Step aside, Boomers, and make room for Generation X, as the cars your kids dreamed about driving become collectible.

One of the biggest stories in the collecting world was the consignment of 140 cars from the 1980s and ‘90s. The collection, dubbed “The Youngtimer Dream Garage,” included so many cars that RM Sotheby’s broke it up into four sales—Paris in February, Amelia Island and Fort Lauderdale in March, and Essen in April.

The rising number of relatively new cars hitting the auction circuit shows that the fans of these cars are old enough that they’re in higher income brackets, and all the talk about ‘80s and ‘90s cars being hot has encouraged the best, rarest, most desirable cars of the era to come to market.

Over 20 of them sold in Paris last week at prices that confirm newer limited-production collector cars are more than a fad. Although you found no shortage of high-dollar Ferraris, pre-war icons and modern supercars at the Retromobile auctions, these 80’s and 90’s cars were arguably the most highly anticipated lots ahead of the sale. They didn’t disappoint, either, as several of them commanded record prices. Some describe a few of these cars as future collectibles, but if Paris was any indication, the future is now.

1992 Porsche 928 GTS

Sold for R2,3 million (SA Rand)

The 1992-95 GTS is the last, the faster and the most valuable of Porsche's first front-engine flagships, which dates to the late 1970s. This one featured the desirable 5-speed manual gear box (automatics carry a 20 percent discount) with just 17,000 km on the odometer, both of which helped command a price nearly R450000-00 over the Hagerty current Condition #1 (Concours) value.

The best 928 GTSs have carried six-figure prices in recent months, but this is nevertheless a record auction price for the model.

1985 Audi Quattro

The Sport Quattro born of the fire-breathing Group B rally cars runs well into six figures. The saner but nevertheless cool base Quattro costs considerably less, but those days are coming to an end. The previous record for a Quattro was set four years ago when a buyer paidR825000-00. This car brought a price R75000-00 over Hagerty’s current value for a Condition #1 (Concours) car despite having 42,000-km

1994 BMW 850 CSi

Sold for R2, 1 Million (SA Rand )

The 850 CSi was the top-spec model in BMW’s 8-Series range, so of course they command the highest prices. The example was a US-market car, and with 28,500 miles it’s not exactly fresh out of the box. Still, it sold for more than R 45000-00 over Hagerty’s current Condition #1 (Concours) value.

1982 BMW Alpina B7 S Turbo

In 1982, 325 horsepower was insane for almost any car, let alone a four-door sedan. But this is an Alpina B7S Turbo, a rare car almost synonymous with insane. The Example had a replacement odometer and true mileage in excess of 220,000 km but that didn’t stop it bidding from reaching well into six figures.

Sold for R2,4 Million (SA Rand )

1994 BMW Alpina B12 5.7 Coupé

Sold for R3,5 Million ( SA Rand )

BMW didn’t offer an M version of the 8 Series, but long time tuner Alpina stepped in with a limited run of less than 60 B12s. The uber-8 featured a 5.7-liter, 416-hp version of the 850’s V12 as well as Alpina wheels and wider tires. This example was thoroughly enjoyed, with only 46,886 km. But you can’t be picky when shopping for a B12. Silverstone Auctions in the UK sold one of these rare 850-on-steroids in 2017 for R1, 5 Million (SA Rand). Granted, that car had much higher mileage, but this result is nearly three times as much money less than two years later, and it’s the most anybody has paid publicly for any 8-Series BMW.

1989 Mercedes-Benz 560 SEC AMG 6.0 Wide body

Sold for R5,0 million ( SA Rand )

The 560 SEC AMG, with 6.0 litres of German muscle, came from the era before Mercedes-Benz made AMG its official tuning arm. Although you could buy one at a Mercedes dealership (with a full warranty), they were frightfully expensive and AMG built fewer than 50 of them. This one was the first of the 80’s and 90’s cars in Paris to sell and among the most eagerly anticipated, given its rarity, savage performance and wickedly handsome styling. And it defied expectations by soaring well beyond the estimated selling price of R 3,6 Million ( SA Rand ) The previous record, set just three years ago in Arizona, was R 2,3 Million ( SA Rand )

Classic Cars from the 80's and 90's are Here to Stay

Stunning Collectible Cars