How often does an old classic car from the 80s appear parked up somewhere, the now-familiar sign "For Sale" accompanied by offers invited, no prices listed causing would-be owners to pass by?

Surprisingly, once highly cherished 80s cars are getting cheaper, not quite falling into the highly collectible and valuable area just yet, there are some real bargains to picked up and not just entry-level models. What better way to spend a weekend than working on bringing one of these past masters bang up-to-date, more power, bigger wheels, custom bodywork the only limitations being time, and imagination. This is the right time to get a performance car from the 80s that will be getting more expensive soon.

10 1985 Mazda RX7 - Clever Wankel Rotary Turbo Engine

1985 Mazda RX-7
Mecum Auctions

Setting the tone for all future models, first-generation RX7s used Wankel rotary engines as a workaround for tax regulations in the Japanese domestic market, also proving to be a major selling point. Properly maintained, its tiny 1.5-liter turbocharged engine helped Mazdas sports coupe punch well above its weight, dishing up 160hp.

Mecum Auctions

Hugely impressive engineering at the time of launch, early models, despite being very accomplished cars, don't attract the premium values of later models, making them great budget tuner cars supported by dozens of aftermarket parts suppliers.

9 1985 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z - Cheap Lazy V8 Project Car

Mecum

Still struggling to recover from previous smog crippled earlier models, third-generation models can be a bit hit-and-miss depending on engine choice. Low specification Iron Duke modes are best avoided, gearheads should seek out IROC-Z models, packing significantly more powerful 5.7-liter V8 engines.

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Sharing common bodywork and drive-trains with other GM backed muscle cars of the time make used Camaros great project cars, Chevrolet's V8 engines not especially powerful in standard tune are a great starting point for track day specials.

RELATED: 5 Mods That Will Make Your Camaro Look Badass, (5 That Will Make It Look Ridiculous)

8 Z31 Nissan 300ZX - Z-Cars Gain Turbos

Top Gear

Nissan already setting the bar for affordable sports cars with earlier Zs, once again upped the standard with the first 300ZX Turbo. Updated during its production life, the same 3-liter V6 producing more power, the later examples rated at 228hp.

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Popular with car modders, Z31 cars often wearing custom body kits, riding on lower suspensions set-ups, engine-wise pretty much anything goes, larger turbos, intercoolers, and even NoS installations are common practice.

7 Ford Mustang SVO - Better Than People Believe

Ford Mustang SVO
Via: Silodrome

Of all the mustang variations, few divide opinions like the Fox bodied examples, Ford's answer to the dwindling muscle car market post 70s oil crisis. Skipping traditional V8 muscle in favor of 2.3-liter turbocharged engines, ultimately producing similar outputs to the previous model, 1986 models the most powerful with 205hp available.

Silodrome

SVO lacking Mustang's traditional V8 engine means they are less desirable among muscle car fans helping to keep prices affordable. Gearheads after a cheap project car could do a lot worse, and if the lack of a V8 engine is an issue, the SVO's engine bay is large enough for a straight swap.

6 Mitsubishi Starion Turbo - Future Classic In The Making

Fast Lane Classic Cars

Turbocharging becoming almost mandatory for sports coupes in the 1980s giving gearheads some of the best performance coupes ever, which makes the underrated Starion a bit of a mystery. One of the finest Mitsubishi cars ever produced, powered by a small turbocharged 2-liter engine developing 200hp putting in on par with Porsches 944, and yet Starion never really took off.

Mitsubishi Starion
Via Fast Lane Classic Cars

Serious owners in the know, those that have driven the mighty Starion aware of what makes this coupe so special, a future modern classic. For now, while they are still affordable, every gearhead should at least drive one before it's too late.

RELATED: 10 Most Badass Used Mitsubishi Sports Cars That Will Cost You Peanuts

5 Toyota MR2 Mk1 - Smaller, Lighter And Better

British GQ

Size is everything, Toyotas first-generation MR2 proved sports cars didn't need huge engines to be fun to drive, relying instead on smaller light-weight chassis design to deliver the excitement. Upon closing the driver's door MR2's tiny size becoming apparent, its tiny 1.6-liter engine just inches behind the bulkhead.

British GQ

Sure MR2 is pretty basic as sports cars go, but that added to the appeal, already a well-sorted sports car just crying out for some serious modifications.

4 Mercedes 560SEC - AMG In Waiting

Cars Data

At first glance, just another big Mercedes coupe, except the 560SEC has the potential to be so much more, even compared to current models it still looks modern. When new sporting a 5.5-liter V8 engine producing 250hp, resulting in the sprint to 60mph in 7 seconds, flat out just shy of 150mph, not bad for a car weighing 4100lbs.

Mercedes 560SEC - Left side
Via Bring A Trailer

Sure, there are faster project cars out there, but none that can so readily accept modern AMG engine modifications, suspension tweaks, and the all-important body kit, suddenly an old 560SEC starts to make sense.

3 Chevrolet Corvette - A Welcome Return To Form

Hagerty

A welcome return to form C4 the first all-new Corvette model for decades also ushered in the return of powerful V8 engines, emissions still played their part but at least now Chevrolet's coupe had some real grunt. Construction still following the fiber-glass on steel process responsible for delivering greater strength and reduced weight, paired with later LT5 spec 5.7-liter V8 engines.

Hagerty

Project cars don't come any easier to modify than the C4, its entire body can be easily removed, altered, or even replaced completely without affecting the car's running gear.

RELATED: 19 Beautiful Corvettes Modified Beyond Recognition

2 Toyota Supra - First Stand-Alone Model

Buffalo Cars

Inevitably Supra would become a model in its own right, earlier Celica-based models having reached their development limit, Toyota opted to separate the two models. Arriving in 1986, A70 models would be the first Supras offered with turbocharged versions of the existing 3-lite engine, raising output to 232hp and top speed to 144mph firmly placing Supra in junior supercar territory.

Red Toyota Supra A70
Via: Wikimedia

Mid-range sports car performance still holds up well today and with the recent launch of a new Supra model harming A70s values, finding a good example to restore or modify shouldn't break the bank.

1  Porsche 924 S - Real Porsche Engines (Detuned)

Silverstone Auctions

Porsche's entry-level 924 is often cited as the worst model the company has ever produced but dig a little deeper and later S models are actually a lot closer to the higher-spec 944 models than people realize. Existing 2-liter engine availability issues would force Porsche to use detuned 944 spec units resulting in the much improved 924 S model, final production models rated at 156hp.

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Undeniably cool Porsche branding makes the 924 S a cheap classic that is hard to ignore, on the one hand, the company's entry-level model, but in later S spec, the more desirable engine from its bigger bother promises more power.

NEXT: These 15 Affordable Cars Will Do 150+ Mph