The 10 Cool Cars from The 80s
Back in the 80s, every kid had a picture hanging on their bedroom wall of cars they wished to drive. Most of these cars were low, fast, and from Europe. Due to lack of Internet, people did not get every hour updates on the latest hyper, super, cars with mind-blowing performances.
Car enthusiasts had to subscribe to a magazine or conduct thorough research. Since most kids could not drive, they had to enjoy the automotive feats through friends, neighbors, and parents. Below is a list of 10 cool cars from the 80s that every kid wanted to drive.
- Porsche 911
In the 80s, posters of Porsche 911 bombarded walls across the US. The vehicle is still among the most quintessential sports cars in the world. The German compact vehicle had a turbocharged wallop. The vehicle still had a stylish design back in the days.
- Audi Quattro
The road and rally vehicle that evolved into a four-wheel-drive system was the first show at Geneva Motor Show in 1980. It paved the way for the four-wheel-drive behemoth that most car enthusiasts love today. The five-cylinder turbocharged engine and AWD setup knee-capped the North American versions when compared to those in Europe. Our list of cool cars from the ’80s would not be complete without the Quattro because of its boxy and almost American styling.
- Lamborghini Countach
Lamborghini manufacturers design and makes the most amazing vehicles in the world. The launching party of these Italian supercars was held back in the 70s but did not hit its stride on the pavement until the Countach 5000 Quattrovalvole was launched in the mid-’80s. The vehicle enjoyed a long production life and was among one of the coolest cars money could buy. Manufacturers launched it in 1985 with a 5.2-liter engine. The Countach LP500S was launched in 1982 with a 4.8-liter engine. It is a scarce vehicle since only 323 were produced.
- Ferrari Testarossa
The pure Italian supercar was one of the slickest looking vehicles in the 80s that the world ever saw. Most people could spend the whole day arguing about the coolest car Ferrari produced. The fastest vehicle on the planet back then was the 288 GTO when it came out. It later became the basis for F40, Enzo’s last design, and the first vehicle to top 200 mph. The two mind-blowing automobiles still went with the Ferrari Testarossa. The vehicle features a Ferrari flat-2 4.9-liter mid-engine as well as a 5-speed manual transmission that accelerates to a top speed of 0 to 62 mph in 5.3 seconds.
- DeLorean DMC-12
No list of cool cars from the 80s would be complete without the DeLorean DMC-12. The car is among one of the most sought after vehicles on the planet. The twin side doors open like bird wings. Manufacturers mounted the fiberglass body on steel chassis and covered it with brushed stainless steel panels.
Its PRV fuel-injected V6 engine produced 130 Hp. However, the vehicle is not fast. Its five-speed manual transmission enables it to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 8.8 seconds.
- Chevy Camaro IROC-Z
American muscle cars were not well accepted back in the ’80s. However, the Chevy Camaro was an exception. It featured a stretched hood, upgraded suspension, oversized racing tires, lowered ride height, and super rad gradient paint schemes. The vehicle built a rapid following because it summarized everything people loved about American cool cars from the 80s.
- Ford Sierra RS Cosworth
In the 80s, Ford manufacturers built some legendary fast cars. The Sierra RS Cosworth is among the most memorable with a gigantic whale tale on its back. Motorsport experts turned the vehicle’s Pinto engine into a 204bhp belter. The business looking three-door vehicle was fast too. Manufacturers built it to allow Ford to go Touring Car racing, where the Sierra RS became successful.
- Vector W2
In 1978, Vector Motors released Vector W2 as a concept vehicle. It was a fully functional automobile that went well into production in the late 1980s. The car was among the few concept vehicles to last that long.
Vector W2 is among the cool cars from the 80s labeled “Aircraft for the Street.” The vehicle’s design, including its interior, resembled a jet fighter. The Vector W2 had a Chevrolet 5.7 liter twin-turbo V8 engine that produced over 600 hp, which enabled the vehicle to get up to a top speed of 242 mph. It was one of the fastest concept vehicles in the 80s.
- Pontiac Firebird
The three-door hatchback coupe is among the cool cars from the 80s known as Knight Rider’s KITT. The Pontiac Firebird was available in different engines. However, the 1982 standard model featured a fuel-injected 2.5-liter GM Iron Duke 90 hp engine. It came with a 3-speed automatic transmission, which did not make this vehicle a speed demon. The vehicle’s sleek and stylish exteriors appealed to non-fans and fans of the Knight Rider.
- BMW E30 M3
BMW manufacturers built the E30 M3 to challenge the Mercedes 190E on the racetrack. The hardcore E30 M3 was better than the Mercedes. Originally, the vehicle was powered by a 2.3-liter four-pot S14 engine. However, the final editions that won the World Touring Car Champion had a 2.5-liter engine making it the most successful road racer.