The Hottest Cars of the ’80s That We Completely Forgot About

From the classic models to the ones that made their name during that decade, these vehicles will certainly bring back some fond memories. Let’s celebrate the forgotten gems of the ’80s and revive the golden era of the automobile industry!

Offering ‘Fun on Wheels’, the Brat was marketed in America and sold over 100,000 model’s. A later version featured a gutsy turbocharged 1.8-liter engine, and its popularity helped cement Subaru’s reputation for reliability and set the company up for major success in the US in the past two decades.

Not to mention, it also promised up to 40 MPG economy and performance that more than 70,000 buyers seemed to love. So why was it left behind? It all comes down to the ever-changing relationship between the two companies and the new offer that customers couldn’t refuse – the Mitsubishi Conquest.

With its neat styling by Richard Oakes and Gordon Murray’s aerodynamic design input, the Gold was just starting to gain momentum when a devastating factory fire in 1989 destroyed it all. Despite this tragedy, the 500 Bronze and Gold models produced remain a testament to the company’s ground-breaking design.

Despite featuring a beautiful 2.5-liter V6 engine, its high fuel consumption made it a hard sell. 1983 saw some styling revisions and a new fuel-injection system, but the 6 was ultimately discontinued in 1987 after only 12,000 units were built.

But it wasn’t enough to lure buyers and after two years of production and less than 2000 sold, it was dropped. Despite its short lifespan, the Century Turbo stands as a testament to Buick’s motorsport pedigree.

Autocar’s Steve Cropley praised it and the Cipher even inspired the Mazda MX-5. Despite its potential, Stevens was unable to secure the funds to bring the Cipher into production, and only seven were ever completed. It’s a shame the Cipher didn’t get the recognition it deserved as it was the perfect car for its time.

And it was a success: the X-11 drove Chevrolet to racing championships in 1982 and 1984, just like Polestar has done for Volvo. This rare car is a testament to Chevrolet’s commitment to performance and style.

Due to its lack of success, only 52,000 were sold over three years, it remains an icon of tasteful American motoring. Step back in time and experience the classic style of the Mirada.

This compact car featured a rare interchangeable four-wheel drive system, allowing the driver to switch between four-wheel and rear-wheel drive modes on the go. Despite an impressive 34,000 sales in its first year, the Kammback’s popularity eventually fizzled out. Yet, like all other niche vehicles, it still remains an interesting topic for automotive enthusiasts.

After its discontinuation in 2004, it was replaced by the Unlimited variant of the TJ-series Wrangler Jeep. Then years later in 2019, it returned once again to the pickup segment with the release of the Wrangler-based Gladiator. With its impressive off-road features and 20 years of absence, the legendary Jeep CJ-8 is back and better than ever.

As the first version of the EXP was about to end, the workers took a new Escort and restyled it. After showing it to their approving boss, the EXP was saved and continued to live on in the Escort family – all thanks to its human family!

Mercedes-Benz buyers weren’t interested, and neither were Lincoln customers, so the diesel option was discontinued after 1985. An ambitious attempt to offer customers what they wanted, but unfortunately, it wasn’t meant to be.

Styled by Giorgetto Giugiaro and bearing suspension developed by Lotus, the Impulse was a car ahead of its time. Unfortunately, its striking looks and elegant personality were not enough to secure its success, and Isuzu only managed to sell 40,000 in its best year before the Impulse was dropped after 6 years.

Even though only 289 were produced, they still appear for sale and are worth considering due to their performance and exhilarating rides. Get your hands on a rare Marcos today and experience the thrill of driving something unique!

Each pre-owned Fiero chassis was stretched by 16 inches, with a glass fiber body and an interior of opulent leather and wood. Produced until 1988, the Quicksilver remains an iconic luxury car to this day.

Most examples were used by government agencies, with one even being transformed into a Popemobile for Pope John Paul II’s Portugal visit in 1992. The UMM Alter II is a true testament to the power of function-over-form design.

Sales more than doubled in the first year, and the final car featured a 3.0-liter V6. But the real success came from the 150 hp turbo 1.8-liter four cylinder, which stayed unchanged for three years – a record for Pontiac. The Sunbird had evolved into a powerful icon.

On top of that, it had an impressive 0-62mph time, comparable to Porsche’s 944 and Nissan’s 300ZX Turbo, with a fuel-efficient 35 MPG. To top it all off, the Laser was equipped with a turbo boost gauge for its 150,000-strong customer base to regulate turbo pressures. With all these features, it’s no wonder the Laser was so popular.

The Turbo version could do 0-62 in 7.5 seconds, just one second slower than the Volkswagen Golf GTI of today. And the Omni GLHS was as quick as a new GTI, making its acronym aptly stand for “Goes Like Hell, Shelby”. Unfortunately, not many of these cars have survived.

Offering quick acceleration, the MVS was a great choice for those looking for an unforgettable driving experience. However, its handling was not as good as that of a Porsche 911, which cost almost the same. The MVS 260 was manufactured from 1984 to 1994, while the Atlantique was made until 2000.

Despite Pontiac spending $30 million to save the Fiero in its second generation, sales still halved between 1986 and 1987, and the vehicle was eventually axed after 370,000 units were produced.

Despite the high cost of buying, modifying and shipping the CX, CXA still managed to sell a handful of the car in the US for around $30,000 (approximately $73,000 in todays currency). When CX production ended in 1991, the team moved its attention to the XM.

Inside, leather and wood trim created an opulent atmosphere, and engine options included a V6, a turbodiesel, and a turbocharged four-cylinder. Estimates of the total number of 780s built range from 8,518 to 10,000. Production of this luxurious automobile ended in 1990, and it wasn’t replaced until the first-generation C70 in 1996.

The major downfall was the cost; the TF was offered for £14,950 (around $28,000) in 1985 when a Toyota MR2 was cheaper and more practical. Despite a test drive from British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, sales remained low and only reached 100 cars.

The US-spec model featured a turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine with the ‘T’ in its name standing for turbo. Unfortunately, the XR4Ti was too esoteric and only 42,000 examples were imported from Germany before it was retired in 1989. The bigger Merkur Scorpio suffered the same fate.