The 80s was a lavish and decadent decade dominated by some of the most outlandish and radical car designs in recent memory. If you’re a lover of all things bozy, wedge-shaped, and totally awesome, then you’re going to love these thrity 80s cars.
Datsun 280ZX
The legendary “Black Gold” Datsun was released for the badge’s tenth anniversary in 1980. Interestingly, there were only 3,000 of these ever made and each was extremely luxuriously outfitted with amenities that were downright decadent, even by 80s standards. Oh, and it had a killer TV ad.
Mitsubishi Starion
Starting in 1983, Mitsubishi made a name for itself as a car manufacturer for the first time in the US with the Starion. Alongside the long-forgotten Cordia and Tredia, the Starion was the way the former plane manufacturer introduced itself to car buyers in the West. It was also sold as the “Conquest” under various Chrysler imprints.
Saab 900 Turbo
While the 900 first hit the scene in 1978, it took until 1982 before this iconic car got its electronic boost control that would make it such a force to be reckoned with. Moreover, in 1985, the car got eight valves, pushing it to the max with a surge of force that made it a one-of-a-kind 80s dream car.
Mazda RX-7 Turbo II
Arabic numerals and Roman numerals in the same name? Upstyled but affordable sports car? A turbo engine add-on that turned a mid-market car into a competitor? Yeah, that’s all the signs of an 80s Mazda. And man, is this a cool car.
AMC Eagle
AMC’s Eagle created the type of rugged and dependable all-wheel drive station wagon that would later be popularized by the ever-present Subaru Outback. The early 80s outings of the Eagle basically carved out a brand-new niche in the car market!
Nissan Pulsar NX
On top of “Pulsar” being a downright awesome name for an 80s car, this 1987 outing from Nissan is a front-wheel-drive compact that could be customized in a variety of ways. The rear of the car could be removed to make it a bizarre pickup truck, it could be configured as a convertible hatchback, or just outfitted with standard T-top roof panels.
Porsche 944 Turbo
With stellar weight distribution, buttery-smooth handling, and a then-unique transaxle, the Porsche 944 Turbo was something to behold. It was also a dream to drive, easy to take around town, and downright mean on the racetrack. What more do you want from a Porsche?
Subaru XT
Some cars just look cool and that’s all it takes. That’s the case with the delightful 1985 Subaru XT, which looks like it was pulled straight out of an 80s sci-fi movie. It didn’t hurt that the thing was turbocharged and could really push the limits when piloted by an accomplished driver.
Honda CRX
The 1985 version of the Honda CRX is the poster child for Honda’s entire brand identity. They make affordable cars that are fun to drive and offer great performance for their cost. The higher trim options could convert the two-seater from a commuter car to a budget-friendly sports car.
Merkur XR4Ti
When this Euro-styled sports sedan made its way to the US in 1985, car enthusiasts figured it was about time for Ford to start appealing to wealthy, stylish young customers. In a word, this was the “yuppie” car. It performed well, looked interesting, and brought something new to the American market. It didn’t sell well, though, and was folded by the late 80s.
Jeep Cherokee
The 1984 Jeep Cherokee might not jump out at you as the coolest 80s car ever, but it was a seriously important car for the market in the 80s. It was lightweight, fetching, and great for off-roading. While this seems mundane by today’s standards, the Cherokee was filling a brand-new niche when it first hit the scene.
Acura Integra
While this first-generation Integra isn’t the most legendary version of the storied Acura, there’s a lot to love about the 1986-89 model years. It’s a cool, boxy, and classic 80s car that showcases all the little design flourishes people love about cars of the era.
Mazda 323 GTX
The 1988-89 Mazda 323 GTX was the blueprint for the types of “hot hatch” that would dominate the smaller end of the market in the early 90s. With its unique styling and somewhat goofy image, this is an instantly recognizable chassis that is now cool as much for the history behind it as for what it could do on a race track.
AMG Hammer
AMG was an independent shop back in the 80s and hadn’t yet become a subsidiary of Daimler. Its 1986 outing, the Hammer, is cool because of its simple concept. It’s got a gargantuan engine sitting in the frame of a tiny car. The result? Tremendous power and acceleration.
Mercedes-Benz G-Class
Ah, the G-Wagon. You might know it as a luxury car that goes for well over 6 figures, but back in the 80s you could import one of these suckers for a reasonable price. It was quite popular among enthusiasts in areas like the Northeast and California, and, eventually, Mercedes realized that Americans really liked the thing so they started charging out the nose for it.
Dodge Omni GLH
Many people learned the term “hot hatch” when they first heard about the Dodge Omni GLH. What does GLH stand for? “Goes like hell.” With a 150-horsepower inline-four on a lightweight frame, it would, too! An upgraded version, the GLH-S (Goes Like Hell S’more), was limited to just 500 units.
Audi Sport Quattro
Audi didn’t overengineer the Sport Quattro, making it one of the very few 80s sports cars with an understated design. Its design flourishes, like the subtle vents over the grille, were just right for Audi’s dignified, upscale ethos.
Buick GNX
You might not think “awesome” when you hear the name “Buick,” but the GNX changed that in the 80s. The GNX boasted a 300-horsepower turbocharged V6 engine, enough power to propel it past competitors. And it looked downright awesome with its hard edges and retro styling.
Renault 5 Turbo
Renault’s R5 sounds like something a gearhead cooked up in their garage as a custom street-racing configuration. The manufacturer took the Le Car, threw out the back seats to make room for a turbocharged engine, and made the whole thing rear-wheel drive instead of the standard front-wheel drive. And yes, it was awesome.
Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z
A car named after the International Race of Champions needs to be awesome, and thankfully, the Camaro IROC-Z fits the bill. Its enhanced performance mode and unmistakably cool styling have given this one some enduring popularity years after its 1985 debut.
Ford Mustang 5.0
The Ford Mustang is the only classic muscle car still on the market in the modern era, and it was awesome in the 80s, too. Interestingly, the Mustang 5.0 is the version of the car that restored its “wow” factor after a series of underwhelming late-70s iterations came in underpowered.
Aston Martin V8 Zagato
Timothy Dalton’s version of James Bond drove an Aston Martin V8 in The Living Daylights in 1987, and the manufacturer further pushed the design in 1989 with the V8 Zagato. This British supercar wore Italian sports styling over a core that was distinctly Aston Martin.
DeLorean DMC-12
It doesn’t matter if you’re a fan of Back to the Future, the DeLorean DMC-12 rules. It might have an underpowered engine, but it’s the coolest-looking car ever made, full stop. Gull-wing doors and a stainless-steel body just oozes 80s charm.
BMW E30 M3
The BMW E30 M3 has an absurd name and performance on the track that can match that absurdity. This unique sports sedan earned a lot of its cool reputation for its superb performance on the racetrack, racking up wins and becoming the envy of 80s kids everywhere.
Chevrolet Corvette C4
The C3 Corvette was a bit of a joke and flamed out quickly even among hardcore fans. The C4, however, changed the game. When you think of the history of the Corvette, this is the car that saved the nameplate from abject obscurity.
Ferrari F40
The Ferrari F40 doesn’t even look like something from the 80s. Its enduring aesthetics are a testament to how much car enthusiasts love this body style! It’s basically the cartoon version of what a fast car should look like, but remember, the F40 made this look iconic, it’s not adopting an existing style.
Porsche 959
The Ferrari F40 had one notable supercar rival in the 80s, and that was the Porsche 959. Many playground arguments about the finer points of the 959’s sequential turbocharging and all-wheel-drive system versus the F40’s raw horsepower ended in “well, nuh-uh!” back in the day.
Ferrari Testarossa
If you played the game OutRun in the 80s, you wanted a red Ferrari Testarossa. A poster of this thing was on every kid’s bedroom wall. It had pop-up headlights, vented sides, and more style than an entire fashion show. Oh, and it could absolutely zoom around the road, too!
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Lamborghini Countach
Okay, the Countach debuted in 1975. However, the 80s version is perhaps the coolest looking car to roll out of that decade and you can’t convince us otherwise. With its numerous vents and angular design, it just screams “80s excess”.
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Vector W8
The “forgotten” American supercar, the Vector W8, was plagued with design setbacks that pushed its release back from the late 70s all the way to the late 80s. However, it was well worth the wait! With a top speed exceeding 230 MPH and a design that looked more “fighter jet” than “street-legal car,” this was the one every 80s kid wanted.
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