5 Iconic '90s Cars To Buy If Money Was No Object

Nostalgia for the 1990s is at an all-time high, and that revival extends straight to the collector car market.

Many enthusiasts consider the nineties the high-water mark for performance automobiles—a mechanical sweet spot combining electronic fuel injection and precise chassis tuning without the intrusive driver-assistance monitors found in modern machinery.

RM Sotheby's is showcasing five standout 1990s performance cars across five distinct price tiers at its Monterey auction.

1. 1995 BMW M3 Lightweight

• Pre-Auction Estimate: $225,000 – $300,000 (Offered Without Reserve)

Following the success of European homologation models, BMW created the M3 Lightweight specifically for North American enthusiasts seeking a track-focused street car. Engineers stripped out roughly 200 pounds by removing the radio, air conditioning, sunroof, and sound insulation. All 126 production units left the factory in Alpine White III adorned with the iconic BMW Motorsport tri-color flag graphics. This example includes its original window sticker, factory documentation, and historical service records.

2. 1992 Porsche 911 Carrera RS

• Pre-Auction Estimate: $425,000 – $500,000

Designed as a road-legal variant of Porsche's Cup race car, the 964-generation Carrera RS shed 287 pounds compared to the standard Carrera while receiving extra horsepower and a stiffer, lowered suspension setup. This unit features Rubystone Red, a vibrant magenta shade offered on just 235 examples that has become one of the defining Porsche exterior colors of the decade.

3. 1993 Bugatti EB110 GT

• Pre-Auction Estimate: $1,750,000 – $2,250,000

Before the Veyron era, Italian entrepreneur Romano Artioli revived the dormant Bugatti marque with the EB110 GT. Designed by Marcello Gandini, the supercar featured a quad-turbocharged V12 engine and all-wheel drive, pushing top speeds past 200 mph. This vehicle represents one of just 139 total EB110 models built, and one of only 84 produced in GT specification.

4. 1995 Ferrari F50

• Pre-Auction Estimate: $7,000,000 – $9,000,000 (Offered Without Reserve)

Built to mark Ferrari's 50th anniversary, the F50 used a high-revving, Formula 1-derived V12 engine bolted directly to a carbon-fiber tub. With top speeds exceeding 200 mph and an open-top design, it became an instant nineties halo car. This specific vehicle—one of only 349 total examples produced—was originally owned by former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson.

5. 1996 McLaren F1 GTR

• Pre-Auction Estimate: In Excess of $35,000,000

At the absolute top tier of collector cars sits the McLaren F1 GTR. Engineered by Gordon Murray around a central driving position and a BMW-sourced 6.1-liter V12, the F1 remains the pinnacle of 1990s hypercar engineering. This specific GTR race car wears a factory pop-art livery in red and yellow. Owned since 1999 by Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason, it is the only private-owner F1 GTR retaining its original factory-applied livery.

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