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1990 produced some classics

Grandpa's old Buick a classic? If his car was built in 1990 or older yes, it can be. This year marks 25 years for vehicles built in 1990. According to car enthusiasts and car clubs this is the time when a car or truck becomes a classic.
1990 Chevrolet Caprice.
1990 Chevrolet Caprice.

 

Grandpa's old Buick a classic? If his car was built in 1990 or older yes, it can be. This year marks 25 years for vehicles built in 1990. According to car enthusiasts and car clubs this is the time when a car or truck becomes a classic. For many of us 1990 wasn't that long ago and you might be hard pressed to think what vehicle from that era would be worthwhile pampering for future generations. From the early '80s to the '90s domestic automakers improved their products but there were still blunders in manufacturing and product execution. But not every vehicle was a miss with consumers. Here's a rundown on what I would consider some of the most noteworthy collectable vehicles from 1990.

 

Buick

If Grandpa's Buick sedan is in really good condition and driven by a supercharged engine then it might be worth keeping in the family. Not that it's going to be highly desired by collectors or draw high bids at an auction, but the car will be practical as well as roomy and comfortable for a long drive. 1990 was the final year of the V8 powered Buick Estate Wagon. If you find one, buy it. Very few built; the square lines and faux wood sides make it stand out. Buick Reatta convertibles are hard to find these days. Like all convertibles, a great summer car.

 

Chevrolet

The whale-like Caprice Classic sedan or wagon received a total redesign for 1990. V8 engine, rear-wheel drive and full-frame construction made for a tough, reliable vehicle with room for the whole family and all their stuff. Sedan or wagon, these cars stand out. Easy parts availability. The highly desirable SS sedan would follow a few years later. Of course, a Corvette from this year is collectable. More so if it is the ZR-1. The ZR-1 model was a special build with unique features including the all-aluminum LT5 V8 engine and ZF six-speed manual transmission. I remember having one of these to drive for a week. A memorable car which began another era of horsepower wars.

 

Cadillac

The models worth keeping or collecting are the handsome V8 powered, rear-wheel-drive Brougham in either two or four door version. I'd also recommend the Allante convertible, good luck finding one. The Allante was produced in low numbers.

 

Chrysler

Nothing to note for rear-wheel drive excitement from Chrysler in 1990. Downsizing continued with the Imperial back on a luxurious front-wheel-drive platform. A 3.3-litre V6 was standard but producing only 147 horsepower. That's not what this car was about. The Imperial was longer, than the New Yorker and loaded with accessories and plushness. An electronically controlled air-suspension was optional. I've seen a few of these on the road. Some well cared for by their senior, grey haired owners. Also worth holding onto is the Chrysler LeBaron GTC with its four-cylinder turbocharged engine and five-speed manual transmission. Few LeBaron GTC models were made. The LeBaron convertible was more popular and affordable. There are plenty of those to be found in Alberta.

 

Dodge

Rear-wheel-drive disappeared from Dodge division in 1990. Most noteworthy was the front-wheel drive Daytona. A fun car especially the Shelby-tuned four cylinder. The Turbo IV four cylinder made 33 more horsepower than the available V6. Good luck trying to find a Daytona that hasn't been thrashed. I should also mention that any Dodge Caravan mini-van in stellar condition is collectable. In fact if you still have a Chrysler mini-van dating back to 1984, this is a landmark vehicle that created a whole new class of automobile. Keep it if the thing isn't rusted away. By 1990, Chrysler mini-vans had been refined and continued to be top sellers offering comfort and versatility unmatched by rivals.

 

Ford

Hold onto your full-size V8 powered, rear-wheel-drive Country Squire station wagon. Reliable, roomy and capable of hauling eight people, its sharp lines and big windows make it stand out. The Mercury Colony Park is basically the same wagon with some exterior and interior trim changes. A loaded four-door Crown Vic or Grand Marquis sedan is also worth keeping in the family.

 

 

The 5.0 powered Mustang if unmolested by some pimple-faced young owner, is of course collectable. Don't pooh-pooh a clean, four-cylinder powered model. Mustangs are easy to restore with good after-market support and affordable to buy right now. Also very collectable from this year is the Taurus SHO with a 220 horsepower, V6 engine. You can still find them out there in decent shape. Taurus wagons even from 1986 are worth keeping as they are memorable to adults who as kids were transported in those cars. Not long after Ford didn't seem to put much effort into the Taurus and sales fell.

 

 

I also suggest collecting V6 supercharged Thunderbirds or Mercury Cougars. These personal luxury coupes are fast while offering good handling and seating comfort ideal for long distance touring.

 

Lincoln

Big, with square architecture rear-wheel-drive and V8 power the Lincoln Town Car stands out but what you really want is the Mark VII LSC. The LSC offered up luxury in a rear-wheel-drive package that performed and handled with some of the best European models. You can still find many well cared for LSC coupes for sale. Don't get one with problems; restoration could be very expensive as parts will be hard to come by.

 

Oldsmobile

Nothing much noteworthy from this GM division. I see nice examples of Oldsmobile 98 and 88 models with low km for sale on the Internet. The Trofeo Coupe stands out for its styling and technology (like hands-free calling). Not sure you will find one of these very easily.

 

Pontiac

In 1990 other than the Trans Am and Trans Sport mini-van there was not much happening at Pontiac. Certainly a well cared for 6000 Safari wagon would be unique to have. As I mentioned earlier the '80s and early '90s didn't produced many highly desirable automobiles for future collectors. A ground-up restoration would be a daunting task given how much more complicated automobiles became with electronics and sophisticated powerplants. A person would be wise to buy a car or truck that is already complete and solid. Garry Melnyk is a St. Albert resident and lifelong car buff who has written about new cars and trucks for radio and print publications since the '70s.

 

 
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