10 Old Sedans That Defined an Era

Some cars come and go but a few leave a mark that lasts forever. These 10 old sedans didn’t just rule the roads; they defined an entire era of automotive design, comfort, and performance. From timeless European icons to reliable Japanese legends, here are the sedans that changed driving forever.

Toyota Corolla (E90)

Man, the late ’80s Corolla especially that E90 just had something about it. Like, yeah, it wasn’t glamorous or anything, but it was dependable. The kind of car your dad bought new and still drove to the grocery store fifteen years later. I think back then it cost, what, maybe around $10,000 or so in the U.S.? Tiny thing, but it never quit. I kinda love how it just quietly became the symbol of reliability, you know? Not sexy, but like… that’s part of its charm.

Honda Accord (’90s Models)

Ah, the 1990s Accord. Not gonna lie, that was the suburban hero. Every driveway had one. Smooth, comfy, weirdly fun to drive for how normal it looked. I remember my aunt’s 1996 one it had that fake wood paneling and the satisfying “clunk” sound when you closed the door. Felt premium for, what, $15,000 back then? And it just ran. Like that kind of bulletproof that makes you miss when cars were simpler.

BMW 3 Series (E30)

Okay, so the BMW E30 late ’80s, early ’90s that’s where we start talking about proper driving fun. It’s one of those cars that turns people into enthusiasts overnight. Rear-wheel drive, crisp steering, and that little inline-six purr? Chef’s kiss. You could get one in decent shape for like $40,000 now if you squint and ignore the miles. It’s become this icon of analog driving no fancy screens, just feel. I mean, it’s old-school cool.

Mercedes-Benz W124

You ever see those boxy old Mercedes and think, “Yeah, that thing probably outlived its designer”? That’s the W124. Over-engineered to an almost unnecessary degree, built between ’84 and ’96. Like, who makes door hinges like that anymore? Nobody. When new, it was pricey around $45,000 but it aged like fine wine. People say these cars could hit half a million miles if you kept up on oil changes. Honestly, I believe it.

Ford Taurus (Late ’80s to Mid ’90s)

So, hear me out the Ford Taurus was actually revolutionary when it showed up. I know, sounds funny now. But in ’86, that rounded “aero” design was futuristic. And everyone copied it later. This was the family car for about $13,000. Not flashy, but it changed how American sedans looked for the next decade. Plus, cops loved it. And when cops love a car? You know it had some backbone.

Nissan Maxima (Early 2000s)

The Maxima was like the grown-up Altima who listened to jazz and owned good shoes. Around the early 2000s, it had this smooth-as-butter V6 and enough pep to surprise whoever judged it for being a “Nissan.” Pricey back then maybe $25,000 or $30,000 but it felt worth it. You’d see engineers, teachers, that one cool uncle with wraparound shades driving them. Underrated, honestly.

Chevrolet Impala (60s & Early 70s)

Man, if we go way back—the Chevy Impala. Big, floaty, and unapologetically American. You didn’t even drive it; you sailed it down the road. Those bench seats were like living room couches. The ’67 in particular? Gorgeous. And cheap, too, at the time maybe four grand new. Now they’re collector candy, and I totally get why. It’s nostalgic without trying to be.

Volvo 240

You know that one meme about indestructible cars? Yeah it’s basically about the Volvo 240. Blocky, safe, reliable, no nonsense. My friend had one in college, and it honestly looked like a refrigerator on wheels, but we loved it. It was something like $15,000 new, I think, but safety-wise, it was built like a bunker. Volvo wasn’t messing around. It wasn’t fast, but it probably survived crashes that crushed everything else.

Cadillac DeVille (’70s-’80s)

The DeVille was… enormous. Like steering a couch through a parking lot. But man, it screamed luxury in its day. Everyone wanted one. Velvet seats, chrome, that floaty suspension. Around $20,000 in the ’80s, which was a lot, but you felt like a king—or mob boss. I still remember how soft the ride was. It’s almost comical now, but there’s something warm about that old-school excess.

Lexus LS400

The LS400 basically told the German carmakers, “Yeah, we can do that better.” And… they did. Late ’80s intro, cost around $36,000 then, which was insane for a new brand, but you got insane refinement. Whisper quiet, V8 power, no drama. It felt like Toyota built it just to prove a point. I swear, you could toss one into your next century and it’d still start.