In the ‘80s, the automotive industry was still limping its way back to tentative, scared normality. The emission controls had changed the cars and the very gasoline that went into cars, and horsepower measurement statistics had also undergone radicalization.
The cars themselves were very differently made. Gone were the crazy unfettered horsepower wars of the ‘60s. But the dismal economy cars of the ‘70s had also been taken off the mart, and automakers were rethinking strategies when it came to new cars.
By the ‘80s, cars were becoming status symbols again, getting gentle bursts of power and plenty of plush. People started flaunting their rides again as the economy became better, which is why these ‘80s sports cars became status symbols. But today, no one wants them anymore, and we list out the reasons why.
10 1980-85 Mercedes-Benz 380SL: Not The Best Star
Mercedes-Benz introduced its luxury convertible, the 380SL, in 1980 with a V8-powered mill under its hood. The 380SL, so-named for its 3.8-liter V8 engine also received a new 4-speed automatic transmission and cranked out a massive 215 horses and 221 lb-ft of peak torque.
During its run in the US between 1980 and 1985, it became a popular status-symbol sports car for people looking for both luxury and insane sporty performance. However, today no one is buying this speedster because there are way better Merc classics already on the mart. A V8-powered 1982 380SL Automatic model has been listed at under $10,000 for more than six months and there are no takers.
9 1981-88 Audi Coupé/GT: A Sporty Status Symbol
The front-wheel-drive Audi Coupé debuted in 1980 and became a sensation even though it wasn’t armed with the Four-Ringer’s legendary four-wheel-drive. An updated Coupé GT trim was introduced in 1986, and it went on sale until the end of production in late 1988.
Despite its popularity in the 1980s, these classic Audi B2 Coupés are a great bargain today since luxury cars tend to lose value. One such 66,800-mile 1987 Audi Coupé GT was sold for just $6,400 barely six months ago.
8 1984-89 Maserati Biturbo Spyder: A Very Italian Sports Car
The Maserati Biturbo Spyder was undoubtedly one of the most exciting cars of the 1980s. This Italian car offered almost everything any sports car fanatic could ask for. The car’s powerplant used two small turbochargers that could cut the turbo lag and gave an insane acceleration along with the beautiful sound of its motor.
If you’re looking for one for yourself go for a well-maintained model as they are extremely cheap in the classic car bazaar because of bad reliability ratings. One such 1989 example was sold for just $16,200 recently.
7 1982-89 Lotus Excel: A Forgotten Status Symbol
The 1980s were the glory days for GT cars and Lotus was one of the best names at the time. In 1982, Lotus launched its high-end GT car, the Excel which was one of the best GT cars of its generation. It borrowed its underpinnings for the Toyota A60 Supra as Toyota was a major shareholder in Lotus Cars at the time.
It’s a rare piece of gem as only 2000 of them were ever built, and they never reached US shores due to strict US emission regulations. However, people have forgotten its glorious legacy, and they are selling for as low as $7,455 these days.
6 1987-89 Cadillac Allanté: A Barely There Sports Car
GM wanted to lock horns with the likes of the Mercedes-Benz SL and so the luxurious Cadillac Allanté was born in 1987. Back in the late 1980s, it was a product of a joint partnership between the two auto giants - Pininfarina and Cadillac.
Dubbed as GM’s halo car of the 1980s, the Cadillac Allanté finds no love in the used car lots nowadays mostly because it was not made long enough to be remembered. One such example is selling for $11,900 at the Hemmings currently. It's a pristine V8-powered 1989 model with just 84,000 miles on it.
5 1981-89 Jaguar XJS HE: An Overlooked Sports Car
Jags have always been popular as status-symbol cars and if you’re getting a classic Jag, especially an XJS HE (High-Efficiency) variant, for less than $10,000, it means no one is buying them anymore.
It’s disappointing as this classic car is one of the most elegant grand cruisers of its time. It came with a brutal 5.3-liter V12 motor putting out a massive 295 horses and 317 lb-ft of torque propelling this out-and-out adrenaline machine to a top speed of 150 MPH.
4 1980-89 TVR Wedges: British Status Symbol
TVR rolled out a bevy of wedge-shaped icons between 1980 and 1991. They were in the form of 2-seat convertibles and 2-seater or 2+2 liftback coupés, powered by four-, six- and eight-cylinder engines that came from other established manufacturers.
They sported a love-it-or-hate-it kind of design but were vaunted cars of their era, even if reliability was a bit shot. However, in the present day, they seem to be forgotten and go for less than $15,000. That said, they are worth buying as these status-symbol sports cars offer an unbeatable combination of rarity, affordability, and utter joy.
3 1980-89 Porsche 928: Marketing Killed The Status
Porsches are for status-conscious people who have an impeccable taste for luxury, style, and performance. Porsche introduced the 928 in the late 1970s, and it carried an advanced water-cooled V8 at the front instead of the aging boxer-6 engine. It was an instant hit and became one of the best GT cars of its time.
However, it didn’t fare well in the sports car market. Perhaps announcing this fantastic car as the replacement for the 911 was a mistake. Porsche finally drew the curtain on the 928 in 1995. At the moment, a classic 1985 model is up for grabs for less than $15,000.
2 1984-88 Pontiac Fiero: Temperamental Sports Car
In the 1980s, Pontiac needed to restore its status as a popular sports car manufacturer and consequently, the newfangled Fiero was born. The wedge-shaped Pontiac Fiero was revolutionary for its generation, and it became the first mass-market mid-engine US-made car until 2019 when the Chevy C8 Corvette was announced.
Today, it is remembered for its radical styling, plastic body panels made from dent-resistant polymer, and excellent driving dynamics. However, it's also remembered for its electric gremlins and is now selling for as low as $7,000 at Hemmings.
1 1984-89 Chevrolet C4 Corvette: Ultimate Status Symbol Sports Car
The Corvette has always been an American Icon, although the ‘70s and the ‘80s were not as kind to it because of a loss of power. However, if you wanted a new Corvette, then a C4 is what you had to go for in the ‘80s, and many did indeed go for it.
So many that there are plenty of C4 Corvettes lying in the classic car bazaar which is why they cannot hold on to their value. Also, with the exciting C8, earlier Corvettes are languishing a bit. This is why a 1984 V8-Powered Corvette in excellent condition is available for under $10,000 at Hemmings right now.
Sources: CarForSale, Cars&Bids, BringaTrailer, Hemmings, AutoTrader