Yesterday's Dream Cars Aren't Today's
The 1980s gave us pop-up headlights, digital dashboards, and turbo badges. They also gave us enough wedge-shaped sports cars to fill every teen’s bedroom wall. Unfortunately, those were products of their time, and the cars of yesteryear don’t have any place on lots today. Before you get too amped up with nostalgia, come with us as we explore 20 cars no one can stand from the ‘80s.
1. DeLorean DMC-12
Nothing looked like the DeLorean when it arrived in 1981. We had its stainless-steel body, gullwing doors, and Giorgetto Giugiaro styling to thank for its unique appearance, and showing up in one of the most popular franchises of all time only seemed to boost its popularity. Unfortunately, its 2.85-liter V6 produced roughly 130 horsepower in U.S. specification, making the performance far less dramatic than the bodywork suggested.
2. Pontiac Fiero
Pontiac's mid-engine Fiero sounded downright exotic when the two-seat coupe debuted in ‘84, especially coming from GM. But it was plagued with problems. Early four-cylinder cars were painfully slow, and recalls involving engine fires helped create a reputation that followed the Fiero long after Pontiac addressed its early problems. The improved 1988 model showed what the car could've become, but it arrived just as GM pulled the plug.
3. Ferrari Mondial
A relatively practical Ferrari with four seats and a mid-mounted V8? That seemed like a good deal in the ‘80s…until we got our hands on one. Today, its awkward proportions and modest performance have left it permanently overshadowed by prettier Ferraris from the same era. Maintenance still arrives with Ferrari-sized bills, too, so you lose on both ends.
Handelsgeselschaft on Wikimedia
4. Maserati Biturbo
When the Biturbo reached American buyers in the ‘80s, it offered something incredibly tempting: an Italian luxury performance car with a famous Maserati badge. Oh, and it boasted a relatively attainable price tag to boot. But electrical troubles and complicated upkeep damaged its reputation, so finding an enthusiast today will be a journey.
5. Chrysler TC By Maserati
Putting Chrysler and Maserati together sounded great when this hand-built convertible finally appeared for the 1989 model year. The problem was that it looked far too similar to the cheaper LeBaron—even though its price started at $35,000. Exclusivity couldn't rescue the TC from feeling like an expensive answer to a question a few select buyers asked.
6. Cadillac Allanté
Cadillac wanted the Allanté to challenge prestigious European roadsters, so its bodies were actually constructed by Pininfarina in Italy before being flown to Detroit. But don’t be fooled; that remarkable production also came with a remarkable price, and early cars weren't even that powerful.
Greg Gjerdingen from Willmar, USA on Wikimedia
7. Porsche 924
Seeing a Porsche badge on the affordable 924 made it look like just about any driver could reach the carrot on the stick. But its Volkswagen-Audi roots and less glamorous image made it the Porsche that brand snobs loved criticizing. We’ll be honest; appreciation is slowly rearing its head again, but you'll still meet more naysayers.
8. Chevrolet Corvette C4
The 1984 Corvette looked pretty futuristic after the aging C3. It also came with seemingly out-of-this-world components, like a digital instrument panel, clamshell hood, and much more serious handling. That said, early Cross-Fire Injection and L98 versions don't feel ferocious by modern Corvette standards. Not to mention, squeaks and dated interiors spoil the nostalgia.
9. Nissan 300ZX Turbo Z31
Nissan loaded the first 300ZX with the sort of tech buyers adored in the ‘80s, and the turbocharged version brought actual performance to the package. Compared with the later Z32, however, the Z31 has a softer chassis, an unmistakably dated interior, and styling that never reached the same level of praise. It’s not as hated as others on this list, but it isn't the unquestioned hero its badge suggests, either.
10. Mitsubishi Starion
Say what you want about them now, but back in the day, wide-body Starions looked spectacular in Turbo-era advertising. Their 2.6-liter four-cylinder engines offered impressive performance for the period, too. The thing is, age can turn neglected examples into complicated projects involving fuel injection, cooling systems, and hard-to-source pieces.
Riley from Christchurch, New Zealand on Wikimedia
11. Dodge Conquest TSi
Chrysler's version of the Mitsubishi Starion delivered rear-wheel drive, turbo power, muscular bodywork, and a wonderfully excessive 1980s cockpit. Everything you could ask for, right? Well, that badge confusion and relatively low recognition kept it from becoming a household-name coupe. Decades later, ownership demands even more commitment; finding model-specific pieces is an adventure nobody asked for.
12. Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z
Few badges captured 1980s American performance culture like the IROC-Z. It first hit the lot on the Camaro for 1985 with upgraded suspension and unmistakable graphics. But even the desirable 5.7-liter cars look tame beside modern V8 performance, and tired examples often come with rattling interiors and faded plastics. Nostalgia has helped its value a little, but actually living with one can remind you how far Camaros have come.
13. Pontiac Firebird Trans Am GTA
Pontiac's GTA arrived for 1987 as the sophisticated flagship of the Firebird range, combining aggressive styling with V8 power and improved handling hardware. It all looked good decades ago, but now, all drivers see is a low seating position, enormous doors, aging electronics, and a plastic-heavy cabin.
14. Ferrari 308 GTBi
Ferrari's 308 quickly burst onto the scene and became one of the defining exotic shapes of its era. It seemed like it would skyrocket to success, but early fuel-injected GTBi models produced less excitement than their appearance promised, particularly after emissions equipment replaced the earlier carbureted setup. They're cool collectibles, but don’t expect modern horsepower.
15. Lamborghini Jalpa
The Jalpa offered buyers a smaller and theoretically more manageable Lambo than the outrageous Countach when it arrived in the early ‘80s. However, though its 3.5-liter V8 sounded exotic enough, Lamborghini's build quality didn't inspire effortless ownership. It still has eyes on it, but “the affordable classic Lamborghini” got less appealing once maintenance became a factor.
16. Lotus Esprit Turbo
Few 1980s sports cars looked more dramatic than a Turbo Esprit sitting inches above the pavement with its sharp Giugiaro-designed bodywork. Once the admiration wears off, though, owners face cramped accommodations, demanding maintenance, and an engine bay that isn't exactly designed to make life easy. Buying one for its beauty is bound to bite you.
17. Alfa Romeo Spider
The Spider carried its beautiful Italian roadster formula well into the 1980s, decades after the basic design first appeared. The novelty has since worn off, though. Federal bumpers, emissions requirements, aging ergonomics, and increasingly dated construction made later examples feel old beside genuinely new sports cars.
18. Renault Alpine GTA
The rear-engined Alpine GTA offered sleek composite bodywork, a V6 engine, and unmistakable French styling when production started in ‘84. Despite all it promised, it never achieved anything close to Porsche 911 recognition. Enthusiasts still appreciate the engineering, but this is hardly the forgotten exotic you buy without doing your homework first.
19. Toyota Supra A60
Long before the Supra became associated with enormous horsepower figures, the second-gen A60 was a stylish grand tourer with pop-up headlights and a smooth inline-six. It was all the rage in the early 1980s, but its weight and comparatively modest output just didn’t carry across the decades. Not to mention, rust can also turn an apparently inexpensive survivor into something much less charming underneath.
20. Porsche 928
Porsche once expected the V8-powered 928 to help lead the company beyond the 911, and in 1978 it even became the first sports car to win European Car of the Year. By the ‘80s, more powerful versions proved how capable the grand tourer could be, but complicated electronics and costly neglected examples eventually scared away the bargain hunters.
