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Saab 900 “Classic” (1978-1993)

“Made in Trollhättan by Trolls,” many a proud Saab has displayed over the years. Alas, no more – Saab has finally succumbed to its debts, no thanks to the idiots at GM who mercilessly cheapened the brand before kicking it to the curb in 2010. Such a shame, as Saab’s penchant for producing quirky, breathtakingly Swedish automobiles will never be replicated. Not to be confused with the later GM-era 900, known as the “NG” or “New Generation” model, the classic Saab 900 represents the pinnacle of Saab’s mainstream success. Arguably their most iconic vehicle, it will no doubt go down in history as the last truly good thing to come from Trollhättan.

1991 Saab 900 turbo - photo by IFCAR

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Mazda RX-7 “SA/FB” (1979-1985)

Poorly understood by both consumers and mechanics, Mazda’s rotary engines are the subject of derision in some circles. Anecdotes of poor reliability, critical failure, and difficult maintenance plague the dark corners of the internet. By and large, though, the rotary seems to get a bad rap because a lot of people simply don’t care how to keep one healthy. It’s a shame, because the rotary engine’s legendary smoothness and high end power is a lot of fun. Mazda’s first generation RX-7, sometimes known by its internal designation of “SA or “FB,” was Mazda’s first rotary sports car. These days, they have fallen out of vogue in favor of the more popular second and third generation models, and prices have fallen dramatically. The original RX-7 now offers some serious performance value, and is a lot less work than the ‘net would have you believe.

1983 Mazda RX-7 - photo by Bull-Doser

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AMC Renault Alliance/Encore (1983-1987)

It’s been said that the French have never been able to figure out the United States car market. Despite all three companies’ place in the world’s top ten automakers (by volume), Citroen, Renault, and Peugeot seem to have largely given up on the U.S. since their departure two decades ago. Renault’s massive failure is a particularly interesting case; much as the Italian Fiat group is doing with their acquisition of Chrysler, Renault once bought a controlling stake in a U.S. car company, with the idea of gaining a stronger foothold in the market. The products of that branding disaster? The poorly remembered AMC Renault Alliance and Encore.

1987 AMC Renault GTA - photo by smylinbri

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Volkswagen Golf/Jetta “A2″ (1985-1993)

I remember the days when VW still held clout as a maker of “cult cars.” The iconic Beetle comes to mind immediately, though VW had a reputation for building practical-yet-quirky cars that lasted them well into the 1990′s. The second generation VW Golf and Jetta, also known as the A2 generation, were arguably the last of the “old-school” VW’s (in the nineties, VW would descend into chaos by moving most of their factories to Mexico). Sold from 1985 to 1993, the A2 Golf/Jetta can be a damn fine vehicle. That said, one that hasn’t been maintained well can turn your wallet upside-down in a heartbeat.

1990-1993 Volkswagen Golf "GTI" - photo by Rudolf Stricker

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