Two-Seater Excitement
The 1980s was the decade of young, upwardly mobile professionals, or “yuppies,” whose fun cars gave rise to a rich heritage of roadsters and coupes. Each had its own flavor at a time when, in retrospect, their manufacturers were generally untroubled by the demands of safety legislation. Evergreen classics mixed with newcomers boasting front-and four-wheel drive; the brute horsepower of the old guard vied with the cutting-edge technology of the new. There was rarely room for the kids.
Aston Martin Bulldog, 1980
| Origin | UK |
| Engine | 5,340 cc, V8 |
| Top speed | 191 mph (307 km/h) |
Here was a fantasy Aston Martin: a mid-engined, twin-turbo, gull-wing-door concept car that shocked the car world in 1980. The only car built achieved 191 mph in tests.
Alfa Romeo Spider, 1982
| Origin | Italy |
| Engine | 1,567-1,962 cc, four-cylinder |
| Top speed | 118 mph (190 km/h)/h) |
Launched in 1966, the Spider got a major facelift in 1982. Purists decried the rubber bumpers and tail spoiler, but the crash precautions kept this living classic legally compliant in the U.S.
Pontiac Firebird Trans Am, 1982
| Origin | USA |
| Engine | 5,001-5,733 cc, V8 |
| Top speed | 140 mph (225 km/h) |
The most aerodynamic GM car ever, this third-generation Firebird was a 2+2 coupé. The Trans Ams were all V8s. One starred as KITT in the popular television series Knight Rider.
TVR 350i, 1984
| Origin | UK |
| Engine | 3,528 cc, V8 |
| Top speed | 143 mph (230 km/h) |
TVR’s traditional backbone chassis and fiberglass body blended with Rover’s superb aluminum V8 engine made for lightning acceleration and entertaining handling.
Chevrolet Corvette Convertible, 1986
| Origin | USA |
| Engine | 5,733 cc, V8 |
| Top speed | 142 mph (229 km/h) |
The Corvette was fully redesigned in 1983, and three years later a proper convertible option made a return after a gap of 10 years away. A digital dashboard was a notable feature.
Toyota MR2, 1984
| Origin | Japan |
| Engine | 1,587 cc, four-cylinder |
| Top speed | 120 mph (193 km/h) |
The MR2 (Mid-engined Recreational Two-seater) wasn’t the first affordable centrally powered sports car, but it was certainly the best yet: responsive and reliable.
Marcos Mantula, 1984
| Origin | UK |
| Engine | 3,528-3,947 cc, V8 |
| Top speed | 150 mph (241 km/h) |
The classic Marcos of the 1960s sprang back to life in the 1980s as the Mantula. Features now included a soft top, a more aerodynamic nose, and a gutsy Rover V8 engine.
Caterham Seven, 1980
| Origin | UK |
| Engine | 1,588-1,715 cc, four-cylinder |
| Top speed | 115 mph (185 km/h) |
Based on the 1968 version of the 1957 Lotus Seven, the Caterham grew in popularity during the 1980s. It still used Ford engines, and its handling and acceleration excited a new generation.
Porsche 911 Cabriolet, 1982
| Origin | Germany |
| Engine | 2,687-3,299 cc, flat-six |
| Top speed | 168 mph (270 km/h) |
Fans of the 911 who craved fresh air waited until 1982 before Porsche launched a fully convertible body style. It was eventually offered with standard Carrera and Turbo engines.
Porsche 959, 1986
| Origin | Germany |
| Engine | 2,994 cc, flat-six |
| Top speed | 190 mph (306 km/h) |
Two hundred of these awesome cars were built to qualify the 959 for Group B rallying. It had four-wheel drive, 405 bhp from its twin-turbo engine, and electronic ride height.
BMW Z1, 1986
| Origin | Germany |
| Engine | 2,494 cc, six-cylinder |
| Top speed | 140 mph (225 km/h) |
Originally a prototype to test suspension parts, BMW decided to market the Z1 and sold 8,000. The doors slid down inside the plastic body for access to the cockpit.
Jaguar XJS, 1988
| Origin | UK |
| Engine | 5,343 cc, V12 |
| Top speed | 150 mph (241 km/h) |
This fully convertible XJS (previously, there had been a Targa-top cabriolet) came with an electric hood, anti-lock brakes, Jaguar’s silken V12 engine, and abundant style.
Ferrari Testarossa, 1984
| Origin | Italy |
| Engine | 4,942 cc, flat-twelve |
| Top speed | 181 mph (291 km/h) |
Featuring in television’s Miami Vice, the Testarossa symbolized 1980s glamour. The all-alloy, 390 bhp engine roared from the back of the widest car on sale at the time.
Lotus Esprit, 1987
| Origin | UK |
| Engine | 2,174 cc, four-cylinder |
| Top speed | 163 mph (262 km/h) |
Amazing performance from the 2.2-liter Esprit Turbo engine made it a genuine Ferrari-baiter; 1987 saw a Lotus restyle of the Giugiaro original as part of a big revamp.
Ferrari F40, 1987
| Origin | Italy |
| Engine | 2,936 cc, V8 |
| Top speed | 201 mph (323 km/h) |
From 1987 to 1989 this was the world’s fastest production car, thanks to twin turbos, 478 bhp, and lightweight composite bodywork. It marked Ferrari’s 40th birthday.
Lotus Elan, 1989
| Origin | UK |
| Engine | 1,588 cc, four-cylinder |
| Top speed | 136 mph (219 km/h) |
Lotus’s only front-wheel-drive sports car, this shortlived Elan was exciting to drive, partly due to clever wishbone front suspension. The Isuzu engine was usually turbocharged.
Lamborghini Countach, 1988
| Origin | Italy |
| Engine | 5,167 cc, V12 |
| Top speed | 180 mph (290 km/h) |
The wild-child Countach was cleverly restyled for its final two years, to commemorate the supercar-maker’s 25th anniversary. It gained the widest tires then fitted to any car.
It is a quote. The Definitive Visual History Of The Automobile 2011
