Image: EverydayDriver via Youtube
About This Quiz
The '80s were an interesting time in automaking history. Style and performance were all over the map, meaning there was something for every kind of driver on the road. Boxy, economical designs were front and center, but sleek, performance-driven models were just as readily available. Some companies like Volvo and Toyota tried their hand at redesigning and reinventing what they were known for and did really well, while others like Cadillac dropped the Cimmaron and had the exact opposite effect. While a driver looking for an affordable ride could drop just a few thousand on a Ford Tempo, those for whom money was no object could shell out big time for a Ferrari F40 and break the bank.Â
Whether you appreciate the style of the '80s, some of the incredible technological advancements that popped up in cars over the decade, the cool retro feel to so many of the designs when viewed through a modern lens, or something else altogether if you love the cars of the '80s, now's your chance to show off. These aren't all performance machines; some of these were full-on clunkers, but they all made an impact. Think you can ID them all? Take the quiz and see!
Wiki Commons by SsmIntrigue
Which of these cars was famous for its gull-wing doors and brushed stainless steel finish?
Ferrari Testarossa
Chevy Camaro Iroc Z
DMC DeLorean
The DMC DeLorean is one of the most recognizable cars from the '80s thanks in no small part to the "Back tot he Future" film franchise. Despite the car's reputation and futuristic appearance, it didn't actually perform that well. At only 130 horsepower, it took over 10 seconds to accelerate to 60 miles per hour.
Pontiac Fiero GTO
Wiki Commons by Jayt1980
Do you know which of these vehicles was rocking a 12-cylinder engine?
Lotus Elan M100
Audi 5000
Acura Integra
Ferrari Testarossa
The Ferrari Testarossa showed up in 1984 and was the last vehicle Ferrari ever made with a flat-12 engine. The F51M model was able to accelerate from 0 to 60 miles per hour in just 4.7 seconds, making it one of the fastest cars in the world at the time.
Wiki Commons by Subarubratman
This memorable car featured in both "Napoleon Dynamite" and "My Name is Earl." What is it?
Acura Integra
Subaru BRAT
Though the Subaru BRAT debuted at the end of the '70s, it had its heyday in the '80s. Rex, the owner of Rex Kawn Do, drove an '82 BRAT in the movie "Napoleon Dynamite," while Joy from "My Name is Earl" drove a stars-and-stripes themed '85 BRAT.
Dodge Rampage
Toyota Cressida
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Wiki Commons by crudmucosa
In 1985 this car was released in honor of the International Race of Champions. What was it?
Buick Grand National GNX
Ford Mustang GT
Dodge Shelby
Chevy Camaro IROC-Z
The Chevy Camaro IROC-Z, usually just called the IROC-Z by most people, was an option package for the third generation Camaro Z28. It was decked out with sway bars, a lower height, upgraded suspension and shocks, and Corvette tires.
Wiki Commons by Damian Morys
Do you know which of these cars had to be tweaked because it didn't meet U.S. safety standards in 1985?
Ferrari F40
McLaren F1
Lamborghini Countach
The Lamborghini Countach had been around for a few years, but in 1985, they rolled out the Lamborghini Countach L5000 QV. To meet safety standards in the U.S., the company had to add a bulkier bumper and a new fuel-injection system. Word is many American owners removed the bumper after buying it.
DeLorean DMC-12
Wiki Commons by EKSRX
Do you know which of these cars was designed for the rally car circuit?
Volvo 200
AMC Eagle
Audi Quattro
The Audi Quattro has stood the test of time as a powerful and reliable vehicle originally designed for racing. Back in 1980, the rules of racing stated a certain number of cars had to be available to the public before a car could be a race car, so that's how some people first experienced this four-wheel-drive powerhouse.
Nissan Hardbody
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Wiki Commons by Niels de Wit
They only sold 410 of these cars in about seven years. What is it?
Ferrari F40
Lamborghini Jalpa
As Lamborghinis go, the Jalpa is rather rare and underrated. In production from 1981 to 1988, it was introduced as a more affordable Lamborghini compared to things like the Countach. Failing sales saw it discontinued in 1988 even though it was apparently Lamborghini's second most successful V8 powered car ever.
Lancia Strata
BMW M3
Wiki Commons by Greg Gjerdingen
Do you know which of these had porthole windows and swivel headlights?
Chevy Monte Carlo SS
Honda CR-X
Lincoln Mark VI Continental
The Lincoln Mark VI Continental was a full-on luxury car introduced in 1981 but full of modern amenities. This was one of the first cars ever to use a keyless entry system and even a trip computer to keep track of your comings and goings.
Cadillac El Dorado
Wiki Commons by Ken273
Do you know this car that had a rubber rear wing?
Porsche 944
The Porsche 944 was a replacement for the underperforming 924. The transmission in this model was located in the rear as a way to help balance the way, and the suspension was improved to make the driving experience superior to the disappointing 924.
Acura Integra
Toyota Supra
Mazda 323
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Wiki Commons by SecretAgentZero
This model resurrected a muscle car from the past. What was it?
Ford Thunderbird
Chevy Monte Carlo SS
The Chevy Monte Carlo SS was introduced in 1983 as a muscle car upgrade to the fairly ho-hum regular Monte Carlo model that had been made available. The SS offered a 5.0L 150 horsepower V8 engine. It had the full SS badging and sported some dual exhaust and smoother lines to round out the package.
Pontiac GTO
Plymouth Road Runner
Wiki Commons by IFCAR
Do you know which of these got named to "Car and Driver's" 10 best list twice in the '80s?
Toyota Tercel
Pontiac Fiero
Honda CR-X
Acura Integra
The Acura Integra debuted in 1985 and made "Car and Driver's" 10 Best in 1987 and 1988. That's just the '80s, though, and if we followed it through its whole history, we'd see it show up on that same list six whole times overall.
Wiki Commons by Thomas Vogt
When these cars debuted they were the only four-wheel-drive passenger cars in the U.S. What is it?
Audi 5000
Plymouth Caravelle
Ford Taurus
AMC Eagle
The AMC Eagle is the forerunner to many more modern all-wheel-drive station wagons. The Subaru Outback, the Audi Allroad and the Buick Regal TourX were all inspired by the design of the Eagle and its massive suspension.
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Wiki Commons by Bull-Doser
Which of these was the company's first all new vehicle design since 1963?
Nissan Hardbody
Jeep Cherokee XJ
The Jeep Cherokee XJ was the first new design Jeep had rolled out since 1963's SJ Wagoneer. It also had the distinction of being the first American off-road vehicle with a unibody design. They were sold as Sportwagon, something which would go on to inspire the modern SUV market.
Dodge Grand Caravan
Ford Bronco
Wiki Commons by dave_7
This technologically advanced vehicle was known as the Fairlady internationally. What is it?
Jaguar XJ
Nissan 300ZX
The Nissan 300 ZX was one of the forerunners of computer technology in the '80s. It had fully digital climate control, a sound system that you could feel in the front seats, and was one of the first cars to incorporate a voice system that would tell you when a door was open.
Hyundai Excel
Mazda 323
Wiki Commons by Alf van Beem
Do you know which of these was powered by a rotary engine?
Pontiac Fiero
Nissan Maxima
Mercedes 190e
Mazda RX-7
Like most Mazda vehicles, the RX-7 was powered by a rotary engine. The RX-7 FC was the first Mazda ever to use a turbocharger that rocketed it up to 200 horsepower. It was also styled to be reminiscent of the Porsche models of the time to appeal to a wider international customer base.
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Wiki Commons by Alexandre Prévot
Upon its release, this car was the manufacturer's fastest, most powerful, and most expensive model ever. Do you know it?
Lamborghini Countach
Porsche 959
Ferrari F40
The last car ever personally approved by Enzo Ferrari before his passing, the Ferrari F40 was made to celebrate the company's 40th anniversary. It was released with a sticker price of $400,000 in 1987, which is about $900,000 today.
McLaren M1
Wiki Commons by Mr.choppers
Caroll Shelby modified a 1983 Dodge model to be sold as the Dodge Shelby. What model was it?
Charger
The Dodge Shelby Charger was a follow up to the standard Dodge Charger available in 1983. Legendary designer Carroll Shelby, of the Shelby Cobra and Shelby Mustang, didn't alter the power of the Charger, instead choosing to focus on the suspension and styling, including racing stripes and a free-flowing exhaust system.
Challenger
Daytona
Coronet
Wiki Commons by ilikewaffles11
Which of these had about 300 horsepower?
Buick Grand National GNX
The Buick Grand National GNX was an '80s-style muscle car complete with a turbocharged V6. According to Buick, the car had an output of 276 horsepower, but those who reviewed it clocked it up closer to 300 overall.
Buick Skylark
Chevy Impala
Ford Taurus
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Wiki Commons by TTTNIS
This was "Motor Trend's" Import Car of the Year in 1984. Do you know it?
Honda CR-X
The CR-X from Honda made numerous top car lists throughout the '80s, including two spots on "Car and Driver's" 10 Best lists in the '80s and a second sport on "Motor Trend's" best import for the SI model in 1988.
Honda Civic
Nissan Maxima
Toyota Supra
Wiki Commons by 55allegro
Do you know which of these was named for a Portuguese sailing ship?
Toyota Tercel
Toyota Cressida
Pontiac Fiero
Plymouth Caravelle
Debuting in 1985 in the U.S. but in 1983 in Canada, the Plymouth Caravelle was the company's first front-wheel-drive mid-size sedan. It replaced the Chrysler E-Class and was essentially an E-Class with a new grille and a new name.
Wiki Commons by Niels de Wit
Which of these was the first two-seater model from the company since 1938?
Ford Tempo
Mercedes 190E
Pontiac Fiero
The Pontiac Fiero was a sports car produced from 1983 to 1988 and was notable for being the first mass-produced mid-engine sportscar from an American manufacturer. It featured many cutting-edge design elements like speakers integrated into the headrests, composite side panels, and hidden headlamps.
BMW M3
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Wiki Commons by nakhon100
This car was made specifically for racing. Does it look familiar?
Mitsubishi Starion
BMW M3
BMW's legendary M3 was made for racing, and because the rules stated any racing car needed a street-legal counterpart, the MW was born. At least 5000 street versions needed to be made in order for it to qualify for racing, but it went on to become one of the most popular models from the '80s.
Audi 5000
Toyota Supra
Wiki Commons by dave_7
Do you know which of these special edition cars was only available in back and gold or black and red?
Buick Skylark Monterrey Edition
Datsun 280ZX 10th Anniversary Edition
In 1980, the Datsun 280ZX Anniversary Edition was nicknamed "Black Gold" and was offered up with an appropriately decked out color scheme inside and out. They only released 3,000 of them, 2,500 in all black and gold, and 500 in black and red.
Dodge Grand Caravan Midnite Special
Nissan Hardbody Special Edition
Wiki Commons by IFCAR
This was one of the top 10 selling cars in America every year it was produced. Do you know it?
Honda Civic
Toyota Camry
Ford Tempo
Few cars are as synonymous with the '80s as the Ford Tempo. It was immensely successful for Ford and consistently sold hundreds of thousands of units every single year it was available. Its first year, 1984, was the most successful, and over 400,000 were sold.
Volkswagen Jetta
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Wiki Commons by IFCAR
Which of these is called the Hilux Surf in Japan?
Isuzu Trooper
Hyundai Elantra
Honda Fit
Toyota 4Runner
The Toyota 4Runner is notable for being one of the most long-lived vehicles you can buy. According to a 2019 study, nearly 4% of them can make it past 200,000 miles of driving. That placed it at number five on the list.
Wiki Commons by Nanzig
Do you remember this infamously terrible car from 1985?
Ford Pinto
AMC Pacer
Chevy Vega
Yugo
To fully understand the legacy of the Yugo, you just need to appreciate its nickname "Yugo Nowhere." It was very hyped up before its release as an affordable, subcompact car. Still, upon its release, massive performance issues made it one of the world's biggest automotive failures of all time. How bad was it? "Car Talk" voted it the worst car of the millennium.
Wiki Commons by SealyPhoto
In some markets, this was sold under the name Pony. Do you know it?
Honda Accord
Hyundai Excel
The Hyundai Excel was sold from 1985 to the year 2000. It was the first South Korean car to be made with front-wheel drive. It was also sold in the U.S. from 1987 to 1994 under the name Mitsubishi Precis.
Toyota Corolla
Mazda RX-7
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Wiki Commons by Greg Gjerdingen
The body of this car was built in Italy then flown to Detroit. What was it?
Nissan Maxima
Pontiac Sunfire
Cadillac Allante
The Cadillac Allante was far more expensive to build than the average vehicle since the body was manufactured in Italy by a company called Pininfarina, and then they were flown to Detroit to be assembled. As for the name, Allante was just one of 1,700 computer-generated words they had to choose from.
GMC Sierra
Wiki Commons by Improbcat
Which of these luxury cars is considered one of the worst ever made?
Lotus Elan
Lexus R6
Cadillac Cimmaron
The Cadillac Cimmaron was supposed to be a luxury car like you'd expect from Caddilac but ended up being a massive failure for the company. It performed poorly and was essentially a low-budget economy car rebadged as a luxury car with a price tag to match.
Buick Century
Wiki Commons by Spurzem
Even though this model did poorly in the U.S., it sold about 1.8 million worldwide. What is it?
Mercedes 190
The Mercedes 190 was otherwise known as the Mercedes-Benz W201. At the time of its release, it was regarded as a "budget" Mercedes by American drivers, the discount version of a better car, and was generally shunned on the market.
Bentley Mulsanne
Aston Martin DB6
Rolls Royce Silver Shadow
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Wiki Commons by Bull-Doser
NASCAR received complaints when which of these cars was allowed to race?
Plymouth
Mercury Cougar
Chevy Lumina
The Chevy Lumina nameplate saw use in NASCAR in 1989, but the car wasn't publicly available until the next year. The result of that was a number of complaints about Chevy running a car that shouldn't have been allowed, giving them an unfair advantage.
Pontiac Sunfire
Wiki Commons by SJacob Frey 4A
Do you know which of these was marketed as the Alcyone in Japan?
Subaru XT
The Subaru XT was what the future looked like if you lived back in 1985. Flush door handles, an aerodynamic wedge shape, and even rubber spoilers before each whee well to make it more smooth of a ride. They also worked as mud flaps.
Honda Civic
Mitsubishi Starion
Hyundai Elantra
Wiki Commons by Spanish Coches
Which of these cars had seats so nice they were targeted by car thieves?
Pontiac Fiero
Dodge Neon
Ford Taurus
Toyota Celica Supra
The Toyota Celica Supra got a redesign in 1981 and the resulting vehicle was a hot commodity. Literally, in fact, as when it wasn't being stolen for those plush front seats, the back windshield came with a louvered cover because it was flat enough that passengers in the back would get burnt by the sun without it.
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Wiki Commons by Mr.choppers
In its first three years, over 236,000 of this car were produced. What was it?
Volvo 200
Alfa Romeo Milano
The Alfa Romeo Milano was the last car produced by Alfa Romeo before Fiat bought the company out. In Europe, it was known as the Alfa Romeo 75 because it was introduced to celebrate the company's 75th anniversary.
VW Passat
Citroen Ami
Wiki Commons by nakhon100
Which of these cars was infamously underpowered?
Pontiac Firebird Trans Am Turbo
In what would be one of the most bizarre twists you can imagine, the 1980 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am Turbo had an engine that actually performed worse than the non-turbo engine it was supposed to be replacing. This basically made the car weirdly pointless.
Porshe 944
Ferrari 12X
Chevy Camaro
Wiki Commons by dave_7
This car had to be recalled nine times. What was it?
Ford Taurus
Chrysler Town and Country
Dodge Stratus
Chevy Citation
In 1980, the Chevy Citation was the best-selling car in North America after a hugely successful rollout. Unfortunately, it ended up being a massive failure as the vehicle was recalled an incredible nine times to fix everything from faulty fuel lines to transmission hoses that would catch fire to the steering gear that would detach mid-drive.
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Wiki Commons by Greg Gjerdingen
You might know which of these as a K-Car?
Pontiac Sunfire
Dodge Caravan
Plymouth Reliant
The Plymouth Reliant was also known as a Chrysler K-car along with the Dodge Aries. The car proved to be massively popular at a time when Chrysler was faltering in the marketplace and sold over 150,000 units in 1981 alone.
Volvo 200
Wiki Commons by IFCAR
This car was reintroduced for the Chinese market in 2016 even though it ended in North America in 2005. Do you know it?
Ford Temp
Dodge Neon
Chevy Cavalier
The Chevy Cavalier was a remarkably popular car during its time and consistently sold in the hundreds of thousands of units every single year it was in production. In 1984 alone, it managed to sell over 462,000 units.
Subaru Impreza
Wiki Commons by Mr.choppers
Less than 100 of which of these models were made?
Bentley Mulsanne
Rolls Royce Silver Ghost
Aston Martin V8 Zagato
Aston Martin started production of the V8 Zagato in 1986 and continued until 1990. In that time, they made a total of 89 — 52 coupes and 37 convertibles. It was based on the pre-existing Aston Martin V8 but with a body built by Zagato coachbuilders.
Austin Delano
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Wiki Commons by Greny
Which of these cars was assembled in Italy?
Peugeot 250
Alfa Romeo Aventador
Fiat 600
Volvo 780
The Volvo 780 debuted in 1985 at the Geneva Auto Show and was available in Europe in 1986 and then North America a year later. They were designed by Bertone in Italy in an attempt to overcome the reputation of the boxy, awkward Volvo of the past.
You Got:
/40
EverydayDriver via Youtube