A Definitive Collection Of The Super-Coolest Cars That Were Totally Awesome In The 80s
The '80s were a productive era for cool machinery, and this list is proof.
The 1980s were defined by cringe-worthy television, the disintegration of the Soviet blocs, “Morning in America,” and the emergence of the Japanese car as a mainstream option rather than a quirky alternative. Surprised? Oh well...
Thanks to Buick’s turbocharged V-6s and Ford’s V-8-powered Fox-body Mustangs, the decade saw the beginning of a muscle renaissance. Then there were the white-painted small cars and fully realized European performance cars like the Lamborghini Countach and Volkswagen GTI.
It's pointless to explain why the Ferrari Testarossa is among the classiest cars of the 1980s; it simply is. The Testarossa epitomized the looks that a generation of kids hung on their bedroom walls, featuring pop-up headlamps, wide, finely sculpted hips, and louvered stop signs.
If the cars of the decade weren’t always wonderful, they were often attractive, as the industry began to produce emissions-friendly power, extensively experiment with turbochargers, and undertake significant work on the all-wheel-drive systems we now take for granted. If the depressing 1970s signaled the final chapter of the postwar production boom, the 1980s heralded a new wave of innovative thinking.
So turn on some New Wave, crack open a Bartles & Jaymes, and scroll through this collection of the coolest cars from the 1980s that we’ve gathered for your viewing pleasure.
1. Acura Integra (1986–1989)
2. Acura Integra (1986–1989)
Acura3. AMC Eagle (1980–1987)
AMC
4. AMG Hammer (1986–1988)
5. AMG Hammer (1986–1988)
Ron Strong
6. AMG Hammer (1986–1988)
RON STRONG | CAR AND DRIVER
7. Audi Quattro (1983–1985)
8. Audi Quattro (1983–1985)
AARON KILEY | CAR AND DRIVER
9. BMW M3 (1988–1991)
10. BMW M3 (1988–1991)
BMW
11. BMW M3 (1988–1991)
BMW
12. BMW M3 (1988–1991)
BMW
13. BMW M3 (1988–1991)
BMW
14. Buick Grand National GNX (1987)
GM HERITAGE CENTER
15. Buick Grand National GNX (1987)
RON DERIEMACKER | CAR AND DRIVER
16. Buick Grand National GNX (1987)
GM HERITAGE CENTER
17. Buick Grand National GNX (1987)
RON DERIEMACKER | CAR AND DRIVER
18. Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z (1985–1990)
19. Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z (1985–1990)
AARON KILEY | CAR AND DRIVER
20. DeLorean DMC-12 (1981–1983)
AARON KILEY
21. DeLorean DMC-12 (1981–1983)
KEYSTONE/GETTY IMAGES; ARTHUR SCHATZ/THE LIFE IMAGES COLLECTION/GETTY IMAGES; BILL PIERCE/THE LIFE IMAGES COLLECTION/GETTY IMAGES; BEN MARTIN/THE LIFE PICTURE COLLECTION/GETTY IMAGES; MANUFACTURER
22. Dodge Omni Shelby GLH/GLHS (1984–1986)
DICK KELLEY
23. Dodge Omni Shelby GLH/GLHS (1984–1986)
SHELBY
24. Ferrari F40 (1987–1992)
25. Ferrari F40 (1987–1992)
MARK PRESTON
26. Ferrari Testarossa (1984–1991)
CAR AND DRIVER
27. Ferrari Testarossa (1984–1991)
CAR AND DRIVER
28. Ford Mustang GT 5.0 (1987–1993)
29. Ford Mustang GT 5.0 (1987–1993)
FORD
30. Ford Mustang GT 5.0 (1987–1993)
FORD
31. Honda CRX Si (1985–1987)
32. Honda CRX Si (1985–1987)
HONDA
33. Jeep Cherokee (1984–2001)
DAVID DEWHURST
34. Jeep Cherokee (1984–2001)
JEEP
35. Lamborghini Countach (1974–1990)
36. Lamborghini Countach (1974–1990)
CHARLIE MAGEE | CAR AND DRIVER
37. Mazda 323 GTX (1988–1989)
CAR AND DRIVER
38. Mazda 323 GTX (1988–1989)
MAZDA
39. Mazda RX-7 Turbo II (1987–1991)
CAR AND DRIVER
40. Mazda RX-7 Turbo II (1987–1991)
41. Mercedes-Benz G-Class (The Late Triassic Period–2018)
MERCEDES-BENZ
42. Merkur XR4Ti (1985–1989)
43. Merkur XR4Ti (1985–1989)
PETE LYONS | CAR AND DRIVER
44. Merkur XR4Ti (1985–1989)
PETE LYONS | CAR AND DRIVER
45. Mitsubishi Starion (1983–1989)
AARON KILEY | CAR AND DRIVER
46. Mitsubishi Starion (1983–1989)
47. Mitsubishi Starion (1983–1989)
AARON KILEY | CAR AND DRIVER
48. Nissan Pulsar NX (1987–1990)
NISSAN
49. Porsche 944 Turbo (1986–1989)
NICK KELLEY
50. Porsche 959 (1986–1989)
51. Porsche 959 (1986–1989)
AARON KILEY | CAR AND DRIVER
52. Saab 900 Turbo (1978–1993)
SAAB
53. Subaru XT (1985–1991)
SUBARU
54. Toyota Celica Supra (1982–1986)
TOYOTA
55. Toyota Celica Supra (1982–1986)
TOYOTA
57. Toyota MR2 (1985–1989)
TOYOTA
57. Toyota MR2 (1985–1989)
TOYOTA
58. Toyota MR2 (1985–1989)
TOYOTA
59. Toyota MR2 (1985–1989)
TOYOTA
60. Volkswagen Rabbit GTI MkI (1983–1985)
VOLKSWAGEN
61. Volvo 740 Turbo Wagon (1984–1992)
VOLVO
We all know that the 1980s were a decade filled with neon, synths, mustaches, hairy chests, and adorable hairstyles. However, the 1980s were particularly productive in terms of cool machinery.
Which of these amazing cars did you fancy as a kid in the 1980s? Your personal thoughts are welcome in the comment section below.
