The Nineteen Eighties had been a wildly completely different time, and though it may not appear all that way back for a few of us, the last decade is 40 years forgotten now. Nonetheless, no matter how lengthy gone the last decade is, it is nonetheless effectively value celebrating — particularly in at this time’s age of $50,000 commuters, autonomous driving, and cinema-spec infotainment screens. Every thing’s just a bit too sophisticated and costly lately, which is why we have been perusing the classifieds for one thing a little bit simpler to digest.
There are a large number of automobiles we might pull from the ’80s which might be effectively value shopping for at this time, though we will maintain issues easy and concentrate on sports activities automobiles solely. The efficiency on provide from then is not any match for the grunt of at this time’s turbocharged and hybridized sports activities automobiles. They do, nonetheless, provide a extra analog method, with much less in the way in which of gadgetry to distract you from the job at hand — driving.
The 5 automobiles featured listed below are all correct sports activities automobiles, both roadsters or coupes, rear-wheel drive, obtainable with handbook transmissions, oh, they usually’re reasonably priced too. Anybody can stick a Ferrari F40 on a listing and name it a day, however attainable sports activities automobiles give us one thing actual to purpose for. So, the 5 we have highlighted are all obtainable to choose up for below $20,000 in roadworthy situation, though as a rule, mint examples will command multiples of this. To kick issues off, although, we’ll begin with some of the reasonably priced and most celebrated ’80s sports activities automobiles of all of them.
Mazda Miata
Having debuted as a 1989 mannequin yr, the Miata solely simply makes it onto our listing, but it surely’s fairly presumably essentially the most iconic sports activities automobile of latest a long time, so it positively earns its place. There was nothing revolutionary in regards to the Miata when it appeared — it merely appeared to seize the essence of what basic British sports activities automobiles supplied within the Sixties. Though the enchantment now could be that the Mazda did it reliably, and with far superior construct high quality, though Miatas do nonetheless have their widespread points.
Trying on the Miata’s engine specs, you could possibly be forgiven for pondering it’s a easy commuter sedan, reasonably than a drop-top sports activities automobile. Nevertheless, its feather-light curb weight and near-perfect weight distribution meant the 116 horsepower and 100 lb-ft of torque on provide from the 1.6-liter inline-four was greater than sufficient. That energy was channeled completely to the rear wheels, by way of a five-speed handbook.
When new, the standard Miata sported a beginning worth of simply south of $14,000, and 35 years later, that is just about what a wise Miata instructions at this time, too. Initiatives might be picked up for much less, far much less truly, though the perfect delivery-mileage automobiles can fetch costs as excessive as $40,000.
Pontiac Fiero GT
If a cut-price ’80s sports activities automobile is what you are after, then look no additional than the Pontiac Fiero. Certain, it has been topic to some ridicule through the years, but it surely nonetheless delivers all the pieces that an entry-point into basic sports activities automobile possession ought to. Two seats, a nimble chassis, rear-wheel drive, and a handbook transmission (or a three-speed auto, in the event you’re that approach inclined).
The decide of the bunch is the Fiero GT; it was offered between the years 1986 by 1988, and it packed a extra highly effective chew than earlier trims. When it debuted, it sported an MSRP of $12,999, which was a full $4,000 extra base fashions, but it surely did push a full 140 horses out of its 2.8-liter V6. Energy disc brakes hid behind staggered 15-inch alloy wheels, twin exhausts poked out on the rear, and an AM/FM/Cassette radio took care of all issues leisure inside.
It is greater than straightforward to safe a tidy Fiero for lower than $20,000, in truth, you would be exhausting pushed to spend that a lot in any respect. For years, the Fiero has made a tempting base for unique equipment automobile builders, so in the event you do fancy one thing a little bit completely different, Ferrari and Lamborghini replicas do pop up infrequently with Fiero underpinnings.
Porsche 944
The Mazda and Pontiac are all effectively and good, however in the event you’re looking for out one thing a little bit extra prestigious, or after a extra thoroughbred sports activities automobile expertise, then the Porsche 944 needs to be the automobile in your radar as an alternative. It is one of some ’80s sports activities automobiles which might be nonetheless reasonably priced, plus it is a extra sensible selection than the opposite automobiles featured, due to its 2+2 seating configuration (in the event you purchase the coupe), and it packs a extra significant punch than the aforementioned options, too.
Porsche first offered the 944 within the U.S. as a 1982 mannequin yr. It debuted with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine which delivered 150 horsepower to the rear wheels, by way of both a five-speed handbook or three-speed automated transmission. Pop-up headlights, chunky arches, and a hard and fast rear spoiler clearly noticed the 944 stand out as a correct sports activities automobile, however regardless of the completeness of its bundle, it is sat lurking within the shadow of its greater brother, the 911, for many years now.
So, whereas it may not command the identical respect that the six-pot 911 does, it additionally would not command the identical kind of cash — not even shut. You may spend as little as you want on a 944, from just some thousand {dollars} for a mission, as much as 911-money for a severely good one. Nevertheless, between $10,000 and $15,000 appears to be the candy spot for a tidy and drivable automobile, which is peanuts for a ’80s Porsche.
Chevrolet Corvette C4
You may’t actually focus on finances sports activities automobiles from the ’80s with out having a dialog on the C4 Corvette. Whereas the bottom mannequin did little to reinvent the wheel, the ZR-1 definitely did, providing world-beating efficiency and provoking dealing with in an all-American bundle. It’s nonetheless doable to choose up a ZR-1 for round $20,000, however these are shortly gaining momentum, so choosing a base mannequin could be a little bit simpler to swallow.
Whereas they lack the efficiency of the ZR-1, a base C4 Corvette nonetheless gives a good flip of tempo as a retro sports activities automobile. Sitting up entrance is a significant 5.7-liter V8, which even in its least aggressive state of tune delivers 205 horsepower alongside 290 lb-ft of torque. Patrons might decide from two transmission choices; a four-speed handbook for people who demand extra management over their sports activities automobile, and a four-speed auto, which is healthier suited to cruising, and even commuting.
The very best factor in regards to the C4 is that heaps had been made, and plenty of nonetheless exist at this time, so getting maintain of a very good one needs to be no drawback — particularly with a wholesome $20,000 finances, the C4 Corvette is a very high-value proposition. Moreover, components are plentiful, and membership assist is powerful, so it is an effective way to leap head-first into retro sports activities automobile possession.
MGB Roadster
Though MG’s little roadster first appeared within the mid Sixties, manufacturing continued all through everything of the Seventies, earlier than leaking into the Nineteen Eighties even. So the ultimate yr of manufacturing was 1980, however that is nonetheless the ’80s, and so it suits the invoice right here. By 1980, gone had been the basic chrome bumpers, and in had been the massive rubber bumpers, which had been required to satisfy stringent U.S. security necessities. There is not any getting round it, these bumpers are ugly, however conversion kits do exist which allow house owners to revive that less complicated, chrome-clad end. You may additionally wish to swap out the suspension for some lowered springs too, as these later MGs sat a little bit larger too, ruining the svelte traces of the unique design.
Awkward seems to be apart, the MGB Roadster represents a superb alternative to step into basic sports activities automobile possession. All had been outfitted with the 1.8-liter B-Collection inline-four engine, which kicks out an simply managed 95 horsepower, which is channeled by to the rear wheels. When it comes to pricing, basic sports activities automobiles do not get extra attainable than this — $5,000 will see you stepping behind the wheel of a mission, $10,000 will get you a presentable instance, and $15,000 to $20,000 will see you sitting within the smartest instance at your native basic automobile present. In case you ever tire of the MGB’s sedate nature, then you could possibly at all times contemplate a V8 conversion. So-powered fashions had been offered from the manufacturing facility in its residence market, utilizing the Buick/Rover 3.5-liter V8, which supplied additional horses, and a much more intoxicating soundtrack.
