In my close to 15 years of driving experience, I’ve changed plenty of cars. From a ’88 Volvo 740 2.0L turbocharged beast that was so un-aerodynamic, you felt like you were driving a hearse, but oh Lordy me, once the turbo hit, you felt like the king of the road. To a ’05 Subaru Legacy (actually, six deadbeat Subarus throughout the 15 years – from Imprezas to Foresters) – an irrational love of mine – most of them were made in the glorious ’90s. Now, I might be prone to some irrational nostalgia considering cars from the period, but to me, nothing beats an old stripped-to-basics vehicle that’s as predictable as your 10th re-run of The Office.
And boy, did my cars and I go on some adventures! From abandoning my refrigerator-white Volvo v90 stuck to its arches in a bog and wading to the nearest homestead some 5 kilometers through uninhabited fields on an Easter evening to fixing my bugeye Impreza of its ailments by slamming the hood down as hard as I could (it always helped – except for a manifestation of a rusted-out hole in its floor), the ’90s cars will always mean adventure to me. Although, in all honesty, I’m so old-school when it comes to cars that the first time I saw an SOS button inside a Volkswagen, I burst into a laughing fit – why would anybody want their vehicle to call for help? You either do it all yourself (yep, including the driving part), or woe is you.
By now, you might be pretty confident of your narrator’s stance toward ’90s cars, but if my words aren’t witness enough, I’ve prepared a whole list of the best ’90s cars for you! From the Audi 100 (lovingly called a herring where I’m from) to such beauties as the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo and a Ford Sierra Rs500 sporting the rare as hen’s teeth Cosworth engine, you’ll find all of the winter-beaters, whale-sized town cars, rally beasts, and every notable vehicle that came from the ’90s. And to make it even better, I talked to the creators and organizers of the Rat Race rally – the whole premise of which is to complete a 1000km race with a car that costs as little as possible (say 500 EUR), so ’90s cars are the top choice for most of the contestants. And you don’t even have to be a professional to compete! So scroll down below to see what the Rat Race crew has told me about the race, ’90s cars, and their adventures!
#1 1990 Acura Legend Coupe
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#2 Audi 100 Sedan
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#3 1990 Audi 100 Sedan Quattro
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#4 1990 Audi 200 Sedan
Image source: amazon.com, NixonTheInnocent
#5 1990 Audi 200 Station Wagon Quattro
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#6 1990 Audi 80 Coupe
Image source: amazon.com, commradepolski
#7 Audi 90 Coupe
Image source: amazon.com, YEAH_MRWHITE
#8 Audi 80 Sedan
Image source: amazon.com, Vycka1634
#9 Audi 90 Sedan
Image source: amazon.com, Turboactive1
#10 Audi Coupe Quattro
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#11 Buick Century Coupe
Image source: amazon.com, mirr827
#12 1990 Audi V8
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#13 Buick Century Sedan
Image source: amazon.com, SupremoZanne
#14 Buick Century Station Wagon
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#15 Buick Electra Coupé
Image source: amazon.com
#16 Buick Electra Sedan
Image source: amazon.com
#17 Buick Estate
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#18 Buick Lesabre Coupe
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#19 1990 Buick Lesabre Sedan
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#20 Buick Reatta Convertible
Image source: amazon.com, PoniesPlayingPoker
#21 1990 Buick Reatta Coupe
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#22 Buick Regal Coupe
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#23 Buick Regal Sedan
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#24 Buick Riviera
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#25 1990 Buick Skylark Coupé
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#26 1990 Buick Skylark Sedan
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#27 Eagle Talon
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#28 Ford Aerostar Wagon
Image source: amazon.com, juneloz
#29 Ford Bronco
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#30 1990 Ford Aerostar Minivan
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#31 Jaguar XJ220
Image source: amazon.com, Recidive
#32 Ferrari F40 Now That’s A Beauty
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#33 Mazda MX-5 Miata
Image source: amazon.com, Carta_Blanca
#34 Honda NSX
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#35 1 Of 2 Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR Supersports
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#36 Bmw 850CSI
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#37 Nissan 300ZX Twin Turbo
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#38 Pontiac Firebird Trans-Am GTA
Image source: amazon.com, spitty_cent
#39 Volkswagen 1990 Golf
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#40 Honda/Acura NSX
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#41 Mazda Rx7
Image source: amazon.com, Rik_F
#42 Ayrton Senna’s Mclaren F1
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#43 White R34 Skyline GTR
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#44 Bmw M3 E30
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#45 Bmw M5 E34
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#46 Bmw Z1
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#47 Lancia Delta Integrale EVO 2
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#48 Lotus Elise S1
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#49 Toyota Supra Turbo
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#50 Bmw E30 M3 Sport EVO
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#51 Bmw Z3 M Coupe: Controversially Beautiful
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#52 Nissan Skyline GT-R R33 Nismo 400R
Image source: Apple_Slipper, Apple_Slipper
#53 Nissan Skyline R34 GTR
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#54 Jaguar XJ220
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#55 Toyota Celica GT4 ST-185
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#56 Iconic Mitsubishi Eclipse
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#57 Ferrari F355
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#58 Renault 5 GT Turbo
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#59 Mercedes-Benz SL
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#60 Lotus Elan Sprint Convertable
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#61 Lotus Esprit Turbo
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#62 Mercedes Benz 560 SEC AMG
Image source: amazon.com, Capa_D
#63 Beautiful Porsche 964
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#64 Volkswagen Corrado
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#65 Volkswagen Golf GTI
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#66 Ferrari F40
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#67 Mitsubishi 3000 GT
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#68 Nissan Silvia S15 Spec-R
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#69 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra R
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#70 1990 Nissan 240SX S13 Hatchback
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#71 Jaguar XJ6
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#72 Lexus SC300
Image source: amazon.com, Roblox-forums
#73 Buick Roadmaster Estate Wagon
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#74 Honda Integra Type R
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#75 Dakar Yellow M3 BMW
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#76 Real Italian Style Alfa Romeo GTV
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#77 Lotus Carlton Omega
Image source: amazon.com, V8Tech
#78 Mitsubishi Galant VR4
Image source: amazon.com, DAVID_KRAPPENSHITS
#79 Mitsubishi Galant Super VR-4
Image source: amazon.com, jdm.tarmac.icons
#80 Nissan Nismo 270R
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#81 Ford Sierra RS500
Image source: amazon.com, Stage1V8
#82 Bmw E36 Coupe
Image source: amazon.com, brwn1110
#83 Bmw E30 325i
Image source: amazon.com, chrismhpassey
#84 The Classic Blue Body, Gold Wheels Subaru Impreza 22B STI
Image source: amazon.com, bringatrailer
#85 Bmw M3
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#86 Bmw M3 Coupe
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#87 Audi 90 Quattro
Image source: amazon.com, illegalskittle
#88 Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX
Image source: amazon.com, Redeclipzegsx
#89 Ford Bronco 2
Image source: amazon.com, krabben8tor
#90 Honda Civic Hatchback
Image source: amazon.com, DanCastellaneta
#91 1990 Honda CRX SI
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#92 Lamborghini Diablo
Image source: amazon.com, Josh92391
#93 Lexus LS400
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#94 Maserati Shamal Coupe
Image source: amazon.com, DJVagrant
#95 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class 300SL Roadster
Image source: amazon.com, a56828981
#96 Mitsubishi GTO SR
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#97 Mitsubishi Lancer GTI
Image source: amazon.com, LulinSet
#98 Mitsubishi Wagon
Image source: amazon.com, tw0s00n
#99 Pontiac Firebird
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#100 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 Coupe
Image source: amazon.com, AnalogDan
#101 Porsche 911 Carrera 2
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#102 Porsche 928 GTS
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#103 Porsche 944 S2
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#104 Subaru Alcyone 4WD Turbo
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#105 Subaru XT Coupe
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#106 Suzuki Samurai SUV Hardtop
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#107 Volkswagen Cabriolet
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#108 Volkswagen Jetta Coupe
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#109 Alpine GTA Turbo Le Mans
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#110 Nissan R32 GT ST
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#111 Toyota MR2 Turbo SW20
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#112 Bugatti EB110
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#113 Bugatti EB110 Aerodynamic Prototype
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#114 Mitsubishi Lancer EVO, Tommi Makinen Edition
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#115 Ferrari F50 Convertible
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#116 Ford Escort RS Cosworth
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#117 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1
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#118 Chevy C4 Corvette
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#119 Venturi 400 GT
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#120 Nissan 300ZX
Image source: amazon.com, SupraHKS
#121 Bmw 535I
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#122 Mercedes-Benz E-Class 300 E
Image source: amazon.com, the-last-hokage
#123 Savanna RX 7 GT-X
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#124 The Only Rolls-Royce Silver Spur Turbo R
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#125 Jaguar XJ Sovereign
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#126 Chevy C5 Corvette
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#127 Pontiac Firebird Formula 350
Image source: amazon.com, clean-as-windex
#128 Honda Prelude VTI – R
Image source: amazon.com, xXLXIXXx
#129 Mercedes-Benz 190e 2.5-16 Evolution II Very Rare
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#130 Marcos Mantis
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#131 Nissan Nx 2000
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#132 Infiniti J30
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#133 Suzuki X-90
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#134 Isuzu Impulse Rs
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#135 Peugeot 205 Or Peugeot 309 Gti
#136 Ford Probe
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#137 Mazda RX 7
Image source: amazon.com, samdwyer_photography
#138 Toyota Hilux
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#139 Ferrari F512 M
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#140 1990 Ford Thunderbird SC
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#141 Lexus ES250
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#142 Six Wheel Lincoln Mark VII
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#143 Mitsubishi Montero
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#144 Pontiac Grand Prix Coupe
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#145 Two AWD Suzuki Swift Sedans
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#146 Volkswagen Golf Country
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#147 Pontiac Sunbird GT
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#148 Chevy Camaro Z28
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#149 Porsche 911 (996)
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#150 Subaru WRX Forester
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#151 1st Gen Fiat Multipla, The Most Un-Regular Looking Regular Car
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#152 Ferrari 360 Modena
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#153 Volvo 850 T-5R
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#154 Nissan Pulsar GTI-R
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#155 Mazda Eunos Cosmo
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#156 Honda Civic Del Sol
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#157 Mercury Capri
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#158 Nissan Pulsar Serie Autech Version
Image source: amazon.com, jdm.tarmac.icons
#159 Honda Civic Ferio VI-RS
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#160 Nissan Stagea Autech Version 260 RS
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#161 Nissan Fairlady-Z 300ZX
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#162 Toyota Supra MK3 GA70
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#163 Pontiac Trans AM GTA
Image source: amazon.com, pontiac_maniac
#164 Audi 90 Quattro Sport AB S2
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#165 Mazda 323F BG
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#166 Maserati Ghibli
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#167 Ford Fiesta RS Turbo
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#168 1990 Mercedes-Benz AMG 300CE-24
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#169 Ford F150
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#170 Ford Festiva
Image source: amazon.com, RobSchwieb
#171 1990 Ltd Crown Victoria Station Wagon
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#172 1990 Audi 200 V8 Quattro Sedan
Image source: amazon.com, NixonTheInnocent
#173 Ford E150 Van
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#174 Ford Taurus
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#175 1990 Ford E250
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#176 Ford Mustang Convertible
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#177 Volkswagen Jetta Sedan
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#178 Volkswagen Jetta GLI Sedan
Image source: amazon.com, wilsonthedoggy
#179 Fox Body Ford Mustang LX 25th Anniversary Edition
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#180 Here Is 90S Sunbird Convertable
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#181 Cadillac Brougham
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#182 Gorgeous Mercury Cougar
Image source: amazon.com, Hshatara
#183 Peugeot 406
Image source: amazon.com, 90s.cars
#184 Fox Body Ford Mustang Coupe
Image source: amazon.com, YaMom23
#185 Fox Body Ford Mustang
Image source: amazon.com, m4ch3te
#186 Hummer H1
Image source: amazon.com, Civic07
#187 Pontiac Trans AM WS6
Image source: amazon.com, pontiac_maniac
#188 Volkswagen Jetta GLI
Image source: amazon.com, bringatrailer
#189 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra
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#190 Ford Escort Hatchback
Image source: amazon.com, Pontiac_787
#191 Cadillac Brougham Limousine
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