30+ Iconic Cars From The 1980s That Should Never Be Forgotten
It seems as if everything was better back in the '80s, from music all the way to automobiles. The 1980s were an amazing decade for car lovers, that's for sure. The hard-edged exterior design, complete with pop-up headlights, paired with a retro-futuristic interior, still appeals to lots of car enthusiasts today.
Check out some of the coolest cars that debuted in the 1980s, ranging from tiny Japanese roadsters all the way to American pickup trucks. Continue reading your way through this list for more!
Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z
The boxy, third generation of the Chevrolet Camaro debuted back in 1982. The car was nothing like its predecessor, and the souped-up Z28 variant was quickly titled the Car Of The Year by Motor Trend. A dramatic change in exterior design seemed to appeal to buyers, as Chevrolet sold over 170,000 Camaros in 1982.
Three years after the car's debut, Chevrolet unveiled the IROC-Z trim as an extra option available for the Z28 version of the car. The car featured an enhanced suspension system, as well as decals and wheels unique to the IROC-Z.
Chevrolet Camaro Z28
Just a couple of years before introducing the third generation of the Camaro, Chevrolet entered the 1980s with a refreshed version of the second-gen Camaro Z28. Although the Z28 returned to the Camaro lineup back in 1977, the models from 1980 and 1981 are arguably the best-looking ones.
Under the hood, the 1980 Z28 Camaro remains the same as the year before. The 1980 and 1981 model years, however, come equipped with an aggressive-looking scoop on the bonnet of the car. The air induction scoop opens up at full throttle to cool the engine and makes an ideal addition styling-wise, too.
Ferrari Testarossa
Remember OutRun? In this popular Sega arcade game released in 1986, the player had the chance to drive a shiny Ferrari Testarossa Spider. The Testarossa has never lost its appeal and remains a dream car for Ferrari enthusiasts to this day.
The Ferrari Testarossa 512TR debuted for the 1984 model year and quickly became a hit among supercar owners and enthusiasts alike. The car is renowned for its iconic exterior design and exceptional performance. Naturally, the screaming 385-horsepower 4.9L flat-12 mounted behind the driver is worth mentioning, too.
Ferrari F40
Much like the previously mentioned Testarossa, the Ferrari F40 is an absolute icon of the 80s. The car's legendary design features everything that a proper 1980s supercar should have, including an obnoxious rear spoiler and pop-up headlights. The F40 was also the last vehicle that Enzo Ferrari personally approved just a year before his passing in 1988.
The F40 is powered by a screaming, twin-turbocharged V8 mounted behind the driver. The car peaked at 471 horsepower. The car can reach 60 miles per hour in only 4.2 seconds. Sadly, the vast majority of F40 owners chose to lock their cars away, rather than drive them.
Lamborghini Countach
The Countach is yet another extravagant Italian supercar that's an icon of the 1980s. Although the car originally debuted for the 1974 model year, the most common variant was released in 1985. The Countach LP5000 QV saw a production run of 610 units, more than any other version of the supercar.
Under the hood, which is located behind the driver, lays a powerful 450-horsepower 5.2L V12 motor. Interestingly, the car's enormous optional rear spoiler worsened the aerodynamics of the Countach. The 5000 QV can reach 60 miles per hour in 4.8 seconds.
DMC DeLorean
The iconic DeLorean was a dream car for practically anyone who watched Back To The Future. As cool as the car appeared in the movie, the DeLorean sadly turned out to be a lot worse in real life.
Apart from the absolutely beautiful exterior design, the DeLorean did not offer much. Despite looking like a space ship, the sports car only made 130 horsepower from its V6 motor. Reports of bad quality did not boost the sales, either. Ultimately, the vehicle was discontinued merely a year after its debut. DMC filed for bankruptcy in 1982.
Porsche 959
Without a doubt, the 959 is one of the coolest Porsches in the history of the German manufacturer. As this hardcore, spartan supercar debuted for the 1986 model year, it can easily double as one of the coolest cars of the 80s. Porsche originally developed the 959 to compete in the infamous Group B. The development took a lot longer than originally expected. When the car was finally ready in 1987, Group B had already been canceled.
As if the regular 450-horsepower 959 wasn't already powerful enough, Porsche took the car a step further, fitted larger turbochargers, and raised the power to 508 horsepower. The vehicle was named the 959S and could reach up to 211 miles per hour!
Chevrolet Corvette (C4)
1984 saw the premiere of the fourth generation of the iconic Chevrolet Corvette, over 3 decades after the debut of the original Corvette C1. The Corvette C4 is an embodiment of the 1980s in all of the decade's glory, thanks to the car's pop-up headlights and a retro gauge cluster inspired by sci-fi blockbusters.
Initially, the C4 Corvette was offered with a 205-horsepower 5.7L V8. A year into the car's production, the powerplant was thrown out in favor of a more powerful 5.7L V8 rated at 230 horsepower. The C4 ZR1 was the ultimate variant of the fourth-gen Corvette, powered by a 405-horsepower V8 under the hood.
Ford Mustang
The Ford Mustang is perhaps America's favorite pony car. Back in 1974, Ford unveiled the terrible second generation of the Mustang. Luckily, the second-gen Mustang was quickly replaced with its successor just four years after the initial debut. The third-gen has become a timeless classic that used to be terribly underrated.
The third-gen of the pony car, nicknamed the Foxbody Mustang, was built on Ford's Fox platform. In its most powerful variant, the Foxbody Mustang packed a 4.9L small-block V8 motor rated at 200 horsepower.
Buick GNX
The Buick GNX, a limited production V6-powered muscle car based on the two-door version of the Buick Regal, debuted back in 1987. The American automaker partnered up with McLaren Technologies (also founded by Bruce McLaren, though the company is completely unrelated to the British McLaren) to create this powerful monster, limited to just 547 units.
The beefed-up V6 under the hood was rated at 300 horsepower, though Buick officially claimed the motor peaked at just 276 horses. This iconic muscle car can reach 60 miles per hour in just 4.6 seconds!
Audi Quattro
The 1980s were the ideal decade for rally lovers. Back in 1982, FIA introduced the infamous group B. In order to be eligible to partake in this rally class, automakers had to release a number of street-legal units of their racecars. This is how some of the coolest cars of the decade were born, including the legendary Audi Quattro.
The Quattro was first unveiled in Geneva in 1980 and became an instant hit renowned for the vehicle's innovative all-wheel-drive system. In its most basic form, the Quattro produced 197 horsepower from its 2.1L flat-five motor. The variant used in motorsport, however, was rated at nearly 600 horses!
Ferrari 288 GTO
The 288 GTO needs no introduction. This hardcore supercar, based on the 308 GTB, is one of the greatest Ferraris of all time. The car debuted in 1984, only 272 units were made in total before the production was ceased in 1987.
Despite various rumors, the 288 GTO was not developed to compete in the infamous Group B rally group. The 288 GTO packed a 2.9L V8 rated at 395 horsepower, mounted behind the driver, and only available with a 5-speed manual transmission. A sprint to 60 miles per hour took the 288 GTO just 5 seconds.
BMW M3 (E30)
The first-ever BMW M3 cannot be skipped. This high-performance coupe based on the regular 3 Series made its debut for the 1986 model year. The E30 generation of the M3 is considered one of the greatest sports cars built by the German automaker in the 20th century.
Under the hood, the regular M3 E30 packs a 197-horsepower S14 flat-four. A revised suspension system paired with a low center of gravity and a lightweight body all made the E30 M3 an exceptional vehicle. BMW only built around 18 000 units of the E30 M3 before shutting down the production line in 1991.
Toyota MR2
The MR2 first went on sale in 1984. It quickly stole the hearts of buyers and journalists alike, before winning the Japan Car Of The Year award the same year. A quick look at this stylish, affordable sports car is enough to understand its appeal. Let alone taking one for a quick ride.
The original MR2 handled like an absolute champ, largely due to its mid-mounted engine and a lightweight body. The American version may have only produced around 110 horsepower, yet it was sufficient and did not feel underpowered.
Porsche 944
The Porsche 944 was developed to follow in the footsteps of the 914, an affordable roadster built by the German automaker back in the late 1960s and the 1970s. Porsche saw a clear demand for an entry-level sports car more affordable than the iconic 911, and the 944 was made to fill the gap. The car debuted for the 1982 model year.
The 944 saw massive success, with over 160,000 units sold during the car's 9-year long production run. In fact, it was Porsche's best-selling sports car ever up until the introduction of the Boxster in the late 1990s.
Mazda RX7 (FC)
The second generation of the Mazda RX7, internally referred to as the FC, was quickly overshadowed by its successor from the 90s. Nonetheless, this Japanese sports car is an incredibly cool car that debuted for the 1985 model year.
Mazda offered four different engine options for the second-gen RX7, all of which were the legendary Wankel rotary powerplants. The base model featured a naturally-aspirated 162-horsepower 1.3L, while the most powerful variant came fitted with a turbocharged 1.3L engine rated at 203 horses. You cannot go wrong with the exterior design of this vehicle, especially the pop-up headlights.
AMC Eagle
The AMC Eagle was one of the most influential vehicles of the 1980s, that's surprisingly overlooked today. After all, there's a great chance that vehicles like the Audi Allroad or the Subaru Outback would not have existed if it wasn't for this quirky station wagon.
The Eagle debuted in 1980 as a beefy wagon that featured impressive off-road performance. Shortly after the launch of the car, AMC introduced sedan and coupe versions of the boxy vehicle, too. 4 different engine options were available, ranging from a somewhat economical 2.5L flat-four up to a 3.6L turbocharged diesel flat-six.
Dodge Omni Shelby GLH-S
It is no secret that equipping a small car with a powerful engine is the perfect recipe for success. Back in 1986, Shelby spiced up the not-so-exciting Dodge Omni. The Omni customized by Shelby was named the Dodge Omni Shelby GLH-S, which stood for Goes Like Hell S'More. That is a very 1980s name, indeed.
Under the hood, the tiny Dodge Omni Shelby GLH-S packed a 2.2L turbocharged flat-four rated at 175 horsepower. The car was able to sprint to 60 miles per hour in just 6.5 seconds, while the top speed was 135mph. Only 500 units were built.
Dodge Shelby Dakota
Back in 1989, Shelby modified the first-gen Dodge Dakota, a midsize pickup truck that debuted on the market just a few years before. It was the first time in years that Carroll Shelby had worked on a rear-wheel-drive vehicle, and the final product was simply incredible.
The Shelby Dakota was based on a short-wheelbase version of the two-door first-gen Dakota. Shelby threw out the 3.9L V6 motor fitted in the truck and fitted the 5.2L Magnum V8 under the hood, rated at 175 horsepower. At the time of its release, the Shelby Dakota was the second-best performing pickup truck ever made, outperformed only by the Lil' Red Express. Only 1500 units were made.
Mazda MX-5 NA Miata
Although the vast majority of the first-generation MX5s were built in the 1990s, this small roadster debuted back in 1989. The tiny sports car quickly became one of the all-time favorite Japanese cars. Like any proper car from the 80s, the first-gen MX5 featured pop-up headlights!
The MX5 is renowned for its exceptional handling, largely due to the car's extremely lightweight body and low center of gravity. As fun to drive as this car is, the Miata can be underwhelming in terms of horsepower. Its 1.6L flat-four motor only made 115 horsepower.
BMW M635CSi
The M635CSi was a precursor of the high-performance V10-powered BMW M6 from the mid-2000s. Unlike its successor, the M635CSi was not fitted with a humongous V10 powerplant. Instead, the German automaker picked a rather reasonable 3.5L flat-six for this coupe.
Don't let the lack of the M6 badge fool you, as this car was immensely fast for its time. BMW claimed the coupe could accelerate to 60 miles per hour in just 5.8 seconds. The automaker even offered a US version, which was rebadged as an M6. However, the US-spec needed an entire additional second to reach 60mph.
Datsun 280ZX 10th Anniversary Edition
Although the legendary 280ZX debuted a decade before the 1980s, Nissan unveiled the limited 10th Anniversary Edition of the car for the 1980 model year. This special edition saw a short production run limited to just 3000 units in total!
The limited 10th Anniversary Edition can easily be distinguished from the base model by its extravagant color scheme. Customers could choose from two-tone black and gold or black and red paint jobs for this sporty coupe. Out of the 3000 units made, only 500 came with the black and red paint job. As one can guess, these cars have become very sought-after by automobile collectors today.
Mazda 323 GTX
Back in the late 1980s, Mazda took their bland 323 hatchback and turned it into a full-on powerful hot hatch. Although performance-oriented hot hatches are common today, they were nowhere near as popular back in the 1980s. In fact, the first-gen Volkswagen Golf GTi considered the world's first-ever hot-hatch, had been released a mere decade earlier.
The 323 GTX quickly became a renowned vehicle in the rally world. The small hatchback packed a 185-horsepower motor under the hood, mated with an AWD-drivetrain and a lightweight body. The Japanese manufacturer took it a step further and made the 323 GT-R, rated at 210 horses!
VW Rabbit (Golf) GTI
Many car enthusiasts are unaware that the original, first generation of the Volkswagen Golf hatchback was actually sold as the Volkswagen Rabbit in North America. Although the Golf/Rabbit was first introduced in the US in 1975, it wasn't built here until 1978. Then, in 1983, the performance-oriented Rabbit GTI debuted for the US market.
The Volkswagen Golf/Rabbit GTI is considered to be the world's first-ever hot hatch. The lightweight hatchback packed a 1.8L motor rated at 100 horsepower, which was plentiful for a car this size. We'd likely never have modern hot hatches if it weren't for this car!
Mitsubishi Starion
The Starion was a small, stylish sports car introduced by the Japanese automaker for the 1983 model year. Unfortunately, the US variant came equipped with a turbocharged 2.6L G54B flat-four, and not the iconic G63B 2.0L turbocharged flat-four motor. What's more, the Starion was also rebadged by Chrysler and sold as the Dodge, Plymouth, and Chrysler Conquest.
The styling of the Mitsubishi Starion is a pure embodiment of the 1980s. The boxy design featured stylish pop-up headlights and a large rear glass. The base model made 150 horsepower, while the top-level trim was rated at 197hp.
Mercedes-Benz SL
Back in 1989, Mercedes-Benz unveiled the R129 generation of the 2-door Mercedes-Benz SL sports car. This small roadster quickly became one of the most stylish vehicles made by this German automaker at the time.
Under the hood, the entry-level SL R129 packed a 2.8L flat-six motor. Without a doubt, the most extreme variant of the car was released in the early 1990s. The SL 73 AMG was fitted with a monstrous 7.3L V12 motor under the hood, rated at a whopping 518 horsepower. It is the same motor that can be found in the Pagani Zonda hypercar!
Jeep Cherokee
Jeep unveiled the second generation of the Cherokee SUV, dubbed the Jeep Cherokee XJ, for the 1984 model year. Jeep introduced the XJ in both 2-door and 4-door body styles. The vehicle is extremely capable both on smooth surfaces, as well as off the beaten path. Today, the XJ Cherokee is renowned for its reliability, practicality, and impressive performance.
The base model Cherokee came powered by a 2.5L flat-four that made between 105 and 130 horsepower, depending on the model year. The top-of-the-line XJ was fitted with a 4.0L flat-six under the hood, rated at 190 horsepower in the most powerful variant.
Acura Integra
Although the Acura Integra first debuted for the 1986 model year, the car has always been overshadowed by its successor from the mid-90s. The original Integra is arguably just as cool as the second-gen, if not better.
The first-gen Integra was available in both 3 and 5-door body variants. Even the base model offered plenty of smiles per hour, the lightweight car was powered by a 1.6L flat-four that produced 118 horsepower. The car weighed less than 2500 pounds and handled like an absolute champ.
Porsche 911 930 Slantnose
The Slantnose is a limited version of the Porsche 911, based on the 930 generation of the German sports car. Back in 1982, the co-owner of luxury Swiss timepiece manufacturer, Tag Heuer, commissioned Porsche to build one roadgoing version of the Porsche 935 race car.
Porsche enthusiasts and buyers around the world were amazed by Porsche's one-off creation, hence the automaker decided to introduce a similar vehicle in 1986. The Slantnose, or Flachbau in German, was essentially a Porsche 930 with a completely redesigned front end. The design team even fitted this rare vehicle with pop-up headlights! Only 984 units were made in total.
Porsche 911 964
1989 has gone down as one of the most significant years in the history of the iconic Porsche 911. That year, the German automaker introduced the revolutionary third generation of this rear-engined, air-cooled sports car. You may remember this vehicle from the TV show Californication, as Hank Moody drove a beat-up 964 convertible.
The third-gen 911 was very high tech back in the late 80s. It was the first 911 ever to feature ABS and power steering. The 3.6L flat-six boxer engine mounted behind the driver and cooled by air, was rated at 247 horsepower for the base model.
Volvo 740 Turbo
The 740 first appeared on the market in 1984, originally as a lower-end, more affordable version of the upscale Volvo 760. Although it was sold in the United States, the most exciting variant of the 740, named the Volvo 740 Turbo, is a rare sight in the US today.
The turbocharged version of the 740 was intended for the Italian market, as the country introduced additional taxes for large-displacement motors. The Turbocharged variant was rated at 160 horsepower, 10 more than the naturally-aspirated version of the car. The boxy design of the 740 Wagon has remained iconic ever since.
Honda CRX
The CRX may very well be one of the most fun to drive, front-wheel-drive sports cars of the 20th century. The car first debuted for the 1984 model year and was an instant hit. Depending on the trim level, the CRX could be anything from a reliable daily driver all the way to an exciting, affordable sports car.
The base model CRX came powered by a fuel-efficient 58-horsepower 1.3L flat-four. The most powerful engine available in the CRX was a 1.6L flat-four rated at 135 horses, which was plentiful for a coupe that only weighed around 1,800 pounds.
Nissan 300ZX
The Z32 generation of the Nissan 300ZX is a great-looking sports car that debuted for the 1989 model year. Although the car was released at the end of the 80s, its exterior styling already reflected the 1990s design language. Gone were the boxy hard edges and, sadly, pop-up headlights. Nonetheless, the Z32 300ZX looked spectacular.
Under the hood of the 300ZX laid a 3.0L V6 powerplant, both naturally-aspirated and turbocharged versions were available. The naturally-aspirated variant peaked at 222 horsepower, while the turbocharged one was rated at 300 horses.
Subaru XT
If we had to pick one Japanese sports car that would be the perfect representation of the 1980s, it would likely be the Subaru XT. This sporty coupe ticks all of the boxes, including a hard-edged exterior design, a crazily futuristic interior, and pop-up headlights.
The XT was first introduced for the 1985 model year. One of the highlights of this small car is its extravagant interior design, which looks as if it belongs in a retro sci-fi movie. The designers were inspired by aircraft cockpits when creating the interior of the Subaru XT. Even the shape of the steering wheel is quirky and unusual!
Toyota Celica Supra
This may very well be the most underrated generation of the Toyota Supra out there. While the A60 Supra, also known as the Toyota Celica Supra, is indeed a great-performing budget-friendly sports car, it was quickly overshadowed by the popular fourth-gen Supra from the 1990s. Here is why the Toyota Celica Supra deserves your attention.
The A60 Supra was praised for its exceptional handling and stylish design. Its low center of gravity and lightweight body made up for the lack of power. After all, early models of the A60 Supra only produced 145 horsepower from a 2.8L powerplant under the hood.
Toyota Supra
1986 was a revolutionary year for the Toyota sports car lineup. The Japanese automaker decided to separate the Celica from the Supra completely and offered them as two unrelated models from that year onwards. What's more, Toyota also unveiled the brand-new third generation of the Supra that same year, internally referred to as the A70.
The powerplant was replaced in favor of a more powerful, 3.0L flat-six that peaked at 200 horsepower, mated with either manual or automatic transmissions and a rear-wheel-drive drivetrain. The new Supra featured an updated design inside and out. Luckily, the pop-up headlights remained on the vehicle.
Saab 900 Turbo
Much like the previously mentioned second-gen Chevrolet Camaro Z28, the Saab 900 Turbo originally debuted before the 80s, back in 1978. Over the next years, the Swedish manufacturer kept refreshing the model and adding new features. Hence, the arguably best version of the 900 Turbo is the one released in 1984.
1984 saw a new engine variant available for the Saab 900 in Europe. However, the most exciting new feature was a new optional body kit. The kit, marketed in the US as the Special Performance Group or SPG for short, allowed the turbocharged 900 to reach 130 miles per hour.
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