What were the best coupes from the 1990s?

The 1990s were a thrilling time for motor enthusiasts. Racing was graced by legends such as F1’s Michael Schumacher and Rallying’s Colin McRae, while car manufacturers pushed boundaries with exciting and innovative designs.

Meanwhile, the decade was also a purple patch for a traditional favourite – the coupe. With 90s vehicles now rolling into the ‘classic car’ realm, their popularity is rising all over again.

In this article, we look at some of the best coupes of the 1990s and what made them so special. We’ll also find out why classic coupe insurance should be top of your list if you’re thinking of buying one.

A brief history of coupes

Coupes may have surged in popularity in the 1990s, but the design has been around much longer than that.

In fact, the term ‘coupe’ – from the French coupé which translates as ‘chopped off’ – predates motor cars in the transport world. Short for ‘carosse coupés’, it was originally a four-wheeled horse-drawn carriage, featuring just two seats facing one way on the inside, and a seat outside for the driver. In other words, these carriages had been cut short to create smaller ones.

This was eventually shortened to become coupé and has since been adopted by car manufacturers in the form of the coupes we know and love today. A coupe car is generally defined as having a sleek sloping roof, a sporty feel, two doors and usually two or four seats.

To find the origins of the coupe motorcar, you can go as far back as 1901 when Mercedes Benz produced the Mylord Coupé. Think of it as a kind of evolutionary meeting point between the horse-drawn carriage and the modern automobile.

The Mylord Coupé had a 10hp engine but still carried much of the aesthetic qualities of a horse-drawn carriage. The driver still sat outside exposed to the elements in an isolated front seat, while it also sported large wooden spoked wheels.

They have evolved constantly ever since that primitive but revolutionary vehicle, each generation spawning iconic models that sit among history’s most legendary classic cars. The 1960s brought us the Ford Mustang and the Porsche 911, while before that came the Volkswagen Beetle, which is the most popular coupe of all time.

In the modern day, popular coupes include the likes of the Audi TT and the BMW 2 Series. While it may not be the most practical style of car around, the sloping roof and sporty feel oozes a timeless class that refuses to go out of style.

With a resurgence in popularity in the 1990s, various new affordable but impressive coupes rolled off production lines. Here, we will look a little bit closer at some of our favourites. Remember to get yours covered with classic car insurance from Lancaster if you’re snapping up one of these gems.

The Volkswagen Corrado

With the Beetle to point to, Volkswagen can certainly call themselves one of the real masters of the coupe. They can also boast to have created one of the best coupes of the 1990s with the Corrado.

The Corrado range was conceived initially in 1988. At the time, Volkswagen was hoping to bring a more affordable option to a market mainly geared towards higher-end brands including Porsche and Mercedes.

Aesthetically, it is perhaps considered one of the more conservatively styled coupes of the decade. It did offer some interesting features, such as the electric automatic spoiler that extended and retracted at certain speeds. However, as you would expect from Volkswagen, the performance is highly convincing.

During its eight years in production, VW produced versions with a variety of engines, with each iteration always offering characteristically great handling.

The original 1.8-litre engine was joined in 1992 by the 2.9-litre VR6, a car that remains highly popular with classic car enthusiasts today. It can reach speeds of up to 143mph, going from zero to 60 in just over six seconds. This, combined with the handling, created a memorable experience behind the wheel. Auto Express described it as one of VW’s ‘best ever driver's cars’.

The Corrado was perhaps not as successful as Volkswagen had hoped. Production ended in 1995 with less than 100,000 sold, but the prophecy of the Corrado as a future classic has come true.

Fiat Coupe

For the next car on our list, we wanted to look at something with a truly beautiful design. And to get a well-designed car, you could always look for a top designer.

In fact, the designer of our next classic won the prestigious 2020/21 American Prize for Design. Chris Bangle is currently a leading designer at BMW and has been at the forefront of revolutionary car designs for decades, including the iconic BMWs of the 2000s. One of his earlier creations, the Fiat Coupe, is also the stuff of legend.

This four-seat Italian coupe came into existence with Fiat keen to regain its reputation for aesthetically pleasing cars. And they pulled off a masterstroke in having the car designed by Bangle.

He deployed a series of sophisticated flourishes that helped to draw the eye away from the vehicle’s slightly bulbous shape. For example, slash lines that cut across the metal around the wheels, curved headlamps and a distinctive grill. This combined with interior design by the award-winning Pininfarina, also well-known for their work with Ferrari, led to Fiat having a real winner on their hands.

Aside from the beautiful design, it packed a punch with a five-cylinder, 2-litre engine. It was also available with a turbo which took it to 220bhp and zero to 60 in just over six seconds. Although popularity dwindled and production ended in 2000, it’s enjoying a renaissance as classic car enthusiasts fall back in love with its striking beauty.

Vauxhall Calibra

The Vauxhall Calibra was the work of two legendary designers, Wayne Cherry and Erhard Schnell, who between them had decades of experience with the likes of General Motors and Opel.

Now more than 30 years old, the Calibra was based on the Vauxhall Cavalier Mk3 and the intention of the designers was to transform that car into a stylish, affordable coupe that could compete with Japanese models that were popular at the time.

And Vauxhall managed to achieve that, with Schnell and Cherry designing a car that is still celebrated for its appearance, featuring a long front end and a sleek, swooping roof. When it was launched, the Calibra was considered one of the most aerodynamically efficient vehicles on the market.

Initially, you could get the Calibra with a 2-litre, 8v, four-cylinder engine with around 112bhp, as well as a more powerful 16v version created in collaboration with Cosworth. Known as the ‘red top’ engine, it offered 145bhp with speeds of up to 139mph.

But down the line, the sleek Calibra would be given more firepower. In 1992, Vauxhall added four-wheel drive and a turbocharger that boosted the performance significantly. This meant a premium Calibra could go from zero to 62mph in six seconds, with speeds of up to 152mph, combined with smooth acceleration.

Opel even entered special models of the Calibra in the German Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft (DTM) racing series, winning a championship with Manuel Reuter driving in 1996.

BMW 3-Series E36

This was the third-generation of the BMW 3-Series. After two generations of saloons that were immensely popular with millions sold in the 70s and 80s, there was now the option of a coupe to boost the range. In fact, it would help establish BMW as a key player in the premium coupe market of the 1990s.

Arriving shortly after the saloon version of the range, the coupes appeared in 1992 with varying options under the hood including four-cylinder and six-cylinder engines.

BMW’s coupe offering was a surprise addition to the 3-Series – the sleek, smooth model was quite different to the square saloons that came before it, while still managing to offer decent space inside. They are also known for their timeless, high-quality interiors.

In addition to the sophisticated new design, all models featured electric front windows, anti-lock braking systems (ABS), power steering, central locking and M Technic suspension. Meanwhile, they also had alloy wheels and an option of leather trim.

Production of the third generation in the BMW 3-Series had ended by 2000, but they remain popular with classic car enthusiasts due to the sophisticated, sleek exterior and interior design, engine choice, and driveability.

Peugeot 406 Coupe

The Peugeot 406 Coupe, with its truly stunning design, has been often referred to as an ‘affordable Ferrari’. Perhaps this is understandable when you consider that it was designed and styled by Ferrari-collaborators Pininfarina, having also worked with Peugeot since the 1950s.

It launched in 1997, after being unveiled at The Paris Motor Show the year before. Amid the praise of critics globally and being awarded several prestigious awards, it became available to consumers, initially with a choice of two engines. These included a 2-litre, four-cylinder with 137bhp and a 3-litre V6 with 194bhp, while they have been noted for their good handling and ride quality.

You can expect to find some impressive features in the Peugeot 406 Coupe. For example, power steering, central locking, electric mirrors and windows, and digital air conditioning, among others. There are also leather seats and rain-sensitive wipers. Lots of mod cons for a now-classic car.

Toyota Celica

Despite the wealth of European coupes on the market in the 1990s, the Japanese Toyota Celica still managed to enjoy considerable popularity with drivers in the UK. They were not only sleek and stylish coupes, but they also had a reputation for their reliability.

The Celica had also built its name over decades rather than years. With their origins spanning back to the early 1970s, this was Japan’s answer to US creations like the Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro.

With the Celica launching in the UK in 1978, by the 1990s Toyota were working on the sixth generation of the series, which appeared in 1994. They were recognisable by their large, circular headlights, of which there were two on each side after extensive work to try to give the range a distinctive face.

The turbocharged GT-Four helped Toyota win the World Rally Championship in 1994, before being pulled from the UK market in 1996.

Things to look out for when you’re buying a coupe

If you’re thinking of picking up a classic coupe from the 1990s, you’ll be pleased to know there are plenty out there in the used market to choose from.

However, given their abundance back then, and the fact that they were often used as a ‘main’ car to be driven every day, the quality can be widely varied depending on who the previous owners have been. With cars from the 90s enjoying a surge in popularity right now, make sure the condition of the vehicle reflects the asking price and the history all adds up.

Some of these cars will be up to 30 years old, so check the bonnet and around the wheel arches for signs of corrosion and rust. It’s also worth checking that any electrical features are in working order.

Meanwhile, repairs can be pricey, so make sure parts such as the suspension, engine and gearbox have been looked after properly and do some research into where you can source spares if necessary.

Classic car clubs are a good place to start. Also, take note of what modifications might have been carried out to its original form. Usually the most valuable classics are those that remain as true as possible to the original.

It’s also worth getting a quote for classic car insurance. Here at Lancaster we can also arrange a two-year agreed valuation so you can prove the value of your classic motor.

Classic car insurance that suits your needs

At Lancaster Insurance, we have been providing classic car insurance since before any 90s coupes even existed.

Working with selected underwriters, we can offer bespoke solutions that have our customers at the forefront. We have experience and knowledge in classic car insurance that allows us to quote for virtually any classic car around.

Some of the benefits of insuring your classic with us include:

• Limited mileage discounts
• UK-based call centre
• Car Club member discounts

Get in touch with us today for a classic car insurance quote.

Policy benefits, features and discounts offered may very between insurance schemes or cover selected and are subject to underwriting criteria. Information contained within this article is accurate at the time of publishing but may be subject to change.