The 1980s wasn’t the best decade for cars, but that doesn’t mean there weren’t some great cars that came out of that decade. Some of the most collectible American cars from the ’80s have names you know that come from the muscle car era of the 1960s and 1970s.

The dark decade was mired with unimaginative designs, low-powered engines, and slow top speeds. That said, the 1980s also had its share of incredible cars that can still be admired today. These collectible cars are impressive and can be a lot of fun, especially when well cared for.

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10

1981 Chevrolet Camaro Z28

Top Speed: 108 MPH

It might seem odd, but the Chevrolet Camaro generation that crossed into the early 1980s was the model that brought the greatest sales success for the car. This was also the slowest model ever made, but that performance drop didn’t stop the 1981 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 from being an incredible car that can be a lot of fun as your collectible model.

Powertrain Specifications

This second-generation version of the Camaro Z28 received some minor styling updates in 1978 that lasted until the generation ended in 1981. Chevrolet continued to make the Camaro for many years afterward, but the iconic design and build of this model of the Z28 is one of the best ever made, and it can easily be a great car for modifications and updates.

9

1981 Pontiac Trans Am

Top Speed: 116 MPH

The 1981 Pontiac Trans Am was the corporate cousin to the Camaro Z28, which means they shared much of their powertrain qualities. The Trans Am might not have incredible power or speed, but it made up for these issues with incredible handling prowess, where it even outshined its Chevy cousin.

Powertrain Specifications

This Pontiac sports car was extremely popular because it began as the car featured in “Smoky and the Bandit” and was driven by Burt Reynolds. The T-top panels could be removed to make this incredible car look and feel more like a convertible than when the panels were in place. The Firebird on the hood gave this car the powerful and sporty look desired.

8

1987 Pontiac Firebird Formula

Top Speed: 136 MPH

The Firebird version of the Pontiac Trans Am was reintroduced late in the 1980s without the Trans Am name. The 1987 Pontiac Firebird Formula was an incredible car with some amazing performance qualities, giving drivers the speed and power desired. The Formula package was lighter and less expensive than the Trans Am package.

Powertrain Specifications

Pontiac utilized a small-block engine to give drivers the desired power and performance, which was routed to the rear wheels through a fantastic manual transmission. This car was also offered with an automatic transmission, which was more common, but if you want a collectible car from the 1980s, the manual version is the right choice.

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7

1988 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS

Top Speed: 127 MPH

The 1988 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS was unquestionably one of the best-looking sports coupes of the time. This car was highly recognizable, and easy to admire wherever it was seen. This car was featured in NASCAR races as a response to the Ford Thunderbird, which had a bullet shape at its nose.

Powertrain Specifications

This Chevrolet sports coupe was only offered with one powertrain, but it had enough power to get the Monte Carlo SS going in a hurry. There were more than 180,000 versions of this car built during its six-year run, which means you should be able to find one if you want to add it to your collection of great cars from the 1980s.

6

1985 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z

Top Speed: 132 MPH

One of the cars that reminds us of the 1980s is the 1985 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z. This incredible car was just as famous as shoulder pads, video arcades, and wine coolers. The IROC-Z was associated with owners wearing mullet haircuts, which have been featured in some movies, adding to the stereotype.

Powertrain Specifications

This Chevrolet sports car looks great from every angle and handled like few other cars ever could. At the time, it seemed like there was an IROC-Z on every corner, which means you should be able to find a version to add to your collection today.

5

1987 Buick Grand National GNX

Top Speed: 137 MPH

The Buick Grand National was only offered for two model years, but it quickly became one of the most admired and desired cars of the 1980s. You can’t discuss great cars from the decade without at least one mention of this incredible Buick performance car.

Powertrain Specifications

The Grand National became a cultural legend despite the addition of turbocharged production engines hitting the market a couple of years later. At the time, this Buick was admired and popular enough that nearly everyone could quickly recognize this car and know what it was capable of on the road.

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4

1986 Ford Mustang GT

Top Speed: 139 MPH

The GT model of this mid-decade Mustang brought performance back into the conversation. When the generation began in 1982, the car only made 157 horsepower, which was awful. Thankfully, the four-barrel carburetor added performance back to the mix, making the 1986 Ford Mustang GT a car that could easily be admired by many drivers.

Powertrain Specifications

You can easily recognize this Ford pony car for its “four-eyes” headlights that were dropped for the 1987 model year when the new generation began. These Mustangs aren’t rare, but they can be fun to drive and are certainly one of the most collectible cars of the 1980s.

3

1987 Dodge Charger Shelby GLHS

Top Speed: 139 MPH

You might not think of FWD cars as some of the most collectible vehicles of any decade, but this one certainly is. The 1987 Dodge Charger Shelby GLHS has a lot going for it, including a cool name. The GLH stands for “Goes Like Hell,” and it was a great car with performance-oriented features that made it fun to drive.

Powertrain Specifications

In addition to the power and performance features, this little car was light enough to go fast and give drivers the excitement they desired. Only 1,000 models were built, which means this Dodge is a collectible car from the 1980s, but it might be difficult to find.

2

1987 Ford Mustang LX 5.0

Top Speed: 143 MPH

In the most iconic battle of pony cars, the 1987 Ford Mustang LX 5.0 beat the Camaro beat in terms of speed and quickness. The Chevy might have had more features for driving control, but it couldn’t catch this impressive performance machine on the road or track.

Powertrain Specifications

The LX model of this Ford pony car was about 200 pounds lighter than the GT model. There were only a few remaining unmodified versions offered, which means this car is not only collectible but can also be costly, especially if you find one that’s been well cared for during its time.

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1

1989 Pontiac Turbo Trans Am

Top Speed: 153 MPH

The 1989 Pontiac Turbo Trans Am is an Indy Pace car that lapped the most famous race in America. This gave it popularity with many collectors, but its time pacing the race wasn’t all it had going for it. This car was also the flat-out quickest car of its day.

Powertrain Specifications

The impressive V6 engine had unique heads, a cross-drilled crankshaft, and additional performance features that made it admirable and intriguing for anyone looking for some fun on the road or track. There were only 1,555 models made, which makes them rare and desirable.