Most Iconic Cars of the 1980s

Last updated · 6 min play time

The second half of the 1970s saw strict fuel economy standards put in place, but technological innovation and pure speed made a comeback in the '80s. By the end of the decade, it was routine for an inexpensive sports car to out-perform even the priciest of early '70s supercars. How many of these still-impressive '80s machines can you name?

Dan has a Master's Degree in Geosciences with a concentration in Applied Meteorology and a Bachelor's Degree in Economics.

He is a huge trivia fanatic and spends a lot of free time browsing the internet, researching on a variety of topics, and winning money at trivia night.

Iconic Cars of the 1980s Quiz Questions

20 Questions · 166K Plays · 3 Comments

Question 1

If you had to distill the '80s into one single car, this one would probably be it. A legendary appearance in Back to the Future cemented this car's futuristic reputation - even if the modest V6 under the hood only produced 130 hp.

  • A
    DeLorean DMC-12
  • B
    Ford Probe
  • C
    Yugo GV
  • D
    Buick Grand National GNX

Question 2

As quick as a Porsche but just a fraction of the price, this turbocharged muscle car was actually powered by a V6. It could get to 60 mph in just 4.6 seconds, and made the quarter mile in 13.4 seconds.

  • A
    Merkur XR4Ti
  • B
    Ford Thunderbird SHO
  • C
    Pontiac Firebird Trans Am
  • D
    Mercury Cougar XR-7

Question 3

Introduced in 1978, this car was so far ahead of its time that it easily claimed the third-fastest 0-60 time of the decade despite barely any upgrades through 1989. This "Turbo" lives on as one of the decade's top sports cars.

  • A
    Audi 5000 Turbo
  • B
    Maserati Biturbo
  • C
    Mercedes SL 500
  • D
    Porsche 911 Turbo

Question 4

This fourth-generation speedster was one of the two quickest cars of the decade, reaching 60 mph in a neck-snapping 4.5 seconds. It set numerous endurance records, as well, traveling 4,225 miles in just 24 hours - an average speed of 175 mph for an entire day.

  • A
    Chevy Corvette ZR1
  • B
    Merkur XR4Ti
  • C
    Pontiac Firebird Le Mans
  • D
    Shelby Mustang Mach 1

Question 5

This might be the most infamous car of the last 50 years. Between its legendary unreliability, too-cheap price, and tendency to blow off bridges, you won't find many of this model on the road today.

  • A
    Ford Tempo
  • B
    Trabant
  • C
    Oldsmobile Firenza
  • D
    Yugo GV

Question 6

The list of superlatives for this supercar far exceeds the space for this quiz question. It is the quickest car of the 1980s by a mile and also was the fastest at the time of its introduction, reaching a mind-numbing 197 mph.

  • A
    Mercedes Maybach
  • B
    Pagani Zonda
  • C
    Audi R8
  • D
    Porsche 959

Question 7

Others cars on this list may be faster or cooler, but there's no denying the appeal of this economical, front-wheel drive model. After all, it was the best-selling American car of the 1980s.

  • A
    Plymouth Valiant
  • B
    Toyota Camry
  • C
    Chevy Cavalier
  • D
    Ford Escort

Question 8

This exotic supercar claimed the mantle for fastest production car back from Lamborghini in 1984. Purpose-built for racing usage, it had a top speed of 188 mph.

  • A
    Ruf CTR
  • B
    Pagani Zonda
  • C
    Ferrari 288 GTO
  • D
    Maserati Biturbo 4.5

Question 9

This Fox-bodied muscle car was the fastest of its kind, capable of a run to 60 in 6.3 seconds and topping out at 137 mph. Production ran from 1987 - 1993.

  • A
    Mercury Zephyr
  • B
    Ford Mustang GT 5.0
  • C
    Pontiac Firebird Le Mans
  • D
    Shelby GT350

Question 10

This model was a perennial "10 Best" and Car of the Year contender from the likes of Car and Driver and Motor Trend. Between its pop-up headlights and rotary engine, few cars then or now are mechanically similar.

  • A
    Toyota 2000GT`
  • B
    Mazda RX-7
  • C
    Mitsubishi Diamante
  • D
    Honda CRX del Sol

Question 11

Before iPods and streaming services, the mix CD was the king of the road trip. The first-ever built-in CD player debuted in 1986 in which model?

  • A
    Ford Crown Victoria
  • B
    Mercury Grand Marquis
  • C
    Cadillac Fleetwood
  • D
    Lincoln Town Car

Question 12

The third generation of this model was introduced in 1982, but this special trim level came out in 1985. It featured a series of engine and suspension upgrades, and you could be sure that it was capable of going much faster than its 85 mph speedometer could show.

  • A
    Pontiac Firebird
  • B
    Ford Mustang GT 5.0
  • C
    Buick Regal
  • D
    Chevy Camaro IROC-Z

Question 13

This model was the fastest car in the world upon its introduction in 1982, capable of reaching a ridiculous 182 mph. Just 321 were built through 1984.

  • A
    Lamborghini Countach LP500S
  • B
    Bugatti EB100
  • C
    Ferrari 288 GTO
  • D
    Porsche 959 911

Question 14

Just 1,311 of this V8-powered supercar were produced between 1987 - 1992. It's capable of accelerating to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds and can reach 199 mph.

  • A
    Porsche 959
  • B
    Ferrari F50
  • C
    Lamborghini Countach
  • D
    Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale

Question 15

This street-racing legend helped spawn a culture of import tuners. While it started as a trim level in 1978, shown here is the third-generation 1986 - 1993 series, when it finally became its own model.

  • A
    Toyota Supra
  • B
    Acura Integra
  • C
    Lexus LS
  • D
    Datsun 340Z

Question 16

This fire-breathing, McLaren-tuned, V8-powered supercar cranks out a whopping 420 lb-ft of torque and was only produced in 1987.

  • A
    Pontiac Grand Le Mans
  • B
    Ford EXP ASC
  • C
    Buick Grand National GNX
  • D
    Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme

Question 17

Aerodynamics improved for the ninth generation of this American institution, and horsepower improved, as well, with a fuel-injected V8 under the hood. This generation was produced from 1983 - 1988.

  • A
    Plymouth Prowler
  • B
    Ford Thunderbird
  • C
    Chrysler LeBaron
  • D
    Chevy Impala

Question 18

Fuel economy was king in the early and mid '80s, and automakers responded to CAFE standards with a series of increasingly efficient models. Introduced in 1985, this model still holds the record for most fuel-efficient all-gasoline model ever made in America.

  • A
    Ford Pinto
  • B
    Dodge Nova
  • C
    Plymouth Valiant
  • D
    Chevrolet Sprint

Question 19

The first dealer-installed navigation system debuted on this model in 1981. It was analog, of course, and not exactly a hot seller, but combined with this car's legendary reliability, it helped propel this model to a 15-year best-selling Japanese import run.

  • A
    Acura Integra
  • B
    Honda Accord
  • C
    Toyota Camry
  • D
    Hyundai Excel

Question 20

Let's end on two of the weirdest and most memorable cars of the decade. This V12-powered SUV started life as a military vehicle but was later converted to road usage. Models ended up in the hands of the likes of the Sultan of Brunei and Uday Hussein.

  • A
    Lamborghini LM002
  • B
    Maserati Levante
  • C
    Aston Martin DBX
  • D
    Mercedes G63 AMG

Comments (3)

We want to hear your feedback! Share your scores and discuss the quiz, but keep it civil.

Some Cars Are Almost Unknown, And Never Advertised In America.

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It was a cool quiz needs better prizes

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Very well put together..fun thus far

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