Havin’ fun in 1991

As we navigate the winding roads of mind-blowing nostalgia in our year-long celebration of the 1990s as a “classic decade,” we’re moving on down the road and zooming in on 1991.

With 2024 marking the momentous occasion where the 1990s officially achieve classic status (comfortably 25 years in the rearview mirror), let’s take a look back at the milestones that made 1991 a cornerstone in the automotive and cultural timeline.

• Mazda makes history becoming the first Japanese brand to win the Le Mans.
• A good nights’ sleep got a little trickier with the release of one of the scariest movies ever, The Silence of the Lambs.
• It’s a big year for video games with the launch of Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) and release of Sonic the Hedgehog for Sega Genesis.
• MotorTrend Import Car of the Year was the Mitsubishi 3000GT VR4 (and now a collector).
• Grunge hits the mainstream with the release of Nirvana’s Nevermind — an album that’s sold over 30 million copies to date.
• Disney releases Beauty and the Beast which goes on to be the first animated film nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards. (Dances With Wolves takes home the ’91 win.)
• Suzuki releases a cutie of a car called the Cappuccino (header image). No caffeine included. (Fun fact: Hagerty Drivers Club magazine included the Cappuccino in their always-anticipated 2023 Bull Market list!)
• Beloved lead singer of Queen, Freddie Mercury, dies and within a month 1975-mega-hit “Bohemian Rhapsody” tops the British charts yet again.
• Canada Beats USA In 1991 Canada Cup, winning despite not having leading-scorer Wayne Gretzky.

The ‘90s, and the special vehicles from that era, deserve to be honored and protected as part of our cultural heritage. With each passing year, the '90s fade further into the distance, but the allure of those modern classics remains evergreen.

Make sure that the clients holding on to these cars – especially those reserved for weekend joyrides rather than daily commutes – are getting the coverage they deserve. Tailored for enthusiasts and the totally rad cars they love, a collector car policy through Hagerty is designed to recognize, appreciate, and properly protect these special vehicles.

Stay tuned for next month as we continue our exploration of the 1990s as a classic decade.

Take me back to 1990.