Collectors are bringing back the ’90s

process, clients are allowed to participate in the decision-making process to steer a vehicle into its nal shape, after which the clay sculpture is digitally remastered. Ultimately, aluminum sheets are hammer formed by hand to create the car’s nal bodywork.

Although such old-school craftsmanship is relied upon to create a custom Rolls-Royce vehicle body, that structure is set upon a technologically advanced drivetrain and suspension system that the rm calls the Magic Carpet Ride. At its core, that suspension is built around a system that required 10 years of R&D. Enhanced by sophisticated scanning and software technology—not to mention satellite-aided transmissions—the system relies on cameras to read and preemptively prepare the suspension for any notable changes in the upcoming road surface.

In that way, the aesthetic sleekness of a modern coach-built Rolls-Royce is born from traditional craftsmanship techniques, whereas the vehicle’s characteristically smooth ride is entirely cultivated by the company’s commitment to new and modern technology. rolls-roycemotorcars.com

A NEW GENERATION OF COLLECTING

The late ’80s and ’90s are back, and the icons of those eras are gaining traction with a new wave of collectors.

From bike shorts to oversize blazers, you might have noticed that many fashion trends from the ’90s have made a comeback. The same can be said for the iconic rides from that decade. Car enthusiasts who grew up during the late 1980s through the ’90s are seeking out the aspirational cars of their youth. In the case of sporty Japanese and German imports from the ’90s, their emergence on the collector scene is occuring at a faster-than-normal pace.

“If you had told me in 2004 at our first auction at Pebble Beach that in less than 20 years we’d be selling Toyotas that were bringing more money than a lot of Packards, I’d have been very surprised,” says David Gooding, founder and president of Gooding & Company. “But there’s a new segment of the hobby that is excited about cars that were just considered ‘old cars’ when we got started.”

When it comes to the new European classics, Gooding & Company sold a 1993 Porsche 964 America Roadster for $134,400 in 2020, a 1996 Porsche 993 Turbo for $151,200 in 2020, and a 1997 S variant of the Porsche 993 Turbo for $539,000 this year. The auction house also hammered down a $92,400 price for a 1991 BMW M3 Cabriolet in 2019, and it commissioned the sale of a 1990 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16 Evolution II for $434,000 in 2020.

On the Japanese side—and with an emphasis on models that could soon become true collector pieces—RM Sotheby’s recently sold a 2002 Honda S2000 at auction for $18,000. “Fifteen years ago they were considered good sports cars, but they were also just ‘used cars,’” says Alexander Weaver, a specialist with RM Sotheby’s. “Now people are realizing

1990 Mercedes-Benz 190E Evolution 1997 Porsche 993 Turbo S

they are great sports cars—they’re really visceral with manual transmissions. Oftentimes, it takes the next generation [of an automobile] for you to understand what you truly loved about the previous one.” Despite the fact that most of these special variant and limited-edition sports cars from the ’90s are less than 30 years old, the same rules and collecting advice for classic Ferraris apply. Simply put, proper documentation and ownership provenance is of utmost importance, but according to Gooding, that can sometimes be di cult to find, only because for at least 20 years no one perceived these cars as being true collector pieces. On the other hand, Gooding acknowledges that young collectors are more inclined to treat these ’90s sports cars as showpieces, meaning they rarely see the road. “You might think it’s the other way around, but fewer people want to drive the newer cars,” he says. “These cars are fun to drive and should be used and enjoyed. Good, sensible usage is the best thing for them.” As this new generation of collector cars emerges, prospective buyers are likely wondering what will be the next big thing. Gooding advocates a di erent approach. “Go after the car that truly stirs your heart,” he says. Weaver concurs. “At the end of the day, there are a lot of cars that can be collectible,” he says. “Beauty is in the eye 1991 BMW E30 M3 Cabriolet of beholder.” goodingco.com; rmsothebys.com —S.T.