Top Cars of the 1980s

Article written by:  Josh Joubert

The 1980s was a time of wonderment and neon lights. From fashion to movies, everything seemed to be getting bigger and flashier. This held true for the cars of the decade, as well.

Emission regulations in the 1970s modified the course of automobile manufacturing. Carmakers in the 1980s adjusted their designs to make up for the loss of raw horsepower or to find new ways to achieve better performance.

What followed was a wave of some of the most memorable machines of the century. The cars of the 1980s combined state-of-the-art technology with stylish exteriors. Here are some of the most recognizable and iconic vehicles that came out of that decade:

Pontiac Trans Am

You might recognize this entry better if you picture David Hasselhoff sitting in the driver’s seat. That’s right, this is the model (a customized version of it anyway) that stood in as KITT (Knight Industries Two Thousand) in the famous Knight Rider.

The Trans Am outperformed many earlier Pontiac generations by leaps and bounds. While the Firebirds that came before it had trouble breaking past the lower 200 range of horsepower, the Trans Am could clock in at 250.

Buick GNX

The 1987 Buick GNX was a deceptive looking vehicle. Stuck inside its sedan-like frame was a powerful engine with enough horsepower to complete a quarter of a mile in seconds.

The GNX was the last model of the Grand National line, and Buick decided to send off the series in style. The car was so unique that Buick only ever made a few hundred. That was an unfortunate decision for the rest of us, since the GNX was priced rather moderately for the stellar performance it offered.

DeLorean

Who could forget this unique poster child of the 1980s? From its retro-futuristic design to the butterfly doors, to its place at the center of one of the most memorable movies of the twentieth century, everyone should easily recognize this classic vehicle.

Besides being the car featured in all three Back to the Future movies, the DeLorean could be pretty fast at times, with some claiming 88 miles per hour in just seven seconds. There were plenty of faster vehicles at the time, though, and there was not much else special about it. However, the now-iconic look is more than enough to justify its placement on this list.

Ferrari Testarossa

Some might remember the Testarossa for being presented as a personal gift from Enzo Ferrari to the producers of the hit TV show, Miami Vice. The Testarossa was a high-powered car with a polish that many around the world loved.

Sporting a V12 that could reach up to 390 horsepower, it had both style and substance. It had incredible handling for its speed, as well, making this machine a real beast.

Porsche 959

Initially appearing as the Gruppe B concept before going into full production, the Porsche 959 truly earned its label of supercar. With a 444 horsepower, twin turbocharged, six-cylinder engine that could reach up to 198 miles per hour, the 959 stands out as one the premier sports cars of the 1980s.

 Audi Quattro

Audi’s Quattro sport variant stood out in the 80s due to its all-wheel drive, a rarity among cars of its type. Other mass-produced models tried, but the Quattro was the first fully functional design with this feature.

The Quattro was so fast that it was supposedly banned from racing, but the sedan version still managed to maintain its speed, coupled with the safety measures of a suburban family car. Though it did not meet the sports coupe’s estimated 300 horsepower, the mass-produced model still came in at about 200.

Lancia Delta

The Delta was an interesting car because of how far it drifted from its origins. It originally was intended to be sold as a simple family car, but its superior performance eventually led to the introduction of racing versions.

The Lancia Delta went on to crush the competition in the World Rally Championship, even while it sold hundreds of thousands of units in the non-racing markets. The Delta lasted ultimately 15 years before the line was shut down, but it made a big impression during its time.

Porsche 944

Sometimes labeled the poor man’s Porsche because of its lower price tag than other models like the 959, the 944 was still very much a luxury sports car (and still relatively expensive).

The Porsche 944 built upon earlier designs, but added some new attributes that helped it stand out over its older cousins. The 944 was praised for being lightweight and handling extremely well. Unlike the other less costly sports cars, reviewers believed it still had the superior performance standards set by Porsche.

BMW M3

The BMW M3 debuted as a rather expensive model, and it has only grown in value over the decades. The M3 has the honor of being one of the select machines that can be called street-legal race cars.

The M3 managed to reach impressive speeds, despite running on a four-cylinder engine. It could reach 60 miles per hour in just under seven seconds. BMW maintains that their E30 M3 models have used this incredible performance to win more races than other cars in the world.

Ferrari F40

The F40 is probably as well known for its prowess as it is for being one of the last cars Ferrari designed before founder Enzo passed away in 1988. As a top performing race car, it stood as a testament to the old driver’s legacy. Its engine was reportedly able to produce an astounding 471 horsepower, and it included materials such as Kevlar in its construction to keep it lightweight. 

Toyota MR2

Toyotas were known as some of the most dependable machines of the 1980s, and the MR2 combined that with the performance of a sports coupe. It was not the fastest car on this list, but it could clock some very impressive speeds. It was estimated to reach 60 miles per hour in just under seven seconds.

Many Americans fell in love with the Toyota MR2, and it earned its place in the Top Ten lists of several magazines. It combined the affordability and reliability of a Toyota with the power and speed of a true sports vehicle.

Final Thoughts

Many of us look back on the 1980s with varying degrees of nostalgia. Crazy became the new normal, and it showed in many of the things we produced. Ironically, many of the more popular car designs of that decade look rather calm in comparison to some of the even sleeker models produced today.