It is common knowledge that 2022 has much more reliable cars compared to the 1980s. Modern cars are powerful, efficient, and also admirable. Technology has played a large part, with innovation taking the other. However, there are some classic cars that one cannot afford to forget. Some of these cars still turn heads wherever they park. This is because they greatly impacted the auto community during their reign and their mere sight is purely nostalgic.

Updated April 2022: There are many cars from the 1980s that people don't remember. Then there's the ones that even the kids today drool over. These cars were perfectly engineered to rock the streets forever. Cars that don't age, and when they do, motorists are willing to spend thousands of dollars to bring them back to life. We've updated this list to present some of the best cars of the '80s, way better than most cars of 2022.

Related: 10 Fastest 4-Cylinder Cars Of The 1980s

The '80s was a time graced by events. It was a time when Mt. St. Helens erupted, the Berlin wall came down, and great cars ran the streets. The automakers tried to merge the future with the past. It was a time when cars tried to revamp classic style while others embraced technology which was the future. Although strong regulations began dictating the industry, some cars managed to overcome this barrier to become something truly remarkable. The following list consists of classic cars from the 80s that, in one way or the other, are better than cars in 2022.

12 Audi Quattro

via favcars

The Quattro is one of the best Audi sports cars ever made. It makes it to this list as the first and the oldest model, a car that gave Audi a reputation for building unbeatable all-wheel-drive cars. The Quattro was designed more as a race car than a daily driver. As a result, Quattro's strongest features were excellent performance, reliability, and good handling ability.

Most people who enjoyed this car benefited from the rule that at least 200 units had to be sold to the public in order for it to go racing. It is better than most cars in today's time because it was the basis upon which future vehicles were based. Audi decided to implement the technology used in this car after seeing what the Quattro could do in the rallying arena.

11 Lincoln Continental Mark VI

Via Wikipedia

The Lincoln Continental Mark VI is one of the most underrated luxury cars of the 1980s. Taking a closer look at this vehicle reveals its impeccable beauty. Its style shows that it wasn't designed for everyone. The vinyl roof, hide-away headlights, and the porthole windows say it's a car designed only for executives. And its beautiful design and long body matched its reputation.

The Mark VI was among the first cars to embrace technology seen in modern cars, such as a trip computer and a remote-controlled lock (Keyless Entry System). When it came to making a luxury car statement, the Mark VI was hard to top.

10 Honda Accord

Via Wikimedia Commons

The Honda Accord is among the bestselling models from Honda, and this was for a good reason. The car had excellent reliability, as well as impeccable build quality and good driving dynamics.

Related: These Were The Fastest Turbocharged Cars Of The 1980s

The '80s also saw the upgrade of its automatic transmission from the three-speed to a four-speed gearbox. This decade saw the Accord get larger and more luxurious, with the top versions even having leather seats, power door locks, and windows.

9 Porsche 944

Via AutoEvolution

The 944 was first produced for 1983 and sold through to 1991. The car came in as a replacement for the Porsche 924, which had poor performance, although it sold well. To fix the damage caused by the 924's reputation, Porsche decided to make a complete overhaul, and this saw the birth of the 944.

The 944 used the basics of the 924, but gave it a more powerful engine as well as flared fenders that gave it an aggressive loook to match its stronger performance. The result was a car that has lived for ages and shows no sign of dying off.

8 Lexus LS400

Via Torque Singapore

The production of this car started as a flagship project but would yield one of the greatest. The Lexus LS400 proved the ability of the automaker to dance in the same field with top-level luxury auto brands. It has a well-utilized space, increased comfort, and is quite luxurious. And like any other vehicle from the brand, the LS400 came with a bundle of reliability features that increased its appeal a great deal.

Under the LS400's hood lays a potent 4.0-liter V8 engine capable of 250 horsepower and 260lb-ft of torque. Anyone who loved earlier models definitely loved this one. The car is spacious and very useful as a family car and very practical as an everyday car. And being 2022, the 1983 LS400 is quite affordable.

7 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS

Via Cardomain

The Chevy Monte Carlo SS was a beautiful sports coupe. Its introduction was aimed at rekindling the Chevy muscle car. And to ensure the goal was achieved, Chevrolet equipped the Monte Carlo with a big 5.0-liter V8 engine producing 175 horsepower and 235 lb-ft of torque. The SS boasted a lower lip spoiler, an integrated bumper, and a different front fascia.

Related: 8 Extinct Car Features From The 1980s That Drivers Are Happy To Forget

To enhance its stability, the suspension on the 1983 Monte Carlo was stiffened. The excellent suspension and fair horsepower made this car a favorite for many. The Monte Carlo SS is a perfect starting point for drivers looking for performance, looks, and reliability in a classic.

6 Ford Thunderbird Turbo

Via Cardomain

Ford has always had a reputation for making great cars - the Thunderbird Turbo is among the best. The car seamlessly brought together two important aspects of an excellent car, aesthetics, and dynamics. The turbocharged beast incorporated great features, from the special fuel injection ports to its rare Mustang GT engine.

The 2.3-liter turbocharged engine spiced up its power by boosting output from 145hp in older models to 190hp in the 1983 model. The Thunderbird Turbo has a great handling ability, making it fun to drive. It has a great design with its sharp front and cool headlights. And to make things even sweeter, the car has a low collectability rating, meaning it's cheap to acquire, yet it handles better than many cars in 2022.

5 Mazda RX-7 FC

Via Wikimedia Commons

The RX-7 FC was the first Mazda to have a turbocharger, and this meant only one thing: it was going to be a great car. It featured a higher compression ratio with great styling and fantastic engine management. It was also lightweight and could produce up to 200hp, a massive boost from the previous models. Considering other cars with an inline engine, the Mazda Rx-7 was significantly more affordable.

To reach a wider market, the engineering team adopted a Porsche-inspired design for the RX-7 FC, which means that its styling is also state of the art. It also had an excellent steering ability making it easy and convenient to drive.

4 Porsche 959

Via Top Speed

The Porsche 959 was initially designed as a race car, not like the sports car it is today. It is, therefore, right to think that this car came with reliability and performance right from the factory. It was also used to test new technologies like the four-wheel-drive system. The 1986 model proved its performance by winning the Paris-Dakar rally across the desert, thrashing its competition, like Mercedes and Land Cruiser.

It recorded a top speed of 197 mph which earned it a position at the top. It was the fastest car in the world until the release of the Ferrari F40, which hit 202mph. Even in 2022, the Porsche 959 remains one of the greatest cars to ever race at the Paris-Dakar Rally.

3 Ferrari F40

Via AutoEvolution

The Ferrari F40 is one of the greatest cars ever made. The F40 has remained alive for ages, competing against modern performance cars with advanced technologies and beating them with its mid-size engine and a carbon-fiber chassis. Under the hood, the Ferrari F40 hides a potent twin-turbocharged V8 engine capable of 471hp. In the '80s, it was Ferrari's fastest, most expensive and most powerful model.

It was a great competitor to the then-speed bully, the Porsche 959. Its exterior used light materials aimed at keeping it as lightweight as possible. The F40 was the last model to be personally approved by Enzo Ferrari.

2 Buick Grand National GNX

Via Hemmings Motor News

The Buick GNX was a great successor to previous muscle cars because of its stunning performance. Installed with a V6 turbocharged engine, it could spit out a claimed 276hp, which later turned out to be rather understated.

The GNX was also designed with a spacious trunk, an advantage for such a high-performance car. With a quick acceleration of 0-60mph of around 4.5 seconds, the Buick Grand National was a great car that modern performance models should look up to.

1 Callaway Sledgehammer (1988)

Via Mecum Auctions

Power and performance come to mind when thinking of the Callaway Sledgehammer. The 1988 beast adopted the Chevrolet Corvette design. The 255mph-top speed it recorded earned it a spot among the fastest cars in the world for a long time.

The Sledgehammer was also a powerhouse with 898hp, overwhelming for a 1988 car. To help it handle all this newfound power, it was also fitted with Koni shocks and suspension was lowered by an inch. Its aerospace body kit was designed by Paul Dutchman.