Porsche 959
I've made my love for this car quite clear. This looks almost like any Porsche, which for the most part, I'm indifferent too. They're like the Camry or Accord of sports cars. But every once in a while, Porsche will make something just over the top amazing. The 959, Carrera GT, the new 918, they're all just a 911, but prettier and faster. A lot of people, with me included, have a hard time seeing any Porsche as more then a 911, but the Porsche purists will fight to the death that these cars are nothing like a 911. I agree with them, but only about the 959. The first "mass-produced" supercar unless you actually consider the Audi Sport Quattro to be a super car, it had some amazing technology and outran the Ferrari F40, the ever popular superstar supercar of the 80s.
Ferrari 288 GTO
The 288 GTO was just a beautified 308 GTB, with the same basic mechanic setup but with coachwork done by Pininfarina. The 308 may be remembered as the Magnum PI car. There was also at 288 Evoluzione which was a race-ified version of the 288 with slightly more power. This car was the car that inspired the visuals on the F40.
Nissan 300ZX
Produced from 83 to 89, this model Z was made by Nissan to combat the Corvette, as you can tell by the styling, and had the muscle to back up the looks, coming with a range of 6 cylinder motors, the base of which was a turbo straight 6 and the best was a twin turbo 3.0L V6. Whichever model you went for, you were in for a good time. Nissan also jumped on the t-top bandwagon with this model, make it an obvious staple of 80s automotive culture. You'll be hard pressed to find this model, or any other model Z in stock condition these days, which is sad because I think it's looks are stunning.
Mitsubishi Starion
Produced from 82-89 and sold as the Dodge/Plymouth Conquest in certain markets, this not so popular, turbo 4 powered RWD sports car is another one of those cars that screams 80s. With looks supposedly inspired by both the Camaro and the Porsche 928, Mitsubishi was definitely going for a look here, and while often looked over on most 80s top 10 lists, I think its rightfully deserving of a spot somewhere on mine.
Lamborghini Countach
Okay, I know that a third of its life was lived through the dark years of the 70s, but this generation's Lambo got so much better through the 80s. It saw the addition of the crazy big spoiler and the metallic paint opposed to the pastels of the 70s and even the addition of a US road legal model that required the addition of a tacky plastic bumper. Even that was great though and I still believe that this will remain my second favourite production bull car forever.
Aston Martin Lagonda
Fast forward from the 80s, through the 90s and the 00s, and into early 2010. Aston Martin launches the Rapide and everyone is mortified at the idea of a four door Aston. Now remind again to 1974 when this little number was launched and produced from 74-90, the same production years as the Countach. The first version was based off the Aston V8 but didn't live long due to everyones' hatred toward, but somehow this redesign was more accepted and lived from 76 right through the 80s. Engine was a 5.3L V8 making 280 HP, but more then the power, which wasn't that great, were the amenities this car offered. Digital LED displays and touch pad controls and steering wheel mounting audio controls, basically things that you can get now on a $12,000 Kia Rio. Toward the end of the production, their were shooting brake/estate versions made by a third party and a two door LWB model called the Rapide, which didn't do well.
1989 Taurus SHO
Robocop's car!! Thats all that needs to be said. End of article.
No, but really, this car was pretty impressive in its day. And while I know I'm really pushing it here with this barely being an 80s car, I don't care, it belongs here. It had 3.0L, Yamaha built, V6 that could reach 143 MPH, which I find impressive for an FWD car from the late LATE 80s. While today you'll be lucky to find one with less then 150K on the clock and any less then 6 dents, the fact that these are still around in large numbers impresses the hell out of me. I see more of these earlier Taurus SHOs then I do base model Taurus. During my web research, I've also found many SHO owners clubs around America, so like the Fiero, this nerdy little 80s car has its cult following.
Volvo 780 Bertone Coupe
This is just another one of those overlooked 80s sports cars, overshadowed by the big boys and rarely looked back upon with anything more then indifferent thoughts. Produced from 86-90, and made in Italy by coachwork builder Bertone, famous for many other cars more popular than this, this was Sweden's answer to the Nissan Z and the American muscle of the era, because while not being quite as powerful (most popularly equipped with a 2.0L turbo 4), it had the technology to compete with the best, with a boost control system and anti roll system.
Saab 900 Turbo
I don't like Saab, however, I must give credit where credit is due. Front engined and FWD, and looking the way it does, one might never suspect the crazy amount of power and fun that came from this "Executive Compact" (Saab's words). It came in many variations including 2 and 4 door sedan, 3 and 5 door hatchback and even a convertible. The double wishbone suspension gave it amazing handling while adding a turbo and an intercooler made for great power with a whopping 175 HP. Not impressive by today's FWD standards, but shocking for back then.
So as always, I've saved the best for last. People say certain things scream 80s to them the most, and for most car enthusiasts, its probably the Delorean or the Firebird or the Bronco, but for me its the Pontiac Fiero.
PONTIAC FIERO
I have been getting into this car a lot lately because my friend out in California acquired one recently and since then, I've been doing a lot of research into the "Poor Man's Ferrari". First being sold in August 83 as a 1984 model, the first Fieros had a small 4 cylinder that wasn't that impressive, although GM had a few 2.5L models testing around Detroit at the time which were turned into pace cars for the Indy 500. For the 85 year, it got the high output Chevy V6 with 140 HP and the GT model was finally introduced to the public after hiding out as pace cars the year before. In 86 we got the fastback design shown above and in 87, a special package to turn your Fiero into a Ferrari 308 doppleganger was made available at many Pontiac dealer and turned the Fiero into something called the Pontiac Mera.
In 1988, after GM was sued by Ferrari for the Mera, production stopped. Even though GM denies this is the reason for ceased production, its widely believed to be the cause. A 1990 prototype was developed, but it never turned into a production model and on September 1, 1988, the final Fiero rolled out of the factory and an amazing automotive era was brought to an end. Its also said that the 90 prototype was what led to the design of the next gen Camaro/Firebird starting from 93, but this was never confirmed. Look at the picture below and be the judge for yourself.
I like to think the spirit of the Fiero lives on in every 4th generation Camaro/Firebird still around today.
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