handling front-wheel-drive car of the era.
Toyota Celica GT-Four ST205 – The forgotten rally hero.
Ford Falcon XR6 Turbo (AU) – The underrated Aussie sleeper. Still is IMO.
If Only We Knew Then What We Know Now
If we could go back in time, we’d tell our younger selves DO NOT SELL IT. But hindsight is a cruel mistress.
For those of us still kicking ourselves over the cars we let go, at least there’s some comfort in knowing we weren’t alone. And hey, if you are sitting on one of these legends and thinking about selling your car - at least make sure you get top dollar.
At least now we can spend our days telling younger car enthusiasts, ‘Back in my day, you could get one of those for next to nothing!’
1] https://www.tradeuniquecars.com.au/nissan-180sx-200sx-silvia-2021-market-review/
2] https://collectingcars.com/for-sale/1996-holden-hsv-gts-r
