Can You Name the Top Cars of the ’80s?

By: Ian Fortey
Estimated Completion Time
4 min
Can You Name the Top Cars of the ’80s?
Image: Pixabay by Dtavres

About This Quiz

Nostalgia for the 1980s has been going strong for a few years now, and why not?  The music of the '80s is still a lot of fun to listen to, and we got some great cinematic gems during that decade of film as well. Who doesn't love "Back to the Future?"  The video games, the TV shows and even some of the hairstyles have had their moments in the sun.  The cars of the '80s are no different - they've proven to be a mix of some of the most memorable in the history of automobiles for a variety of reasons.  Some had iconic looks that stand out even today as both stylish and unforgettable.  Some were just terrible and were as hideous to look at back then as they are right now.   Some had performance that can put modern cars in the dust, and some were such a good deal it didn't matter how terrible they looked.  

With a whole decade to pick through, there were a lot of cars produced in the '80s and some were more memorable than others.  If you think you know your '80s vehicles, why not test yourself?  Try your hand at our quiz and see how many of the top cars of the '80s you can identify.

 Lamborghini Countach
Wiki Commons By Greg Gjerdingen
What's the name of this exotic '80s sportscar?
Lamborghini Countach
Audi 5000
Ferrari F40
Porsche 944
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Originally sold in the '70s, the Lamborghini Countach really hit its stride with the 1982 Countach 500 S model. Unlike earlier models, the '80s Countach was jacked up with vents, more wing and extra-wide tires.

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Mitsubishi Starion
Wiki Commons by Mr.choppers
Does this Japanese car from the '80s look familiar?
Toyota Tercel
Mitsubishi Starion
Mazda RX-7
Honda Accord
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Starion was one of the first cars Mitsubishi introduced. The Tredia and the Cordia were the other two models that the company tried to get into the market but the Starion was the only one that really caught on.

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1986 Acura Integra Coupe
Youtube via Motorweek
This was one of the most affordable cars of the '80s. What was its name?
Toyota Supra
Acura Integra
Ford Tempo
Mazda RX-7
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Acura Integra was not the prettiest car on the block, but then again, most cars of the '80s weren't. It did, however, have a ticket price of under $10,000, which even adjusted for inflation was incredibly affordable.

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AMG Hammer
OldBenz via YouTube
You don't see many of these on the road today. What was it?
Mitsubishi Starion
Dodge Shelby
Buick Skylark
AMG Hammer
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The AMG Hammer was made by Aufrecht Melcher Großaspach, which is now part of Mercedes. The Hammer was a hell of a performance vehicle with a V-8 engine and 355 horsepower. It out-powered a Corvette and could hit about 180 mph.

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Toyota Celica Supra 1982
Youtube via EverydayDriver
Name this vehicle that was stylish but not super fast.
Plymouth Caravelle
Toyota Tercel
Toyota Celica Supra
Jaguar XJ
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Toyota Celica Supra was one of the ultimate '80s style cars. It had flip-up headlights, remember those? Super cool. It also sported window louvers which, if you're not familiar, were essentially like metal blinds across a window to help shade you from the world.

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Porsche 944
Jeremy from Sydney, Australia via Wiki Commons
Do you know the name of this speedy and sporty '80s icon?
Mazda 323
Porsche 944
Nissan Hardbody
Ferrari F40
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Porsche 944 offered up to 247 horsepower and was prized for being just a smooth, easy ride all around. Considering the price a Porsche goes for though, you'd expect that it had to handle as well as it looked.

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1990 Honda CRX Si
Youtube
What's the name of this famous hatchback?
Volvo 200
Pontiac Fiero
Merku XR4Ti
Honda CR-X
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Honda CR-X was one of those cars that everyone seemed to have for a couple of years in the '80s. It offered good fuel economy and good handling and good value. Not much else, though. But what else do you need in a hatchback?

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Audi Quattro
Wiki Commons By Stahlkocher
This was a popular rally car in the '80s. What was it called?
Audi Quattro
Iroc Z
Dodge Shelby
Subaru Brat
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Audi Quattro wasn't available in America for very long in the '80s, only two years from '83 to '85. It was fairly prominent in other countries, though, with a number of variants that never made it stateside.

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Toyota Master Ace
lepis007007 via Youtube
Tell us the name of this awkward-looking vehicle.
Nissan Hardbody
Dodge Caravan
Toyota Van
For Fairlane
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Toyota Van was not a very cleverly named vehicle, nor was it attractive in any way - it looked like a lunchbox on wheels. In Europe, they called it the Space Cruiser though, so it seemed at least semi-cool somewhere in the world.

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1980s - BMW E30 M3
n/a
This high-performance vehicle debuted in 1985. Do you know what it's called?
Toyota Cressida
Mazda 323
BMW M3
Mercedes 190
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The BMW M3 was designed to be the street-legal counterpart so they could qualify for racing because FIA rules stated Group A race cars had to have a street-legal version or else no racing was going on. So this was designed with performance in mind.

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K-car
Wiki Commons by dave_7
This was one of the most common cars on the road back in the day. Do you remember what they were called?
Dodge Stratus
K Car
Citroen
Ford Tempo
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Chrysler K Car was a dominant force on the road in the '80s and well into the '90s as well, for that matter. The K Car was Chrysler's answer to the gas crisis of the 1970s and was essentially the cheapest thing they could possibly produce. It wasn't pretty, but it worked.

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1987 Buick GNX
YouTube
This car had a remarkably limited run in 1987. Does it look familiar?
Toyota Tercel
Hyundai Sonata
Chrysler LeBaron
Buick GNX
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Buick GNX was released in 1987 and followed up as a souped-up version of the GN which preceded it. This version was reputed to have upward of 300 horsepower but only 547 of them were actually produced.

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Pontiac Fiero
Greg Gjerdingen from Willmar, USA via Wiki Commons
Name this sporty, '80s head-turner.
Pontiac Fiero
Chevy Camaro
Audi Quattro
Buck Skylark
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Pontiac Fiero was the flashy car of choice for people who couldn't practically get a Lamborghini or a Ferrari. It was a realistic sports car that suffered from some bad PR and died after a single generation.

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Mercedes 190
Wiki Commons by Lebubu93
Do you know the name of this car that bridged the gap between luxury and affordable?
Jaguar XJ
Volvo 200
Mercedes 190
Nissan Maxima
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Mercedes 190 was an attempt by Mercedes to make a compact luxury car that was accessible to a wider customer base who maybe wasn't going to be shelling out for a Mercedes normally. It proved to be extremely popular and sold exceptionally well.

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Answer These Random Questions and We'll Guess What Car You Had in the ’70s 1
Wiki Commons by Sicnag
What do you call this iconic sports car from Chevy?
LeBaron
IROC-Z
Hardbody
Testarossa
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Chevy Camaro IROC-Z is still a popular car to this day because it's just a cool-looking automobile. With a V-8 engine that put out over 200 horsepower, it was the perfect car for showing off and looking cool.

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Buick Skylark
Niels de Wit from Lunteren, The Netherlands via Wiki Commons
In the '60s you could get a convertible version of this '80s staple. What was it called?
Mazda 323
Ford Mustang
Dodge Shelby
Buick Skylark
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Buick Skylark is a pretty classic design that dates back to 1953 originally. The original designs were some very attractive cars but if we're being honest, by the time the '80s models came out, the Skylark suffered a serious cosmetic issue and were some of the least attractive cars on the road.

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Taurus
Wiki Commons by IFCAR
Ford created one of the most popular sedans of the '80s. What name did it go by?
Taurus
Fairlane
Explorer
Thunderbird
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Ford Taurus may look like a relic of the '80s today, but it was pretty cutting edge in terms of design at the time. It wasn't meant to be super sexy, just an economical family sedan that got you from home to work and back, and it did the job well.

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Dodge Omni Shelby GLH
Wiki Commons by Mr.choppers
Not a lot of people know what the bizarre initials in this car's name stood for. Do you?
DeLorean DMC-12
Dodge Omni Shelby GLH
Buick Grand National GNX
Jaguar XJ
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Dodge Omni was kind of a boxy, ugly car. The Shelby GLH was something else, though. To start, GLH literally stood for "goes like hell." And there was also a GLHS model that stood for "goes like hell s'more." That's a bold name for a car.

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Ferrari F40
Wiki Commons by Maurizio Cefariello
The sound of this car's engine was iconic. Do you recognize it?
Ford Thunderbird
Subaru Brat
Ferrari F40
Mercedes 190
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Ferrari F40 had an insane 478 horsepower, which blows almost every car that came before it out of the water. It also has that unmistakable sporty look to it few other car designers could ever hope to match. Nothing looks like a Ferrari.

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Ferrari Testarossa
Wiki Commons by Marty B
This car was compared to a cheese grater. What was the name of it?
Ferrari Testarossa
Porsche 980
Mazda RX-7
Lamborghini Countach
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Ferrari Testarossa looks like the classic '80s sports car, but for a time it was actually trash-talked pretty openly for being too '80s. The side strakes on the doors were mocked for making the car look like a souped-up cheese grater.

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Nissan Hardbody
Wiki Commons by Lorraine R
The less cool-sounding name of this vehicle was the D21. What other name did it go by?
Mitsubishi Four Runner
Nissan Hardbody
Chrysler LeBaron
Dodge Durango
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Nissan/Datsun Hardbody was meant to be a sporty-looking little truck that was less about being a work vehicle and more about being something fun to drive. It had very little power -- only about 100 horsepower -- but at least it looked good.

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Ford Tempo
Bull-Doser via Wiki Commons
Ford rolled these bad boys out in 1984 and produced them for a decade. What were they called?
Fairmont
Taurus
Fiero
Tempo
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Ford Tempo was a popular model in its day and actually managed to stay in the top 10 selling automobiles in the country for every single year of its production run, often also cracking the top 5.

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Plymouth Caravelle
Hkw2121 via Wiki Commons
This car replaced the Chrysler E-Class. What was it?
Dodge Rampage
Plymouth Caravelle
Plymouth Acclaim
Dodge Grand Caravan
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Plymouth Caravelle was Plymouth's first front-wheel-drive sedan and also an import from Canada, which had the model two years before it rolled in stateside. In fairness, though, the car wasn't ever super popular thanks to its rather unappealing appearance.

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Volvo 200
Wiki Commons by IFCAR
This was an extremely popular car in the '80s. What was the name of it?
Mazda 323
Mitsubishi Gallant
Volkswagon Golf
Volvo 200
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Volvo 200 is a pretty recognizable vehicle and seemed to be everywhere in the '80s. They were so well built that they're one of the few cars from back then that are often still roadworthy all these years later.

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1982 Ford Mustang SSP
MustangConnection1
Do you know the name of this model that was a popular police car in the '80s?
Chevy Tahoe
Ford Mustang SSP
Ford Taurus
Ford Crown Victoria
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Ford Mustang SSP was the "special service package" that Ford produced for law enforcement. You could also get a standard Ford Mustang GT that performed just about as well and sported a V-8 engine for helping you outrun the cops in the other model.

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Audi 5000 1986
Youtube via Auto Ad Builder
What's the name of this car that's also a slang term from the '80s?
Nissan Maxima
Ford Taurus
Honda Accord
Audi 5000
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Saying "I'm Audi 5000" means you are on your way out the door. LL Cool J claims to have coined the term, but since "Audi" sounds like "outtie" or just saying "I'm out" we may never know who originated the phrase.

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Ford Thunderbird
Ryanandlenny via Wiki Commons
This car was produced for well over 50 years, but it looked pretty good in the '80s. What was the name of it?
Chevy Camaro
Ford Mustang
Ford Thunderbird
Dodge Ram
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Ford Thunderbird is one of Ford's most iconic models and begann production in the 1950s. During the '80s, the Thunderbird was a vehicle made to perform and had a variety of options that included a V-8 engine for those who wanted some real thunder.

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Jeep Cherokee
n/a
This iconic vehicle was for people who wanted something a little rugged. Tell us what it was called.
Jeep Cherokee
Dodge Durango
Ford Explorer
Dodge Ram
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Jeep Cherokee came onto the scene in 1984 and was built for people who wanted some rough and tumble off-roading action. It successfully straddled the line between a powerful 4x4 and a family vehicle that appealed to a wide array of consumers.

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Dodge Rampage
Wiki Commons By JOHN LLOYD
Do you know the name of this unusual-looking vehicle?
Toyota Cressida
Subaru Brat
Mazda 323
Dodge Rampage
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Dodge Rampage looked like more compact El Camino with that little flatbed in the back. It didn't offer a ton of power and, for better or worse, it didn't really appeal to consumers either. It only lasted a few years before being ditched.

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Mazda 323
Youtube
What was the name of this speedy little hatchback?
Mazda 323
Volvo 200
Honda Accord
Hyundai Excel
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Mazda 323 was an all-wheel-drive powerhouse of a car that was well-suited as a rally car or a family vehicle for the family that loved having some punch in their car. It could go 0 to 60 in just under 9 seconds.

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Dodge Grand Caravan
Wiki Commons by order_242
What did they call this big family vehicle?
Honda Odyssey
Chrysler Pacifica
Dodge Grand Caravan
Kia Sedona
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Dodge Grand Caravan is somewhat credited with the death of the station wagon as the popular family car that could haul the kids and the luggage on vacation. And when you think about it, how often do you ever see a station wagon these days?

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Mazda RX-7
Riley from Christchurch, New Zealand via Wiki Commons
This car was an affordable alternative to some pricey sports cars. What was it called?
Mazda RX-7
Jaguar XJ
Mercedes 190
Toyota Celica Supra
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

It's not unfair to say that the Mazda RX-7 was a more affordable Porsche, because Mazda specifically took design points from the Porsche when creating the RX-7. Essentially it was designed toward the end of being a cheap Porsche knock off.

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1987 Subaru BRAT
Youtube
The most unique this about this vehicle was its name. Do you know what it was?
Ford Probe
Subaru Brat
Mazda Scrum Wagon
Diahatsu Charade
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Subaru Brat had a very weird name to match its very weird look. Another one of those almost-truck cars, it had little power under the hood and didn't offer much aside from an unusual look and that super weird name.

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Jaguar XJ-S
Charles01 via Wiki Commons
This car had a classic look and good performance. Do you know what the name of it was?
Mitsubishi Starion
BMW M3
Pontiac Fiero
Jaguar XJ
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Jaguar XJ had an elegant look to compliment a high-performance vehicle, but it's also a bit dated by today's standards. This is the sort of car your grandfather drove if he had a decent amount of cash to burn in the middle of the decade.

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Toyota Tercel
Wiki Commons
This was like a tiny version of the Corolla. What name did it go by?
Tempo
Cressida
Tercel
Taurus
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Tercel was another of those iconic '80s cars that seemed to be on every road for the entire decade. It was Toyota's first front-wheel drive vehicle and was pretty low-powered overall, but at least it was reliable.

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Hyundai Excel
Wiki Commons via Riley from Christchurch
This insanely cheap hatchback succeeded thanks to its low price point. What did they call it?
Hyundai Excel
Nissan Maxima
Toyota Cressida
Ford Tempo
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

There wasn't a lot to remember about Hyundai in the 1980s, but the Excel was a popular model if for no other reason than the fact it cost under $5000. Thanks to that irresistible price tag, they sold nearly 168,000 units in 1985 alone.

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Honda Accord
Wiki Commons by Kevauto
This car is still in production and is one of the best selling cars in America. Tell us the name of it.
Mercury Cougar
Ford Taurus
Honda Accord
Hyundai Elantra
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Honda Accord first showed up in the late '70s and has been a pretty popular car model ever since. it's not popular for being supercharged or super sexy, it just clicked with drivers because it handled reliably and was a decent price.

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Nissan-Maxima
Wiki Commons
This sedan showed up in 1981. Do you remember it?
Nissan Maxima
Ford Taurus
Dodge Stratus
Buick Skylark
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Nissan Maxima was also marketed as the Datsun Maxima and is still marketed today. In the 1980s it was a lot blockier and boxier than the current models of course, but it also had the same power under the hood as the Ford Mustang, so that was pretty good.

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Toyota Cressida 1981
Wiki Commons by order_242
This car had a Shakespearean name. Do you know what it is?
Audi Quattro
Toyota Corolla
Hyundai Elantra
Toyota Cressida
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Toyota Cressida, which was inspired by the Shakespeare play "Troilus and Cressida," was sort of like a Supra and larger than the Camry. It was manufactured into the early '90s then it was dropped from production.

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DeLorean
Wiki Commons by Mikebabb
This may be the most '80s car of the entire decade. What was it called?
Toyota Celica
Lamborghini Countach
DeLorean
Iroc Z
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The DeLorean DMC-12 is not just the most iconic car of the '80s, it's one of the most iconic cars of all time thanks to the movie "Back to the Future" and the fact the car itself was a wildly exotic-looking aluminum beast with gull-wing doors and a crazy backstory about its development.

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Pixabay by Dtavres