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Unfortunate Car Realities Drivers Dealt With In The 1990s

Cameron Eittreim October 11, 2021

Photo Credit: Pastore Automotive

3: Eccentric Decals

Remember the Ford Ranger Splash? Its over-the-top decals from the factory were the norm in the 1990s. The eccentric decals are synonymous with the late ’80s and early ’90s. Whether it was the Chevy Baretta with the pace car decals or a Ford Festiva with stripes down the side (via Indy Auto Blog).

Photo Credit: Car Domain

These decals are synonymous with the ’90s automotive designs. The unfortunate part is the decals didn’t do anything to boost performance. When the turn of the new millennium came, there were no decals used on automotive designs anymore. Still, the decals were a unique piece of automotive history during the ’90s.

Photo Credit: Car Domain

2: Rear Window Louvers

Whether it was a Chrysler Laser or a Chevrolet Camaro, you’ve probably noticed rear window louvers. The Louvers were geared toward sports cars from that era. They didn’t do anything particular for the performance; instead, it was more of an exterior aesthetic. Nevertheless, there were plenty of drivers who had to have rear window louvers (via LS1 GTO).

Photo Credit: Car Domain

Nowadays, you’ll see them every so often on a vehicle. For that real 1990s style, you can get an old sports car that still has them. The worst thing about rear window louvers is they impede vision. Creating a blind spot right in the rear-view mirror isn’t the smartest thing to do.

Photo Credit: Car Domain

1: Four Door Minivans?

In the ’90s, the Chrysler trio of minivans was hotter than ever. But that created an issue for other automakers that wanted to replicate the magic. Honda and Mazda are two automakers that come to mind. The original Odyssey was a far cry from the polished van we observe these days. There wasn’t a lot that made the two vans similar, but the Mazda also had an awkward design (via Curbside Classic).

Photo Credit: Car Domain

At a time when the Chrysler vans were dominating, it was strange to see these models. Honda miscalculated the traditional minivan shopper, and the sales were abysmal. The same can be said for the Mazda MPV, which was redesigned later on. The 1990s were a strange time for the brand new minivan industry.

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