{"id":24105,"date":"2019-08-15T10:12:51","date_gmt":"2019-08-15T14:12:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/henrypayne.com\/?p=24105"},"modified":"2019-08-15T10:12:51","modified_gmt":"2019-08-15T14:12:51","slug":"payne-the-new-dream-cruise-classics-class-of-93","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/2019\/08\/payne-the-new-dream-cruise-classics-class-of-93","title":{"rendered":"Payne: The new Dream Cruise classics, Class of &#8217;93"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"speakable-p-1 p-text\">It\u2019s Dream Cruise reunion time, and that means we welcome the great Class of \u201993 as the new antiques.<\/p>\n<p class=\"speakable-p-2 p-text\">When your classic turns 26 years young, Michigan\u2019s Secretary of State office extends\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.michigan.gov\/sos\/0,4670,7-127-1585_1595_52364---,00.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-track-label=\"inline|intext|n\/a\">historic\u00a0license privileges<\/a>\u00a0and eligibility for more-affordable car collector insurance. In exchange, the state frowns on using your collectible as\u00a0a daily driver \u2014\u00a0except in August when antiques take over Woodward.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">So slip Meat Loaf\u2019s \u201993 hit \u201cI Would Do Anything for Love (But I Won\u2019t Do That)\u201d in the ol&#8217; CD player, slip on your \u201cMyst\u201d computer game shirt, and watch out for these \u201993 notables.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"presto-h3\"><strong>Pontiac Firebird<\/strong><\/h3>\n<div id=\"module-position-SBTQsPfY6d4\" class=\"story-asset image-asset\">\n<aside class=\"wide single-photo\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2019\/08\/13\/PDTN\/8d702885-791e-4613-a275-f2bddc3020e2-1993_Pontiac_Firebird.JPG?width=540&amp;height=&amp;fit=bounds&amp;auto=webp\" alt=\"1993 Pontiac Firebird\" width=\"540\" data-mycapture-src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2019\/08\/13\/PDTN\/8d702885-791e-4613-a275-f2bddc3020e2-1993_Pontiac_Firebird.JPG\" data-mycapture-sm-src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2019\/08\/13\/PDTN\/8d702885-791e-4613-a275-f2bddc3020e2-1993_Pontiac_Firebird.JPG?width=500&amp;height=299\" \/>1993 Pontiac Firebird\u00a0<span class=\"credit\">(Photo: cardomain.com)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"p-text\">Emerging from the horsepower-strangling government mandates of previous decades, early &#8217;90s muscle cars got sexy again. The fourth-generation rear-wheel drive Firebird and kissing cousin Camaro were outfitted with V-6s, snarling V-8s\u00a0and anti-lock brakes. The Pontiac, taking design cues from the outrageous Banshee XII concept car, was particularly striking with its anteater nose and recessed headlights.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">With sleek aerodynamics and lightweight, composite body panels, the Firebird was optimized for speed. \u00a0A 160-horse V-6 came standard. Upscale Formula and Trans Am models were stuffed with a 275-horsepower V-8 shared with big brother Corvette.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"presto-h3\"><strong>Ford SVT Mustang Cobra<\/strong><\/h3>\n<div id=\"module-position-SBTQsPepvOM\" class=\"story-asset image-asset\">\n<aside class=\"wide single-photo\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2019\/08\/13\/PDTN\/6de8386a-a286-42cb-bc0c-20a3701dbaf5-1993-ford-mustang-svt-cobra-coupe-profile.JPG?width=540&amp;height=&amp;fit=bounds&amp;auto=webp\" alt=\"1993 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra\" width=\"540\" data-mycapture-src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2019\/08\/13\/PDTN\/6de8386a-a286-42cb-bc0c-20a3701dbaf5-1993-ford-mustang-svt-cobra-coupe-profile.JPG\" data-mycapture-sm-src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2019\/08\/13\/PDTN\/6de8386a-a286-42cb-bc0c-20a3701dbaf5-1993-ford-mustang-svt-cobra-coupe-profile.JPG?width=500&amp;height=278\" \/>1993 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra\u00a0<span class=\"credit\">(Photo: GAA Classic Cars)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"p-text\">What\u2019s a Dream Cruise without a new Mustang antique? The iconic Ford badge has been in production since 1964, but the &#8217;93 model introduced a new performance badge from Ford\u2019s Special Vehicle Team (SVT) positioned above the GT.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">Using the same 5.0-liter V-8 as the GT, the SVT turned up the wick to 235 horsepower, which was\u00a0good for 5.9 seconds zero-60. (In a sign of how far engineering has come, a modern Focus RS cranks out 350 horsepower from a turbo-4 and hits 60 mph\u00a0in just 4.5 seconds). Ford sold\u00a0nearly 5,000 in 1993. For\u00a0more exclusivity, a SVT Cobra R was offered stripped of niceties like radio and power windows, and strapped down with chassis-stiffening braces\u00a0to take on the race track. Just 107 were sold.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"presto-h3\"><strong>Mazda RX-7<\/strong><\/h3>\n<div id=\"module-position-SBTQsPeKCS8\" class=\"story-asset image-asset\">\n<aside class=\"wide single-photo\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2019\/08\/13\/PDTN\/8a982431-0c14-4d10-9389-62c9a9f300d0-1993-Mazda-RX7.JPG?width=540&amp;height=&amp;fit=bounds&amp;auto=webp\" alt=\"1993 Mazda RX-7\" width=\"540\" data-mycapture-src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2019\/08\/13\/PDTN\/8a982431-0c14-4d10-9389-62c9a9f300d0-1993-Mazda-RX7.JPG\" data-mycapture-sm-src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2019\/08\/13\/PDTN\/8a982431-0c14-4d10-9389-62c9a9f300d0-1993-Mazda-RX7.JPG?width=500&amp;height=375\" \/>1993 Mazda RX-7\u00a0<span class=\"credit\">(Photo: bestcarfinder.com)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"p-text\">In the 1990s, Mazda\u2019s wee Miata had a big brother, the RX-7. Featuring Mazda\u2019s signature rotary engine\u00a0\u2014 boosted with twin turbos to\u00a0255 horsepower\u00a0\u2014 the third-generation\u00a0RX-7 was the last, and most sophisticated, of its breed (an RX-8 would follow in 2002).<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">A mid-level sports car similar in price to the Porsche Cayman\/Boxster today, the RX-7 was a tempting package of speed and style. Outfitted in base, touring\u00a0or track-ready R1 trims, the &#8217;93 RX-7 ditched the previous generation&#8217;s wedge shape for a jellybean body and modern\u00a0trunk-width mono taillight.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"presto-h3\"><strong>Ford Probe<\/strong><\/h3>\n<div id=\"module-position-SBTQsPfbPFc\" class=\"story-asset image-asset\">\n<aside class=\"wide single-photo\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2019\/08\/13\/PDTN\/6e19f57d-10b2-4fd8-a771-2952f3dd694c-1993-Ford-Probe.JPG?width=540&amp;height=&amp;fit=bounds&amp;auto=webp\" alt=\"1993 Ford Probe\" width=\"540\" data-mycapture-src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2019\/08\/13\/PDTN\/6e19f57d-10b2-4fd8-a771-2952f3dd694c-1993-Ford-Probe.JPG\" data-mycapture-sm-src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2019\/08\/13\/PDTN\/6e19f57d-10b2-4fd8-a771-2952f3dd694c-1993-Ford-Probe.JPG?width=500&amp;height=374\" \/>1993 Ford Probe\u00a0<span class=\"credit\">(Photo: cardomain.com)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"p-text\">Speaking of jellybeans, the Probe was Ford\u2019s entry-level\u00a0front-wheel drive coupe. Cheaper than the revered, RWD Mustang, the second-gen\u00a0Probe started at just $13,000 (about $4,000\u00a0under the pony car). Other than its awkward name \u2014 which made its way into\u00a0Jay Leno&#8217;s stand-up act \u2014 the Probe was notable for its GT version, which upgraded to\u00a0a 2.5-liter V-6 pumping out 164 horses.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">The GT earned Motor Trend\u2019s 1993 Car of the Year award and also landed on Car and Driver\u2019s 10 Best list. A joint collaboration between Mazda and Ford, the\u00a0Probe was axed in 1997.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"presto-h3\"><strong>Chrysler Concorde\/Dodge Intrepid\/Eagle Vision<\/strong><\/h3>\n<div id=\"module-position-SBTQsPeuEq8\" class=\"story-asset image-asset\">\n<aside class=\"wide single-photo\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2019\/08\/13\/PDTN\/2e352ce8-8f1a-4763-8257-12e2027c6eed-1993-Dodge-Intrepid.JPG?width=540&amp;height=&amp;fit=bounds&amp;auto=webp\" alt=\"1993 Dodge Intrepid\" width=\"540\" data-mycapture-src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2019\/08\/13\/PDTN\/2e352ce8-8f1a-4763-8257-12e2027c6eed-1993-Dodge-Intrepid.JPG\" data-mycapture-sm-src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2019\/08\/13\/PDTN\/2e352ce8-8f1a-4763-8257-12e2027c6eed-1993-Dodge-Intrepid.JPG?width=500&amp;height=371\" \/>1993 Dodge Intrepid\u00a0<span class=\"credit\">(Photo: Kelley Blue Book)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"p-text\">Ah, the days when Chrysler made sedans! The creative LH platform created a sensation with its cab-forward styling, sleek aerodynamics\u00a0and roomy interiors. Coming on the heels of the aging K-car platform,\u00a0the LH sent departing chief Lee Iacocca off in glory.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">The cars immediately landed on Car and Driver\u2019s 10 Best List. The magazine called them &#8220;the all-round best execution of the classic American sedan that we\u2019ve yet seen.\u201d The cars still turn heads today, even as Eagle is no more \u2014\u00a0and Chrysler and Dodge\u00a0(Charger hellion excepted) have largely abandoned sedans.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"presto-h3\"><strong>Jeep Grand Cherokee<\/strong><\/h3>\n<div id=\"module-position-SBTQsPfCLA4\" class=\"story-asset image-asset\">\n<aside class=\"wide single-photo\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2019\/08\/13\/PDTN\/898945b9-7d70-43f8-bb89-6654799de59a-1993-Jeep-Grand_Cherokee.JPG?width=540&amp;height=&amp;fit=bounds&amp;auto=webp\" alt=\"1993 Jeep Grand Cherokee\" width=\"540\" data-mycapture-src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2019\/08\/13\/PDTN\/898945b9-7d70-43f8-bb89-6654799de59a-1993-Jeep-Grand_Cherokee.JPG\" data-mycapture-sm-src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2019\/08\/13\/PDTN\/898945b9-7d70-43f8-bb89-6654799de59a-1993-Jeep-Grand_Cherokee.JPG?width=500&amp;height=371\" \/>1993 Jeep Grand Cherokee\u00a0<span class=\"credit\">(Photo: Kelley Blue Book)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"p-text\">Chrysler president Bob Lutz memorably debuted the Grand Cherokee at the 1992 Detroit auto show by driving it through Cobo Center\u2019s front window with Mayor Coleman Young riding shotgun. The rest is history. An upsized version of the Cherokee, the unibody-based Grand Cherokee went head-to-head with the popular\u00a0truck-based Ford Explorer to ignite an\u00a0SUV revolution.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">Available with a 190-horse straight-6 engine and two four-wheel drive systems, the Grand Cherokee was an instant hit, selling 84,600 copies in its first calendar year. By 1994, it had sold more than\u00a0212,000. In\u00a0a portent of things to come, the Grand dropped its manual tranny after just two years.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"presto-h3\"><strong>Lincoln Mark VIII<\/strong><\/h3>\n<div id=\"module-position-SBTQsPfTXYM\" class=\"story-asset image-asset\">\n<aside class=\"wide single-photo\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2019\/08\/13\/PDTN\/19607d4d-8e85-4bca-b5b6-7e5b9b4f46d7-1993_lincoln_mark-viii.JPG?width=540&amp;height=&amp;fit=bounds&amp;auto=webp\" alt=\"1993 Lincoln Mark III\" width=\"540\" data-mycapture-src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2019\/08\/13\/PDTN\/19607d4d-8e85-4bca-b5b6-7e5b9b4f46d7-1993_lincoln_mark-viii.JPG\" data-mycapture-sm-src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2019\/08\/13\/PDTN\/19607d4d-8e85-4bca-b5b6-7e5b9b4f46d7-1993_lincoln_mark-viii.JPG?width=500&amp;height=315\" \/>1993 Lincoln Mark III\u00a0<span class=\"credit\">(Photo: Edmunds)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"p-text\">The luscious Mark VIII coupe was the last of the brand\u2019s halo-badge Mark cars. Draped across a 113-inch wheelbase, the luxury diva was longer than today\u2019s Mercedes S-class coupe. The distinctive, wraparound front end mirrored the innovative interior with a wraparound dash stuffed with modern electronics including keyless entry.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">Powered by a smooth\u00a04.6-liter V-8, the rear-wheel drive coupe received critical raves at its New York debut as a European luxury-fighter. Alas, the Mark VIII would not live past 1998.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"presto-h3\"><strong>Mercedes C-class<\/strong><\/h3>\n<div id=\"module-position-SBTQsPew2J0\" class=\"story-asset image-asset\">\n<aside class=\"wide single-photo\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2019\/08\/13\/PDTN\/8d4d409b-6500-47d9-87fa-d5d8c05b5935-1993-mercedes-benz-c-class.JPG?width=540&amp;height=&amp;fit=bounds&amp;auto=webp\" alt=\"1993 Mercedes C-Class\" width=\"540\" data-mycapture-src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2019\/08\/13\/PDTN\/8d4d409b-6500-47d9-87fa-d5d8c05b5935-1993-mercedes-benz-c-class.JPG\" data-mycapture-sm-src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2019\/08\/13\/PDTN\/8d4d409b-6500-47d9-87fa-d5d8c05b5935-1993-mercedes-benz-c-class.JPG?width=500&amp;height=312\" \/>1993 Mercedes C-Class\u00a0<span class=\"credit\">(Photo: Car Pixel)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"p-text\">Speaking of Mercedes, the C-class made its debut as the successor to the brand\u2019s successful BMW 3-series fighter, the 190. The C-class would be the Stuttgart marque\u2019s entry-level\u00a0U.S. sedan until the CLA 4-door\u00a0coupe debuted in 2014.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">The \u201993 C-class was powered by a 148-horse four-banger \u2014\u00a0about the same ponies as a Subaru Impreza today. The original C was stodgy, but it had softer lines than the boxy 190\u00a0and started the evolution to the sexy, swoopy Mercedes\u00a0of today.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"presto-h3\"><strong>MG RV8<\/strong><\/h3>\n<div id=\"module-position-SBTQsPfLWxM\" class=\"story-asset image-asset\">\n<aside class=\"wide single-photo\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2019\/08\/13\/PDTN\/779e1223-5c00-4411-a843-4a2c01b6af18-1993_MG_RV8_Silvergrey_Jos_van_de_Wouw_000.JPG?width=540&amp;height=&amp;fit=bounds&amp;auto=webp\" alt=\"1993 MG RV8\" width=\"540\" data-mycapture-src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2019\/08\/13\/PDTN\/779e1223-5c00-4411-a843-4a2c01b6af18-1993_MG_RV8_Silvergrey_Jos_van_de_Wouw_000.JPG\" data-mycapture-sm-src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2019\/08\/13\/PDTN\/779e1223-5c00-4411-a843-4a2c01b6af18-1993_MG_RV8_Silvergrey_Jos_van_de_Wouw_000.JPG?width=500&amp;height=375\" \/>1993 MG RV8\u00a0<span class=\"credit\">(Photo: autoshrine.com)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"p-text\">Here\u2019s a neat little secret. In addition to Michigan\u2019s antique license law, the federal government will allow you to import 25-year-old cars that were previously ineligible. For the Class of \u201893, that means you can now bring in an MG RV8 (among other things).<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">Built by the Rover Group as a successor to the famous MGB, the RV8 hottie was stuffed with a throaty\u00a0190-horse V-8 and rocketed to 60 mph as fast as the Mustang SVT Cobra. Rear leaf-springs and drum brakes made its handling diabolical. But, hey, it\u2019s British.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>It\u2019s Dream Cruise reunion time, and that means we welcome the great Class of \u201993 as the new antiques. When your classic turns 26 years young, Michigan\u2019s Secretary of State office extends\u00a0historic\u00a0license privileges\u00a0and eligibility for more-affordable car collector insurance. In exchange, the state frowns on using your collectible as\u00a0a daily driver \u2014\u00a0except in August when [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24105"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24105"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24105\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24105"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24105"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24105"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}