The American automotive industry was in an interesting place during the 1980s. The era of gas-guzzling muscle cars and over-sized family sedans were all but over; a direct consequence of the '70s fuel crisis and stricter emissions regulations. The emphasis shifted to churning out great economy cars with more efficient engines.
However, not all the vehicles were mass-market. There was still a niche segment in the market occupied by premium automobiles, vehicles that mostly catered for the wealthy members of the society. These cars came with a host of luxury features and often featured the latest trends in automotive technology at the time.
10 Chrysler New Yorker Brougham - $35,040 ($10,459 In 1980)
In 1977, Chrysler came up with the 'New Yorker Brougham' nameplate as a replacement for the discontinued Imperial. The New Yorker Brougham debuted a more elegant styling and luxurious finishing; a combination that helped drive sales. The car was well into its stride by the '80s.
It competed with cars like the Lincoln Continental Town Car and the Cadillac Fleetwood. The New Yorker Brougham was able to hold its own in the market with plush leather upholstery, fold-down armrests, and optional full power accessories.
9 1985 Buick Electra Park Avenue - $41,400 ($15,752 In 1985)
The Buick Electra is a luxury car that was manufactured from 1959 to 1990, a period that witnessed 6 generations. In the '80s, the Park Avenue name was used for the top-line trim and was available for both the coupe and sedan versions of the Electra.
The Electra Park Avenue models got different powertrain options and was differentiated from other trims with visual cues like redesigned grille and front fenders. The interiors were well laid out too with optional leather finishings and an abundance of faux-wood trimmings.
8 1980 Lincoln Versailles - $41,880 ($12,500 In 1980)
The Lincoln Versailles was often seen as little more than an upscale version of the existing Ford Granada, a car with which it shared a wheelbase. It was the smallest Lincoln car at the time of its introduction but that did not stop it from carrying a price tag that was above any of the other Lincoln models.
The car cost as much as $12,500 (in 1980) depending on the options the buyer wanted. It packed a Ford Windsor V8 engine that generated up to 135bhp at 3,200rpm and 275 pound-feet of torque at 1,600rpm. Disappointing sales and better rival offerings eventually forced the Versailles off the market after the 1980 model year.
7 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham - $52,145 ($15,564 In 1980)
The 'Fleetwood' and 'Brougham' names were typically used by Cadillac at various times to denote luxury and exclusivity. The cars that bore that designation were often top-of-the-line with features that set them apart from other models in the lineup.
The Fleetwood Broughams of the '80s were noticeably smaller in size than their predecessors as GM sight to make their cars more fuel-efficient. It did not make the car any cheaper though and a host of standard features like remote-controlled outside rear-view mirrors, power steering, and automatic climate control made this one of Cadillac's. most expensive models at the time.
6 1980 Cadillac Seville - $65, 875 ($19,662 In 1980)
GM debuted the Cadillac Seville as a regular 4-door sedan in 1975. However, they decided to shake things up for the second generation that was introduced in 1980 - the model with the distinctive 'bustle back' design. According to the carmaker, that rear styling was inspired by custom English designs from the 1950s.
The Seville had some cool automobile features for that era like memory seats, a heated outside rear-view mirror, and a digital instrument cluster. The car was largely successful with about 190,000 units produced before the third-generation car rolled around in 1986.
5 1989 Chevrolet Corvette - $67, 270 ($31,545 In 1989)
At a price in excess of $31,000, the 1989 Corvette was not exactly a cheap ride. What you did get at that price point though was a 5.7-liter V8 that churned up about 245hp at 4,300rpm and 340 pound-feet of torque at 3,200rpm.
That power could be mated to an optional 6-speed manual transmission and was enough to launch the car to 60mph in 5.4 seconds. The car was also well-equipped with a host of standard features like air conditioning, AM/FM stereo, power windows, and power steering.
4 1987 Buick Grand National GNX - $68,400 (29,400 In 1987)
The GNX was an unusual muscle car, at least in the '80s. GM opted not to go for the almost obligatory V8 powerplant and instead used a turbocharged V6 that cranked out 245bhp and 355 pound-feet of torque.
It seemed to work out well though as the car was one of the quickest muscle cars of the '80s, able to sprint to 60mph in only 4.7 seconds. GM kept this limited-edition model and only made 547 units with each one carrying a sticker price just shy of $30,000.
3 1984 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz Convertible - $79,360 ($31,286 In 1984)
This was one of the more exclusive vehicles marketed by Cadillac and the premium pricing underscored that point. The 1984 Eldorado Biarritz convertible was part of the tenth generation of the impressive Eldorado model line and came loaded with the necessary luxury features to pamper the well-heeled members of the society.
The power output was not great, rated at 135bhp at 4,400rpm. However, this car was not built for speed. It was the type of wheels you wanted beneath you as you slowly cruised past affluent neighbourhoods.
2 Lincoln Continental Mark VI - $80,410 ($24,000 In 1980)
The Mark series started out in 1956 as a 2-door luxury coupe manufactured under the Lincoln-Mercury Division of Ford Motor Company. However, by 1980, the car had evolved into a 4-door sedan with all the proper trappings of luxury.
Then, the Continental Mark was already in its fifth generation and took some styling cues from the previous models; features like radiator-style grille and hidden headlights were carried over. There were several model trims of the Continental Mark VI including the high-end Signature Series trim.
1 DMC DeLorean - $89,520 ($34,000 In 1983)
The DMC DeLorean was not a particularly great car. The handling was very mediocre and an engine that produced 130hp at best did not allow for much excitement behind the wheel.
However, that has not stopped the car from gaining an iconic status within the car community, especially after its portrayal in the 'Back To The Future' movies. The sports car did have gullwing doors though, arguably its most distinguishing feature. It was first introduced in 1981 and production continued till the 1983 model year; about 9,000 units were made during that period.