1996 Classic Cars for Sale
Dodge Viper GTS coupe arrives, BMW E36 M3 gets US-only refinements, Ferrari F355 Berlinetta at peak production
1996 introduced the Dodge Viper GTS coupe to buyers who found the RT/10 roadster impractical, which is a reasonable complaint about a car with side exhaust pipes that will burn your leg if you exit incorrectly. The GTS made the same 450 horsepower from its 8.0-liter V10 but added a proper roof, rear window, and enough trunk space to make road trips theoretically possible. It also looked better. Viper people will argue about that, but the GTS became the definitive shape.
Ferrari was deep into F355 production this year, and the Berlinetta was one of the more accessible entry points into a mid-engine Ferrari that actually drove well. The 3.5-liter flat-plane V8 with 375 horsepower and a 8,500-rpm redline sounded extraordinary. Ownership costs were another matter. Maintenance intervals on the F355 were aggressive and expensive, and a timing belt service on that engine requires pulling it from the car.
The Porsche 993 Turbo arrived in the US for 1996 with a twin-turbocharged 3.6-liter flat-six producing 400 horsepower. It was faster than almost everything else available new. The all-wheel drive system was modified from the Carrera 4 setup and actually worked in conditions where rear-wheel-drive turbocharged Porsches historically did not. This is one of the more consistently appreciated cars from the decade.
- Dodge introduced the Viper GTS coupe with a 450-hp 8.0-liter V10, completing the Viper lineup and establishing the body style that would anchor motorsport variants for years
- Porsche 993 Turbo went on US sale with 400 horsepower and all-wheel drive, the first turbocharged 911 to use AWD in production form
- Honda Integra Type R launched in Japan with a 197-hp B18C engine redlined at 8,400 rpm and a curb weight under 2,500 pounds, though it would take two more years to reach the US market officially
Showing 47 listings
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1996 Chevrolet Corvette
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1996 Chevrolet Corvette
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1996 Chevrolet Camaro
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1996 Chevrolet Corvette
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1996 Ford Mustang
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1996 Chevrolet Corvette
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1996 Mercedes-Benz 170 V-S
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1996 Jaguar XJS
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1996 Chevrolet Corvette
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1996 Chevrolet Corvette
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1996 Chevrolet Camaro
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1996 Pontiac Firebird
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1996 Chevrolet Impala
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1996 Chevrolet Corvette
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1996 Chevrolet Impala
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1996 Chevrolet Corvette
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1996 Mercedes-Benz 320CE
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1996 Buick Century
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1996 Dodge Viper
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1996 Bentley Brooklands
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1996 Chevrolet Corvette
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1996 Chevrolet Corvette
Market: Porsche 993 Turbos are among the most reliably appreciated air-cooled 911 variants, trading between $150,000 and $220,000 for honest examples with documented service. Viper GTS coupes in clean original condition run $45,000 to $75,000, with low-mileage unmodified cars at the upper end.
Buyer's note: On any 993 Turbo, verify the intercooler and turbocharger seals have been inspected recently, as oil consumption from degraded seals is common and often masked by owners topping off rather than addressing the source.