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Back To The Future: Timeless 1980s Muscle Cars Drivers Should Actually Buy

Cameron Eittreim March 31, 2023

Ford Mustang SVO

The Mustang SVO was a high-performance version of the popular Ford Mustang sports car that was produced from 1984 to 1986. SVO stands for Special Vehicle Operations, which was a division of Ford that was responsible for developing high-performance vehicles. The Mustang SVO was designed to compete with other sports cars of the time, such as the Chevrolet Camaro and the Dodge Daytona (via Ford Performance).

Furthermore, the SVO also had a unique body kit, sport-tuned suspension, and four-wheel disc brakes, which made it a very capable car on the road and the track. The SVO was the car for the budget consumer who can’t afford a 5.0 GT. The four-cylinder is completely different than the 5.0 GT due to many reasons. That does not mean that the SVO isn’t fun to drive, because it is. The car has nearly every bit of the fun driving characteristics of a GT due to its solid performance.

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1982 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am

The 1982 Firebird Trans Am was a popular car that came with a stylish and aerodynamic body design. The iconic “flaming chicken” on the hood is the main selling feature of the car. Moreover, the rocker hood itself is also unique. There has never been another muscle car that had that feature, uniquely defining this Trans Am. The Trans Am is every bit the stellar GM muscle car that people from this era wanted. That was due to the fact that its bold performance was a lot different than the Camaro or the Mustang (via CarFax).

First, the interior of the car had comfortable bucket seats and a sporty dashboard. Likewise, the Firebird Trans Am was also known for its unique hood decal. Third, the optional T-tops became the stuff of legend with the GM F-Body. Overall, it was a well-received car that was loved by many car enthusiasts due to many factors.

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Dodge Omni GLH/GLHS

Markedly, a sports hatchback isn’t the car that everyone wants. The Omni was a compact economy car that was sold in the 1980s. The basic design of the car was hideous and the sales ended up falling off towards the end of its production as a result. But Chrysler had a partnership with Carroll Shelby and there were a few unique rides that came out of it. The Omni GLHS is one of these unique performance rides (via Car & Driver).

Both models featured sporty styling, stiffer suspension, and quicker steering. The GLH/GLHS was popular among car enthusiasts, therefore helping to establish the “hot hatch” category in the United States. The GLH is a legend in the hot hatch community and the design only gets better with age because of that.

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1983-84 Oldsmobile Hurst/Olds

The 1983-84 Oldsmobile Hurst/Olds is another GM G-Body performance car. The slick styling of the car only added to the serious performance under the hood. The Hurst shifter gave the car a superior amount of performance, and the meaty tires added to it. What is under the hood is what people want, and the 1983-84 Oldsmobile Hurst/Olds held its value because of that. The notoriety of the Cutlass brand added to the high value that the car still has today (via Hemmings).

The Hurst/Olds also featured unique styling elements such as a black and silver paint scheme with gold accents, a hood scoop, and a rear spoiler. Oldsmobile performance cars from this era don’t usually come up in conversation. But the Hurst was a rare example of stellar engineering and beautiful design.

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1983-88 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS

The 1983-88 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS is a mid-size coupe. It had a V8 engine and a sporty design from the NASCAR circuit. The SS model of the Monte Carlo is an upgrade over the mainstream model. You still get the V8 engine, but GM added certain performance features to it. A lot of the style tweaks came from the Camaro, and that’s why consumers enjoyed the car. The Monte Carlo SS has gone up in value over the past decade as a result of these characteristics (via Hagerty).

The Monte Carlo SS had a distinctive, muscular appearance with a sleek body design and aerodynamic front end. It also featured a rear spoiler, hood louvers, and a unique grille. Therefore, the 1983-88 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS was a popular choice for car enthusiasts who wanted a stylish and powerful ride.

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Buick GNX

The Buick GNX is a high-performance sports car produced in the late 1980s. It is based on the Buick Regal platform and features a turbocharged V6 engine that produces 276 horsepower and 360 lb.-ft of torque. The GNX also features several performance upgrades, including a stiffer suspension, larger brakes, and a limited-slip differential (via Hot Cars).

There are only 547 units built by GM. The car is a rare and sought-after collector’s item. The GNX is considered a significant car in the history of American muscle cars and has become an iconic symbol of performance and power. The GNX had a hold on consumers and it put Buick in the performance world. There aren’t a lot of cars that can compete with the sheer performance numbers that the GNX puts out.

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Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupe

The Aerocoupe featured a sloped rear window that reduced drag and improved the car’s aerodynamics. The Aerocoupe had a design that mimicked the actual NASCAR. The main difference with the design of the car is the aerodynamic rear window. The design is for optimal aerodynamics. The cars from the era were not the most aerodynamic and the Aerocoupe took the design to the next level (via Silodrome).

The Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupe was a popular choice among collectors and racing enthusiasts, and it remains a sought-after classic car to this day. The same engine is found under the hood of the IROC-Z. Everything about the Aerocoupe is meant to mirror that of the actual NASCAR vehicles. The performance and the style of the Aerocoupe are unlike anything else from the same era.

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1985-90 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z

The 1985-1990 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z was a popular sports car model that featured a sleek design and impressive performance capabilities. The IROC-Z, which stands for International Race of Champions, was named after a racing series of the same name. This car was equipped with a 5.0-liter V8 engine that produced up to 215 horsepower, giving it impressive acceleration and top speed (via Motor Trend).

It also featured a lowered suspension, larger tires, and a sport-tuned exhaust system, which helped to improve its handling and overall performance. The IROC-Z was a popular choice among car enthusiasts and was seen as a symbol of the 1980s sports car culture.

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Oldsmobile 4-4-2

The 1985 Oldsmobile Cutlass 4-4-2 was a performance-oriented version of the Cutlass Supreme. Powered by a 307 cubic inch (5.0 liter) V8 engine that produced 180 horsepower and 245 lb-ft of torque. The 4-4-2 package included a sport-tuned suspension and a limited-slip rear differential. The special 15-inch alloy wheels with Goodyear Eagle GT tires were a nice touch (via Hemmings).

The exterior featured distinctive graphics and badging, and a rear deck spoiler. The interior had bucket seats and a center console, with optional leather upholstery. The 1985 Cutlass 4-4-2 was the last year of the rear-wheel-drive G-body Cutlass. The style and performance of the car made it sell better than any other vehicle in the same class.

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1983 Ford Mustang GT 5.0

The 1983 Ford Mustang GT 5.0 was a sporty car that was popular in the 1980s. It had a powerful V8 engine and a sleek design that made it stand out on the road. The car featured a five-speed manual transmission and rear-wheel drive, which allowed for a fun and responsive driving experience. The GT 5.0 took the Ford V8 engine to the next level. The prior engine had a dated design and a minuscule amount of performance (via Car and Driver).

The Mustang GT 5.0 also had a comfortable interior with supportive bucket seats and a sporty steering wheel. It was a popular choice among car enthusiasts who wanted a high-performance vehicle that was also affordable. The 5.0 defined an era of new muscle cars and their drivers. The unique style and substance of the car took Ford to the next level. Very few people will argue the massive impact that the 5.0 had on the industry.

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