Enthusiasts around the world love Chevy for producing popular and affordable vehicles ranging from subcompacts to beefy trucks. Only a handful of automakers have the same prominence and recognizability as Chevrolet. When you think of Chevythe Corvette and the Camaro are some of the models that come to mind.
They are among the most famous sports cars in the world. Over time, Chevrolet has built a brand image with an endearing, playful and familiar nickname. These ’90s Chevy creations show how Chevrolet has continued to deliver innovation, safety and quality.
10/10 Chevrolet Corvette C4 Grand Sport
Chevrolet launched the fourth generation, also known as the C4, in 1983 as a 1984 model. It was a groundbreaking car and a completely redesigned Corvette. Chevy introduced the Grand Sport in 1996, bringing back the honor of the original 1963 Grand Sport model.
Chevy has armed the Grand Sport to the teeth to make it a model to remember. It had the LT4 powertrain, a highly built version of the LT1. The powerplant had a performance crankshaft, larger fuel injectors and lighter intake valves. The result was 330 hp and 340 lb-ft of torque mated to a ZF 6-speed manual transmission.
9/10 Chevrolet Corvette C5
The C5 Corvette was the first modern Corvette. It was big enough to challenge the best sports cars in the world. The C5 was the first Corvette to win a class victory at Le Mans and the last to feature hidden headlights. Chevy added various mechanical modifications to the C5, including the LS1 V8 engine.
Both the standard and the Z06 C5 offered excellent performance without costing as much as you would expect from a high performance car. For the Z06, Chevy ditched the LT1 for the lighter 5.7-liter LT6. Additional upgrades for the Z06 included brake cooling ducts, larger wheels, and quality suspension and tires.
8/10 Chevrolet Camaro RS 25th Anniversary
1992 marked the last year of production for the third generation Camaro. The 25th Anniversary Edition received the 25th Anniversary badge and stripes. Chevy offered the Camaro with a coupe or convertible body style and two engine options.
The base 3.1-liter V6 produced 140 hp and 180 lb-ft of torque, while the optional 5.0-liter V8 raised the bar to 170 hp and 255 lb-ft of torque. In addition to being the last third-generation Camaro, the 25th anniversary also marked the final year of production at the Camaro plant in Van Nuys.
7/10 Chevrolet Camaro SLP Z28 SS
The 1996 SLP Z28 SS was a fast Camaro with good gas mileage and good handling. Chevy reintroduced the SS badge after a 24-year hiatus as an optional performance package for the 1996 SLP Z28. The reintroduction helped make the SS a special car, as enthusiasts associated the badge with high-performance vehicles .
SLP engineering helped ensure the Z28 SS gets more power, tuned suspension, custom exhaust, wide tires and a better braking system. Under the hood was a 5.7-liter V8 producing 300 hp capable of 5.3 seconds from 0 to 60 mph. The SS also received a 6-speed manual transmission which made it fun to drive.
6/10 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 Indy Pace car
The fourth-generation Camaro is one of Chevy’s most underrated cars. It was low, sleek, packed with Corvette power and had a T-top. Although it lacked the charm of a ’60s Camaro, the Z28 Indy Pace Car was the perfect ’90s pony car.
---Side-Angle.JPG?q=50&fit=crop&w=750&dpr=1.5)
The first key component of this Z28 was an LT1 V8 from the Corvette. Chevy detuned the engine to produce 275 hp. It was serious horsepower at the time, which made it impressive enough for the Z28 to act as a pace car for the Indy 500.
5/10 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 30th Anniversary
For the 1997 model year, Chevy offered the Camaro with a limited-edition 30th Anniversary trim package. The package helped commemorate 30 years since the Camaro’s introduction, adding white base paint and unique orange stripes.
Chevy only offered the trim with the Z28 and SS models. They only made 979 models, making the 30th Anniversary Z28 rare. These Camaros received new 16-inch 5-spoke wheels and optional 17-inch wheels. Chevy also made 108 30th Anniversary models with the LT4 V8 producing 330 hp and 340 lb-ft of torque. These models were the fastest and most expensive Camaros available from the factory.
4/10 Chevrolet Corvette C5-R
The C5-R remains one of the best American racing cars of all time. The introduction of the C5-R was GM’s way of proving that the Corvette was a real sports car and not just another two-seat American muscle car. Michigan bases Pratt & Miller created the C5-R and helped the first generation earn multiple podium finishes along the way.
Throughout its motorsport career, the C5-R enjoyed success in GT classes, with victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, 12 Hours of Sebring and 24 Hours of Daytona. The C5-R also won championships in the American Le Mans Series.
3/10 Chevrolet Tahoe Z71
The 1990s Tahoe was America’s favorite for hunting roads and mud trails. It came out ready to hit the road and the trails while offering a two- or four-door design with seating for five or eight. Chevy offered two engine options, helping to make the Tahoe a solid truck.
Options included a 305 or 350 cubic inch V8, helping the Tahoe stand out from the competition. As for reliability, the Tahoe made it work thanks to the simplicity of maintenance. All of these aspects have made it a suitable SUV for young American teenagers looking for a fun vehicle or moms looking for the ultimate family vehicle.
2/10 Chevrolet 454SS
Most people remember the GMC Syclone as one of the best pickups that could easily accelerate faster than a Ferrari. Although it was an icon in its day, it wasn’t GM’s only performance pickup. The Chevy 454 SS was another offering that used an old-school 7.4-liter big-block V8.
The powertrain was good for the day with its 230 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque, making it a fast truck. Chevy’s decision to use a V8 rewarded the 454 SS with plenty of low-end torque, enough for a 0-60 mph run of 7.7 seconds and a quarter-mile time of 15.9 seconds.
1/10 Chevrolet Impala SS
The ’90s Impala SS was a monster with a twist. Chevy hadn’t used the name since 1969, and they had never sold the four-door Impala SS. These changes made the ’90s Impala SS a great vehicle to attract new buyers. For the first year, Chevy sold 6,303 units, and they were all black.
One of the things that made the Impala SS an instant hit was the beast hidden under the hood. The sweet 5.7-liter ironhead variant of the LT1 V8 produced 260 hp and 330 lb-ft of torque. The engine had a lot of low torque, which gave it plenty of pulling power on tap.
