The 1980s were pivotal in the automotive industry as sports sedans, hot hatchbacks, and mid-engine coupes edged out even the best-looking American cars from the 1970s. Although we could sit back and point out that it was one of the lowest points in American performance car history, the 80s witnessed automakers like Buick and Ford launch an admirable muscle revival.
Nonetheless, automakers from Europe and Asia delivered some fantastic performance cars that gave American muscle cars a run for their money. In fact, some of these foreign models convincingly pioneered a refreshing wave of original thinking. In this list, we look at some of the most iconic 1980 sports cars that paved the way for the modern sports car.
10 Chevrolet Corvette
The Chevrolet Corvette is undeniably one of the best performance models of all time. Despite some dark spells early in the 1980s, Chevrolet kept making modifications to the C4's suspension, steering, drivetrain, and engine. The 1989 model year marked a turning point with the arrival of a ZF 6-speed manual transmission that offered a glimpse of things to come.
Chevrolet also standardized the optional Z52 package and included Delco gas-charged shocks, fast-ratio steering, and a fortified front-end structure. The C4 Corvette evolved into an iconic model that seamlessly mated horsepower and technology to deliver impeccable performance and handling through these upgrades.
9 Ferrari F40
Many sports car enthusiasts adore the Ferrari F40 since it was the last automobile that Enzo Ferrari personally approved. Designed to commemorate Ferrari’s 40th Anniversary, the flagship F40 was the most powerful, most expensive, and fastest car in the Ferrari lineup at the time.
Although the F40’s unique V8 layout broke away from the traditional V12 units, it’s still a clear representation of Maranello’s love for racing. Ferrari equipped this two-door Berlinetta with a longitudinally-mounted 2.9-liter twin-turbo V8 capable of 478bhp and 425lb-ft maximum torque. The Ferrari F40 earned its iconic stripes as the first road-legal production vehicle to break the coveted 200mph barrier.
8 Ferrari Testarossa
The Ferrari Testarossa definitely deserves mention on this list for its embodiment of the 1980s retro culture. Pininfarina’s innovative and striking design broke tradition with robust side intakes and aerodynamic side strakes that eventually became the Testarossa’s most recognizable feature.
Ferrari complemented the Testarossa’s dramatic stance with the same 4.9-liter flat-12 drivetrain fitted in the previous Berlinetta Boxer models. Although its overall profile showcases the wedge-style influence widespread at the time, this iconic two-door coupe spawned numerous colorful posters and made several memorable appearances in pop culture.
7 Porsche 959
The Porsche 959 was not only the most technologically advanced of all road-going sports cars but also the world’s fastest street-legal production vehicle for a brief period. The 959 was absolutely incomparable to any other Porsche model at the time. Most enthusiasts consider the Porsche 959 an icon since it offered the template for some modern supercars.
According to Car and Driver, Porsche's 959 accurately predicted the future. The success of its all-wheel-drive layout prompted Porsche to make it standard in subsequent turbocharged versions of the 911. The 959's unique twin-turbo system also pioneered the turbo systems fitted in modern Porsche sports cars.
6 BMW M3 (E30)
When BMW chose to develop the M3 directly from motorsport, they gifted us a sensational street version of one of the most successful DTM racing sedans of all time. Considering it was one of a kind and a pioneer in its class, the BMW M3’s roaring success on the track and in the streets made it an eternally iconic benchmark to date.
The BMW M3’s sophisticated four-cylinder engine was a marvel at the time for its high torque, low weight, and durability. The car’s 200HP and ability to achieve a 146mph top speed without a compressor or a turbocharger made it a very competitive sports car in the 1980s.
5 Porsche 911 Carrera 3.2
The Carrera was already a household name in the 1980s, carrying forth a strong reminder of Porsche’s class victories during the 1950 Carrera Panamericana races in Mexico. Porsche’s ingenious philosophy of gradual improvement resulted in arguably the most reliable 911 to date, the Porsche 911 3.2 Carrera.
The instantly recognizable Stuttgart whale tail and full-house Turbo bodywork made this model an alluring performance sports car. Despite the old rear-engine design, the iconic 911 Carrera 3.2 made waves with a new horizontally-opposed 3.2-liter flat 6-cylinder unit that increased power to a whopping 207bhp. This improved version was genuinely quick with buttoned-down insanity but still engaging to drive with knife-edged incisiveness.
4 Volkswagen Mk2 GTI
The Volkswagen Golf GTI brand was so successful it could well be the hot-hatch that changed the world. After Volkswagen’s unprecedented success with the first generation Golf MK1, they sought to dominate the 1980s further with the sportier Volkswagen MK2. The second-generation GTI model reigned supreme with a fun yet straightforward approach that made it an absolute icon.
Although the MK2 GTI shared some trademark components with its predecessor, its revamped design and impressive engine catalog saw Volkswagen build over 6 million units well into the 90s. This hot hatch ranked so highly in versatility, practicality, and performance metrics that other automakers adopted the GTI acronym in their nameplates.
3 Ford Mustang GT
In the mid-1980s, Ford faced mounting pressure from its more aggressive competition. Ford's market struggles culminated in a much-needed facelift to a cleaner, more modern Ford Mustang GT to the delight of many. For the 1987 model year, the GT rocked a more aggressive and sportier stance compared to its LX twin.
Ford redesigned the Mustang GT with round fog lights, extremely low air intakes, rear deck wing, lateral ground effects, louvered taillights, and 20-spoke turbine-like rims. After abandoning the V6 engines, Ford equipped the iconic GT models with either a strong 5.0-liter V8 variant or a relatively ubiquitous 2.3-liter four-cylinder unit.
2 Buick GNX
It's neither the sexiest nor the fastest as far as sports car discussions go, but the Buick GNX was the most badass American performance car of the '80s. The limited-production Buick GNX benefitted from a host of McLaren upgrades that unleashed a sleeper beast capable of 300bhp and 420lb-ft peak torque.
Introduced by Car and Driver with the headline “Lord Vader, your car is ready,” the iconic blacked-out GNX cleared 0-60mph in just 4.6 seconds. The Buick GNX made its mark by clocking 0.4 seconds quicker than the Ferrari F40 and 0.3 seconds ahead of the Porsche 930.
1 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z
For Chevrolet, the 1980s were marred with declining power levels in Camaros generally. The fact that the larger 5.8-liter V8 engine variants featured underwhelming automatic transmissions did not help either. When Chevrolet first introduced the IROC-Z models, they offered them as an option package for the Z28 models.
The IROC-Z made an immediate impression with an impressive feature on Car and Driver magazine's 1985 'Ten Best' list. During the 1989 model year, the Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z achieved success with Performance Axle package upgrades and 1LE option codes. The upgraded 5.0-liter V8 engines also delivered more power, making the IROC-Z a track-ready badass that competed in road racing events.