Last week, some comments about my 1966 Belvedere article gave me a moment’s pause–I had to examine my collecting philosophy. Perry and Jason’s comments implied that the reason I didn’t inquire about the Plymouth was that I’ve already really done the ’60s thing. It’s true! My screen name is no lie–I own four 1965 model vehicles, with a ’53 interloper as my only real variety. I’m not likely to sell any of my five any time soon, but what if I changed my whole collecting paradigm to embrace the cars from the decade when I was most impressionable…the 1980s?
I like making lists, so here are the 10 I’d scout out if we lived in a perfect world where I had unlimited space, money, and garage help. I’ll alphabetize my list to avoid hard feelings.
1. 1988 Buick Reatta: This was a tough one, because I’m not really in love with Reattas. I’m more in like with them. As an 10 or 11-year-old kid, however, the Driver Information Center was like discovering candy for the first time, and I couldn’t understand why my dad didn’t want one immediately just because of that. There is a fairly strong collector following for Reattas, and they’re inexpensive, but I’d feel bad subjecting one to “Rust Belt” conditions after 26 years, and I don’t like them enough to make one a summer-only car…but in a perfect world?
2. 1987 Buick Grand National: Let’s face it…this is probably the only ’80s American car that is legitimately valuable right now. You can argue all you want, but what other ’80s car brings decent money at auctions? I love Buicks, and this is probably the baddest Buick of all–Darth Vader on wheels. One doesn’t need to qualify its cool factor with the requisite “well, for the ’80s….” addendum. It fits in among ’60s musclecars, and nobody will think you’re a weirdo for bringing a Grand National to an event. I hate that they’re so expensive now.
3. 1984 Buick Riviera: I’ve written about my appreciation for ’80s Rivs before. They’re not quite to the level of ’60s Rivieras, but few cars are. This is one example of a car where I prefer the “brougham” factor; I like them better with the vinyl top and cheesy wire wheel covers. They just look a little naked with a bare roof. I know some disagree, and many prefer the T-Type or the convertible, but I’ll take mine regular.
4. 1986 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z: As a youngster, my dad indoctrinated me into the Blue Oval mindset, so I viewed Camaros as enemies. Today, I may actually like them better than the 5.0 Mustangs I was raised on. Mustangs were usually a bit faster, and they had better ergonomics, and they’re really bulletproof until you start adding lots of power, but lately I’ve been digging the stance of these ’80s “mullet” Camaros. The wheels look good, and they don’t seem as cartoonish as I thought they might. I’ll take a 305 TPI with a 5-speed and T-tops. I don’t care if they leak.
5. 1986 Chevrolet Cavalier Z24 Hatchback: I’m going to throw a wild card into the mix here. Who wants a Cavalier? Granted, this would be in Circle Seven of the list, but these boxy Cavaliers are a straight shot of nostalgia for me. The digital dashboard takes me back nearly 30 years to when digital dashboards were not cheesy, and the standard Z24 wheels were on Cavaliers everywhere, cheap but effective. The growl of the 2.8 wasn’t really annoying or pretentious back then. I might like mine in red.
6. 1985 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS: This is just a slightly less cool (and significantly less fast) version of the Grand National. Unlike the GN, Monte Carlo SSs were everywhere in Michigan. I think they’ve aged well. They have as good a chance to be collectible as just about anything else from the ’80s. The SS front end made the car, and the stripes were pretty tasteful. The 305 would be fine for my driving style, but they’re easily modified if you need to go faster. Who would know if you slotted a 383 under the hood? An LS-motor may be even more fun.
7. 1985 Dodge Shelby Charger: One of my favorite valve covers (cam covers?) of all time rests on the old Chrysler 2.2 Turbo. I’d like to buy one just to hang in the garage, but in a perfect world, I’d just find one on a Shelby Charger. Of course, most people would probably want the Daytona instead, but I had a model kit of this when I was a kid, and I prefer the Charger’s less “trendy” appearance.
8. 1980 Ford Mustang Cobra: My dad’s influence is too strong to not include an ’80s Mustang. My favorite has always been the first, an ’80 Cobra. When was the last time you saw one? I did a few weeks ago; there is one just like this collecting dust at the storage barn where I keep one of my cars. The Cobra is so cheesy that I can’t help but like it. The knock off Trans-Am copy “hood cobra” is almost too corny and derivative for words, but that’s what makes it great. Green graphics on black is my color choice. Of course, the engines make this a dead player out of the gate…turbo four or 255? Ugh. I’d slap a carb on a roller 5.0 with a T-5 and call it a day.
9. 1985 Ford Thunderbird Turbo Coupe: Now we’re getting into serious territory for me. I love Turbo T-Birds. This is the first of two on the list, because I cannot make up my mind whether I’d want an early one or a late one. I could take or leave the engine; a 302 would be far better for most driving situations, but the look is perfect. Color is almost immaterial for me; they almost all look good (except maybe white…I’m not a big fan of white cars, generally). The 10-hole wheels are just right, and it has to come with a 5-speed.
10. 1988 Ford Thunderbird Turbo Coupe: More power, similar but different styling…I remember seeing some of these in a strange gold color that doesn’t quite seem to match the brochure. Was it one of the “Sandalwoods?” Whatever it was, I’ll order my dream Turbo in that hue. The fact that I drove a base ’87 as a kid might give this one an edge.
Bonus Car: 1989 Ford Thunderbird Super Coupe: MN-12s don’t generally impress me (my dad owned one with the base 3.8), but we took a test drive in a silver SC just like the above example, and it rocked! Tons of torque for 1989, and this exact car is probably the stylistic high point of the entire MN-12 run.
You may notice that there are no foreign cars at all on my list. Well, I come from a family that has never driven anything that didn’t have an American nameplate, so I’ve stuck to my old favorites. Don’t get me wrong, as a kid I loved the Countach and Testarossa, but I believe most of the above cars have aged better than those Miami Vice-era supercars. Not to mention, in the end, I’m a down to earth guy. I like what I like…anything on here that you like?
Well Aaron, you’ve partially got me with the 85 Turbo Coupe, but the rest of your list makes me shudder with horror.
My experience with ’80s GM cars is only disappointment, like the time my father sent our perfectly good looking and fine running Buick Regal to the scrap yard because the back half of the frame rusted out and fell off.
Let me know when you’re ready to fully embrace the ’80’s and cull some of your 1965 collection 😉
Glad to see another fan of the 1980 Mustang; my first car was a brand-new one, with the slightly more understated, faux-European Ghia package.
Generally a dreadful performer, with odd ergonomics and dismal fuel economy, but the build quality was decent in the second year of the Fox Mustang…and hey, when you’re 16 years old during the second oil crisis and recession, it’s all about how it looks. And this thing looked good.
Probably the reason why Mustang number four is sitting in my garage, as a fair-weather car. That, and the fact that the Mustang has matured into a fairly competent driver’s car that is actually quiet, comfortable and livable – if a bit heavy.
I would vote to include a Toyota pickup. Those were all the rage among the guys in my 1985 high school graduating class. Those trucks converted a whole generation of young men from the desire for muscle cars to the need to be seen driving a small
pickup. That, of course led to the Camaro’s eventual demise— too many young men buying trucks….and eventually what we now call SUVs.
That craze hadn’t quite spread to the northern burbs of Houston during my high school years. That came in the early ’90s. We had some F-bodies in varying states of repair, some scattered pickups, Fords and imports, but more than anything late ’70s A and B-body GM stuff handed down from mom and dad.
Toyotas of that era are certainly iconic, but another small truck from the ’80s I’d add to the list is the ’88-’89 S-10 with the 4.3, especially a short bed, regular cab. Good luck finding one that hasn’t rusted to oblivion!
The first, and only, new car I’ve ever owned was a 1988 Monte Carlo SS. It was a good looking, nice handling car; in need of a decent engine and trans. And just about everything else. The 4 speed auto trans was junk. The first one self destructed. The replacements each blew a seal and sprayed trans fluid all over the exhaust. This happened twice and left me walking in the middle of nowhere. I couldn’t run the air conditioner on the highway without overheating. The dealer said “they’re supposed to run hot”. This left me walking a third time. That air conditioner needed charging every year. Three different dealers could never find a leak. The 305 four barrel was really a gutless wonder in the Colorado Rockies. It just couldn’t pull the big hills.
Fortunately, I bought the extended warranty. The dealer I bought it from finally rebuilt the trans with aftermarket parts. This time, it stayed together, but it would give you whiplash when it shifted. In 1997, I bought a 1994 Thunderbird Super Coupe with a 5 speed manual trans. I still have it. It’s fast, comfortable, and reliable. The supercharged 3.8 is a torque monster. It flies up the big hills, as fast I want to go. I sold the SS to a guy who thought it was collectable. He gave me a good price. I was tired of fixing it, and I’ve never missed it.
Nice one Aaron.
The Riviera, Toronado, El Dorado really speak to me. I’d take any of them, though they are scarce. My top dream car would be a Biarritz Eldo, triple black, Bose, Astroroof, digital “gages”, and factory spokes. I’d baby the 4100, eventually after she blows would consider a port injected 4.9 conversion.
I really like the ’89-’93 Tbird but they are getting so scarce that I was looking for one of them regardless of engines I still can’t find a decent one, that I ended up with a blue lincoln mark viii. After that one was hit by a truck I started to look for another Tbird but I end up with a green mark viii again
Nice Mark! I love that wheel design, my ’96 had the same ones. While an ’89 TBird S/C might make it onto the 80’s list, given the choice I’d take a VIII every time.
A nice variety, and you have gotten me thinking. In no particular order:
Omni GLH, Mustang GT, Buick Electra Park Avenue (I have had a C body Olds and a Cadillac, so a Buick would complete the set), and a Panther station wagon. Also, a Mark VIII, a Grand Wagoneer and an Eagle station wagon. I might even re-up for a VW GTI. Oh, and an Avanti II.
I think I’m going to have to find an early GTI to drive…people rave about them!
Chevrolet El Camino
Ford Country Squire
Tenth Generation T-Bird
Honda CR-X
Jeep Cherokee XJ
Jeep Wrangler YJ
Lincoln Town Car
SAAB 900
Subaru BRAT
Toyota Celica 3rd/4th Generation
Toyota MR2
Volvo 700
My list contains cars that capture the end of an era, or are somehow capturing what was happening to cars during this era – that was good. We no longer see full size station wagons or pick-up cars. We no longer see SAABs and shoe-box Volvos. We saw Japan begin to capture a new market – the economical sporty cars for ladies, popular during this decade. Finally, we discover a real mid-engine sports car that not only was unbelievably fun to drive, it was affordable, economical and had none of the drawbacks of having to endure Roger Smith’s disastrous leadership at GM.
Finally, all these cars are practical and useful. No garage queens among the lot, at this time. (They are only 1980s vehicles, btw.)
I’ve got three body styles on this list that are often unavailable, but were at one time, rather common across the US and in Australia. The Pick-up car and the station wagon. The Subaru BRAT is a stand out for its silliness and for the fact that it is a 4WD import. The El Camino for its simple styling, and captures GMs intermediate car line at its reliable best. The Ford Country Squire is the best of the 1980s woody-styled full size wagons.
I have two classic Swedes on the list. I hope we’ll always be able to admire a SAAB 900 and a Volvo 700. Both cars display a wonderful creativity missing from today’s vehicles. The SAAB is filled with amazing engineering feats, while the Volvo shows us a level of European design we no longer see, even from Volvo today.
Then there are the classics, the Lincoln Town Car and the JEEP Wrangler. The Town Car of this era is ruler-straight broughamified magnificence. The Wrangler captures an era of 4WD not seen today. Today’s Wrangler has been reduced to sissification that was unimaginable in the 1980s.
Finally, fun. The MR2, Celica and Honda CR-X gave us 1980s pocket-rocket, affordable and dependable fun. A mid-engine affordable sports car? The MR2 delivered beyond expectations what GM promised with their Fiero. The Celica and the CR-X put young ladies into imported sporty rides their fathers knew could deliver dependability for the entire decade. While there are other fun rides during this time, especially the Mustang and the Firebird, these cars made my list because they demonstrated that sporty fun cars could be from Japan and could be economical.
There are a lot of other cars I could include. I have no objections to the others that have already made the lists above. I can’t imagine NOT including the Fox Fords. They were 1980s Ford, pre-Taurus. Fox Mustang/Capri! I even could fall in love with the Fat Foxes, those T-Birds, Cougars, Granadas, LTDs and Marquis. Yet, if we were to focus strictly on the 1980s, the Fox platform bridges between 1978 – 1985 to an even more amazing Taurus/Sable revolution which epitomizes Ford for this decade. So, these cars didn’t make my list, but I consider very desirable for many reasons – their boxy 1980s styles, their rear drive BOF V8 ride, their excellent design, and their easy use as a daily runner for collectors.
Then there is the birth of the compact truck market. Toyotas, Nissans and Ford Rangers – all great 1980 trucks. If you needed an affordable ride and were under the age of 25, these trucks were tickets to manhood. Super great vehicles!
A very well thought out list.
Well everybody on this website knows my love of the 83-88 T-Bird/Cougar and the 84-92 Lincoln Mark VII so I agree with numbers 9 and 10.
I also like the Reatta. I got to spend a good deal of time in one about 10 years ago and I found it to be a very nice driving car. Was it super fast? No. It was not a sports car in any shape or form. What it was, was a nice driving car on both local and highways. The Pre Series 3800 powerful enough to have no issues keeping up with traffic. it had gobs of room for a 2 seater and it was the first 2 seater that I was in that did not make you feel like you were in a bath tub.
I am starting to like the 3rd gen Camaro more now. I was always a Firebird person and the 3rd gen Firebird is still one of the best looking cars i have seen.
(message to Editor: perhaps a QOTD could be what cars did you hate to look at when they were new but time has mellowed your dislike of the car and now you have an appreciation of them?)
I agree about the Cavalier. The 1982-1994 Cavalier is starting to look good to me and have always looked better then the 95-2005 Cavalier. Perhaps it is that I am waxing nostalgic about them since next year will be 20 years since I graduated high school and the parking lots at school were filled with various years of these cars.
You too? My 20th is also next year and I’m getting a bit freaked out! 🙂
You too? My 20th is also next year and I’m getting a bit freaked out
My 40th was 3 years ago. Wait until that happens to you.
I always tell people that you’re officially old when your high school graduation year becomes a teenage fashion statement. Not only that, my high school principal and my guidance counselor both have new-build schools named after them.
..my high school principal and my guidance counselor both have new-build schools named after them.
When I was in college in the 70s, teachers that my Aunt had had in the 40s had all turned into buildings.
20th? Aaron, piece of cake. My 50th is next year, now that’s some serious freaking.
Never stopped to think how long it was since leaving high school. So many more significant events have happened in my life, and those ones are years I’m happy to forget. A bit of mental arithmetic ~ hey, it’s 39 years. How ’bout that?
CC effect strikes again,I went to a school reunion on Sunday.40 years since I left that school it would have been 38 if I could have taken Art and Music at A level but I was the only Music student and it wasn’t worth having a class of one so I went to another school for 2 years
So what are your other two 1965 vehicles? Not really sure how to comment on this article since I grew up in the 1990s and 2000s when these cars were worn out and rusting fodder on the roads and in the yards of Central New York. The Buick GNX is cool though. The cars my family bought in the 1980s were mainly Saabs with one Mazda MX-6 and a Dodge Dart in the mix as far as I know. The only other 80s car in the family was my Caprice, but another Saab 900 is arriving shortly.
I would like a 78-79 Monte Carlo though, they ooze (1970s) style.
Skylark and Corvair are the other two…
10 guys would mean 10 different lists. I think mine would have to include a lot of Ford and Japanese. 1981 marked my return to civilian life in the states and there seemed to be a lot to see. Whirlwind actually.
Let’s hear yours Lee, the more the merrier. I meant to ask earlier what are GNs worth now (or GNXs fwiw)?
Alfa Romeo GTV6
Audi Quattro
BMW M3
Ford Fairmont Ghia ESP (351 manual, 178 built)
Ford Sierra RS500
HDT Commodore SS Group 3 (or Group A)
Honda CRX
Nissan Patrol GQ
Peugeot 205 GTi
Porsche 944 Turbo
Some of those are fairly valuable, but at least I didn’t nominate the Ford RS200 (or other Group B rally specials) or the Giocattolo Group B.
Good GNs are now in the $15,000 and up bracket…you can still find beaters for under 10, and I’m sure someone will chime in with a good deal, but they’re up there now.
Ok John:
Most any japanese pickup. My 81 Datsun King Cab is a good representative. Toyota with r20-22 would have been as good. Actually probably better.
Ford products starting in 1986 all had the EFI and were a major improvement over the 85s. The LTC 86 to (I think) 89 are my favorites. You could have talked me into a mustang with little effort.
The Toyota Celica from about any year. Any straight six Nissan.
Anything with a Ford 300 six or any Dodge trucks/vans with the slant six.
Cannot think of much else that’s appealing. I was working very hard trying to fit into this brave new civilian world. As you can see most of my choices have to do with working and in general last forever.
Speaking of class reunions. Mine was class of 1961 and I keep getting emails that the youngsters I went to school with are kicking the bucket. Maybe not a good thing to be speaking of.
That’s fair enough, I must say I was looking at the cars in my list from a collectbility point of view for recreational use.
Aaron – Thanks, I can’t recall ever seeing a GN in Australia but I am sure there must be at least one here. From what I can see they built around 30k GN’s, which is a decent number for a collector car (compared with say the GNX’s at 547 built) and would have kept the prices low for a long time before the numbers still in existence in good shape dropped off.
Top 10 for the 80s, hmnn that’s an interesting challenge. I’ll try to choose in order of bang for the buck:
1. VW GTI (Gen I or II)
2. Saab 900 Turbo
3. Mustang GT 5.0
4. Volvo 740 Turbo Wagon
5. Buick Grand National
6. BMW 533i
7. Lincoln Mark VII LSC
8. Mercedes 560sl
9. Porsche 928
10. Ferrari 400i/412i
The LSC just missed the cut…I thought I was a little Ford heavy. I also wanted to include an ’87 Cougar XR7, but didn’t for the same reason. I really like that style of Fox Ford.
I owned an 83 Skyhawk, an 86 Electra T-type and an 89 Riviera. I also owned a 91 Reatta.
I’m definitely with you on those T-Birds, but my own list would have some more Oldsmobiles, Mopars, Japanese, and German. Just off the top of my head: G-body Cutlass Supreme, BMW M6, Acura Legend coupe, Toyota Supra, J-body Chrysler LeBaron, Mercedes-Benz W124, Mercury Sable
BMW M6
hmmm….I could be tempted by a 630CSi, for a moment, but I really would not be *that* interested
That’s a good “bad guy” car for any 80’s movie.
The Chrysler J-body would have been a Cordoba, Cordoba LS, or Imperial. The contemporary LeBaron would be an M body…same as the Diplomat.
The impression that Roger Smith era GM products made on me was as rust buckets. Shoddy, falt prone rust buckets. I was constantly seeing them with rust at the edges of doors, trunk lid and hood, as well as random rust bull’s-eyes all over the body. A corworker had a GM something that could not have been more than three or four years old in 92. Everywhere I looked on that car the paint was bubbling.
Don’t get a Ford Fox based anything near me. Never recovered from the tramatic experience of owning a 78 Merc Zephyr.
I could be tempted by a Plymouth TC3 or Dodge 024. Oddly, outside of a Rampage and a Scamp, the Mopar show Saturday had no Omnirizons, first gen K-cars or minivans. Doesn’t say much for their survivability.
My 80s list would be short: 1st gen Acura Integra, CRX, maybe another 85 Mazda GLC like the one I had…more chassis flex and stifly sprung that I would have preferred, but bullet proof reliability. Maybe a VW Cabriolet like the one I saw last week, or a Scirocco or Corrado, if I had enough headroom, and lots and lots of money to keep them running.
Don’t get a Ford Fox based anything near me. Never recovered from the tramatic experience of owning a 78 Merc Zephyr.
There was your problem. 1978 was the first year and the Fairmont and Zephyr were such hot sellers that the factories couldn’t keep up. Graveyard shifts or two shifts on overtime are typically not conducive to a high quality product. Fairmonts with Zephyr trim pieces or vice versa weren’t uncommon.
Fairmonts with Zephyr trim pieces or vice versa weren’t uncommon.
That was normal 70s build quality. I saw a Granada in the Ford dealer’s showroom that said Monarch on one side.
A coworker had a 79 Mustang, every bit as shoddy as my Zephyr.
It wasn’t just the excessively cheap design of components, like window winders, and shoddy assembly like missing trim clips, the dealers were never able to correct much of anything.
The “never buy a first year car” mantra was learned the hard way though. My GLC was the 5th year of the generation, my Civic was the 3rd year and my Jetta wagon is the 6th year. I told the VW salesman I had considered waiting for a 15 Jetta wagon, nice styling and the new 1.8T is getting rave reviews for performance and efficiency, but “I don’t want to be a beta tester”
Next-door neighbor still daily-drives your “bonus car”, and I STILL think it’s good-looking.
My 1980’s list would include imports — top of the list is the Bitter SC, saw a couple running around in-period but not since.
Have you done an article on the 1953 Buick thats hiding in the back of the garage there?
I’m going to suggest an oddball as an interesting “tech” collectible from that era, any of the “TV” E-body cars could have some interesting historic significance as one of the first cars with a touchscreen in it, make all the young whipper snappers crap their drawers when they see a touch screen in a car made when their parents were in elementary school.
Heavens, Carmine – how did you miss this one?
https://www.curbsideclassic.com/cars-of-a-lifetime/coal-1953-buick-special-riviera/
Yep, now I remember. I read it, but forgot. Lovely car.
Awesome list. My only variance would be to exchange the Monte for an F150 and the Cavalier with an ’85 or older Eldorado, just because they look good.
Your last paragraph brilliantly sums up thoughts I share.
Funny, I didn’t even think about trucks…I’d love an ’83-’87 Chevy C-10, light blue, like my uncle had. Rubber mats and base wheels covers would round it out nicely…does one exist anymore?
As an aside, any luck on the Galaxie’s hiccups?
I’m in wooly country today so I will likely see a base model with those base hubcaps.
With the county and state fair coming up I’ve been wrapped up with that and the Galaxie is sitting in the shed. So she is still down. He coil was not healthy but there is still something wrong as it still doesn’t want to start. It’s on the agenda for this week.
Most of my favorite cars are pre-1972 models. It’s tough for me to come up with an 80’s top-10 list, so I’m not going to limit myself to North American models or ones I could actually afford to own. Here goes:
Buick Grand National
Chevy Monte Carlo SS (I prefer the look over the GN. Wish it had the power to back it up.)
Cadillac Allante (I prefer the looks over the Reatta)
Pontiac Trans Am (not a Camaro, therefore better)
Dodge Ramcharger
DeLorean DMC-12 (can’t believe nobody else listed this yet)
Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham with the 350 diesel
Lambo Countach 5000QV (had the framed poster since I was a kid!)
Aston Martin Lagonda (looks bizarre in pics, even more-so in person. Maintenance would be a killer.)
Dodge Mirada
“Dodge Mirada”
A-ha! Another lover of the Chrysler J-body, I see. Figured Id be the only one flying that flag….
“J-body lover” would be putting it a bit strongly. It was more like, “Hmmm, I need to have a RWD Mopar on this list, and the Mirada looked pretty good for the era.”
All things considered, the two vehicles most likely to actually wind-up in my driveway would be the Ramcharger or DeLorean. I really like them, and you can find decent examples relatively cheap.
+1 on the Buick GN(x) 1986-87, Countach (although prefer original design), and AM Lagonda.
Interesting that your whole list is American. For me the 1980s was the import decade. For the most part I find the 1980s and early 1990s the golden period for Japanese cars especially and a bit of lull for American cars. My list would have to include (affordable dreams).
Mazda Rx-7 (1st generation – end of the line GSL-SE)
Toyota MR2 with factory supercharger and T-Tops
Dodge Omni GLH
1988 Pontiac Fiero GT
Nissan S-Cargo
Subaru XT
Innocenti DeTomaso Turbo
Lada Niva
Triumph TR8 convertible
Corvette C4
Innocenti DeTomaso Turbo
Great choice, really cool car!
I’ve wanted one since I first learned they existed. I’ve got a soft spot for Lada Nivas and rear-engined Skodas, too. All three would be parked in the “Canadian Bacon” section of my garage if I won the lottery.
And obviously I’m talking $2 scratch-off winnings here, since these are all really cheap cars… just uncommon and located in a different country.
They are really hard to find these days. The Nivas are rare but around. The Skodas and Innocentis only show up once and a blue moon. Either as perfect or basket case examples.
I actually saw a Fox Cobra in a restaurant parking lot a few months back. If was in near perfect condition and was still wearing the TRX tires and wheels. I was certainly shocked as they weren’t that popular when new and I certainly couldn’t remember the last time I had seen one.
I always liked the 1986 1/2 Supra, its one of the few Japanese cars I wouldn’t mind adding to my stable, a 5 speed manual with the targa top, these are still really good looking cars today, I remember the first one I ever saw or got to ride in, it was owned by a neighbor that kinda looked like Gabe Kaplan. He took me for quick spin around the block when it was brand new, its still memorable in my head.
I so wanted one of those “boxy” Z24 hatch backs (still have the “fox raised by wolves” poster on the garage wall) but I still had a year of college to run so I kept driving my Chevette. I thought those Z24s were slick and like the idea of the 2.8 V6 in them after my Citation experiences (which were ALL good by the way) Hmmm, maybe a Citation X11 with the HO 2.8 would be fun.
Ford Capri 2.8i, in black
Ford Fiesta XR2, XR2i in the late eighties
Ford Sierra 2.0i DOHC, the sedan
Mercedes W124 with a 6 cylinder, either gasoline or diesel
Mercedes W126 SEC
Citroën CX 2.5 GTi, in dark blue metallic
Peugeot 205 1.9 GTi
Peugeot 604, fully loaded
Renault 5 GT Turbo
Opel Senator, fully loaded
Not interested in roadsters, convertibles and exotic sports cars. Not now and not back then.
Man. As many faults as there were, the 80’s were probably my favorite car decade. So making a list is quite a challenge! But, off the top of my head and in no particular order:
1987 Buick Grand National
1987 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS
1988 Thunderbird Turbo Coupe
1989 Lincoln Mark VII LSC
1988 BMW M6
1989 Mercedes 560SEC
1989 Audi 200 Quattro Avant
1986 Jaguar XJ6
1989 Mitsubishi Starion
1985 Toyota Supra
Honorable mentions to go the 1989 Mitsubishi Sigma in all its wacky wedge-shaped high-tech glory, the 1989 Volvo 780 Turbo, and the super-rare 1986 Buick LeSabre Grand National.
It also occurs to me while making this list that a lot of clasically 80’s cars reached their zenith in the very early 90’s…but that’s another article…
Can’t argue with your list. I’d add the Grand Wagoneer, just about any G special with a T top, Mustang 5.0 LX notch and / or convertible. Maybe even a K convertible.
Ooh…a K convertible…not bad!
I spent my youth cruising in my mom and dad’s ’88 Mustang GT convertible…which they still have! I’d like to say it helped with the girls, but there’s only so much a new Mustang can help with an awkward teenager. 🙂
That’s something you don’t see very often, love for the IROC-Z. I’m with you on that. Surprised there is no C4 Vetta on your list. Another under-appreciated winner that in 10 years we will wish we had picked in 2014.
I actually have never warmed up to the C4 ‘Vette. I kind-of like the ’86/’87 era roadster, but that’s about it. They are a great bargain right now.
Honestly, the real damning fault with IROC Camaros were the owners of them, not the cars themselves, which I think were pretty sharp. It’s just that I remember rich kid high school jock assholes had them in the 80s/early 90s and trailer trash snatched them up once they got run down.
Can’t think of 10 but here’s my favourites in no particular order
Lincoln Mk VII LSC
Imperial(we have a CCer who has a working one) despite it’s problems
BMW 635
Lexus LS 400
Pontiac Firebird
Bristol Britannia
Ford Sierra(plain vanilla 2 litre)
Had to look up the Britannia. One word: yes.
Google “Bristol Brabazon.”
I like your choices. I agree that the Reatta has collectible charm, but I’ve always thought they looked incredibly homely from the door back. I’d probably drop the Cavalier, 85 T-Bird and 80 Mustang and add a few of the others mentioned above like a 86-89 Mustang 5.0, Grand Wagoneer, a full size GM BroughamMobile, or a 85 Corvette (I think the 84-85’s are the prettiest of that generation and the 85 engine is much improved).
I have to comment on that brochure page for the Grand National. Who the heck chose a non-turbo Regal with black out trim, blackwall tires and wire wheels for the brochure!?! The same car visually with aluminum wheels at the bottom of the page looks pretty good, but the wire wheels look ridiculous!
” Who the heck chose a non-turbo Regal with black out trim, blackwall tires and wire wheels for the brochure!?! The same car visually with aluminum wheels at the bottom of the page looks pretty good, but the wire wheels look ridiculous!”
DUDE…you seriously took the words outta my mouth!
That photo has puzzled me since I first saw it in 1987….
It would be shorter for me to list the cars from the 80s that I don’t like…
Good answer, ajla…
+1 🙂
I love your list and I love this idea. I have commented off and on about my love for classic cars recently, but I cannot seem to come to grips with the prices of the ones I like and the actual comfort or lack thereof in driving one. So I have been more and more interested in potential 80s or even 90s classics. I do not think they are going to ever get cheaper than they are today, and they will never hit the peak value that a 60s or 70s muscle car has. But that also works for me, as I would rather have a car I can drive and enjoy and while I won’t make money I can probably not lose money if I ever need to liquidate. I love the Monte Carlo SS. Something about these cars appeals to me at a basic level, probably because I am Italian and young mafia guys back in the 80s either drove these or Z28s. I know the GN is faster but they also cost a lot more. And the SS is more of a muscle car with the V8 sound. My plan is an LS swap, hotchkis suspension, lowered, with 17″ reproduction 1981 Z28 rims. Probably all black with the burgundy interior.
I would definitely add a K car on to this list, since I owned one! LOL. It was a good, college car — a 1987 Plymouth Reliant. And, say what you will — it lived up to it’s name. Not the coolest car, but for a college kid on a budget, I was my own COAL!
Also — love the picture of the two 65’s in the garage!
10 cars from the 80’s?
This was high school and college for me, and quite honestly, I had no use for any car made in America, none at all. Sure, I appreciated older cars from the 60’s or earlier, but I had already bought into a “Japan makes reliable cars, America doesn’t” mindset – not to mention, I thought almost all American cars of that era were poorly styled.
So, my list would not include a single American brand.
I’m sure this I’ve missed something, but here’s a quick guess:
1988 Honda Prelude 2.0Si 4WS
1983 Toyota Celica Coupe GT-S
1984 Mazda Rx7 GSL-SE
1984 300ZX Turbo
1987 Toyota Supra Turbo
1988 Supercharged Toyota MR2
1986 BMW 325i Coupe
1985 Honda Accord SEi
1983 Honda Civic CRX
1985 Chevrolet Sprint (it’s a Suzuki, so it’s ok)
I’ve come close to buying an ’85 Accord SEi more times than I can count, but they’re always either too far away or priced too stupidly.
In a perfect world, Honda would have made an SEi hatch with the fuel-injected engine back in 1983, cuz that’s what I really want!
Nice little bucket list, Aaron! Its been all about the G-body love over the past few days. And that pic at the bottom of the Regal page really shakes my foundations. Usually I hate that almond/beige/champagne color but with the blackout trim and those sick ass turbine wheels it actually looks pretty good. Nice move on that Shelby Charger and 4 eyed ‘Stang too!
The 80s were a bit of a dark age, but there WERE some cool cars. My top 10, in no particular order:
–Jeep Scrambler: Wanted one so bad I could taste it since I was a kid, owned one, and want another.
–Jeep J-10 stepside: One of my holy grails!
–’89 Jeep Cherokee Sport: Gotta be a 2 door 4×4 with 4.0 and 5spd. I went with an ’89 since by then the craptacular Peugot trans had been given the guillotine.
–’86 Dodge Daytona Shelby Z: Gotta be a turbo II 5spd car with T-tops. Blue, red, or silver, black leather interior and ‘crab’ wheels.
–’87 El Camino SS. Last year for the car, and I loved this generation.
–’80-’86 Mustang GT: Gotta be a 4 eyed model, and a non eggcrate grille. Gimme the T-tops and a set of ’88-’89 turbine wheels.
–’80 Dodge Ramcharger/Plymouth Trailduster: The holy grail of these. Last year for the removable top, but it gets the bigger 5 x5.5 wheel bolt pattern and no more sealed bearings or fulltime 4×4.
–Porsche Carerra: Any of em, with black trim and black Fuchs mags.
–’80 Chrysler Cordoba LS (with the gunsight grille): Only year for factory 360. Gimme T-tops and paint it fire engine red or black with red interior. If you wanna get REAL stupid, how about a swapped in 4 speed and badging from a Dodge Magnum so I could make this car what it SHOULD have been all along! A Mirada can substitute.
–’86 Regal T-type: A GNX would be awesome but a T-top car with the blackout trim in silver or bright red, those awesome turbine wheels, and a warmed over Chevy 350 would be perfect!
I might be too old for this list. I drove through the eighties in an early seventies car. Nothing tempted me sufficiently to update it.
Only 80s car I’d repeat would be the VH Commodore the Toyota Corolla was junk the 323 van was a bomb but reliable XF Falcon was a turd EA junk VN Dore likewise, nah its an era I can live without.
Thanks for picking my very first car: the 85 Shelby Charger. Many a time, it embarrassed a few f-bodies and the odd Mustang or two. The only problem was that no one at my high school knew what it was and thought I was saying “Chevy” Charger when inquiring about it. But then again, I was never able to afford the Shelby decals and side stripes after the Macco paint job.
1989 oldsmobile trofeo
1985 eldorado biarittz convertible
1989 buick riviera
1989 firebird trans am
1989 fleetwood 60 special sedan
1989 mark 7 lsc
1982 imperial fs edition
1986 pontiac grand prix 2 +2
1989 mustang gt conv red leather
1984 aston martin lagonda
The Riviera is a good choice. I especially like this one from the ’83 brochure.
Pretty Riv!
But then again, a 1983-86 T-Bird is really sharp too. Of the cars on your list, the Riv and T-Bird are my top two choices.
But what I think I’d really like would be a 1988-89 Town Car. One like this would be excellent, but I would probably have to have the Turbine alloys.
I wouldn’t say no to a mint M-body Fifth Avenue or Brougham d’Elegance though.
Another dark horse, Tom! Back in college, I daydreamed for a while of trading the ’87 T-Bird for a maroon ’80s Town Car. It just seemed like a cool, offbeat car for a college kid. Never did pull the trigger, and now my favorite Town Car is the generation directly after this.
Aarron I am with you on the last paragraph. Anything that is non American branded just does not seem right though I did almost pull the trigger on an 85 Accord. My favorite Japanese car of all time. Picture below is of my 86 Trans Am. I bought it 24.5 years ago and still have it. No major problems though it has led a pretty easy life. About 135000 miles on it now. It has the 305 TPI and an automatic. Do not think a 5 speed was available with the TPI. So of course it is number 1 on my list. Others from the 80s in my dream garage.
2. 81-83 Imperial
3. 79-85 Riveria
4. Late 80’s Lincoln Mark VII LSC
5. 80-81 Cadillac Seville
6. Fleetwood Brougham with out the 4100.
7. Dodge Rampage or Plymouth Scamp
8. 87-89 Chrysler Lebaron Convertible
9. Early 80’s Mercury Colony Park Wagon
10.Early 80’s Oldsmobile Toronado Deisel
I thought I’d be the only one with a 350 diesel on the list.
Friends of mine got an 83 Ninety Eight Regency with the Diesel. Drove it a few times. Always enjoyed the diesel throb in that Broughamtastic car and they said it got 33 MPG Hwy. Unheard of except with the Diesel in that big a car. From what I have read, if you followed maintenance to the letter they would hold up.
My additions:
1) 1985 Ford LTD LX Sedan
2) 1984 Cadillac Eldorado
3) 1985 Buick LeSabre sedan Collector’s Edition
4) 1988 Chevrolet Caprice Estate
5) Mercedes Benz 560 SEL
6) Sterling 825
7) Rolls Royce Silver Spur
8) 1987 AMC Eagle wagon
9) 1988 Jeep Cherokee
10) 1983 Chevrolet Malibu sedan
Now a days you can buy a clean well maintained 1988/1990 Reatta coupe for 2K two 2.5K drive it until you get tired of it and then one of two things, if well maintained sell it for about what you paid for it or if paint lost it’s shine and interior a little worn sell it for half of what you paid for it. Both ways you make out. But don’t buy it as an investment. Big mistake, enjoy it!
Ok, well, I already have an ’87 Grand National, so that itch is regularly scratched. I don’t think 15K is “expensive” cos what else can you get for 15K and daily drive the whee out of it? If you want something a little less expensive, the ’86 is mechanically identical yet commands a lower price.
I’d substitute a Turbo Skyhawk hatchback for the Cavalier. Nicer interior and sound deadening plus Turbo!
And a turbo 87-89 LeBaron Convertible. I have a thing for convertibles.
For Broughamtastic, the 307 in the Cadillac Brougham is weak sauce so I’ll do the 307 in an Electra wagon/Custom Cruiser. Full woodgrain, dark blue/grey with turn signal repeaters please! Pillow top seats please! Yah it’s slow but oh, the cargo capacity!
No ’80s car list can be complete without a Fiero. Make mine an ’88 with the revised suspension and 6.
I’m not hugely interested in Ford products then or now. I’ve got broughamtastic covered . . escort? Taurus? T-bird I’ve got with a Grand National . . but the Taurus was a hugely influential car, so let’s pick a car that did interior room and handling, and scratches my weird European itch . . the ’89 Eagle Premier ES.
I’ll second Chris on the Mitsubishi Galant Sigma, if only to remember when Mitsubishi had a brand identity.
RX7 convertible sounds fun, second generation Mit Turbo please.
Other Japanese cars? We have the Accord, which left me cold. Camry? Same. Civics and Sentras and Mirages and similar econoboxes? Well, there was a Colt Twin Stick turbo . . . ok.
What about European exotics? A Lamborghini or Ferrari maybe but the GN still leaves them beat. I know money is no object and I’m running out of choices . . . let’s try Porsche. 911? Yah but that tail happiness is not fun in Atlanta rain. 944? I never cared for the styling. Lumpy. 928? That sounds fun.
Just for the styling, an ’80 Monza or Sunbird. I’d rather have a Starfire/Skyhawk but not badged into 1980.
And for practical pig purposes, we have the Caravan/Voyager, Astro, Aerostar, and the weird Toyota/Nissan/Mitsubishi vans, plus the Vanagon. They’re all underpowered. But. Peugeot was still selling the 505 Break here . . . I already have a wagon. Well, let’s do the Peugeot 505 Break cos had I the choice, I probably would have chosen that (and regretted it.)
And then, as my possibly 11th car, I’ll pick a Lotus Esprit.
$15,000 for a good Grand National is a screaming deal. It is going to be worth more as time goes forward and there is no way to get anywhere near this kind of torque for this kind of money. There is also a huge selection of aftermarket stuff that is easy to do, too.
-930/911 Turbo
-Countach
-Testarossa
-Grand National
-Escort EXP
-5.0 and Turbo Mustangs
-86-89 Toronado Trepho
-83-85 Ford LTD LX
-Lincoln Mark VII
-lastly everybody’s mentioned the aero Thunderbirds but give me the Cougar first and foremost!
Matt, do you have an ’80s XR7? Just wondering because of the screen name…
…especially with TRXs, yumm
My mom had a NEW one an 83 black LS with red interior, just like that one, but the different foam alloy wheels.
We traded it in on an 87 Nissan 300ZX 2+2… when we were inside picking up our car, we left the Nissan dealership to find the Cougar gone already… they already made plans to sell it, while we were shopping and test driving the Z months earlier.
What a great car, my 1st car I ever drove… that got ALOT of compliments. lol
My 1984 Mercury Cougar GS… I just got rid of, due to a broken shifter cable. Ran great even when I sold it. 🙁
When we hit the Malaise Era, circa 1974 to 1990, I pretty much stopped paying attention to cars. Till then I was on top of every model, make, and engine around. Now if I had to pick a car from that era it would probably be the 1985 Mustang GT. Name any other Mopar of GM product and I wouldn’t have the slightest idea what they looked like. Japanese, I am biased since I had a great 86 626, have a great 91 626 Hatch and am looking at a 91 626 sedan. Yet I saw this car today and thought it didn’t look bad from the side or front. Bonus points as I am not a Chevy guy.
I think the Malaise era was from 1974-83…
but the Monte Carlo SS was designed during the Malaise Era in 1983… till 1988. 😉
My 80s list has to have these but not in any kind of order:
1-Renault R5 Turbo II
2- Bentley Turbo R
3-AM Lagonda
4-Lincoln MK 7 LSC
5- Dodge GLHS
6- Porsche 928 S4
7- Maserati QP III
8- Jaguar XJ-S V12
9- Buick GN/GNX (86-87)
10- Ferrari Testarosa or 400/412
11-Porsche 930 Slant Nose
12- BMW M6 (Euro)
Bonus 1989 Dodge turbo minivan
For me it is difficult to pick many domestic cars from this era. This was a period of transition and Detroit was not offering much to get my heart beating faster,
I see cars more as industrial design than anything else, and I love machines, so here is my top ten:
1. Avro Vulcan. My uncle actually got me inside one circa 1972. The navigator mentioned his lack of ejection seat. Cool design, cool uncle.
2. Honda Accord. Every Accord I have ever driven has struck me as a well thought out car that was good at everything but bad an nothing. Good, solid mass production.
3. Yamaha RZ350. The most fun possible without disrobing.
4. Honda 500 Interceptor.
5. Old Sony stuff. You couldn’t kill it.
6. The Chevrolet Six of 1963. Way over-designed, it must have cost almost as much as a Small Block.
7. Slant Six + Torqueflight. Add necker knob and pretty girl and life is grand.
8. Samsung compact front load washing machine. In ten years, only the door seal needed replacement.
9. The Honda J series engines. I love the one in my TL. Too bad the transmission is so bad unless you gun it all the time, which causes it to grenade.
10. The last generation VW Passat. I lust after these things after splurging on one in Germany in 2010 for a rental. The 2.0 turbo and DSG and nothing short of fantastic in the car, grunt galore and reasonable fuel consumption.
Gonna be hard to fit that Vulcan bomber in your garage though. 🙂
No one here thinks the Taurus SHO is worth a mention? That was built in the 80s, and was one of the first cars on my radar. Seeing its lack of mention here I’m willing to say it’s the most underrated car of the decade.
My List:
1988 Fiero GT V6
1989 Trans Am GTA (w/350 TPI)
1986 ASC/McLaren Capri*
1986 Mustang SVO*
1987 Dodge Caravan
1988 Shelby Charger
1988 Dodge Lancer Pacifica
1981 Bitter SC
1987 Bertone X-1/9
1985 Porsche 944
*There were soooo many four-eyed Fox bodies back in the day that I wanted. I chose only two. To be honest, I did the same with Pontiacs and Dodges on my list, too.
Bonus cars:
1984 Audi 5000
1986 Ford Taurus/Mercury Sable
1984 GTI
1987 Civic CRX
1987 Yugo GVX
That’s 15… Oh well… 😉
OK, here is my top ten affordable list, plus a cost no object one.
Toyota Celica Supra
Mazda 929 coupe
Nissan 300ZX
Ford Escort XR3i
Ford Capri 280
Ford Mustang 5.0 GT convertible
Peugeot 205 GTi 1.9
Saab 900 Turbo
Toyota Cressida RX70
Lancia Delta Integrale
The more upmarket list includes Jaguar XJS convertible, Porsche 959, Lamborghini Countach (of course) and the Ferrari F40.
I don’t just LOVE 80’s CCs … I daily drive them AND own them. I currently have 8.
Here are mine, all 80’s classics… except one, my 1991 Alfa Romeo 164 Sportivo(you can call it an 80’s classic, because they designed it in 1982… then sold it from 1987-98).
1981 Toyota Corolla 2dr Sedan
1983 Toyota Corolla 2dr Sedan
1987 Nissan/Datsun 200SX notchback XE
1988 Ford Mustang LX 5.0 notchback
1986 Chevy Monte Carlo SS
1981 Chevy Malibu Classic coupe
1985 Buick Regal coupe lowrider
1991 Alfa Romeo 164S
*At least I have TWO of the cars on your list… 86 Monte Carlo SS and an 88 Fox body Mustang 5.0 🙂
I thought about listing the ’81 Malibu coupe, but if I were going to have another Malibu (I own a ’79 4-door and once had an ’82 4-door as well) it would need to be a ’79 to match my sedan.
And that’s a very impressive collection of 80’s machinery!
Thanks, Chris…
Yep, would love to see your A body 79 Malibu … till it became the G-body Malibu in 1982, when the A body went to the FWD chassis for the Chevy Celebrity, Buick Century, Pontiac A6000 and Olds Cutlass Ciera.
Here is a pic of my A/G body(even though NO G body Malibu/Le Mans coupes actually exist… be we call em G body sometimes. lol) 81 Malibu for ya, along with my 85 Buick Regal lowrider…
Most recent one I have, from a few years ago. The ’79 was my first car, drove it until 2001, it’s been off the road since then but I hope to start its revival next year when I buy a house and will have some workspace again…needs a good amount of work but it’s (mostly) solid.
My 86 Monte Carlo SS
My 88 Mustang 5.0 notch
Countach
M635CSi
928
Reatta
Civic CRX
LS400
930
Turbo-R or Mulsanne
Volvo 740
Peugeot 205
Great lists! Hard to keep mine to 10 not sure I could say that for any other decade.
Cadillac “Reagan era Brougham” with 307 and 200R4
911 Carrera — Coupe only
Mercedes 190E 2.6 — preferably with the rare 5-speed M/T
Volvo 740 Turbo Wagon — the perfect car
Alfa Romeo GTV6 — ideally in white
Peugeot 205 GTI 1.9 — another perfect car
Ford Capri Mk III — so sad we never got these over here 🙁
Lincoln Mark VII LSC — Welcome back Ford!
Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z — must be yellow
Maxima SE 4DSC — Super White with 5-speed M/T
Honorable mentions for Toyota MR2, Chevy El Camino, C4 Corvette, Ford Sierra and Saab 900 Turbo.
Dodge Rampage
Dodge CSX VNT
85 Toyota 4runner
87 Toyota Pickup xtra cab
(Had one miss it dearly)
Land cruiser
Montero Raider 2 door
3/4 ton Power Ram with 8′ stepside bed.
GNX
Ramcharger (cheating I own an 88)
Commanche
And some more past 10
Allante
Honda CRX SI 1988 (my dad had one only Honda Ive really liked driving)
V6 Fiero
Land rover D130
959
928 s4
The 80’s sports car I WISHED Nissan produced back in 85/86 was the Nissan Mid4… always thought that car was SEXY.
Nissan Mid4… looks like Nissan was trying to imitate the Ferrari Boxer
The second gen one was even cooler and much more original.
More original but ALOT more uglier… looks like the ass of an NSX(which wasn’t made yet) and 2/3 of a Ferrari Testarossa that put it’s side vent gills on layaway.
LOL 😉
The Buick Grand National possessed a great motor installed in a crappy car. It’s too bad that the horrendously ugly Regal was Buick’s only containment for that power plant.
I pretty much agree with the list except for the Reatta. I would replace it with the 88 Mark VII LSC that I owned. I also owned a Monte SS, Mustang 5.0 and a black 87 Turbo Coupe.