Where have all the 80s/90s cars gone?

Where have all the 80s/90s cars gone?

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300bhp/ton

Original Poster:

41,030 posts

191 months

Monday 16th May 2022
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Went to a local car show at the weekend, big contingent of US cars there. But very obvious that there are almost no 80/90s cars about. You don't see them on the roads or for sale either these days.

What has happened to them? Values were generally good enough I'd struggle to believe they were all scrapped.

At the show there was a very good contingent of 50's thru 70s( (early/mid 70s) and a reasonable spattering of newer cars (Mustangs/Challengers etc, all post 2005 or newer).

There was only one 80s car, a Camaro z28. And only 2 90s cars, a Ford Bronco FSB and my Camaro z28. Would guess there must have been 30-40 or more US cars in total at the show.

DodgyGeezer

40,582 posts

191 months

Monday 16th May 2022
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I'd imagine that the 80s/90s cars are in the inbetweeny twilight zone - cheap enough to buy and use but then very sensitive to petrol prices

300bhp/ton

Original Poster:

41,030 posts

191 months

Wednesday 18th May 2022
quotequote all
Maybe the lack of responses here is indicative of the situation.....


DodgyGeezer

40,582 posts

191 months

Wednesday 18th May 2022
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300bhp/ton said:
Maybe the lack of responses here is indicative of the situation.....

Don't forget a lot of 60s/70s classic muscle went through this very issue 20/30 years ago (look what you used to be able to buy a '69 Charger/Camaro/Mustang for). Alternatively we're just weirdos who like Yank tin.

RoadToad84

666 posts

35 months

Tuesday 31st May 2022
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Here ya go, mine and a couple of Instagram mates at Peterborough this weekend.



Stock 305 in mine (black)
383 Stroker in the red one
406 sbc in the silver Monte

RB Will

9,666 posts

241 months

Tuesday 31st May 2022
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I think that era is in a bit of an anonymous zone.

I think if ask people over here about a typical American car they will picture something 40s-70s or 2000s+. There is definitely the impression that American car fans are stuck in the 50s. My local meet (where TGT came to be Americaland or wherever it was they were trying to get to) is always themed for the classics, live band playing old tunes, people dressed up in vintage gear, women with their hair and clothing 50s style.

Compared to my mates I'm fairly into my American stuff, having owned 2 now and worked for Chrysler / Jeep / Dodge. But I'm struggling to come up with anything particularly grabbing me from the 80s/90s. The good stuff that there is from that era is expensive. Both of mine have been 2004 models.

They are in that awkward zone to justify too. A few times when looking for a new daily I've browsed for "normal" American cars, saloons / station wagons etc rather than muscle or sports cars. They have always been in a zone where for the same price I could get something 20 years newer that is better in every way and these normal cars are not special enough a driving experience to justify.


rovermorris999

5,203 posts

190 months

Tuesday 31st May 2022
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Here's my 80's bit of fun
[url]

|https://thumbsnap.com/NNqpSRSy[/url]

AndySheff

6,640 posts

208 months

Thursday 2nd June 2022
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Still love my 97 GT Cab.

TREMAiNE

3,918 posts

150 months

Thursday 16th June 2022
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Whilst technically a 57 plate, my daily driver is very much a 90s car.

Originally released in 1991 with the facelift arriving in '98.



Not sure if you'd consider this a valid entry.

newsatten

3,353 posts

115 months

Thursday 16th June 2022
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Think for most folk anything thing after 1973,
And American made is rubbish,
The Feds completely ruined the American Auto industry,
Ironically it’s happening again and it’s here ,

EV’s or should that be ET’s , and 10 quid a gallon just around the corner,

Happy dazs

largelunchbox

583 posts

202 months

Sunday 24th July 2022
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My 85 riv ,and it’s for sale. I believe I meet the op criteria

alabbasi

2,514 posts

88 months

Saturday 30th July 2022
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A lot of cars from that era didn't make it as it's the height of smog control and really crappy build quality. They don't really exist much on this side of pond either

ZedLeg

12,278 posts

109 months

Saturday 30th July 2022
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Aye, smog era cars are completely unloved by collectors in the US so there are less around in general.

90s cars were also pretty unloved even though there was some mechanically good stuff then. A lot of Camaros etc were gutted for sticking into something old and scrapped.

It’s a shame as it’s getting harder and harder to find cheap and accessible muscle cars.

If anyone has a V8 300c keep a hold of it laugh

FIREBIRDC9

736 posts

138 months

Wednesday 10th August 2022
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The 80's/90's was hardly a highlight for Americana was it?

If i had to buy 90's i'd go Japanese every time.

As for 80's , i like the Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham , and The Corvette C4. Other than than. Not really!



300bhp/ton

Original Poster:

41,030 posts

191 months

Wednesday 10th August 2022
quotequote all
FIREBIRDC9 said:
The 80's/90's was hardly a highlight for Americana was it?
Depends. Lots of very good and capable cars IMO. I don't dislike Jap cars, but quite a lot are fwd ones based on hatchback platforms in this era.

DodgyGeezer

40,582 posts

191 months

Thursday 11th August 2022
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FIREBIRDC9 said:
The 80's/90's was hardly a highlight for Americana was it?

If i had to buy 90's i'd go Japanese every time.

As for 80's , i like the Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham , and The Corvette C4. Other than than. Not really!
oh I dunno... I'm rather partial to these cloud9



cybertrophic

225 posts

222 months

Friday 12th August 2022
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TREMAiNE said:
Whilst technically a 57 plate, my daily driver is very much a 90s car.

Originally released in 1991 with the facelift arriving in '98.



Not sure if you'd consider this a valid entry.
Best example of a bullet-proof land barge ever? Maybe.

Me, I’d kill for a 90s caprice wagon with the impala SS upgrades. In that dark metallic red/black colour they did (“black rose”, was it?). On Boyd billets, obviously 😁

cybertrophic

225 posts

222 months

Friday 12th August 2022
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I still miss my ‘85 firebird. Lot of love for the F Body 😁

NateWM

1,684 posts

180 months

Saturday 17th September 2022
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300bhp/ton said:
Maybe the lack of responses here is indicative of the situation.....

I don't think that's why people don't want to post here.

Mark_Blanchard

757 posts

256 months

Friday 23rd September 2022
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I think the US governments "Cash for Clunkers" scheme reduced a large number of 80s / 90s cars, which is a shame.