If we judge cars by power, the '80s was not a great decade for the car industry. However, there are still some powerful cars produced in the ‘80s. The muscle car mania had gone poof in the ‘70s, taking down many a loved nameplates with it, and the subsequent malaise era had turned most surviving cars into caricatures of their former, powerful avatars. The general populace was wary of putting down a deposit for the powerful ‘80s cars, not knowing if the oil crisis was truly over, and worried if the feds would change their mind about emission control, again.
The cars were getting powerful, bit by bit, but not in the uncontrolled way they had risen to the horsepower wars in the ‘60s. Things were looking up but in a gentler upward swing. Still, some cars managed to get the spotlight on them by being powerful, fun, and affordable at the time. And they are still cool and powerful enough for anyone to buy today as classic cars, without breaking the bank...much.
10 The Capable AMC Eagle
The AMC Eagle lasted from 1980 to 1987, and while they were not the most powerful ‘80s cars, they were the precursor to a crossover. A veritable car-like body that rode on a 4X4 chassis, even if it looked a little out of place.
The 4.2-liter inline-six engine wasn’t half bad, rated at 112 horsepower, which was more or less the norm for the ‘80s. But this little jetsetter could take on bad terrain and a beating, and still keep going with gumption. You can get these for less than $10,000.
9 The Zippy Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z
The Camaro IROC-Z came named in 1985, for the International Race of the Champions, and lasted till 1990. It was a good run, and redeemed the erstwhile Iron-Duke by a mile, if not more. This Camaro “Z” car carried a ‘Vette 5.7-liter V8, detuned a little for a total of 220 horses.
While it still trailed behind the Mustang in power and performance, the Camaro IROC-Z offered a thrilling performance of its own and you can buy this powerful ‘80s car, for upwards of $10,000 today, though mint condition models may go for double or more.
8 The Boxy Audi Quattro
The Audi Quattro was a thin, wedge-like hatchback with fenders closely resembling blisters. It came for all of two years, debuting in 1983 and bowing out by ’85. With a turbocharged five-cylinder, 2.1-liter engine, the Quattro made for fantastic power.
It comes a little expensive on the classic car mart, at $30,000 or thereabouts, but remember, it was also a somewhat rare beast with only 700 sold in the US. Horsepower may be limited to just 160 but the Quattro had both style and swagger and worked both to advantage.
7 The Magical Dodge Omni Shelby GLH/GLHS
The Dodge Omni was a dullard. Mopar disowned it on sight, and it was designed with the VW Golf as inspiration, which is not a compliment. Then Dodge decided if Shelby could transform the ‘Stang, why not the Omni. So they hired the automotive godfather and he coaxed out the Omni GLH in 1984.
The Omni Goes-Like-Hell worked well enough for an even better 175-hp 2.2-liter turbocharged four-cylinder Omni Goes-Like-Hell-Some(more) version to be launched, lasting till 1986. Unlike the Mustang GT, these still come cheap on the classic car market, under $10,000 being the norm.
6 The Beastly AMG Hammer
Back in the ‘90s, AMG, as in Aufrecht Melcher Großaspach was an independent tuner that took John DeLorean’s muscle car formula to heart. Take a big engine, and drop it into a small, well-behaved car. Let the mayhem begin.
From 1986 to 1988, AMG took the Mercedes-Benz 300E and plonked in an S-class 5.5-liter V-8 in it. But they also scrapped the SOHC in favor of a twin-cam setup and managed an output of 255, going-to-eat-everything-for-breakfast horses. The top speed was 179 MPH, before they added a 6.0-liter engine, for 190 MPH. Here’s one in wagon form powered by a 6.0-liter V8 that was on sale for around $45,000 as a one-time offer. This car is expensive, but quality costs.
5 The Punchy Toyota MR2
From 1985 to 1989, Toyota made the MR2 and began to garner accolades. Small and light, the MR2’s 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine sounds way too small to do any damage but helped the MR2 sprint 0-60 MPH in 8.1 seconds.
Horsepower was a respectable 112, and the MR2 competed with the Pontiac Fiero. While the former was great from the start, the Fiero battled electrical gremlins before it sorted itself out, somewhat.
4 The Smooth Ford Mustang GT 5.0
The ‘Stang finally grew its family jewels back, with a 5.0 mill. Technically, it was a 4.9-liter V8 but with a return to 225 horsepower 300 lb-ft of torque, who’s counting? This Stang did not just roll, it raced from 0-60 MPH in 6.3 seconds, to top speeds of 137 MPH.
This is the reason this ‘Stang was picked up to be a cop car, and it neatly ran down unsuspecting motorists considering the national limit at that time was wheezing 55 MPH. It looked like a normal Stang, but for the red gumball on the roof, and lasted from 1987 to 1993.
3 The Zippy Acura Integra
The first generation of the Acura Integra lasted from 1986 to 1989 and was not the most powerful or the most celebrated of all Integra models, but it was a whole lot of fun. It came in three- and five-door trims, and carried a standard 1,6-liter four-cylinder engine, jetting 188 horses.
While that did not sound like much, the Acura Integra managed to make full use of all that it had, and its 2,500-pound curb weight added to a very Red Bull-like feel when you drove it. It was fast, and punchy and left you grinning like a loon.
2 The Rally-Bred Mazda 323 GTX
Before the Miata’s madness and the rotary radness, there was the Mazda 323 GTX, introduced for just two model years between 1988 and 1989. A tiny, all-wheel-drive hatchback, it came with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine that jet 132 horsepower.
It also came with spoilers on the hatch, to proclaim its 0-60 MPH run of 8.7 seconds, with top speeds of 120 MPH. considering these nifty ‘80s car comes for less than $5,000 on the classic car mart, they can add to some weekend drifting fun, if tuned right.
1 The Fun Honda CRX Si
Honda brought in the CRX Si in 1985 as a small, two-seat coupe that could double up as your daily driver and also be your thrilling sports car ride for the weekend. The chassis was fun, the build quality was tough and it also brought in fuel injection for cool performance.
You may laugh at the 91 horsepower it made with its 1.5-liter inline-four but with a car weighing less than 1,900 pounds, there was plenty of power to put a smile on your face. You can have these for $10,000 or even less.
Sources: Hemmings, BringaTrailer