Leafing through some old issues of Motor Trend, I came across this wonderful three-page ad. All of these production and race cars employed Goodyear Eagles. But which one would you rather have in your driveway? And which would you want to be far away from your property?
The first page mounts an impressive challenge to my choosing abilities. Obviously, there’s a Ferrari and a Corvette, which wield strong appeal to many. But there’s also a Mark VII LSC, arguably the best American luxury car of the 1980s. The gorgeous Allanté would still be saddled with a crummy HT engine, though.
More choices, here. Is a 328 more your style than a Testarossa? And of course, there’s the lovely Lotus Esprit. The Fiero had most of the bugs ironed out by ’88, too, if you wanted something less exotic.
And finally, the third page. There’s some red-blooded American muscle on here, in the form of the Camaro IROC-Z and Mustang GT. If a Mustang isn’t the Fox you seek, there’s a Thunderbird Turbo Coupe or a Cougar XR-7.
Picking just one of these is like picking one’s favorite child. I still have no clue which I’d pick. Can I change my own question, and make it “Pick Five”?
My Five:
1) Corvette
2) Lincoln Mk VII LSC
3) Monte Carlo SS
4) Cavalier Z24
5) Cadillac Eldorado
My cars of choice are the Corvette, the Toyota Supra Turbo, Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS, I’d take the Pontiac Fiero GT. And last, but not least, the Mazda RX-7 Turbo II.
I had forgotten all about the Aerotech.
That is a very tasty collection of 2-doors. Cars were so much more interesting then, even if the performance was still mediocre in most of them.
In 1988, my 13-year old self would have wanted: The Corvette, the Daytona, the Allanté, the Fiero, and the Trans Am.
My Goodyear 5 car dream garage
1.Lincoln LSC
2.Thunderbird turbo coupe
3.Shelby CSX
4. Dodge Daytona
5. Corvette GTP
1. Mark VII LSC
2. Cougar XR-7
3. Testarossa
4. Mustang GT
5. Trans Am GTA
Cars were so much more interesting when I was born, so depressing witnessing year to year the 2 door dwindle to nothingness for the last 27. And my ass cars always looked similar, I could tell every one of these apart by age 3.
The Ferrari Testarossa as well as the Shelby CSX are tempting as is the Lincoln Mark VII SLC. A Corvette would be nice for convertible cruising.
1. Aston Martin Vantage
2. Ferrari 328 GTS
3. Corvette
4. Lincoln MK VII SLC
5. Toyota Supra
* if a racing car fits in the garage, the Supra get replaced by the Lotus Honda F1 car…
The british cars from this time are not what we would call “reliable” but I would definitely pick de Aston Martin. The black IROC “Z” would be the a very close second option.
No no no no.. I think I can make the Super Stock T – Bird streetable.. there ya go !!!!
1. Lincoln Mark VII LSC
2. Ford Thunderbird Turbo Coupe
3. Mercury Cougar XR-7
4. Ford Mustang GT
5. Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS
Wish there were more G-bodies; a Hurst Cutlass would be nice.
There’s too much to choose from! Although if I had my top three it would be the Testarossa, Allante, and Mark VII.
1) Aston Martin Vantage. By far! Something of a living relic by 1988, but plenty cool.
2 & 3) Ford Thunderbird Turbo Coupe and Mercury Cougar XR-7. I’m not picky about which.
4) Mazda RX-7 Turbo II. I’m not as enthused about the second-generation RX-7 as I am about the first and the third, but it’s still an appealing car.
5) Ferrari Testarossa. I’d pick it, provided that I didn’t have to pay for engine-out service.
RX-7 Turbo II
Senna’s Lotus Honda first choice just to store it in my garage and throw parties where my friends and I look at it as a work of art and artifact of history. Team Holbert IMSA 962 second choice for same reasons.
As far as a driver, the Aston Martin Vantage hands down (Although the Testarossa would probably pull more tail).
Senna was at McLaren in 1988, and the Lotus wasn’t much of car that year. My friend’s parents had an Aston Martin V8 Volante in 1988. It hardly ever ran long enough to make it to the end of their driveway under its own power. Not sure I’d consider one as a driver.
I’d go for the Intimidator’s Monte Carlo followed by the 962, which I would convert to cash. The AAR Celica would be nice too. For the street? None of these cars were of much interest to me in 1988. I suppose the 328 is an exception.
My bad – you see the livery and automatically think ‘Senna’. So that was Piquet’s car. Or Saturo Nakajima…
Didn’t realize the Aston Martin was so unreliable. Love its looks though.
Looks like the Testarossa would be the best choice.
Of the cars that are actually reasonable to own, I’d be another vote for the Mark VII LSC. I always loved the look of those, interior as well as exterior.
F1 nerd alert…..
The pictured car is the Lotus 100T, as driven by Piquet and Nakajima. This was the start of a six year slide downwards for Lotus. The 100T was not very good compared to the previous 97T, 98T and 99T, as driven by Senna. The 100T was hopelessly outclassed by the McLaren MP4/4 in 1988.
Whilst Piquet was a triple World Champion, he never had the same verve or commitment following his crash at the San Marino GP in 1987, and was only in it for the money. Lotus did not want Nakajima, but he came with the Honda engines.
As for the cars pictured, I’d take the Lotus Esprit, Aston Martin and the Ferrari Testosterone.
That Aston Martin is hard to argue with. I think it would to be my top pick. The Lotus is appealing but it is not nearly the most interesting of the Esprit line. The Corvette holds some appeal as well. Like the Supra and Rx-7 though – not my favorite generation but still very nice.
I already have a 1988 Mark VII LSC, but if I didn’t I’d choose that. My second choice would be the Corvette.
Aston Martin, Monte Carlo SS, Pro Stock T-bird, Allante and just the wheels from the Lincoln LSC.
Lots of fun stuff here! But I guess I made my choice since there’s already a Mark VII LSC in my garage…
On a related topic, I just put new tires on it (Pirelli Cinturato P7). It served to remind me that tires may well be the most important performance component on the whole car. Compared to new sports/touring/luxury/whatever cars, my Lincoln is obviously way past its prime…. but with the new tires, the handling limit is much higher than I ever suspected.
1. Shelby CSX
2. Daytona Shelby Z
3. Thunderbird Turbo Coupe
4. Toyota Supra Turbo
5. RX7 Turbo II
There’s some seriously nice machinery in that ad!
The Supra.
Four choices for me:
1: Mustang GT
2: Mark VII LSC
3: Thunderbird Turbo Coupe.
4: Cougar XR7
Yep, I’m a Ford Fox Body fanboy 🙂
I was going to say all take all the Foxes too.
The T-Bird is tempting just to play with the turbo Lima Block.
With E85 availability now, you could easily get 300 HP out of one.
– Corvette (1984, the Crossfire)
– Monte Carlo SS
– Camaro iroc-z
1) Corvette
2) Fiero GT
3) Supra Turbo
4) Lincoln LSC
5) Camaro IROC
I’m normally not interested in luxury cars at all, but that Lincoln’s really cool.
Hmmmmmmmmmmm first choice the Lincoln Mark LSC. Go fast in comfort and relative quiet. 2nd choice, well which Berretta could be had with a V6 and manual trans?
Both GTU and GT’s could be had with a 5 speed. Both were V6 only.
Nice choice on the LSC btw.
Aston Martin Virage for its (modified) late 60s styling and craftsmanship and Chevrolet Cavalier Z24 to confuse the average punter in the UK.
Lots of interesting cars. The Beretta, CSX, Daytona have no appeal, but I’ve always liked the Mk VII since I saw a black one in 1989 Daily Express World Cars annual. Didn’t realise at the time it was a humdrum Ford. 🙂
I liked the Supra as a kid, but not now. I like the Elliott Thunderbird and the 962, but they’re ridiculous choices. (though I seem to recall someone built 962s for the street)
I’d have the Aston, but as a fastback in silver or BRG. So I guess it’s a choice between the Mk VII, the RX-7, the Eldorado or the Monte Carlo. (not the NASCAR one)
Edit – maybe the 328GTS if I had to go for something more obvious.
Assuming this choice is to drive, not flip for $$$ or hold on to pass down to my kids so they can make some bucks, it’s toss up between the Supra, TransAm, Mustang (make mine a 5.0 LX convertible, they came with Eagles), or maybe the Aston. I wouldn’t turn down the Lincoln either. No thanks to any Cavalier, Beretta, Daytona, GrandAm or Allante.
My list of five is the same as jerseyfred:
1) Corvette
2) Lincoln Mk VII LSC
3) Monte Carlo SS
4) Cavalier Z24
5) Cadillac Eldorado
Of course, having an exotic would be fun too! I would then go for the Testarossa, the Lotus, the Aston Martin and Porsche 962!
What, no GNX? Maybe it didn’t use Eagles…
My five would be:
1. Lincoln Mark VII LSC
2. Ferrari 328 GTS
3. Aston Martin Vantage
4. Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS
5. Toyota Supra Turbo
Some very desirable racing machines there too! Legendary models and drivers.
I thought the GNX used Eagles from the factory and one of those would be on my list if it was on the list of choices.
The ad is from ’88 so the turbo Buicks were already gone. The ’88 Monte Carlo and Cutlass Supreme “Classic” were built along with the extended run of ’87 Grand Nationals until December of ’87.
If I’m spending my own money, the best I could probably do is the Grand Am, but I’d prefer the Calais Quad IV.
If I don’t have to worry about money, I’ll take Al Unser’s IndyCar. 😉
The Porsche 962. They made quite a few of these, and they dominated for several seasons. One of the factory drivers modified a lot of them for “road use” including a/c (maybe even cup holders…?). Your neighbor certainly won’t have one!
Granted, 1988 wasn’t a stellar year for the auto industry as a whole, but in the face of so many choices, most of the cars that have been selected are dissappointing, IMHO.
The Lincoln over (2) Ferraris, or even the Corvette; really??
Whew, thank goodness for that third page. Thunderbird Turbo Coupe for the win
The rest of all that is 2.917 pages of meh… Guess I’m not much of an 80’s guy.
Lincoln, Mustang, Thunderbird, Cougar, Daytona
Only two. In no particular order (or depending on my mood for the day) the Lincoln LSC and the Mustang GT.
My 85 VW GTI came equipped with Goodyear Eagle GTs, but they switched to Pirelli in 86. Those Eagles stuck like glue in dry weather but were scary in the wet/snow.
Oh yeah, the original Eagles. (Not the band!) Great in the dry, damned near useless in the wet or snow. The VR Gatorbacks? Even more fun! LOL!
It’s interesting how many ’70s holdovers there were in three pages of late-80s cars.
1. Ferrari 328GTS
2. Aston Vantage
3. Ford Mustang GT
4. Mazda RX-7 Turbo
5. Hard to pick a fifth, can I sub a Cavalier RS V6 wagon for the Z24?
I won’t be too greedy, I’ll take only 3:
1. Supra Turbo
2. Olds Aerotech
3. Iroc-Z (For that full 80’s feeling, plus it reminds me of MASK, an 80’S car themed cartoon that featured an Iroc with gull-wing doors that could fly!)
Ha, MASK. I remember it well! Sort of a cross between Knight Rider and Transformers.
Then and now,
1. Lotus Esprit Turbo
2. Mazda RX-7 Turbo
3. Porsche 962 for track days
I like lightish, simple and quick
1. Lincoln Mark VII
2. Mercury Cougar XR7
3. Ford Thunderbird TC
4. Ford Mustang GT
5. Oldsmobile Calais Quad 4
Hands down! 🙂
Probably none of them, since I really do not like 2-dr cars at all. But if you twisted my arm, I guess I would take the Lincoln Mark VII.
I remember theses ads.
Thunderbird Turbo Coupe – my high school dream car
Mark VII LSC – quite the sleeper
Trans Am GTA. Sure it’s a typical Van Nuys rattletrap F-body (though not as bad as Norwood which closed in ’87), but it was also return of the 350. It was A. BIG. DEAL. at the time.
Fiero GT – Actually make mine a yellow Formula. As mentioned in the article they finally got it “almost” right only to pull the plug.
Monte Carlo SS – If for no other reason, it along with the Fiero are what I most associate with those original outline letter Eagles.
In yet another sign of my advancing middle age – they’re making licensed reproductions of the OWL Eagles……
http://www.kelseytire.com/pages/preformancetires3.html
1. Testarossa
2. 328 GTS
3 Fiero
4 Shelby CSX
5 Vette
1.) Aston Martin Vantage
2.) Lotus Esprit Turbo
3.) Toyota Supra
4.) Pontiac Fiero
And I guess as the safe bet:
5.) Lincoln Mark VIII LSC
In order of how unobtainable these desirable cars are to me.
My personal 80s classic didn’t make the list. Mercedes Benz specified Pirelli P3s on the W124s. Still have the original spare in the trunk. Hoping I don’t get a flat.
Surprised by the lack of love for the T/A. Sure I would choose the Aston or the ferraris for strictly financial reasons, but the firebird would be my choice as a driver. The GTA was pretty badass, and a rare beast to boot.
Toyota Celica GTO nails it.
Great lineup, William.
Nobody chose the beretta right? Haha.
I’ll take the Supra.
I’m surprised by how many people chose the Lincoln Mark VII… and I say that as someone who owns one (and loves it). I always had the impression that these don’t get much respect from the enthusiast crowd… but I’m glad to see that it has plenty of fans in the CC community.
Not in any order:
Beretta GTU (Black [red rubstrip]
Fiero GT
Cutlass Calais Quad
Mustang GT (Black [red rubstrip]
And the RX7 or CSX.
All are neat cars, but those are what I’d choose.
The LSC is extremely tempting, and would have to be black lol
My first choice is the Lincoln. Followed by the T Bird, then the Supra. Two pieces of garage art would be the Aston which I’m sure would break down shortly and the Allante which would probably just develop a short.
Olds Quad prototype.
Aston Martin
Lincoln Mark VII
Dodge Daytona
Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS
And I would have to have a blue and red car with the number 43 on it.
As always, late to the party.
In no particular order:
1. Dodge Daytona Shelby Z
2. Mercury Cougar XR-7
3. Pontiac Trans Am GTA
4. Pontiac Fiero GT
5. Chevrolet Cavalier Z24
Oddly, I really had to think about the last slot. The first three or four were pretty easy. I mostly chose the Cavalier because I really did like that revision of the original J car. And, maybe I’m getting nostalgic, but I did swim in these things back then, living close to Lordstown. I really dig Allantes, C4 Corvettes and the first W body Grand Prix was tempting also. While I only could have afforded one of these cars back in the day, maybe I’ll get lucky, hit the lotto and then re-live the late 1980’s in an automotive sense…
Better Goodyears than Firestone Steel 500’s.
My Dad, ever the cheapskate, went to a tire dealer in San Rafael, CA who was advertising steel-belted tires at an incredibly low price. They turned out to be Firestone 500s…recalled tires that had been overstamped, FARM TIRE. Undoubtedly they were illegal to be sold for highway use, which probably was why the tire dealer didn’t offer mounting but said something like, “Joe Blow down the street will mount ’em for $3 each.”
Joe Blow was a guy whose house was on the same block. He had a compressor and impact gun, a floor jack, and a tire mounting stand in his garage, and if your tires had less-than-legal tread, the charge was a dollar more, $4. Tires with legal tread were obviously being kicked back to the tire dealer to be sold as used tires.
All I can remember after that is that at least the FARM TIRES tracked straight, unlike the mismatched used tires he’d had before…and that the car never went out if the city, which meant it never exceeded 50mph (and that was a stretch).
As long as all the air bag suspension issues have ben repaired; I’d Love to have the Lincoln next to my Town Car in my driveway.
LOL! I remember this ad! I also remember (as a 13 year old) using red and green markers on it- green circled for yes (13 year old me would drive it) and red slashes if it was just not acceptable to my high standards. Then I started ranking them in order of my desire for them.
This is also about the time that I “decided” that my HS graduation present should be a Mustang GT convertible… that didn’t happen, LOL.
Could not decide on the Aston and the Mark VII, which is odd since I have owned several M7s since, including my baby that is an ’88 Lincoln Mark VII LSC (for 23 years). Awesome to see the Mark getting appreciation and other owners on CC!
IROC. Similar to my ’82 Z28, except, seemingly, like 10X as much horsepower!
I liked the Eagle GT tires that came on my Z28, so much so that I bought another set when the original set wore out. They worked very well on that car. Then, I even bought a set for my Nissan Pulsar NX. Wrong move. The ride was horrible, fuel mileage took a 20% hit, and the tires rarely made 5000 miles before needing rebalancing. All this to get slightly better cornering grip. The car obviously wasn’t designed for performance tires; I’ve never strayed far from original spec tires for a given car from then on.
Both Ferraris, both Berettas, & the Mustang GT.
Someone mentioned they were surprised that the Lincoln was chosen so much. The answer to that is easy: Where are the Germans? With the exception of the Porsche racecars, they’re notably absent and the closest thing to a Mercedes, BMW, Porsche, Audi, or VW is that LSC for decent, everyday, sport-oriented street driving (although the Supra Turbo would be okay for that purpose, too). Someone else said the GTI got Pirelli tires and I would guess the other German cars used them, as well, or maybe Michelins.
I also noticed Jaguar missing, too.
Took driver’s ed in a Baretta
Monte Carlo SS, Grand Prix SE, Grand Am SE, Mustang GT, Calais.
Always wanted a Monte SS. Still do.
From the aspect of performance and tradition I would recommend GM Holden’s HSV on the following link:
http://us8.campaign-archive2.com/?u=a3082cf468b303cbbe2b71eb0&id=f6e4f8d610&e=2731e6b40e