The 1980s was a good decade for car enthusiasts. This was the time when car technology was taking shape. Features such as airbags, fuel injection, and turbocharged engines were entering the market. And as a result, some very good sports cars were introduced. Some of the most iconic turbocharged cars emerged during the '80s. Many motorists have agreed that the 1980s was the golden age of automotive technology.
Updated May 2022: If you're looking for a cool, yet affordable 80s sports car, you'll be happy to know that we've updated this article with more facts and the most recent prices.
The 1980s sports cars had performance stats not seen before. For example, the Ruf CTR Yellowbird, a Porsche-derived sports car, was the first street-legal production car to break 200 mph. The forward-thinking carmakers in the '80s paved the way for some of the best modern sports cars on the roads today. With that in mind, dive in for some of the best sports cars of the 1980s that are so underrated that they cost only $10,000 or less.
18 Saab 900 Turbo - $3,600
The Saab 900 Turbo stands out as the only FWD entry on this list. The 900, with its quirky fastback profile and decklid-mounted rear wing, cuts a more overtly sporting pose. Besides, it’s not like it gives anything up in terms of raw speed and gains a few points for being one of the first mainstream cars that used forced induction for performance enhancement.
When fitted with Saab’s 2.0 liter B202 16-valve turbo engine, the 900 Turbo can still be considered quick by its segment and age standards: it did the 0-60 mph in 8.5 seconds, courtesy of its 160 horsepower and 188 lb-ft of torque. Handling was another strong point. The Saab employed a relatively sophisticated double-wishbone front suspension design and sticky Pirelli P6 tires. By all standards, the Saab 900 Turbo was among the most iconic sports cars from the 1980s.
17 Mazda RX-7 FB - $9,014
Rotary engines, like the one installed in the RX-7, provide a tremendously unique driving experience, largely defined by their quick, glassy-smooth power delivery, sky-high redlines, and total lack of low-end grunt. American car buyers, so used to the lazy throttle response, low RPM shove, and baritone growl of their domestically-built V8s, were both transfixed and confused, so much so that they didn’t know when to shift, thus causing Mazda to install a buzzer that sounded as the driver approached the 7000 RPM redline.
Unlike the later generations that gained pop-culture infamy among the JDM crew, the FB was not considered super fast, no surprise given they all had just 100 hp except for the '84 and '85 GSL-SE trim level that had 135 hp. As these first-generation RX-7s weighed only around 2,400 lb, they were actually respectably quick for the time. But where the RX-7 excelled was handling: GSL models got a standard-fit limited-slip differential and four-wheel disk brakes. The average price for a 1980 model is around $9,000.
16 Pontiac Fiero GT - $4,150
The Pontiac Fiero GT was the most accessible way for drivers to get their hands on a car with genuine sporting pretensions. Seeing a mostly untapped well of sales potential, Pontiac built 370,167 units of the Fiero between 1984 and 1988. With that many rolling around, it only takes a small percentage of owners who want to convince their neighbors that they own an Italian exotic to give it a vaguely seedy reputation thanks to the "Ferrari" body kits.
Still, it's hard to go wrong with a 1988 model, which rectified the Fiero’s mediocre handling thanks to suspension revisions that made it an athlete in the corners. For a car that originally retailed for $13,999, today, the Pontiac Fiero sells for an average price of $4,150
15 Fiat X1/9 - $6,275
The futuristic body of this Targa-topped runabout was the work of the legendary Marcello Gandini. It represented the first significant piece of work he’d done since leaving Lamborghini, where he’d been the chief designer of the Miura.
There’s also the fact that the X1/9 was one of the safest sports cars of the 1970s as it was one of the first convertibles to comply with the USA’s stringent rollover protection regulations, explaining why it had such a long production run between 1972 and 1989. Used examples aren’t exactly common, but when a rough-looking one does pop up, expect an asking price of around $7,000.
14 Toyota Supra A70 - $9,390
The A70 Supra is an undeservedly overshadowed Toyota performance car. In its time, the A70 was a critically-acclaimed car, especially in the full-fat Turbo trim introduced in 1987, which added a forced-induction twist to the Supra’s stock 3.0 liter 7M-GE inline-six engine. The engine cranked out a healthy 230 horsepower and 247 lb-ft of torque.
Turbo models were also fitted with a limited-slip-differential and a rudimentary form of electronically adjustable dampeners with the company’s Toyota Electronically Modulated Suspension system. Despite this suite of performance-enhancing tech, the A70 was still considered a more luxurious, less hard-edged car than its competitors. The rear seat may be best suited to teddy bears, but the rest of the interior is as comfortable as a typical luxury sedan. In stark contrast to the Supra JZA80, used models of the 1980s A70 cost considerably cheap. There are some naturally aspirated examples available for less than $10,000.
13 Nissan 300ZX Z31 - $8,000
If there was one car that epitomized the peak of 1980s aesthetics, it was the first-generation Nissan 300ZX. The third car to carry Nissan’s legendary Z-car nameplate, the 300ZX, differed from its predecessors by eschewing their old-school engine layout and styling. Rather than using a revised version of the revered L-Series straight-six that had propelled the 240Z and 280ZX, the top-of-the-line Z31, carrying the 300ZR moniker, had a trendy twin-turbocharged V6 engine tucked under the hood. More specifically, a dual-overhead-cam unit with 222 hp.
When optioned with the Electronic Package, the Z31 had an absolute whopper of an instrument cluster. Rather than a set of traditional analog gauges, the Z31 used a completely LCD system that looked like it was pulled from a fighter jet. It also featured a digital tachometer that showed the torque curve of the 300ZX engine. In 2022, the average price for this 1980s classic stands at around $15,000, but there's a healthy range of examples selling for less than $10,000.
12 Toyota MR2 AW11 - $6,500
The AW11 borrows a lot from the 1980s mid-engined exotic cars, a wedge-like doorstop of an automobile with the obligatory pop-up headlamps and cheese-grater intakes on sharply creased flanks. Fortunately, it didn’t copy their pricing policy: when new, base model MR2s were priced quite competitively considering their bespoke architecture, coming in at around $11,000. Reasonable, especially considering its sterling reputation as a sports car.
The MR2 AW11 was lauded by Car and Driver for its finely balanced handling, superb five-speed gearbox, and a jewel-like twin-cam, sixteen-valve, four-cylinder engine. While first-generation MR2 prices have crept up in recent years, deals can still be found for under $10,000.
11 Ford Mustang Fox Body - $10,000
The Mustang Fox Body is like America’s answer to the Toyota Corolla AE86 - A lightweight, simple, rear-wheel drive, reasonably-priced coupe with a manual transmission and an enormous aftermarket. While it was never a premium car, Mustang Fox Bodys can still be seen as cheap today. While it was never a premium vehicle, the Fox Body Mustangs remain iconic players in the 1980s classic sports cars.
Speaking about price tags, it isn't easy to generalize these cars. Fox Body Mustangs have been modified, restored, swapped engines, etc. The used market offers an excellent selection of Fox Bodys in good condition, starting from just under the $10,000 mark.
10 Alfa Romeo Spider - Approx. $10,000
There are few more elegant ways to travel than driving an Alfa Romeo convertible, basically a road-going Riva speedboat. It was made famous in the 1980s by Dustin Hoffman in The Graduate, a pop culture anecdote. Like Mr. Hoffman, the Spider enjoyed a very long career. It was first introduced in 1967 and ended production in 1993, having undergone four minor redesigns over those 26 years. Mechanical updates on the 1980s models were subtle.
North American consumers were technologically spoiled with the introduction of a Bosch electronic fuel injection system for Spiders fitted with the 2.0 liter Twin Cam engine, a replacement for the antiquated mechanical fuel injection system used in earlier models. That inline-four was good for 128 hp, while base models were equipped with a smaller 1.6-liter unit with just over 100 hp. The only transmission available was a sweet-shifting five-speed manual. While these cars have really skyrocketed in prices, a few of them are still available for less than $10,000.
9 Jaguar XJS V12 - $6,710
V12s are by far the most regal engine layouts in automotive history. V6s and V8s engines are far too common, W16s and W12s too uncomfortable. Straight-sixes come close to the impeccably linear power delivery and somehow refined rip-snort sound of a naturally-aspirated V12.
While V12s are not common in modern cars, salvation comes in classic 1980s Jaguars fitted with the company’s 5.3-liter motor, one of them the XJS V12. While many classic car buyers might be a little hesitant about driving and maintaining a V12-powered old car, Jaguar's classic powerplant under the XJS's hood is inherently reliable. Well, as long as the owner is fastidious about maintenance. A classic XJS V12 from 1980 costs around $7,000.
8 Porsche 944 - $8,500
Here's the Porsche 944, the 928’s cheaper and better-looking sibling. Rather than serving as the company flagship, the 944 was meant as a replacement for the less famous 924, which had been the product of a joint project of Volkswagen and Porsche. When Porsche attempted to rectify its lackluster performance, they found the consumer cost of modifying the 924 too high and decided to start anew using the same structure.
The resulting 944 sported more muscular bodywork, an improved suspension setup, and a refreshed interior. Rounding out the changes over the 924 was the introduction of a brand new 2.5-liter inline-four with an all-alloy construction. To smooth out the harshness so endemic to four-cylinder mills, Porsche fitted Mitsubishi-patented balance shafts to the engine, making it feel more like a far smoother inline-six motor. The engine was good for 208 hp in the 1989 S2 model in naturally-aspirated form, while the 1988 944 Turbo S cranked out 250 hp. Finding mint condition examples from the late 1980s is nearly impossible, but 1982 models are available for between $6,600 and 10,230.
7 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 - $7600
The Camaro isn’t exactly a forgotten, nor underrated, nameplate. After all, the fifth-generation Camaro Z/28 made headlines in 2014 for its ruthless focus on circuit performance, featuring exotic features like DSSV dampers from Multimatic, Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes, and massive 305-width Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R tires at all four corners. The Camaro that wore the Z28 badge in the 1980s wasn’t capable of the same world-beating feats of its successors, but bless its heart, it tried.
Hitting showrooms in the final month of 1981 as a 1982 model, the first batch of Z28s mustered only 145 hp from its 5.0 liter V8, though its handling was actually good enough for Motor Trend to award it with the Car of the Year award. This power deficit was rectified over the years, with Z28s equipped with the IROC-Z package making 215 hp in 1986. In 2022, there are several models of the Camaro Z28 available for less than $10,000.
6 Chevrolet Corvette C4 - $9,000
The Corvette C4, introduced in 1984, represented a bold step into the future for a nameplate that had always liked to keep one foot in the past. The car pioneered the fiber-reinforced plastic mono-leaf spring for its front suspension design. The C4 also did away with the body-on-frame construction of its predecessors and adopted what GM called a uniframe.
The cockpit incorporated a digital dashboard, complete with an LCD speedometer and tachometer. Then there was the exterior, whose wedge-shaped profile made it look like it had come from a different century than the almost muscle car-like C3. Unfortunately, the most powerful engine on offer was the 5.7 L98 V8, which could only produce 250 hp. While that wasn't too much, it was enough for a 1980s sports car. A 1982 Corvette C4 can be picked up for $9,000.
5 Datsun 280ZX Turbo - $8,000
Datsun’s dynasty of long-nosed sports coupes carrying a Z in their name still lives on today, though in a form that’s often been described as old-fashioned. After all, the Nissan 370Z was around for eleven years without any substantial mechanical refresh. The 280ZX was in a vaguely similar situation. Although it represented a fairly comprehensive redesign of the Datsun S30 chassis, it retained its forbearer’s L-Series straight-six engine and traditional sports car styling. Nissan wanted to market the 280ZX as a luxury grand tourer, stuffing the cabin with soft leather, high-end speakers, lots of sound insulation, and other convenience features.
Despite being a heavy sports car, the 280 ZX was no joke. Its 180-hp Turbo model was the fastest Japanese car sold in the US in 1981, accelerating from 0-60 mph in 7.4 seconds. The $8,000-price mentioned is an approximation; the car costs anywhere from $3,550 to $15,000.
4 BMW 635CSi E24 - $8,000
While not all 6-series models had the performance necessary to back up Bracq’s rakish design, the 635CSi certainly did. The 635CSi E24 packaged BMW's legendary 3.4-liter M30 straight-six, good for a stout 219 hp and just under 230 lb-ft of torque. Not enough to set the world on fire, but sufficient for a suitably fast top speed of 138 mph.
Any value-minded buyer looking for a gorgeous grand-tourer will find much to love with this Bavarian cruiser. While the 635CSi cost $46,000 when new, used examples cost between $3,000 and $20,000, depending on the condition and odometer reading.
3 Mercedes-Benz C126 SEC - $9,000
While an excellent condition Mercedes-Benz C126 SEC costs around $33,731, several examples are available in used car showrooms for less than $10,000. The lowest selling 1981 C126 SEC sold for $2,943. That means a detailed search on the internet can also reveal several models in the same price range. The SEC was a two-door version of the W126 generation of Mercedes-Benz S-Class.
While more expensive and ostentatious cars existed, none of them enjoyed the W126’s bombproof engineering rigor like the C126 SEC. Its 13-year production run, from 1979 to 1992, is a testament to its sheer level of quality.
2 Maserati Biturbo - $4,400
The Maserati BiTurbo was introduced in December 1981, and it marked the brand's entrance into a new era. Alejandro De Tomaso, the company's owner, envisioned this sporty coupe to increase the brand's reach. It was a new model with enhanced performance and a reduced price - a bold move to attract new buyers to Maserati.
The Biturbo's engine was a newly designed 90-degree V6 that had induction via two small turbochargers, the first ever to be fitted on a production vehicle. The Biturbo was a massive success, especially in the performance, but it was not received well. It had excellent performance and a well-appointed interior. A 1981 Maserati Biturbo costs between $4,000 and $14,000.
1 Porsche 928 - $9,300
The Porsche 928 was once considered a replacement for the legendary 911. In the early 1980s, Porsche executives believed that potential buyers would be more willing to put their money down on a spacious, comfortable grand-tourer with a conventional front-engine, RWD layout than a quirky, cramped sports car whose rear-mounted flat-six constantly caused engineering headaches. The outcry from enthusiasts was so substantial that Porsche was persuaded to keep making and developing the 911.
However, that same contentious debate also overshadowed the 928, which, in isolation, was a simply excellent car and possibly one that proved to be a worthy alternative to the 911 throughout its production run. It was simply full of nerdy little engineering details. Its body was mostly galvanized steel but with aluminum doors, hood, and front fenders to save weight. The car used a rear-mounted transaxle, which combines the duties of a differential, axle, and transmission into one hideously complex box of gears. While values are slowly climbing upwards, there are still good examples of this car for around $9,300.