If you were a teen in the 1980s, like me, there is probably a car you had that you wish you had kept. For me, it was the 1980 Trans Am. That car moved – and with its beautiful blue color just stood out on the road. I was too young and unaware to know what a treasure I had at the time.
But, that was not the only amazing car to come out of the 1980s!
The decade was filled with cars that today many would love to have. From the BMW E30 to the Chevy Corvette, these are some of our top picks for cars we are guessing fellow teens of the 1980s wish they had kept around!
DeLorean DMC-12
Great Scott! We have to start with the time-traveling DeLorean DMC-12, made famous by the Back to the Future movies. With its futuristic gull-wing doors and unpainted stainless steel body, the DeLorean looked like it drove right out of the year 2015. While its performance didn’t quite live up to its looks, the DeLorean’s cultural impact can’t be denied. Only about 9,000 were made before the company went bankrupt, making it a rare and coveted collector’s item today.
Ford Mustang Cobra
The Ford Mustang underwent a major redesign for the 1979 model year, moving to the new Fox platform which it would use throughout the 1980s. Key Mustang models in the ’80s included the performance-oriented GT which reappeared in 1982 with a 157 hp 4.9L V8, and the limited-edition 1984 20th Anniversary GT350. While sales declined compared to the Mustang’s 1960s heyday, the Fox body Mustang proved popular throughout the decade, helping keep the pony car spirit alive.
Ferrari F40
The Ferrari F40 is the definitive 1980s supercar. This wicked ride was the last vehicle approved by Enzo Ferrari himself before his death. With a mighty 471 hp twin-turbo V8, the F40 was the first production car to break the 200 mph barrier. Its raw, race-bred driving experience and uncompromising performance made it an instant icon. Radical aerodynamic styling, including a massive rear wing, completed the package. Only 1,311 were produced with an original price around $400,000, but they go for millions at auction today.
Porsche 959
The Porsche 959 was the most technologically advanced car of the 1980s. Built to meet Group B rally homologation requirements, it featured a revolutionary all-wheel drive system, twin sequential turbochargers, and composite body construction. The 959 produced 444 hp from its rear-mounted flat-6, allowing a top speed of 195 mph, making it the world’s fastest production car when introduced in 1986. It also had an electronically adjustable suspension and anti-lock brakes, high-tech features for the time. Only 337 were built.
Lamborghini Countach
The Lamborghini Countach is the ultimate poster car of the 1980s. With its wedge-shaped profile, scissor doors, and massive rear wing, it looked like it was doing 200 mph standing still. The Countach was powered by a 455 hp 5.2L V12 mounted longitudinally behind the cabin. While criticized for its poor visibility, tricky handling, and lack of luggage space, the Countach’s visual impact and performance made it the definitive 80s exotic. Over 2,000 were produced over its 16 year run from 1974-1990.
BMW M3 (E30)
The E30 generation BMW M3 is considered one of the greatest driver’s cars of all time. Introduced in 1986, the M3 was built as a homologation special for touring car racing. Its high-revving 2.3L inline-4 produced 192 hp and could rocket the M3 to 60 mph in 6.5 seconds. But the M3 was lauded more for its impeccable handling balance than outright speed. With a stiffer chassis, better brakes, and flared fenders to fit wider wheels, the M3 was a genuine street-legal race car. It’s still highly sought after by collectors and enthusiasts today.
Audi Quattro
The Audi Quattro introduced all-wheel drive to the performance car world. The boxy coupe didn’t look like much, but its revolutionary full-time AWD system provided immense grip and stability, making it a dominant force in the World Rally Championship in the early 1980s. In top spec, the turbocharged inline-5 produced up to 591 hp. The short-wheelbase Sport Quattro is especially prized for its Group B provenance and more powerful engine. The Quattro’s success popularized AWD and forced other manufacturers to develop their own systems to compete.
Nissan 300ZX (Z31)
Initially released in 1983, this Japanese sports car brought more luxury and comfort to performance vehicles. It offers a front-end style that was ahead of its time while still using wonderful angular features reminiscent of other iconic 1980s cars. The 300ZX’s 3.0L V6 pumped out a respectable 160-200 hp depending on model.
Toyota MR2
The mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive Toyota MR2 was Japan’s answer to affordable European sports cars like the Fiat X1/9 and Pontiac Fiero. Debuting in 1984, the lightweight MR2 handled like it was on rails thanks to its ideal weight distribution. The first-gen MR2 is still beloved today for its go-kart-like driving dynamics and ’80s wedge styling.
Renault 5 Turbo
The Renault 5 Turbo took the humble Le Car econobox and turned it into a mid-engine, turbocharged rally monster. Built for Group B homologation, the 5 Turbo produced 158 hp from just 1.4L. With its extreme fender flares and air scoops, the 5 Turbo looked fast even standing still. Only around 3,500 road-going versions were made.
Lancia Delta Integrale
The Lancia Delta Integrale is one of the most successful rally cars of all time, winning a record six consecutive World Rally Championship constructors’ titles from 1987-1992. The roadgoing Integrale featured a turbocharged 2.0L inline-4 sending 182-212 hp to all four wheels. Flared wheel arches and a vented hood added to the Integrale’s aggressive presence.
Saab 900 Turbo
The quirky Saab 900 Turbo proved that turbocharging wasn’t just for sports cars. When released in 1978, the 900 Turbo was one of the first mainstream turbocharged passenger cars. By the mid-80s, the 900 Turbo was pumping out 175 hp from its 2.0L inline-4, serious power for the time. Its hatchback body style and fold-down rear seats also made it surprisingly practical.
Mazda RX-7 (FC)
The second generation “FC” Mazda RX-7 debuted in 1985 with sleek new styling and a more powerful twin-rotor Wankel engine. In top trim, the turbocharged 13B rotary produced 182 hp, propelling the RX-7 to 60 in under 7 seconds. Known for its balanced handling, the FC RX-7 cemented Mazda’s reputation for building world-class sports cars.
Volkswagen Scirocco
The Volkswagen Scirocco was the sportier, more stylish sibling to the famous Golf GTI hot hatch. Based on the same chassis, the Scirocco featured a lower, sleeker 3-door body. It was offered with a range of engines, but the top 16-valve models were the most desirable, offering up to 139 hp by the end of the ’80s. The Scirocco remains an iconic example of boxy-yet-beautiful 1980s design.
Mercedes SL
The R107 generation Mercedes SL was the epitome of 80s luxury and style. Produced from 1971 all the way to 1989, it was a mainstay of the decade. The SL was a favorite among the rich and famous, often seen cruising Rodeo Drive or parked outside exclusive clubs.
With its timeless styling, plush interior, and smooth inline-six or V8 power, the SL was the perfect car for those who wanted to make a statement without being too flashy. The SL was featured in countless 80s movies and TV shows, usually being driven by the suave protagonist. It even had a starring role in the 1980s classic “National Lampoon’s Vacation” as the dream car of Clark Griswold.
Chevy Corvette
Chevrolet brought the Corvette into the modern era with the introduction of the C4 in 1984. Gone were the curves of the C3, replaced by a sharp-edged, angular design that screamed “high-tech.” The C4 featured a fully digital dashboard, a first for the Corvette.
Performance was impressive for the time, with the L98 350ci V8 producing 230 hp and later 250 hp with revised cylinder heads. The 1990 ZR-1 variant took things to the next level with a Lotus-designed DOHC 32-valve V8 pumping out 375 hp. The C4 also had a starring role in 80s pop culture as Dirk Diggler’s car of choice in “Boogie Nights.”
Pontiac Trans Am
The car I wish I had never let go. I was lucky to have owned one of these beauties in the late 1980’s, but had no idea at the time what a treasure it would become. The third generation Firebird Trans Am, produced from 1982 to 1992, was a true 80s icon. With its sleek redesigned windshield slope, pop-up headlights, and improved aerodynamics, it looked fast even standing still.
The 1982 model year saw the introduction of the “Knight Rider” front fascia, cementing the Trans Am’s place in pop culture history. Under the hood, the top-spec 5.0L TPI V8 pumped out a respectable 230 hp by the end of the decade. But let’s be real, the Trans Am was all about style – from its signature “screaming chicken” hood decal to its oh-so-80s digital dash, this was the car to be seen in.
Buick Grand National
Buicks were often thought of as “grandpa’s car”. But the Grand National showed that the brand could appeal to the younger market! The Buick Grand National, produced from 1982 to 1987, was a high-performance version of the Buick Regal.
It featured a turbocharged 3.8L V6 engine that produced up to 245 horsepower and 355 lb-ft of torque in its final year, making it one of the quickest American cars of the 1980s. The Grand National’s sinister all-black appearance and impressive straight-line performance made it an instant icon that could outrun contemporary Corvettes and European exotics.
So there you have it – some of the most bodacious, radical rides that defined cool in the tubular 1980s. While you may not be able to literally travel back in time like Marty McFly, driving one of these ’80s legends today is totally the next best thing. Catch you on the flip side!
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