Favorite 80's Cars

[Wojti2406]

DeLorean DMC-12

(and they want to resume the production in 2017!!)

 

 

 

 

 

Edited June 18, 2016 by Wojti2406

[Dottie]

If they do, i hope they address the abysmal crash safety and awful performance

 

 

[Wojti2406]

If they do, i hope they address the abysmal crash safety and awful performance

 

 

The car's still great. If someone can't drive, it's his problem.

Edited June 18, 2016 by Wojti2406

[sivispacem]

Yeah, there's nothing very great about DeLorean or DMC12. Had it not been for "Back to the Future" it would have disappeared into obscurity as yet another garden shed car marque with a third rate product made up almost entirely from parts borrowed from other manufacturers.

[Wojti2406]

Yeah, there's nothing very great about DeLorean or DMC12. Had it not been for "Back to the Future" it would have disappeared into obscurity as yet another garden shed car marque with a third rate product made up almost entirely from parts borrowed from other manufacturers.

Whatever you say, classic cars are classic cars. Some of them are sh*t in performance but many people like watching them or dreaming about them because of watching. Most of them won't ever drive those. Probably if they would do, their dreams would disappear.

Edited June 18, 2016 by Wojti2406

[sivispacem]

I wouldn't consider a DMC12 a "classic car". Nothing from the eighties has reached full classic status IMO.

[epoxi]

Nothing from the eighties has reached full classic status IMO.

What!?

[sivispacem]

 

Nothing from the eighties has reached full classic status IMO.

What!?I use the VED exception cut-off as one indicator of "classic" status. That precludes anything from after January 1975 from being a "proper" classic.

 

I think HMRC's definition is "over 15 years old and valued at over £20k" in which case you could consider a DMC12 a classic.

[Cudwieser]

So the XJS is no classic then

 

In all seriousness tough I must protest that nothing from the 80's has reached full classic. I will admit a lot from the 80's is tacky, but anything daring and bold like the DMC12 or more mainstream like the 944 and 205 or 5 gt were true classics. IMO if a car of an era is one of the best of it's kind or one of the most outstanding it is a classic. Sometimes a classic can be a classic for the wrong reasons or be a sh*t car. Would you consider a Bond Bug a classic?

[Cudwieser]

I'm a real big fan of the BTTF films but I must say the DeLorean is just mediocre really.

 

It's a cool car to have, for the design and the fact that you have the car that was in BTTF. But overall, at least for the new DeLorean cars they're making -- the price they're charging for it just sucks and is NOT worth it. They were pricey back in the day too for what they were... that's likely to be another reason why they were a commercial failure. It's a classic because of the BTTF movies.

 

sivis has almost has a point about the car to be fair to him -- but I would say the DMC-12 is a classic despite its downfalls.

 

Oh yeah, if you crash bumper-first in a DeLorean there's a good chance you'll be killed. .

The biggest fault of the car was the hype and spin. The car was meant to be a car for the US but as any American knows, you need a strong lazy engine for a car to be worth anything. Given the miles most americans drive and the nature of the roads, either a pickup, wagon or muscle car is needed. Add comfort and you have an american legend. The DMC was none of the above. it was underpowered (160hp from a volvo/renault engine), over weight (stainless steel ain't light unlike a similarly shiny metal) and pricey (Stainless Steel once again. Works well with scalpels and cutlery but cars, not so much so. Paint was and is cheaper and just as effective as galvinization). Add in import duties and the car was always going to be an oddball (add to that the fact Bricklin tried similar and failed and it should have come as no surprise Zach would have a hard time). The two good things to come from DMC were jobs (for a while) in Northern Ireland and Thatcher screwed to the tune of £14 million with huge national embarassment.

[sivispacem]

So the XJS is no classic then

That also fails on the "not worth much" clause.

 

I would argue that there's an entire separate class of interesting, modern vehicles that don't IMO deserve to be called "classics" but are nonetheless worth preservation, restoration etc. It's all semantics, though.

 

I think part of it is a reaction to the ridiculous surge in pricing of eighties rubbish.

[Svip]

As much as I don't really give a damn about the DMC-12, I think a restriction date of January 1975 is a bit harsh. In Denmark, to be a vintage car, it has to be 35 years old. But vintage is also considered older than classic cars (which here is 25-35 years of age).

 

As such, I'd rather use the German term 'youngtimer' to refer to the DMC-12.

 

But I'm not sure if I am even that good at sticking to the definitions, because I consider the Citroën CX a classic, and the CXs I want are from between 1981 and 1984.

[epoxi]

Oh wow, I didn't realise the DMC was stainless steel, that's terrible. I always assumed it was aluminium.

 

As for the harshness of restriction dates, in the UK the 35 year limit is a formality, it just means you don't have to pay road tax which is probably the single smallest cost for any personally-owned car running on the road. I suppose it gives you insurance benefits too, but again they are negligible compared to the cost of keeping a classic car on the road.

 

'Harsh' is the word I would use to describe the US 25 year import rule, which in practical terms restricts you from owning an imported car completely.

[sivispacem]

I like the "youngtimer" term for more recent unique and interesting cars. As usual, the Germans have a way if doing it right.

[Wojti2406]

You guys were saying about BTTF films, now I realised I've never watched any.

Good that summer is arriving.

Edited June 19, 2016 by Wojti2406

[Cudwieser]

You guys were saying about BTTF films, now I realised I've never watched any.

Good that summer is arriving.

I though summer was here already Must be the weather

 

In any case the BTTF are three good films. The first is the 'classic' among them though but the other two are still good.

 

 

Oh wow, I didn't realise the DMC was stainless steel, that's terrible. I always assumed it was aluminium.

 

As for the harshness of restriction dates, in the UK the 35 year limit is a formality, it just means you don't have to pay road tax which is probably the single smallest cost for any personally-owned car running on the road. I suppose it gives you insurance benefits too, but again they are negligible compared to the cost of keeping a classic car on the road.

 

'Harsh' is the word I would use to describe the US 25 year import rule, which in practical terms restricts you from owning an imported car completely.

IIRC Classic classification in the UK is 25 years to 50 years after which a car can be considered vintage. at 100 years (they do exist) it is an antique. As you have said the classicication does have bearing on the road tax, but in the UK if you are using the car as a daily driver you still have pretty pricey insurance to pay. to use a car as a classic you are restricted on the miles you are supposed to drive in order to qualify for cheaper insurance. The government has also planned to do away with the MOT for older cars due to the nature of the owners.

 

Also what is the US 25 year import rule?

 

 

 

But I'm not sure if I am even that good at sticking to the definitions, because I consider the Citroën CX a classic, and the CXs I want are from between 1981 and 1984.

Great example of a classic. Most pre-90's citreon's are good contenders for classic. The Dyane is a bit of a pig but it serves as an example of why the 2cv was so good. The BX would struggle to be a classic, but the CX is definately a classic.

[Svip]

Also what is the US 25 year import rule?

In the US, you cannot import a car that doesn't fit its highway regulations (which most cars produced for foreign markets don't) into the US. The exception to this rule is if the car is 25 years or older. Canada has a similar rule, but it's 15 years.

 

 

 

But I'm not sure if I am even that good at sticking to the definitions, because I consider the Citroën CX a classic, and the CXs I want are from between 1981 and 1984.

Great example of a classic. Most pre-90's citreon's are good contenders for classic. The Dyane is a bit of a pig but it serves as an example of why the 2cv was so good. The BX would struggle to be a classic, but the CX is definately a classic.

 

As much as I am a fan of the BX, XM and Xantia, I must concur. They are not classics. But I would consider the BX a youngtimer. I am not entirely sure what the Xantia. But Activa V6 variant is definitely worth preserving. And they are getting more and more rare. There used to be several on sale in Europe, but now the market for Activa V6s is completely dried up.

 

I am actually bothered by the fact that I don't normally park my Xantia in a garage, but most of the year, it is parked on the street, because it deserves better protection.

Edited June 19, 2016 by Svip

[ChoosyCircle]

Just to add my point to the dmc discussion, I wouldn't say it was classic, although it has become an icon due to it starring in the back to the future franchise.

 

It is a very cool car though

Edited November 10, 2016 by ChoosyCircle

[Irish45455]

1987 Buick Grand National. A turbo V6 that could slay Ferraris. I would sell my soul for one, no questions asked.

[Pavle]

 

It's hot.

[Cudwieser]

1987 Buick Grand National. A turbo V6 that could slay Ferraris. I would sell my soul for one, no questions asked.

In a straight line maybe. Hideous thing bounced like a horse in the grand national.

 

Bullsh*t aside You might be onto something. It is a rare beast for sure and an interesting one since 80's american cars are generally slated and for good reasons

[Schroebedroeber]

Sport quattro

 

 

And offcourse the mk2 golf

 

[Joe Biden]

DeTomaso Pantera GT5:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Porsche 911 Turbo

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alpine A310

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lotus Esprit Turbo

 

 

 

 

 

 

BMW M1

 

 

 

 

 

 

Don't know if any of these cars have been posted yet. Also, ignore the fact that pretty much all of these are based off of 70's car models.

[ShadowPerson]

[Pat]

http://www.bmwkatalog.cz/gallery/bmw-e23/bmw-e23(5).jpg

 

It's hot.

This man has good taste, and I say that as a completely unbiased individual.

[K1FFLOM]

I have sold my 1990 Honda CRX earlier this year just to buy a -real- 1980s classic !

 

It is Honda-based and has chrome, wood and leather. Sure, the design is questionable but it has become a very rare car.

 

The car in question is a left hand drive 1988 Rover 213 S. It has a complete history and from March 1988 until March 2016 it was a one owner car.

And most importantly the owner ordered the now very rare leather-seat option. The quality of the leather used is very high. The seats still look new even though the car has done 198.900 kms.

The car itself is very rare here in Germany as there are only 13 left registered and I do not know of another surviving car with leather.

 

I have had an airconditioning fitted amongst other things and happy to have such a rare car.

 

A forgotten car which is an unloved hybrid:

For a Rover enthusiast it is a Honda and for a Honda-freak it is a Rover.

 

But for me it is a reliable, quirky little car that deserves to be saved....

...and one of my favourite cars of the 1980s.

Edited December 21, 2016 by K1FFLOM

[inbetweendays_]

 

And of course my own '82 Chevy Celebrity Coupé!

[Audi]

Audi Quattro

 

 

 

Buick GNX

 

 

 

Ferrari 328

 

 

 

R32 GTR (1989 barely lol)

 

 

[Ribsey]

The 80s was so progressive in so many overlooked ways. Car design in particular (including the distinct boxy dashes) just before the dreary design of most 90s American cars (seriously). Glad to see a lot of love for the Audi Quattro. This brought it to my attention nearly a decade ago:

 

[K1FFLOM]

Which series was that ? Surely not "Sapphire & Steel" ??