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Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
13 Cars From the 90s That are Worth a Fortune Now
The 1990s, back when Nickelodeon cartoons were actually funny, and Furbies kept chattering even after you took the batteries out. It was the last moment when car culture felt truly organic, before Hollywood and video games co-opted it, stylized it, and sold it back to us. Some of these cars were affordable, others were more aspirational. Yet few could have predicted just how valuable they would become, in part due to the very Hollywood blockbusters and game franchises that once borrowed from car culture and eventually helped amplify it. What started as grassroots enthusiasm was repackaged for mass consumption, and along the way, these cars became global icons. Driven by rising demand, limited production runs, and a tidal wave of nostalgia, these '90s heroes have surged in value and cultural cachet. You might not have owned one back then, but if you were flipping through magazines at the grocery store or Waldenbooks, you definitely knew these cars. They were the cool cars before Fast & Furious or Need for Speed made them cool. To build this list, we put on our financial spectacles. We focused on production cars from the 1990s that have demonstrated significant, consistent appreciation in value over the past decade or more. We analyzed market data from auction houses like Bring a Trailer and Mecum, consulted collector platforms, and reviewed classic car indexes to track meaningful trends rather than one-off spikes driven by nostalgia or impulse. Each car had to demonstrate genuine, growing demand among enthusiasts and collectors, not just a one-time price surge from someone trying to recapture their high school glory days. We also weighed factors like standout engineering, cultural influence, and ties to motorsport or media. Let's be honest: Fast & Furious and Gran Turismo helped turn plenty of fun weekend cars into six-figure status symbols. This is not just a list of cool old cars. These are machines that have earned their place in the modern collector market, both in relevance and real-world value. Ah, the fourth-generation Toyota Supra. If there's one car that encapsulates the meteoric rise of '90s Japanese performance legends, it's this twin-turbo beast. Once just a cool, fast Japanese car, the A80 Supra has become an absolute benchmark in the collector world, with values appreciating faster than a lottery winner's ego. Its nearly indestructible 2JZ-GTE twin-turbo inline-six engine (a mechanical marvel capable of mind-boggling horsepower with basic mods) and sleek, muscular design helped define Japanese performance during the decade. Low original production numbers, especially in pristine condition, have only compounded its rarity. Interest surged globally after strong showings at major auctions (remember that Barrett-Jackson sale that broke the internet?) and, yes, renewed attention from a certain street racing movie franchise. Today, clean, factory-stock examples often command six-figure prices, and frankly, there are no signs of it slowing down. Just avoid the ricers, which are not worth as much as the OGs. Estimated collector value: $90,000 to over $180,000, depending on mileage, originality, and trim. Factory-stock six-speed manual models fetch the highest premiums. The Acura NSX didn't just reshape how enthusiasts viewed Japanese engineering; it flipped the supercar world on its head. Forget temperamental Italian divas; the NSX offered genuine supercar performance with legendary Honda reliability and everyday usability. Its all-aluminum monocoque construction, groundbreaking mid-engine layout, and high-revving VTEC V6 were truly revolutionary for the era. As early models age, well-maintained cars are becoming harder to find (many were actually driven; imagine that!). Collectors prize the NSX for its originality and its historical importance in proving that exotic performance didn't have to come with exotic breakdowns. Strong auction results and relatively limited production runs (especially in its early years) cement its position as a standout from the decade, earning it a spot in many a serious collection. The early '90s models with pop-up headlights are the most desirable. Estimated collector value: $75,000 to $140,000, with top-dollar going to early, low-mileage examples and rare color combinations. Though technically introduced in the late '80s, the early '90s BMW E30 M3 models (produced until 1991 for North America) remain some of the most in-demand, revered, and financially appreciating performance cars of their time. Built purely to satisfy Group A touring car racing regulations, it wasn't about creature comforts; it offered drivers a lightweight, nimble platform and track-tested engineering straight from BMW's motorsport division. Collectors drool over the raw, analog driving experience and the increasingly rare, unmodified examples. It holds paramount historical significance as a cornerstone of BMW's motorsport legacy, dominating racetracks worldwide. Demand remains stratospheric across Europe and North America alike, proving that pure driving machines never go out of style. Keep an eye on its service records while buying — it's still a BMW. Estimated collector value: $80,000 to $160,000, with prices continuing to rise for clean, low-mileage, and original-spec models. The third-generation Mazda RX-7 (FD) is universally lauded for its near-perfect 50:50 weight distribution, sublime handling, truly iconic twin-turbo rotary engine, and aggressive, timeless design that still looks fresh today. With fewer and fewer clean examples remaining on the market (many have suffered from engine woes or been heavily modified — or both), buyer competition has intensified. Originality and a meticulously documented service history (especially those rotary engine rebuilds!) significantly affect demand and pricing. The car's global influence in racing and pop culture (Keisuke Takahash raced this car in Initial D, and you can drive it in Forza) and its distinct, highly unconventional engineering make it a frequent target for collectors of 1990s Japanese performance. It continues to attract both nostalgic enthusiasts (who probably spent their youth staring at one on a poster) and seasoned investors looking for something unique. When searching for an RX-7 of your own, avoid Fast & Furious rejects with cheap body kits. Estimated collector value: $45,000 to $90,000, depending on mileage, condition, and stock configuration. For many a Porsche purist, the 993 generation (1994-1998) marked the bittersweet end of Porsche's illustrious air-cooled era. This fact alone has given these models a near-legendary, almost mythical, status. Blending genuinely modern performance with the visceral, mechanical charm of its air-cooled flat-six engine, the 993 represents a turning point in the storied 911 lineage. Values have soared consistently, especially for limited editions (like the Carrera RS) and low-production trims (Turbos, S models). Pristine examples with impeccable documentation are meticulously tracked by global collectors. It's widely considered one of the most beautiful and mechanically engaging 911s ever made, embodying the perfect blend of tradition and progression. If you had one of these and sold it for under six figures, you probably still kick yourself. Estimated collector value: $120,000 to $250,000 or more, depending on variant. The Carrera RS and Turbo models often exceed these ranges. The Nissan Skyline GT-R earned its fearsome "Godzilla" global reputation through relentless motorsport success (dominating Australian touring car racing, for example). The nickname was coined by Skyline enthusiast and journalist David Yu, who spread its popularity beyond Japan at the time. As import restrictions (like the dreaded 25-year rule in the US) have eased, collector interest has surged in markets that previously had no legal access. Authentic, well-documented models (especially those with minimal modifications) are extremely attractive to buyers. Collectors value its advanced all-wheel-drive tech (ATTESA E-TS), its potent RB26DETT twin-turbo inline-six engine, and its undeniable cultural legacy as a gaming and tuning icon. The GT-R's status as a JDM legend ensures steady, strong long-term demand. Estimated collector value: $55,000 to $120,000 depending on condition, mileage, and chassis generation. R32 models are slightly more affordable than the rarer R33s in excellent condition. The Ferrari F355 introduced a new level of modern refinement and usability to the Prancing Horse lineup, marking a significant shift toward a better balance between exhilarating performance and genuine drivability. Its iconic gated manual transmission and a high-revving, howling 3.5-liter V8 engine (which produced a glorious sound thanks to its five valves per cylinder) appeal directly to enthusiasts seeking a classic exotic with undeniable character. The model's limited production numbers and, yes, rising maintenance costs have created a natural divide between those who want to drive it and those who want to invest in it. Clean service histories are absolutely essential for top value. Its critical place in Ferrari's transition era, bridging the analog and digital worlds, only adds to its collectible status. Just be prepared for "Ferrari tax" if you buy it — that's a fun way of saying maintenance costs. Estimated collector value: $90,000 to $160,000, with manual-transmission Berlinettas and Spiders fetching the highest prices. Wait... What happened to the sports cars? Don't scroll back up and hear us out! The Toyota Land Cruiser FZJ80 (1990-1997) is no ordinary SUV. Regarded universally for its legendary build quality, tank-like durability, and genuine off-road capability (especially with factory lockers), the 80 Series has earned a fanatical following among adventure vehicle collectors and discerning enthusiasts. Many surviving units have high mileage (but it's more a badge of honor than a concern), making truly well-kept, original examples with minimal rust increasingly rare. Collectors favor models with factory-locking differentials and full, documented service records. Its unshakeable reliability and timeless, rugged design continue to drive interest. Global demand from both overland adventurers and classic SUV buyers keeps values moving steadily upward. The 1FZ-FE 4.5L inline-six engine (1993-1997) is preferred for its power and reliability. Estimated collector value: $30,000 to $70,000, with high-spec models in excellent condition occasionally exceeding that range. As one of the boldest, most unapologetically brash American sports cars of the decade, the original Dodge Viper RT/10 (1992-1995) brought raw, unadulterated performance to the road. It quickly gained a reputation as the "Widowmaker." Its low production numbers (especially in the early years) and notoriously minimal driver aids (no ABS, no traction control, just you and that monster V10) give it lasting appeal among purists and those who appreciate a truly visceral driving experience. The earliest models are the most collectible due to their purity, simplicity, and direct connection to the original concept car. Survivors in the original condition have grown scarcer, especially those with clean ownership history and original side pipes that could melt tarmac. The Viper has become a beloved fixture in U.S.-based collector circles, a roaring symbol of American excess done right. Just remember — this car is out to kill you. Estimated collector value: $55,000 to $90,000, with early 1992 production units commanding a premium. Ah, the Mercedes-Benz 500E / E500 (1991-1994). If you know, you know. Built in an extraordinary partnership with Porsche (yes, you read that right — Porsche actually hand-assembled these at their Zuffenhausen plant), the 500E offered staggering performance wrapped in the most understated executive styling. It was a true sleeper that could devour autobahns and embarrass sports cars while looking like a regular (albeit very handsome) E-Class. Its limited production and painstaking hand assembly make it a true standout among '90s sedans — only 1,500 were sent to the United States at the time. Collectors seek out well-preserved examples with full documentation, particularly those that haven't suffered from the dreaded biodegradable wiring harness issues of the era. Its understated design and incredible engineering story have earned it a cult following. Values have seen a quiet but very steady increase over the past decade as discerning collectors recognize its unique pedigree. Estimated collector value: $45,000 to $85,000, depending on originality, mileage, and factory options. The Mitsubishi 3000GT VR-4 (and its Dodge Stealth R/T twin) was a true technological tour de force for its time, a grand touring coupe that offered a dizzying array of features rarely seen together: twin turbos, all-wheel drive, four-wheel steering, active aerodynamics (yes, pop-up spoilers and active front air dams!), and even active exhaust. Many of these cars were used hard or heavily modified by eager enthusiasts, unfortunately leaving few clean, original examples behind. Collectors now actively seek original-condition cars, especially with lower mileage and complete service records. Its reputation as a technical showcase and its unique place in '90s Japanese performance has made it increasingly appealing as buyers revisit overlooked models from the era. Interest has been steadily growing in recent years, proving that complexity, when it works, is appreciated. Just make sure everything works! The 300GT VR-4 was considered for a role in the original The Fast and the Furious movie, but it was rejected. That's good for those who want to snag this car before it hikes up in price even more. Estimated collector value: $30,000 to $60,000, with premium prices for unmodified early models with active aero still functioning. It may seem surprising to see a Subaru on this list at first (especially at such a high value), but the 22B STI is the equivalent of automotive royalty. Widely considered the holy grail of Subaru's rally heritage, this beast was built to celebrate the brand's hat-trick of World Rally Championship manufacturer titles from 1995-1997 and Subaru's 40th anniversary. It combined aggressive, wide-body styling (100mm wider than a standard WRX!) with a truly limited production run — only 400 units for Japan, plus 24 for export markets and a few prototypes. Its direct motorsport connection, hand-built details, and extreme scarcity have transformed it into one of the most desirable and expensive performance cars of the '90s. Unlike many of its contemporaries, the 22B was engineered with a surgical focus on balance, grip, and responsiveness, not just brute speed. It's now firmly established as a crown jewel among JDM collectors, fetching prices that would make a new Porsche owner blush. Estimated collector value: $200,000 to $300,000, with auction prices steadily climbing for low-mileage, original-condition examples. The Honda Integra Type R (DC2 chassis, 1995-2001, US: 1997-2001) is a testament to Honda's engineering prowess and commitment to driver enjoyment. This lightweight, high-revving front-wheel-drive coupe wasn't about flashy numbers; it was built with laser-like focus and intent, earning universal respect from drivers and critics alike. Stripped of unnecessary weight, stiffened, and blessed with the legendary B18C5 VTEC engine (delivering a jaw-dropping 195 hp from just 1.8 liters without a turbo!), North American production was limited, making surviving examples (especially unmodified) increasingly hard to find. Enthusiasts and collectors alike seek out stock cars with matching numbers and impeccably clean service histories. Its raw performance legacy, surgical handling, and relative rarity give it serious long-term collectibility. The Integra Type R continues to gain recognition as one of the finest driver's cars of its time, proving that front-wheel drive can be a riot. You'll end up paying more for a Type R in Championship White paint, but this is the color that people reminisce about the most. Estimated collector value: $50,000 to $90,000, with top-tier examples showing rapid year-over-year appreciation. The 1990s produced a wave of cars now seen in a brilliant new light (Furbies, not so much). Their rising value reflects both shrinking supply and enduring appeal, drawing in enthusiasts who remember them fondly and a new wave of fans discovering them for the first time. With demand on the rise and nostalgia in full swing, these cars have outgrown the label of mere collectibles. They are cultural milestones, with stories still unfolding one auction at a time. If you have one sitting quietly in your garage, congratulations. It might just be your retirement plan. If not, it may be time to check the classifieds before the next Fast & Furious sequel drives prices up again.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
From School Bus to Showstopper: ‘Yeti' Skoolie Rolls Into Mecum's Summer Auction
'Labor of love' is a phrase that doesn't really do this auction-bound build justice. It was somehow bigger than that—driven by a force arguably even more powerful than love. This was an act of survival—a defiant stand against death itself, or at least against the death of one man's heart and soul, and what could be more powerful than that? This custom-built 2006 Thomas Freightliner FS65 Skoolie Mobile Home, now headed for the Mecum auction this July in Kissimmee, Florida, was born of the tumultuous time when the COVID pandemic was at its peak, an event that forever altered the course of human history in ways both big and small. They were difficult years for many, and transformational ones for many others. But for each and every person alive on this earth, something shifted; few emerged unchanged, and for better or worse, things have never been the same. Eddie Kreder was living in Florida with his wife, Sherrie, and son, Nicholas, when the pandemic hit. He'd made a career remodeling homes, owning and operating his own very successful remodeling company, called Veterans Home Improvements LLC. It was a skill that he'd picked up after high school, when he was hired by a local Tour de France cyclist named Joe, who'd been paralyzed after being struck by a car while biking. Joe purchased an old sprawling colonial home that he wanted to renovate from the ground up. He had the skills, but not the physical ability, so he brought in Eddie right out of high school to serve as something of a surrogate and protege, and he taught him many of the skills he still uses today. Eddie didn't set up shop as a home remodeler right away. He first served in the United States Army as a paratrooper, and he served most of his tour in Panama, Central America. After being Honorably Discharged from the military, he earned a bachelor's degree in elementary education and then taught for a handful of years. However, the creativity that was required by the remodeling industry was something that continued to call his name. Eventually, Eddie got back into remodeling homes and quickly earned a solid reputation as a project manager at Grayhawk Remodeling in Bradenton, Florida. As most creatively driven individuals can attest, there is a lot of inspiration to be found in the art and accomplishments of others with like minds, and Eddie soon found a pivotal source in the work of one now very popular YouTube channel, 'The Nomadic Movement.' 'I started following 'The Nomadic Movement' on YouTube just before COVID,' Eddie explained, 'and I also started following a bunch of other nomads who were transforming buses and vans and traveling across the United States. I was checking it out to see how they were doing it and the lifestyles they were living. 'Jordan and Kaylee started 'The Nomadic Movement.' They traveled all over the United States, and then they traveled down to Panama, Central America, and ended up in a small mountain town called Boquete, which I'm very familiar with because I was stationed in Panama in the military. It's a small mountain town; it's like 3,000 feet above sea level, and it's like 70 degrees all year long. Jordan and Kaylee ended up creating a homestead down there, and they're thriving. So that's what got me the bug, and I hope to meet them both someday as well.' Just before COVID hit, Eddie said he went out in search of a bus to begin converting. He contacted a company called BGA School Buses in nearby Hudson, Florida, as the company is solely dedicated to purchasing decommissioned school buses from around the country and claims to seek out the absolute best available examples anywhere. With a mission to specifically serve both churches and the 'Skoolie' bus-RV conversion community, the company even offers titling services that allow purchasers to title their new-to-them bus as an RV right from the point of sale, saving them the trouble down the road. 'So, I bought this bus,' Eddie said with a smile, 'and I named it Yeti. It's a 24-foot school bus. It was yellow. It had all kinds of seats—it looked like a school bus!' Eddie said there are a couple of key things that attract devotees of the so-called 'Skoolie' community to school buses instead of RVs, aside from the obvious creative customization opportunities. 'You can roll a school bus, and it won't disintegrate like an RV would, because they're made to protect kids,' he said. He also noted that they tend to decommission school buses long before their engines are spent as a further safety measure. 'And diesel engines can go for like 500,000 miles,' he said, 'so 100,000 is nothing.' Eddie had one special request for BGA before he took delivery of the bus: he wanted it painted in the ultra-cool all-black finish that it currently wears today. The company obliged, and Eddie took on the rest of the work himself. 'The only thing I didn't do,' he noted, 'was the electrical, the plumbing, and the gas. I wanted a licensed electrician and a licensed plumber to do all that, so that it's all certified.' To create his dream skoolie, Eddie first had to strip the bus down, including the seats, insulate the heavy-duty steel walls, and then build something of a framed-out interior using 2x4s and plywood, as he said he didn't want to use prefab materials that often lack in quality construction. As a result, the entire interior of the bus is custom-built, from the custom cabinetry with soft-close hinges and the cedar tongue-and-groove ceilings, to the diamond-plated shift column and driver-side floor. And it's not just pretty finishings either; the functionality is just as well thought-out, with stunning custom modern appearances. The back of the skoolie bus houses a full-size bed with storage and water tanks underneath, along with one of the bus's two air-conditioning units mounted to the ceiling above. Next comes a functional water closet with a custom cedar barn door on one side of the bus and a full stand-up shower directly across, which includes a convenient instant water heater. Beyond that are large sections of drawers and cabinets for an abundance of storage needs, and then comes the most welcoming part of all: the skoolie's custom kitchen and adjacent sitting area. A full-size sink, two-burner stovetop, brand-new mini fridge, and tons of additional storage make the space exceptionally practical, while a black granite countertop, rustic multicolored barnwood backsplash, white cabinetry, and wide-plank wood floors give it a stunning modern appearance that is hard not to swoon over. Eddie said that although the build took considerable time to finish (on and off for a year), there weren't too many hiccups along the way, at least not with the bus itself. The world around him, however, was undergoing dramatic changes, and none of it was going as smoothly as the building of his skoolie. COVID struck first, and as the global landscape seemed to crumble before his eyes, Eddie found that his job and family were far from immune to its effects. Throughout the earthly upheaval, his job shut down temporarily, and his family's dynamics would also suffer. While Eddie and his wife, Sherrie, managed these difficult times, they weren't destined to make it through the changing landscape as a married couple. Eddie was able to help his son, Nick, establish his own remodeling business called Shooting Star Home Improvement LLC, which is doing very well. 'Nick and I had a couple of difficult years; however, we worked through it. He even helped me out with the build, which helped strengthen our relationship again,' Eddie said. 'Now, he has his own business doing renovations, and he's doing amazing.' Eddie said his ultimate goal for the bus was to serve as a retirement plan, not to make money off it, but to take him around the country to see as many national parks as possible. 'So, then what happened was,' Eddie paused to collect himself before continuing, 'I had it all done, and I was looking forward to retirement and everything, and then my mom, Mary, had a severe stroke.' Sadly, instead of a joyful ride into retirement, his maiden voyage in the bus became a trip to visit his mother in the hospital in upstate New York, where she was recovering from her stroke. 'They didn't think she was going to make it, but she proved them all wrong,' Eddie said. 'It took like 30 hours to get there from Florida, and that bus ran like a champ.' Equipped with a Mercedes-Benz MBE-900 4.8L inline 6-cylinder diesel engine and a new alternator and starter, Eddie pointed out that he didn't 'cut any corners on anything, because it was going to be my personal RV. I never had any intentions of selling it!' But sometimes, life has other plans. Eddie's mother soon asked if she could move down to Florida to stay with him, as she was now struggling to live on her own. A man of honor and duty with great respect and gratitude for his mother, Eddie agreed without hesitation. As something of a last hurrah with the bus, Eddie took his mom on one trip in the skoolie. The two drove up to Memphis, Tennessee, together to visit Elvis Presley's Graceland. He said his mom was a massive Elvis fan in her youthful years, and while she did have tickets to one of his shows, Elvis passed away shortly before the concert was to take place. 'So, I took her up there, and it was an amazing experience,' Eddie said. He added that at one point, his mom exclaimed, 'If I die tomorrow, it would be okay!' While the trip was a success, Eddie said his mother's limited mobility makes the bus a difficult accommodation for her to enjoy, and so traveling with her more regularly isn't really an option. It's just one more reason that selling the bus now is the right move for Eddie. Once the skoolie sells, Eddie and his mom plan to go on a few more adventures, sans skoolie, while she still can. At the end of the day, Eddie said building the bus was nothing short of a deeply therapeutic exercise for him and a truly life-changing experience. In some ways, it has served to help save his life and some of those around him, carrying them through possibly the most difficult periods they'd ever experienced. While he may not get to enjoy it in all the ways he'd imagined, it's already made a world of difference in his life, and he hopes that now, it can show someone else a bit more of the world. 'I just hope that whoever buys it will just appreciate it and enjoy it and use it for what it's for,' he said, holding back tears. A labor of love, an act of survival: whatever you decide to call it, this skoolie is a bus with a whole lot of heart, and some new nomad is soon going to inherit a rolling work of art when it crosses the block this summer in Kissimmee. It may even have a few lives yet to save or at least a handful of hearts to inspire. In any case, it's a bus that's bound to go far. This one-of-a-kind Skoolie hits the Mecum Harrisburg Auction July 23–26, alongside hundreds of other head-turning rides. We hope to see you there! Special thanks to Mecum Auctions for allowing us to share this feature. All photography by Matt Mahan, courtesy of Mecum Auctions, Inc. This article has been syndicated with permission. All rights reserved by Mecum Auctions, Inc.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Market Collapse: Hemi Superbird Goes For Cheap
Read the full story on Backfire News After auctioning in 2022 for a whopping $1.5 million, setting a world record, a 1970 Plymouth Hemi Superbird just auctioned again with no reserve on May 17, bringing in a measly $380,000. While the latter price is still insane, it's also just a quarter of what the classic muscle car pulled in three years some serious price depreciation. You could chalk it up to just a bad showing at Mecum Indy 2025, but we've been seeing this trend building of late. This Hemi Superbird is just a symptom of a larger problem developing in the car collecting hobby. Fifteen years ago, many enthusiasts could still afford to buy at least one of their dream cars. Today, unless they're an insurance or private equity executive, most enthusiasts have found those same rides are well beyond their reach. Values have soared as the affluent discovered they could use classic and even modern exotics as investments. Many have little interest in the vehicles themselves, other than displaying them as works of art in their gallery-like garages, treating the machines gearheads adore as if they were part of a real estate investment portfolio. This trend intensified during the covid era, likely for a number of reasons. Many gearheads bitterly decided they could never afford the car of their dreams as they watched even some dogs get pricey. The market was out of control. Now we're in a period of correction, or what some would call a crash. Just how big it is and how long it will last isn't clear. And we don't know if investors will flood it yet again, pumping up values in a sick game once more. But many, not all, collector cars are seeing their values plummet. We've noticed a curious trend among auction houses. Instead of openly publishing individual results, many are putting such information in hard-to-find places, requiring users to register for access, or are just plain not releasing the numbers at all. If we didn't know better, we'd say they were trying to hide something. The fact this Mopar Wing Car saw its value on the open market dive 75 percent in just three years shows how bad things have become. At this rate, we just might be able to one day afford a dream car after all. See this Superbird's lot listing for yourself here. Images via Mecum Auctions
The Drive
20-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Drive
This Plymouth Superbird Sold for $1.65M in 2022. It Just Brought $418,000 at Auction
The latest car news, reviews, and features. In 2022, car collector Bobby Knudsen bought a 1970 Plymouth Superbird—you know, the one with the massive rear wing—for a record-breaking $1.65 million (after buyer's fees). Unfortunately for Knudsen's family, its value took a massive nosedive when they sold the numbers-matching muscle car at the Indy Mecum Auction over the weekend without reserve, as its new owner only paid $418,000 for it. Knudsen passed last December, so his family sold off 25 cars from his collection, including a few racing Pontiac Catalinas, a 1959 Nash Metropolitan, and, of course, the aforementioned Superbird. I'm not sure I've ever seen a classic car drop in value as much as Knudsen's Plymouth, but that could be because he massively overpaid for it three years ago. Even in its incredible unrestored condition, with 33,085 original miles, and rare automatic transmission (only 77 of these came with autos from the factory), this Superbird wasn't worth the $1.5 million Knudsen bid on it. At the time of his July 2022 bid, the priciest Superbird was $990,000, according to Hagerty. During the auction, this Superbird looked like it was going to sell for around $1.1 million, when Knudsen jumped up to $1.5 million to seal the deal. It's doubtful that the car realistically leaped half a million dollars in value during those six months, but he wanted his badly enough to knowingly overbid for it. Knudsen's Superbird wasn't the only one to sell at this past weekend's Mecum auction in Indy, though. The other sold for $550,000, with just under 21,000 miles on it. His family seems to have gotten the fair market price for his car, which proves just how far values have fallen in only three years. Mecum With its short-lived NASCAR pedigree, monstrous 426 cubic-inch Hemi V8, and iconic tall wing, it's easy to understand why the Superbird is so desirable. Still, this car's story is a painful reminder that everything has its fair price, no matter how desirable it may be to someone. Got tips? Send 'em to tips@ Nico DeMattia is a staff writer at The Drive. He started writing about cars on his own blog to express his opinions when no one else would publish them back in 2015, and eventually turned it into a full-time career.
The Drive
05-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Drive
This $24,000 'E-Wagon' Golf Cart Is Basically a Power Wheels for Grown-Ups
A country club membership can make you feel elite, like you're a class above the plebs who get stopped at the door. But what if you're elite even by country club standards? What if you're at the tippy-top of the financial food chain, a real one-percenter? You can't be slumming it on the green with every dentist and lawyer in regular golf carts. Instead, you need to get a Bodo E-Wagon golf cart, like this one that recently sold at a Mecum auction. OK, so aside from the fact that this is essentially just a rich grown-up version of a Little Tikes car, it's kind of fun. At a very quick glance, it could pass for a real Mercedes G-Class, at least until a human stands next to it, for scale. The proportions have clearly been tweaked for golf cart duty. Bodo has also traded Merc's three-pointed star logo for its own, but of course, anyone determined enough could always just change it out. Especially if they desire that badge as much as, or perhaps more than, the vehicle itself. Mecum The E-Wagon (or 'G-Wagon'—the official name and even solid info on the company that makes it is, perhaps unsurprisingly, hard to find) is a bit more sophisticated than what golfers normally use from tee to tee. For starters, it's fully enclosed, with power locking doors and even power windows. As someone whose allergies would be running wild on a golf course, that sounds nice. Once inside, it has caramel-colored leather seats, heating, air conditioning, four-wheel disc brakes with a brake boost, a backup camera, and entertainment screens for backseat passengers. So it ain't just for looks—the E-Wagon is a genuinely luxurious golf cart. It's nicer inside than my actual car. Speaking of actual cars, this E-Wagon is capable of driving on some public roads. Some states allow for low-speed vehicles (LSVs) to drive on streets with speed limits of 25 mph or less. That said, it's actually too fast for states like New Jersey, which only allow an attainable top speed of 25 mph, and this faux Merc golf cart can do 35 mph. But if you do drive it on the road, it has fully functioning headlights, turn signals, and even windshield wipers. Mecum You can drive it pretty far, too. Its 10-kWh battery gives it an impressive 80 miles of range. That's about as much as the original BMW i3. Of course, it only has a 20-horsepower electric motor, and it's considerably smaller and lighter. Still, not bad at all for a fully loaded golf cart. This specific E-Wagon recently sold at a Mecum auction in Glendale, but there are others available at Florida-based dealer Gulf Carts. And not only G-Class replicas, either; you can get Range Rover, Porsche Cayenne, and even Ram TRX-themed carts, too. Perfect for those kings and queens of the green who want to flex their pockets at the club. Got tips? Send 'em to tips@ Nico DeMattia is a staff writer at The Drive. He started writing about cars on his own blog to express his opinions when no one else would publish them back in 2015, and eventually turned it into a full-time career.
