The 1980s were a defining time for the muscle car business as the industry shifted away from the big block V8-powered cars of the 1960s and early 1970s. Cars were more economical and new emissions laws were putting a damper on what automakers got away with. Nevertheless, there were quite a few exciting muscle cars that came out in the 1980s. These cars were more advanced than anything that came before them, and although there was less power, the cars were still impressive.
Ford was instrumental in the 1980s muscle car scene with its Fox Body Mustang, one of the most iconic cars ever built. The 1980s are often frowned upon when it comes to reliability and performance, but in some ways, this was also the pinnacle of the new age of automotive design. But there were also a lot of lemons during this era. So we looked back at the muscle cars that should be avoided. Many of these vehicles became instant rust buckets that you don’t even see on the road anymore.
1980 Ford Mustang
The 1980 Mustang launched the car that we know today as the “Fox Body” Mustang. The major flaw with the 1980 Mustang was the lackluster four-cylinder engine. There was nothing “Muscular” about this pony car. The new generation of the Mustang was the smallest model ever to carry the Mustang badge. The original Mustang GT that came long before the 5.0 had the 4.9-liter Windsor V8 under the hood (via Motor Trend).
The 5.0 was introduced a short while later, but the first year was crucial in introducing the fox body to the public. The original models had shoddy build quality compared to other vehicles at the time. It’s not uncommon to see an early fox-body Mustang in the junkyard, which is why enthusiasts try to skip these models. Although a fox-body Mustang is still a fox-body Mustang, you’ll want to steer clear of this one.