1997, or the year of the 996

As we navigate the winding roads of mind-blowing nostalgia in our year-long celebration of the 1990s as a “classic decade,” we’ve made our way to 1997.

With 2024 marking the momentous occasion where the 1990s officially achieve classic status (comfortably 25 years in the rearview mirror), let’s take a look back at the milestones that made 1997 a cornerstone in the automotive and cultural timeline.

• After 34 years of using air-cooled engines, Porsche takes the bold step of introducing the first water-cooled engines in its fifth generation 911, the 996.
• J.K. Rowling publishes her debut novel, Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone (or if you lived in the UK, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone).
• Steve Jobs is named “interim” CEO of Apple. He resigned as CEO in 2011. Long temp job!
• Diana, Princess of Wales is killed in a car crash in Paris. She was 36 years old.
• An updated version of Candle in the Wind is released, written by Elton John as a tribute to his friend, Princess Diana.
• Google.com is registered as a domain name. Can you even remember a time when “google” wasn’t yet a verb?
• Paul McCartney is knighted by Queen Elizabeth II officially becoming Sir Paul McCartney.
• The Toyota Camry is officially the best-selling car of the 1997, beating out Ford Taurus and Honda Accord.
• Beloved nun Mother Teresa dies of a heart attack at the age of 87. Tens of thousands of mourners pay their respects outside the Mother House, where she lived and worked.
• Titanic premieres at the Tokyo Film Festival, sinking their cinematic competition and staying afloat at the top of the box office charts for the next 12 years.

1990s cars are classics? Yes way!

It's time to recognize, appreciate, and properly protect those rad rides from the 1990s with a collector car policy through Hagerty. Our specialty coverage is designed for enthusiasts who love and care for these iconic vehicles.

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