These are among the most iconic 1980s sports cars that are now cheap – all selling for under $25,000.
The 1980s was a new start for most automotive manufacturers due to the emission restrictions of the 1970s. Automakers began to introduce new technologies like fuel injection and turbocharging, managing to produce more powerful vehicles, some of which even managed to break the 200-mph barrier.
The decade gave enthusiasts plenty of fantastic sports cars; however, most of them have high price tags, out of reach for most classic car aficionados. These are among the most iconic 1980s sports cars that are now cheap – all selling for under $25,000. While they don’t have the Ferrari F40 performance, they have the 1980s style and glamour.
10.Toyota Supra MK3 – $13,000
The Supra is one of the most iconic nameplates in the sports car market. The third-generation Toyota Supra was in production from 1986 to 1992. Its introduction to the market meant that Toyota cut the bonds between the Celica and Supra, making them two different models. While the Celica changed to a front-wheel-drive layout, the Supra maintained the rear-wheel-drive layout.
Toyota also upgraded the engine to a more powerful 3.0-liter inline-6 engine with 200 hp. A year later, Toyota added a turbocharged version, making the Supra a force to reckon with. While the MK4 Supra has soaring high prices, the MK3 makes for the ideal Supra to buy. There are plenty of good models on the market, most selling for around $13,000.
9.Toyota AW11 MR2 – $14,000
Toyota created the MR2 as a mid-engine sports car for enthusiasts on a budget. Since its introduction in 1984, the MR2 has won the hearts of gearheads and industry experts. The first generation MR2 was in production from 1984 to 1989. Toyota fitted the MR2 with a 1.5-liter 3A engine, but the most common version was the AW11 with a 1.6-liter 4A engine.
The naturally aspirated MR2 had ample performance, producing 112 hp in the U.S. models. It also had an engaging 5-speed manual transmission as standard and an optional 4-speed automatic. Thanks to its lightweight and mid-engine layout, the MR2 had impressive handling, making it a favorite for many enthusiasts.
8.Mercedes-Benz 560SEC – $14,450
The Mercedes-Benz 560SEC was among the few luxury coupes of the 1980s. It was a sophisticated sports car that symbolized success and wealth. Unlike most sports cars of its era, the 560SEC had exceptional comfort and ride quality. Mercedes first unveiled this magnificent coupe at the 1985 Frankfurt Motor Show, and at the time, it was the brand’s flagship model.
Mercedes gave the 560SEC a timeless design with an aggressive front end and pillarless profile. It’s among the few 1980s sports cars that easily stand out from the crowd thanks to its imposing road presence. It also had the brand’s high standards of engineering, featuring a naturally aspirated 5.5-liter V8 engine under the hood. The engine produced 296 ponies and 336 lb-ft of torque.
7.Chevrolet Corvette C4 – $15,000
The Chevrolet Corvette C4 offered the perfect blend of the style of a 1980s sports car and the brutal performance of a muscle car. It was the successor to the C3 and was among the most innovative models in Chevrolet’s history. Unlike its predecessor, the C4 had a digital instrument cluster and a DOHC engine, and it was among the first models to set an array of performance records.
The C4 Corvette also features a new chᴀssis, ditching the predecessor’s framework from the 1963 Corvette. The 1980s Corvettes used a reasonably powerful 250 hp L98 engine mated to an unusual transmission – a 4-speed manual with an automatic overdrive on the top three gears. However, Chevrolet later replaced the transmission with a more modern ZF 6-speed manual.
6.Ford Mustang SVO – $15,250
In 1984, Ford saw it fit to launch a limited and different Mustang variant, the SVO. The SVO had a more laid-back look with a hunched rear and a pointy front end. Ford produced the SVO lineup for two years, making less than 10,000 units. While this makes it perfect for a collector’s item, it’s still available for cheap, with prices fluctuating around the $15,000 mark.
Sadly, Mustang pᴀssed over the 5.0-liter V8 engine for a turbocharged 2.3-liter inline-4 racing engine. While it was no V8, the 4-cylinder engine helped with weight distribution, thus improving the handling of the Mustang SVO. The 1984 variants produced 175 hp and 210 lb-ft of torque. Ford, however, fine-tuned the engine and added a new water-cooling system in 1985, upping the performance to 205 ponies.
5.Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z – $16,750
Chevrolet is among the few American car manufacturers that stood the test of time. The brand has been in business since 1912, and over the years, they produced impressive vehicles, including the Corvette and the Camaro. The Camaro is a sports car that has been around since the 1960s, and it competed with the likes of the Ford Mustang and Dodge Challenger.
The IROC-Z is among the most iconic variants of the Camaro. Chevrolet introduced the first variant in 1985 with the third-generation Camaro. While it was not a big seller at the time, the IROC-Z had impressive performance thanks to a 215 hp 5.0-liter V8 engine, a rear-wheel-drive setup, and the availability of either manual or automatic gearbox options.
4.Porsche 944 – $18,800
The 944 was one of the best sports cars Porsche ever made. It was an iconic nameplate and a successor to the 924. The Porsche 944 was a lightweight sports car with amazing handling. It also had a stylish and timeless look thanks to its bulging fender flares and sloping nose. The Porsche 944 had endless interior options, with some combinations featuring leather or velour.
Porsche paid attention to detail with the interior of the 944, making it more driver-focused, with all controls slightly aiming toward the driver. Despite being the big brother to the Porsche 924, the Porsche 944 was among the coolest sports cars from the 1980s. Underneath the hood of the 944 was a new 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine with tuned-down power levels and racecar technologies, including an engine management system and balance shafts.
3.BMW 635CSi – $18,900
The E24 lineup was the first generation of the BMW 6 Series range. It was the successor of the BMW E9 coupe, and BMW produced the lineup from 1976 to 1989. The E24 was a magnificent-looking two-door coupe, with the entire lineup using straight-6 engines. BMW also offered more powerful variants of the E24, like the M635CSi and M6. These variants also used a different variant of the engine, thus offering better performance.
For those who never wanted to shell out more money for the M-powered variants, the 635CSi was one of the best iterations. It was the successor to the 633CSi and featured a 182 hp M30B34 BMW engine. BMW also offered an L6 variant of the 635CSi, offering the North American market a luxurious edition with an automatic gearbox and leather trim and headliner.
2.Porsche 928 – $19,000
Porsche produced three generations of the 928 sports car. The first generation was in production from 1978 to 1982. It used a 4.5-liter engine with a maximum power output of 240 hp. While it was an impressive sports car, Porsche aimed to make it better with the second generation, which was in production from 1980 to 1986. The result was a Porsche 928 with larger engines, an initial 4.7-liter, and a newer 5.0-liter.
Both engines also had an increased power output of 300 hp and 320 hp, respectively. While all generations of the 928 had impressive performance, they were also simplistic cars with a blend of luxury and a back-to-basics approach. The entire lineup was fun to drive and thanks to Porsche’s impressive balancing act.
1.Datsun 280ZX – $25,000
The Datsun 280ZX was a small and agile Japanese sports car, also referred to as the Nissan Fairlady Z or Nissan Fairlady 280Z in some markets. The 280ZX was the second generation of the iconic Z lineup and carried over the engine, a 2.8-liter straight-6. Datsun offered two transmission options, a 5-speed manual or a 3-speed automatic transmission.
The 280ZX was around for four years, and over time, the 2.8-liter unit produced around 135 to 145 hp. Its low power figures were thanks to emissions and fuel economy constraints. However, the introduction of a turbocharger in the latter years upped the performance to 180 hp, giving the 280ZX enough muscle to back up its exotic-looking style.
