Feel old: Cars from 1991 are now classics

A classic car, by many state's definitions, must be at least 25 years old. At that point, you can apply for special “Year of Manufacture” or classic car plates.

That means 1991 model cars and trucks can now be considered classics.

Before you run out to find a rust-free Cavalier, let’s think about what 1991 models could actually be a collectible now or in the future. The early '90s were the beginning of a Japanese sports car boom. And some special editions of domestic automobiles made a mark. Without going into Ferrari territory, here are a few attainable classics:

Mitsubishi 3000GT

The early days of grunge rock were also the early days of some great Japanese sports cars.

Grab one of these off eBay now. The prices seem to be on the rise, especially for the top-of-the-line VR4 models.

Crank up Nirvana's "Nevermind" album and enjoy some 1990s rarities like all-wheel steering, all-wheel drive, active aerodynamics and a twin-turbo V6 creating nearly 300 horsepower. And that number hit 320 in later years.

This car, under the disguise of a Dodge Stealth nameplate, was almost the Indianapolis 500 pace car in 1991. It would have been the race's first non-domestic pace car. The UAW and other protested the use of a Japanese-built car to pace the field. Dodge listened and instead used the soon-to-be-released Dodge Viper in its place.

Ford Taurus SHO

No, your parents old Taurus probably won't be that sought after years from now. Not unless it wore an SHO badge.

SHO models set themselves apart with a Yamaha-built 3.0 liter V6, a manual transmission, performance suspension and more aggressive looks than the base Taurus.

Jay Leno has called the SHOs Yamaha V6 one the best built engines. He even owns a Ford Festiva with the SHO's engine stuffed in the back.

GMC Syclone

When released in 1991, the GMC Syclone was the fastest production truck in the world. This was in the times before fast trucks were really something you could get from the factory, with maybe the exception of Dodge's late-70s "Lil Red Express."

But this was more than just a fast truck. It was fast when compared to Porsches, Corvettes and even Ferraris of the era. Car and Driver put the Syclone up against a Ferrari 348ts and the truck won.

GMC Syclone vs. Ferrari 348ts - Archived Comparison

On eBay, pristine models have gone for their original price of $25,000 recently. The example shown, with just 12,000 miles, was priced around $31,000. If you don't have the money for the Syclone's 280 horsepower, 4.3 liter turbocharged V6 and all-wheel drive, look for a GMC Sonoma GT. Similar looks, just a little slower.

Toyota MR2 Turbo

In 1991, nowhere else than a Toyota dealership could you get a mid-engine car with this precise of handling and this amount of speed for right around $20,000.

What set this car apart from others in the price segment was its mid-engine design. It was small, light and nimble.

The MR2 started life as a boxy coupe in 1984. It wasn't until 1989 that the second generation W20 would transform the little Toyota into this sleek, sexy design.

BMW M3

This was the final full year of production for the original high performance version of BMW's 3-series.

Before the M3 became bigger and bloated, this car strived for balance, lightness and a connection with the driver. Automobile Magazine called the original E30 M3 one the five greatest drivers cars of all time when it made their 25 Greatest Cars of All Time list. And that was in 2007, against cars 11 years newer.

These first cars of the M performance division are already considered collectible. A few years ago, you could pick up a good example for under $10,000. That, unfortunately, is not true anymore. The model pictured, with 161,000 miles on the odometer, is listed for $39,988 on eBay.

If you get one, please don't put it away in a garage to sit and be admired. Drive it. Hard.

Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1

In 1991, a base Corvette came with less horsepower than today's Toyota Camry. But, if you had the money, you could opt for the ZR-1. That would get you 375 horsepower from an engine built by Mercury Marine.

The C4 Corvette, built from 1984 through 1996, is often panned by car lovers for its lack of power and refinement. The ZR-1 versions along with the final production year Grand Sport can be seen as exceptions.

Nissan 300ZX Twin Turbo

The lines of this car just say 1990s. And it's actually still beautiful today.

If you want a '90s Nissan Z car, the hard part will be finding one that is unmodified with a factory original engine. Many have been overboosted and beaten. Find a doctor-owned example like the one pictured and you'll pay. A slightly newer "unmolested original" 300ZX with 57,000 miles currently has a "Buy It Now" price of $24,999 on eBay.

Yugo

Only 3,092 1991 models were sold in the United States. A hipster could love this just for the irony.

Any car that has meaning to you

More models could easily be added to this list. The Acura NSX has already become a ridiculously priced collectible. And you may have a personal connection with a certain car. A car doesn't have to be special to collectors in order to have a special meaning to you. Hopefully you can find what you're looking for in good condition. What's your '90s classic? Tell us in the comments.

Follow IndyStar Engagement Producer and lover of cars from all decades Joe Tamborello on Twitter and Instagram.