The coolest 80’s cars

Love the 80’s or hate them, they certainly produced some memorable cars.

Andy Goodwin might only have been a kid, but he can remember every detail of the ten cars which made the 80’s great.

View pictures of our top ten 80s cars

Audi Quattro

The all-wheel-drive Audi Quattro revolutionised world rallying, rendering the competition out-of-date from the first time it blasted along a twisting track. The road car gained a similar reputation - powered by a 200bhp 2.1-litre engine it could leave many supercars in its dust.

VW Golf GTi

The Volkswagen Golf GTi Mark II has reached iconic status, and although many have been abused, there are still well looked after examples cared for by Volkswagen enthusiasts and loving owners. It has purposeful looks, fantastic build quality and sprightly engines.

Porsche 911 Turbo

At the start of the 80’s the Porsche 911 Turbo was producing around 300bhp, and weighed just over a tonne – making it one of the fastest cars on the planet. It gained a reputation for being a ‘city-bonus’ toy which could bite the less experienced driver.

Rover SD1

The SD1 is a huge car with good aerodynamics, thanks to its sleek shape. With a V8 under its lengthy bonnet it could perform too, and it was used in touring car racing events. They are becoming an increasingly rare car, and classic status seems to be just around the corner.

Saab 900 Turbo

The Saab 900 Turbo had a svelte and unique shape, which has influenced every Saab since. It was well built and many are kept in great condition by their owners who often get hooked on its Swedish style and refuse to drive anything else. The Saab 900 Turbo is fast too – its overtaking ability matched some supercars of the day.

Ferrari F40

In 1987 people must have mistaken spotting a Ferrari F40 with UFO sightings thanks to its radical looks. It took the crown as the world’s fastest car with a top speed of 201mph, and stole the hearts of petrolheads all over the globe. Today, it might have been surpassed in performance, but its looks and heritage still make it the ultimate supercar for many.

Peugeot 205 GTi

Volkswagen might have invented the hot hatch, but many argue Peugeot mastered it with the 205 GTi. Its sublime handling and light weight made it feel like a racing car for the road and now the first examples are over 20 years old, they are cheap too.

BMW M5

Super saloons were almost unheard of when BMW launched the original and subtle M5. The majority of other drivers would never guess it packed a mighty 286bhp from its 6-cylinder engine. With such incredible performance and panache it wasn’t long until the small M5 badge gained the reputation it deserved.

Ford Sierra Cosworth RS500

When Ford entered Europe’s touring car championship it produced just 500 road-going versions of its saloon racing car. With more than 200bhp from its turbocharged Cosworth engine and one of the largest ‘whale-tail’ spoilers ever seen, it must have made every journey seem like a lap of Brands Hatch.

Lancia Delta Integrale

Unlike the track-honed Sierra, the Lancia Delta Integrale was designed with rougher stuff in mind. Come rain or shine, mud or tarmac – the Delta Integrale was designed to get from A to B as fast as possible and win rallies. Its main weapons were its four-wheel-drive, grippy suspension and highly tuned 2-litre engine.

This week the Porsche 911 has been voted  the most desirable 80’s car in a HPI survey, click here to read our story now.

View pictures of our top ten 80s cars