Performance
The late ’70s and early ’80s were dark times for American performance. Low compression engines, safety, and environmental standards killed the actual speed and left the fans wanting more. However, with the introduction of fuel-injection technology, turbocharging, and more advanced systems, 1980s muscle cars gained some of their performance credentials by the end of the decade. For the first time in two decades, muscle cars were as fast as some of their 1960s counterparts (via Steeda).
This made them popular with buyers and also influenced a rise in aftermarket components, which improved performance, handling, and breaking. That made the 1980s models enjoyable to drive and a sound basis for modifications. Most of the cars can’t match today’s models, of course. But some models, like the limited-edition Buick GNX, were very fast and capable. The GNX even held a record as one of the fastest-accelerating cars of the late 1980s, beating Ferrari and Porsche.