Ah, the eighties: the decade that brought us shutter shades, punk rock and the Cadillac Cimarron. Back in the days when greed was good, Frankie said relax and nobody knew where the beef was. It was also a great decade for cars:
The Germans brought us the Porsche 959, the AWD Audi Quattro and the BMW E30 M3. The rest of Europe brought us the insanely awesome Ferrari Testarossa, Lancia Delta Integrale rally champ and the "geography teacher on crack" Saab 900 Turbo.
In the good ol' U.S. of A there was the third generation Pontiac Firebird Trans Am, the C4 Corvette and the built-for-NASCAR Buick Grand National. At the same time, the British Isles brought us the wedge shaped Aston Martin Lagonda sports saloon (okay, it was launched in the late 1970s but it was offered throughout the '80s), the Ford Sierra RS Cosworth and the Irish-built DeLorean DMC-12.
Oh, and what would the '80s be without Japan's soon-to-be cult hero: the Toyota AE86? Nothing, that's what.
So take your pick. Which of these bad boys is your favorite? Or is there one we've missed? Let us know in the comments. If you have more than one choice, that's okay too. List them all. Though please, don't argue with me over the nationality of the DeLorean. That could take forever to sort out.
By Tristan Hankins
_______________________________GALLERY_______________________________
77 Comments:
Favourite, not best, right? If so the easy choice for me is the 81-86 Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV6. Not the most reliable car but it looks (to my eyes) absolutely gorgeous and has a pretty impressive racing pedigree with touring car and rally championship wins, and was even a Bond car briefly in Octopussy.
for me... it has to be the 1986 Aston Martin V8 Zagato. -NF
I Go for 959 with F40 as runners up
Impossible to choose. This must be my alltime favourite automotive period. Every car I've owned was either built or designed in the 80's and I've had two of the above selection
Porsche 944 was always one of my favorites and don't forget the Mitsu Starion. The GTV-6 mentioned above was my dream car even more than just about anything!
I remember the 959 ... ugly then too!
I was too young in that decade to admire anything outside of a 3 wheeler and a baby stroller.
Call me when you do a 1990s edition.
M3, Corrado, Nissan 300zx
Porsche 959, Lancia Delta Integrale, BMW M3...
"I was too young in that decade to admire anything outside of a 3 wheeler and a baby stroller.
Call me when you do a 1990s edition."
So you can't admire a car older than yourself?
Wow ... really ? No one for the lancia delta intergrale ? know it went on through the mid 90's but still...
deloreans a piece of gull wing crap...escort cosworth is my pick...
Had an Audi 4000 that I turned into an S, it was a love hate relationship but what I truly coveted was the GT Coupe Quattro. Also had an 89 325i Convertible and loved that car. What a blast! But what I'm truly surprised you didn't list was my all time favorite 80's sports car. I literally purchased *every* magazine at the time that had any article on it. The super gorgeous, ridiculously fast, superbly balanced vehicle with sublime handling, that spawned a look copied by many auto manufacturers, which lasted for nearly a decade, the Porsche 944 Turbo. As a teen, I swore to myself I'd own one some day, and eventually did. Over time I turned it into a highly competitive track car that unfortunately died on me on day. As times got rough, I ran out of money rebuilding it and had to sell as is. Fortunately I found a buyer who was equally taken by the model and not only put it back together, but turned it into the dream car I'd always wanted but couldn't afford to build. It was an ideal fate for a car which gave me many incredible experiences. Of the many cars I've owned, I miss it the most. *sigh*
Clearly the M3 for me! Driving an e30 myself (from the 90s and no M3 :( ) I'm dreaming of owning an M3 every day :)
Lancia Delta Integrale.
But... Where is Alfa 75 1.8T?
Mad lightweight hot hatches with loads of turbo lag and torque steer - Renault 5 GT Turbo, Peugeot 205 Gti 1.9, Fiat Strada Abarth, Lancia Delta HF turbo, VW Golf Mk2 GTI 16v (doesn't quite conform to the above description, I must admit).
Porsche 959s and Testarossas were poster-fodder for the bedroom wall, but these were cars I thought I'd be able to own one day; I did buy one of them and kept it for 5 great (unreliable and expensive) years!. I know there're not all great cars, but cheap uncomplicated and fun. To find any of the above unmolested would be a fantastic find today.
Where is the Porsche 928?!! It a body style that went 20 years unchanged, with only one bumper upgrade. This model still looks amazing 35 years later!
what is the blue car in row 8, column 4?
Porsche 928 for me!
audi sport quattro . where is the golf gti 16v?
the porsche 959 and the porsche 928 have always been my favorites ... but then who could resist a good deloren haha
Either The Ford Cosworth, Lancia Delta or That Porsche
How come the Peugeot 205 GTI is not in that list? that should be the One!!!
For me the car that made me dream was the Supra Turbo, 1989 Model, in white, T-Top, I think I still could buy a specimen of this model if found in really good shape...
Also the 1989 Celica All Trac Turbo in red...
This for cars that were "achievable"
The Porsche 959 for unattainables...
It can only be the Lancia Delta Integrale !!
TURBO DODGE :O) everything from the 85 GLH to the 89 csx-vnt!
#Anon [Names, names...] "What is the blue car in row 8, column 4?" It's a Renault Alpine GTA
I know it's not exactly a sports car but I love the Volvo 780 Bertone Coupe, it was beautiful.
I quite enjoy the E30 BMW and the Porsche 944 Turbo.
M3, Porsche 944 and Ferrari Testarossa for me. The styling was just amazing.
The Audi Quattro is why I fell in love with Audis and still drive them today. Love that the Corrado shown here. I'd also add the Scrirocco 16V.
Where's a picture of a Lancia Delta Evoluzione???!!!
Definitely my pick :)
SVO Mustang and 944/944 Turbo
M3 !!!
Funny thing, the Toyota Corolla GTS, Toyota Celica, and Toyota Supra were all favorites of mine back in the 80's. In the 80's, i owned a Toyota Corolla GTS, and loved it, lightweight, rear drive, twin cam engine, loads of fun, and reliability. But today, there isn't one Toyota i would own. I dont even notice Toyota's on the road anymore. Might as well be the trees in a background.
BMW M3, Porsche 930S (911 Turbo Slantnose)
Daihatsu Charade GTTi - I love the idea of 0.9 Turbo mini-hot hatch with 99 BHP.
Peugeot 309 GTI / GTI-16 - Despite its looks (which I happen to like), it is considered by some a better hot hatch then its 205 brother.
Toyota Supra MK3 & Mazda RX-7 FC
Pop-up lights FTW!!
It still look great! IMHO.
VW GTI. Put it on a twisty back road and watch it outrun many of these poseurs.
M3 definitely, followed by Sierra Cosworth. I can still remember those days when they were racing each other in Touring Car Championships. They were the dream cars for me!
Where's the Starion?!
Looks: Lotus Esprit 1987
Technology: Porsche 959
Charisma: Audi Quattro
Many other notable cars there, its impossible for me to pick one.
Porsche 928 & Volkswagen GTI
Both '81 and '89 Celica's... Pity Toyota killed it in favor of boring high volume cars.
Of course the LANCIA DELTA HF INTEGRALE... what else,
I mean LANCIA even won the rallye championship with a FWD against Audi's quattro AWD :) Need to say more?
Well that is a lot! I have to say the AE series Corolla!
It's the first and second gen Rx-7's for me.
Light, fast and well balanced sportscars.
but the integrale is an awd, is it not?
The one that suits all: SAAB 900
It's nobody no.1 but its in everyones top 5!
@ Anon Above:
<< I mean LANCIA even won the rallye championship with a FWD against Audi's quattro AWD :) Need to say more?>>
Except the HF Integrale was AWD, too, maybe?
Back2topic:
959: the ultimate 911
Sport Quattro: the fastest brickwall (driven sideways)
RX-7 (SA, FC): pure rotary!
SUPRA all the waayyy! ICON.
1985-86 Toyota MR2, raw, mid-engined, howling fun... faster than the numbers. And stone-ax reliable.
The 944 is a close second (and I still drive one)
Oh it has to be the 288 GTO, best car ever not just the 80's and it's current used price reflects this!
As a regular UK motor-way commuter back then ib the 80's, there was nothing faster than a 2.0L white tranny van! But really I would go for the Ford Capri 280. Have you seen these go on E-bay recently.
Has to be the 944.
Loved the Lancia Delta, Renault/Alpine GTA Turbo, understated Peugeot 309 GTi too
Opel Manta for me... :)
everything rocks but that DMC crapbox
MG Maestro Turbo.
This would have sold well in the US as it didn't go round corners very well and was as reliable as the 'Yank-tanks' of the period.
Where is the Honda CRX ???
2nd gen rx7 for me
Call me one of those cultists. I've always loved that lightwieght panda Trueno and what it can do sideways
FC3S :)
FC 2nd gen RX7 for me great balance, cheap, fun and unique
Ferrari F40!!
Mazda RX7 FC3S
Nissan 300ZX Z31
Porsche 944 Turbo
Toyota MR2 AW11
Toyota Supra A70
RX-7! Teh Seven Can't LOSE!
The Mazda Rx-7 FC3S, well balanced with the unique Rotary engine!
Wtf? No Porsche 928?! FFS Carscoop!
2nd gen RX7!
The FC above all - I daily one and am restoring another [black on black 91 and it's going turbo :D]
After that.. Supra mkIII, MR2, DeLorean, F40, 280ZX Turbo, Audi 4000, FB, 944...
As someone said earlier - The 80s produced the best cars of all time :D
Any Porsche 911 for absolute icon value
Lotus esprit and Alfa GTV6 for looks
Lets face it, you should never leave a Lambo Countach LP500S out of the list of all time desirables.
The corrado G60, superchargers never came sweeter
the honda crx conts no?
crx is my pick
CITROEN BX Gti 16v
The Mitsubishi Starion.... also rebadged as Chrysler Conquest was also one of the responsible cult classic
Datsun 280zx (S130 chassis), Nissan 200sx (S12 chassis) and Nissan Pulsar (KN13 chassis) for me
Lots of great cars and memories. I choose the Corrado.
Pardon me, being unprecise: Of course the Delta Integrale was an 4WD - bringing home the cup in a row from 1987 to 1992 (brand). The point was, however, LANCIA won the constructors championship even with the Rallye/type 037 (RWD) in 1983 when the Quattro had already arrived on the scene...
The third last vehicle on the right
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOEpNjmCiO0
I don't think any 2 cars had as much of a style impact in the '80s as these:
1. Lamborghini Countach
2. Camaro IROC/Pontiac Trans Am (same car slightly different body work)
They transcended the automotive world and influenced style in general for a decade. I've also had the amazing luck to drive both and even though they're nothing alike they're both totally unique. You can tell what you're driving blindfolded... and deaf
Post a Comment