The 1990s brought a wave of innovation and excitement to the automotive world, with bold designs and cutting-edge technology. Yet, this vibrant era was also marked by ambitious marketing campaigns that often missed the mark. Overhyped promises, misunderstood audiences, and risky branding moves sometimes doomed otherwise promising cars. These marketing missteps left a lasting impact, shaping public perception for years. Explore how some iconic models were derailed by their own advertisements, as chronicled in sources like MotorTrend and Road & Track.
This 1933 Chevrolet Master coupe was acquired by the seller’s late father-in-law and built into a street rod beginning in the late 1990s. It is powered by a Chevrolet 427ci V8 equipped with three Holley two-barrel carburetors and linked to a three-speed automatic transmission. The car has independent front and rear coilover suspension from Kugel Komponents along with four-wheel disc brakes and 15″ Tru-Spoke wire wheels with staggered tires. The interior has also been modified with custom upholstery, a tilt column, a modern sound system, and air conditioning. This Chevrolet CA Master Eagle coupe is now offered by the seller on behalf of his family’s estate with an owner’s manual, spare parts, a cover, and a clean California title listing the car as a 1933 Chevrolet.
The seller tells us their father-in-law purchased the car in Arizona in 1997. It has steel and fiberglass bodywork that has been painted red with a candy coat and custom “33” striping. The car has chrome hood vents, cowl lights, and a black fabric roof, and it has a replacement frame. Flaws are highlighted in the gallery.
The independent front and rear coilover suspension was sourced from Kugel Komponents and installed around 2014. The 15″ Tru-Spoke wire wheels have 205/60 front and 255/70 rear rubber. The front and rear caliper piston seals were replaced in 2024 along with the wheel bearings.
Custom upholstery covers the interior, which has Dynamat sound insulation applied. An air conditioning unit is mounted under the dashboard, and the rear-mounted Pioneer stereo is linked to Pioneer speakers.
The three-spoke wheel is mounted on a tilt column, and the gauges are from Classic Instruments. The cluster indicates 20k miles, and the seller tells us the car has been driven under 3,300 miles since 1997.
The 427ci V8 was rebuilt in 1998. It is topped by three Holley two-barrel carburetors and has an aluminum radiator as well. The oil was changed in 2024.
Power is sent to the rear wheels through a three-speed automatic transmission.
The car is titled as a 1933 Chevrolet using VIN 12CA034877.
This 1947 Ford pickup was built into a street rod by Kandy Shop Creations in Arizona and driven as the builder’s personal truck for the past five years. The steel body has faux distressed paintwork and a matte finish with PPG products, and tan leather upholstery was fitted to the bench seat. The truck rides on adjustable air suspension with double-staggered American Racing wheels and front disc brakes, and the bed was tubbed, the frame was notched, and chevron-pattern alder wood was installed. The cab has digital gauges, a Pioneer stereo, a custom sound system, air conditioning, and a Lokar shifter. This Ford pickup is now offered on dealer consignment at no reserve with service records and an Arizona title.
The steel body has been painted Ford Monsoon Maroon with a matte clearcoat and a faux distressed finish using PPG products. The window seals, strikers, hinges, latches, and door checks were replaced in 2022 along with the front and back glass.
The wheel wells were tubbed and the frame was notched to accommodate the lowered suspension. Alder wood was installed in a chevron pattern.
The truck rides on an adjustable air suspension with an AccuAir Suspension e-Level system, Viking Performance adjustable shocks, a Mustang II-style independent front end, and a four-link rear end. The American Racing wheels measure 18×7″ up front and 20×15″ out back, and they have 225/45 Toyo and 31×18.5 Mickey Thompson tires mounted, respectively. Discs are used up front, and the truck has a dual-circuit master cylinder mounted under the cab.
The bench seat was upholstered in tan leather, and the Pioneer stereo is linked to an Alpine amplifier and JL Audio speakers. Air conditioning, USB ports, cup holders, and a Lokar shifter were also installed.
A tilt column and digital gauges were also installed. All 15k miles shown were added by the current owner since 2020.
The 289ci V8 was refreshed around 2021, and it has an aluminum radiator, an electric fan, and MSD ignition.
The C-4 automatic transmission is linked to a Ford 9″ rear end with 2.47 gears according to the selling dealer. The rear end was rebuilt in 2018, and the transmission was overhauled in 2022.
The truck is titled as a 1947 Ford Pickup using VIN 71GC389115. The title carries a Not Actual odometer reading.
The 1990s marked a golden era of automotive innovation, but what many enthusiasts may not realize is how differently the same models could look and perform depending on where they were sold. Automakers frequently tweaked designs, engines, and even names to suit local tastes and regulations, resulting in some truly unexpected variations. From oddball body styles to performance upgrades, these international versions often became legends in their own right. Discover how global strategies led to unique interpretations of familiar cars, as detailed in sources like Motor1 and HotCars.
These days it seems as if most vehicle buyers want a crossover or SUV, but not all of them want the same kind. Judging by the more rugged versions of vehicles that used to be strictly soft-roaders (such as the first-ever Nissan Rogue Rock Creek) it’s clear that automakers are trying to cover an increasingly broader spectrum of characteristics within single model lines. Larger SUVs, including the Cadillac Escalade, are now available as high-performance vehicles. When Lexus introduced the TX for 2024 to meet the demand for a roomy three-row SUV, the lineup included a 366-horsepower TX 500h F Sport Performance hybrid model. This year, Lexus added another athletic option: the TX 350 F Sport Handling AWD.
EMPHASIS ON HANDLING, NOT HORSEPOWER
As the name implies, the F Sport Handling variant is essentially a suspension package. Based on the TX 350 AWD, it uses an F Sport-tuned version of the Adaptive Variable Suspension, which adjusts according to driver inputs and road conditions. Of course, as an F Sport model, it also comes with an array of cosmetic and additional functional upgrades. The “Unified Spindle” grille flows into the F Sport front fascia, which is highlighted with satin silver trim. My test vehicle’s Incognito gray paint was the perfect backdrop for the black roof rails, window trim, mirror caps, and 22-inch wheels. At the rear, there’s more brightwork below the power liftgate, as well as a diffuser-like panel. Inside the NuLuxe-lined cabin, the heated steering wheel, leather-trimmed shifter, aluminum pedals and scuff plates, and front headrest logos are products of F Sport’s makeover. The heated and ventilated second-row captain’s chairs aren’t particularly performance-oriented, but they’re a welcome part of the package.
None of those changes—and no, not even the F Sport badges—add to the performance under the hood. The F Sport Handling’s engine is the same one in every other TX 350, but that’s not a bad thing. Its turbocharged 2.4-liter inline-four produces 275 horsepower and 317 lb-ft of torque. Channeled through an eight-speed automatic and all four wheels, that was more than enough to keep the TX out of its own way. In Sport mode, the AVS was focused yet never flinty. It’s too bad the steering and braking weren’t as dialed in, but I did remind myself I wasn’t in an outright performance version of the TX.
The F Sport Handling’s combination of gas-only propulsion and an upgraded suspension helps it fill an important slot in the TX lineup, providing an option to buyers who want a sportier TX but don’t want to upgrade to the TX 500h F Sport Performance hybrid to get more power. Priced from $65,860, the F Sport Handling is within $5,000 of the 500h’s $70,110 MSRP. Even with the Convenience and Technology Packages, the Mark Levinson 21-speaker audio system, and a few other small accessories, my review vehicle had an as-tested sticker price of $69,430.
YOUR RESULTS MAY VARY
All TXs, no matter their trim level or drivetrain, are designed to fit three rows of people. Just what size those people can be may vary. I’m five-feet-ten, and I found the first two rows perfectly spacious, although the driver seat’s side bolstering was a little too aggressive. Aside from that and a few confusing design and hardware choices, the front of the TX’s cabin was a pleasant place to be. I wouldn’t hesitate to take the F Sport Handling on a long road trip. My family wouldn’t object, either. My wife had enough legroom in the shotgun seat when our son Hayden was in his car seat directly behind her in the second row; I didn’t hear any complains from my mother-in-law in the driver-side captain’s chair. However, it’s a little tighter in the third row, where the top of my head was uncomfortably close to the headliner. Then again, not everyone is my height. If you have family members and friends of various sizes, I’m sure you and five of them can reach a compromise that all of you will find comfortable.
To get a better idea of the 2025 Lexus TX 350 F Sport Handling AWD’s features, oddities, and interior dimensions, check out my video review below.
Click above and watch our full video review on YouTube!
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Cupra? We learned about this automotive brand several months ago when we wrote about this companion brand to Seat. The Spanish manufacturer has had aspirations to reach the U.S. market by 2030, but now we have received news that those plans have been delayed.
Owned by the Volkswagen Group, Cupra (which comes off as being somewhat like Scion, complete with hip marketing) planned to offer us edgy electric SUV and maybe more. However, Car and Driver reports that the 2030 goal has been postponed—not cancelled—after a recent earnings report. The brand “will continue to monitor market developments in the coming years to determine the best timing and approach.”
Cupra did not start out as an EV brand, but the introduction of the VW ID.3-based Born crossover that first appeared several years ago was the beginning of what will be an all-EV lineup. If and by the time Cupra is able to sort itself for the American market, we may also be the recipient of the Cupra Dark Rebel, a 2023 concept that will take the brand beyond its current crossover lineup.
This 1932 Essex Terraplane Model K sedan was acquired by the seller in 2020 and built into a “Drag & Drive” vehicle that competed in the 2021 Rocky Mountain Race Week. The car was stolen later that year and was recovered two months later, after which it underwent further modifications that were completed in early 2025. Power comes from a twin-turbocharged, dual-fuel 434ci V8 with a Dart LS-based block, a Callies crankshaft, Wiseco forged pistons, a roller camshaft, PRC cylinder heads, a Tick Performance air-to-water intercooler, and a Haltech EFI system. The engine is backed by an SFI-certified Powerglide two-speed automatic transmission with overdrive as well as a Quick Performance 9” rear end with a Strange Engineering differential, and the chassis features a Johnny Law front assembly, a QA1 four-link rear setup, QA1 double-adjustable coilovers, rack-and-pinion steering, Wilwood disc brakes, and Billet Specialties 15” wheels. The cabin is outfitted with a roll cage, black bucket seats, aluminum door panels, and a Motion Raceworks CO2-assisted shifter. This custom Essex Terraplane is now offered with a build sheet, extra wheels, spare parts, and a clean Colorado title in the seller’s name.
The Terraplane was introduced in 1932 and produced by the Hudson Motor Car Company under the Essex marque. This car’s steel bodywork was modified with widened fenders before a repaint in red with multicolor pinstriping, while the grille shell and front bumper were powder-coated in black.
An American flag-motif vinyl wrap was applied to the roof, and the running boards were coated with black bedliner. Other details include a Griffin hood ornament, a tilt-out windshield, a parachute, tinted glass, and exhaust outlets that pass through the front fenders. Damage on the rear valance, paint flaws, and other blemishes around the car are shown up close in the image gallery below.
The 434ci V8 was built using a Dart “The Reaper” LS-based block, a Callies Compstar crankshaft and forged H-beam connecting rods, Wiseco forged pistons, a Texas Speed & Performance roller camshaft, PRC cylinder heads, and a Texas Speed and Performance short-runner intake manifold.
Mirrored VS Racing 76mm turbochargers send charge air through a Tick Performance air-to-water intercooler with an ice box. The Haltech electronic fuel injection system can be calibrated to operate using either pump gas or E-85. Additional components are listed in a build sheet that is presented in the gallery. Dyno test results report maximum output measurements of 1,518 horsepower and 1,197 lb-ft or torque, while a time slip shows a quarter-mile time of 8.943 seconds at 162.53 mph.
Billet Specialties 15” alloy wheels are wrapped in Mickey Thompson 27×6.00” tires up front, while 15×12″ dual-beadlock rear wheels are mounted with with 275/60 units. The car rides on a Johnny Law Mustang II-style front suspension assembly that has been modified with spherical joints, and the rack-and-pinion steering is unassisted. A QA1 four-link rear setup and sway bar have been installed along with QA1 double-adjustable coilovers all around. Braking is handled by Wilwood four-piston calipers at all four corners.
The cabin is protected by an NHRA 8.50 roll cage with removable door bars. Black bucket seats are accented with white stitching, and the JEGS harnesses are valid through June 2027. The door panels are constructed from bead-rolled aluminum, and the dashboard fascia has been pinstriped.
The three-spoke steering wheel has push-button controls and is mounted to a tilt column ahead of a Haltech configurable display. The digital odometer indicates 308 miles.
Power is sent to the rear wheels through a Bubba Ginn Racing Powerglide two-speed automatic transmission with an SFI-certified case, removable bell housing, transbrake, Circle D torque converter, a Gear Vendors ProMod overdrive unit, and a Motion Raceworks CO2-assisted shifter. The Quick Performance 9” rear end has a Strange Engineering 3.40:1 third member, a 1350 yoke, and 40-spline drive axles.
The car is titled as a 1932 Hudson using the VIN 74793.
An extra set of wheels will accompany the car along with spare parts that are shown in the gallery.
This 1950 Mercury Eight sedan was purchased by the seller in 2023 from its longtime owner, who built it into a street rod in the 1990s. Power comes from a supercharged 5.0-liter V8 linked to an automatic transmission and a Ford 9” rear end, and the chassis has been modified with an independent front suspension, power steering, and front disc brakes. Exterior highlights include maroon metal flake paint with ghost flames in addition to a body-color grille, frenched taillights, dual exhaust outlets, and 15″ wheels. Interior appointments include Lincoln-sourced leather seats, Dakota Digital gauges, air conditioning, and an MMATS sound system. Faux lake pipes, a back-up camera, and a Bluetooth-capable Pioneer CD head unit were added under current ownership, and the throttle position sensor, fuel injectors, weatherstripping, and tires were replaced. This custom Mercury is now offered with fender skirts, spare parts, and a clean Florida title in the seller’s name.
The car was nosed and decked before a repaint in maroon metal flake with ghost flames. The grille and headlight bezels were painted to match the body, and frenched Cadillac-style taillights were installed along with front indicators and round side mirrors. Faux lake pipes were added under current ownership, and the door and trunk lid seals were replaced. The seller notes that the paint was not sanded after application, and the left-front window is cracked.
The 15″ steel wheels wear full covers with Mercury logos, and 235/75 Diamond Back Classic whitewall tires were mounted under current ownership. A Chevrolet Nova-sourced front assembly with power steering and disc brakes has been added, and a dual-circuit master cylinder also provides stopping power to the rear drums. The seller notes that the front suspension needs to be refreshed, and replacement parts included in the sale are shown in the gallery.
The individual front seats and rear bench are sourced from a 1980s Lincoln and trimmed in maroon leather. They are joined by color-coordinated door panel inserts and carpets, and a custom center console houses a Lokar shifter and two cup holders. Air conditioning has been installed, and a back-up camera and a Bluetooth-capable Pioneer CD head unit were added under current ownership. .
The steering wheel has a chrome horn ring and a spinner knob, and a Dakota Digital instrument cluster has been installed. The digital odometer indicates 2,500 miles, approximately 30 of which have been added under current ownership.
An MMATS subwoofer and amplifiers are mounted in the trunk behind a custom panel. Damage to the carpeting is shown in the gallery.
The supercharged 5.0-liter V8 is equipped with MSD ignition components. Heat insulation has been applied to the underside of the hood. The seller states that the throttle position sensor was recently replaced along with the fuel pump, injectors, and filter. The engine may require tuning.
Power is sent to the rear wheels through an automatic transmission and a Ford 9” rear end.
The chassis plate is shown above, and the last digit is omitted from the VIN listed on the title.
Fender skirts will also accompany the car along with other parts that are shown in the gallery.
The 1990s were a fascinating chapter in automotive history, marked by a surge of country-specific models designed to cater to unique local tastes, regulations, and economic climates. Automakers worldwide invested heavily in tailoring vehicles for individual markets, believing that bespoke models would help them secure a competitive edge and boost sales.
Yet, many of these cars vanished after a brief production run, often due to shifting consumer preferences, stricter emissions laws, or the challenges of sustaining niche production lines. The fate of these cars reveals much about the complex interplay between global ambition and local demand in the automotive world.
For more on this trend, see Autoweek.
The 1990s were a golden era for car enthusiasts and engineers alike. The decade saw an explosion of bold concepts, experimental technologies, and a new wave of design language that challenged the status quo.
Automakers pushed boundaries, blending performance with emerging digital advancements and environmental concerns.
What seemed radical or even fanciful at the time would quietly lay the foundation for automotive trends we now take for granted.
From early hybrid systems to digital dashboards and connectivity, the 90s car scene was teeming with ideas far ahead of their time.
Yet, many of these concepts were dismissed or overlooked, only to resurface decades later as industry standards.