The One-Year Garage: 1989

Alex, Randy, and Beck welcome Robert, returning BaT staffer/podcast first-timer/one of our favorite people to the table to talk about the best cars of 1989. They first discuss recreational test drives and Loma Prieta memories (for those alive at the time, anyway) as well as embarking on a bit of cultural scene-setting, and then dive right into their picks.

Alex sets an unusual stage by going Wild Card first, throwing everyone for a loop and sending them scrambling for essentially the weirdest picks they can think of. No one takes some of the most obvious choices, because who needs another F40, after all? The crew wraps up with a frankly embarrassing array of honorable mentions, heavily weighted toward (but in no way limited to) offerings from the Blue Oval and the other American carmakers struggling for relevance as the '90s loomed in the near distance.

What are your top five picks from 1989? Tell us how far off the mark we were, and get us thinking right!

Follow along! Links for the listings discussed in this episode:

13:57 Mazda 767 on Wikipedia

16:45 Pristine 69k-Mile 1990 BMW M3

17:11 1990 BMW 325iX Touring 5-Speed

19:17 Ex–Mark Martin 1989 Ford Thunderbird NASCAR Race Car

21:14 1989 Ferrari 328 GTB

23:01 35-Years-Owned 1987 Porsche 944 Turbo Cup

25:22 18k-Mile 1988 Mazda RX-7 Turbo 10th Anniversary 5-Speed

26:44 2,200-Mile 1989 Mazda RX-7 Turbo II 5-Speed

30:05 19k-Mile 1989 Ford Taurus SHO

31:20 Second-gen Nissan Maximas on BaT

33:31 Volvo 740 Turbo Wagons on BaT

36:26 1989 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16 Evolution Is on BaT

38:44 1989 Saleen Mustangs on BaT

40:17 Ex–Jim Farley, Supercharged 1989 Ford Mustang Saleen LX Hatchback 5-Speed

41:05 Saab 9000 Turbos on BaT

42:11 Aston Martin V8 Vantage (1977-1989) Model Page

44:00 Dodge Shelby Dakotas on BaT

47:02 LS3-Powered 1989 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ62

48:22 1990 Jeep Cherokee Pioneer 4×4

50:57 1983 Mercedes-Benz 280GE Cabriolet

1.57:59 1989 Plymouth Voyager SE Turbo 5-Speed

59:04 Ford Escort GTs on BaT