Most Iconic Cars of the 1980s
Written by Dan Henry Trivia Expert
Last updated · 6 min play time
In the '80s it was routine for an inexpensive sports car to out-perform the priciest of early '70s supercars. Can you name these '80s machines?
Quiz written by
Dan HenryIconic 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.
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ADeLorean DMC-12
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BFord Probe
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CYugo GV
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DBuick Grand National GNX
DeLorean DMC-12
Yes, this is the DeLorean DMC-12. No, it does not actually have a flux capacitor.
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.
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AMerkur XR4Ti
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BFord Thunderbird SHO
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CPontiac Firebird Trans Am
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DMercury Cougar XR-7
Pontiac Firebird Trans Am
This Pontiac Firebird Trans-Am was a special-edition model made to commemorate Pontiac's 20th anniversary.
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.
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AAudi 5000 Turbo
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BMaserati Biturbo
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CMercedes SL 500
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DPorsche 911 Turbo
Porsche 911 Turbo
This is the 911 Turbo, also known as the Porsche 930.
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.
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AChevy Corvette ZR1
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BMerkur XR4Ti
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CPontiac Firebird Le Mans
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DShelby Mustang Mach 1
Chevy Corvette ZR1
This is the fourth-gen Corvette ZR1, unleashed in 1989.
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.
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AFord Tempo
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BTrabant
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COldsmobile Firenza
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DYugo GV
Yugo GV
This is the Zastava Koral, or as it was known in America, the Yugo.
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.
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AMercedes Maybach
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BPagani Zonda
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CAudi R8
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DPorsche 959
Porsche 959
This road-legal race car is the 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.
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APlymouth Valiant
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BToyota Camry
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CChevy Cavalier
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DFord Escort
Ford Escort
The ubiquitous first-gen Ford Escort was sold from 1981 - 1990.
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.
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ARuf CTR
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BPagani Zonda
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CFerrari 288 GTO
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DMaserati Biturbo 4.5
Ferrari 288 GTO
This is the Ferrari 288 GTO, an even more exotic version of the 308 GTB.
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.
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AMercury Zephyr
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BFord Mustang GT 5.0
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CPontiac Firebird Le Mans
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DShelby GT350
Ford Mustang GT 5.0
The Ford Mustang 5.0 GT was also adapted to highway patrol usage, seeing as it was capable of running nearly three times the 55 mph spped limit.
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.
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AToyota 2000GT`
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BMazda RX-7
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CMitsubishi Diamante
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DHonda CRX del Sol
Mazda RX-7
Introduced in 1985, this is the second-gen Mazda RX-7.
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?
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AFord Crown Victoria
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BMercury Grand Marquis
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CCadillac Fleetwood
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DLincoln Town Car
Lincoln Town Car
This is the first-generation Lincoln Town Car, produced from 1981 - 1989.
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.
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APontiac Firebird
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BFord Mustang GT 5.0
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CBuick Regal
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DChevy Camaro IROC-Z
Chevy Camaro IROC-Z
This is the 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.
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ALamborghini Countach LP500S
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BBugatti EB100
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CFerrari 288 GTO
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DPorsche 959 911
Lamborghini Countach LP500S
This is the legendary Lamborghini Countach LP500S.
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.
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APorsche 959
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BFerrari F50
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CLamborghini Countach
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DAlfa Romeo 33 Stradale
Ferrari F50
The legendary Ferrari F40 was produced i honor of the company's 40th anniversary.
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.
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AToyota Supra
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BAcura Integra
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CLexus LS
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DDatsun 340Z
Toyota Supra
"Fast and the Furious" fans know this one. This is the Toyota Supra.
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.
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APontiac Grand Le Mans
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BFord EXP ASC
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CBuick Grand National GNX
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DOldsmobile Cutlass Supreme
Buick Grand National GNX
Just 547 Grand National GNXs were produced in 1987.
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.
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APlymouth Prowler
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BFord Thunderbird
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CChrysler LeBaron
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DChevy Impala
Ford Thunderbird
This is the Fox-body-based Ford Thunderbird.
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.
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AFord Pinto
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BDodge Nova
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CPlymouth Valiant
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DChevrolet Sprint
Chevrolet Sprint
The '86 Chevy Sprint ER was rated at an incredible 44 mpg city and 53 mpg highway, probably due in part to its 48 hp engine.
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.
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AAcura Integra
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BHonda Accord
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CToyota Camry
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DHyundai Excel
Honda Accord
Shown here is the second-gen Honda Accord, produced from 1982 - 1985.
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.
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ALamborghini LM002
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BMaserati Levante
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CAston Martin DBX
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DMercedes G63 AMG
Lamborghini LM002
The "Rambo Lambo", the Lamborghini LM002, sold just 328 models between 1986 - 1993.
Comments (3)
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Some Cars Are Almost Unknown, And Never Advertised In America.
It was a cool quiz needs better prizes
Very well put together..fun thus far