Can You Name These Ugly Cars from the '80s?

By: Nicole Shein
Estimated Completion Time
3 min
Can You Name These Ugly Cars from the '80s?
Image: Pixabay by Ahundt

About This Quiz

The oil crisis of the 1970s signaled the demise of enormous gas-guzzling vehicles, and in the decade that followed, compact cars, many of them imports from Japan, began to dominate the American roadways. In 1982, Honda opened its first stateside auto plant in Marysville, OH. Manufacturers Toyota and Nissan weren't far behind.

Smaller, more fuel-efficient cars appealed to the no-nonsense, driven-to-succeed Yuppie population, but the 1980s also saw a resurgence in muscle cars and in luxury autos. Can you imagine Jake Ryan driving a Chevette instead of a cherry-red Porsche convertible, or Marty McFly using a Pinto to travel back in time? Neither can we.

A few of the now-standard technologies and features that made their debut during the Reagan Era include electronic ignition, fuel injection, disc brakes, front-wheel drive, fuel efficiency, self-driving vehicles (believe it or not, this achievement dates back to 1986), and even cellular car telephones.

There are some 1980s-era autos that have stood the test of time, and even become classics -- like "Ghostbusters" or the music of Michael Jackson. Yet there are far more dated models that, just like acid-wash jeans and crimped hair, have us scratching our heads and wondering if our judgment was impaired by all that cocaine.

Ready to put your car-identification chops to the test? Crack open a cold wine cooler or New York Seltzer and let's get started!


Rolls-Royce Camargue
Wiki Commons by Stahlkocher
Can you take a crack at this car's identity?
BMW 733i
Lincoln Mark VII
Rolls-Royce Camargue
Citroën GS Camargue
Chevrolet Chevette
Wiki Commons by IFCAR
What subcompact car is seen here?
Honda Civic
Chevrolet Chevette
AMC Pacer
Volkswagon Golf
Ford Pinto
Wiki Commons by Michael Dorausch
Take a guess at this car's name.
Ford Pinto
Dodge Challenger
AMC Hornet
Chevrolet Vega

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Ford Mustang GT
Wiki Commons by Sicnag
This image shows what kind of car?
Ford Mustang GT
Toyota Selica
Dodge Challenger
Plymouth Barracuda
Yugo 45
Wiki Commons by KGC626
Can you ID this notoriously terrible car?
Geo Metro
Ford Pinto
Chevrolet Chevette
Yugo 45
Dodge Grand Caravan
Wiki Commons by order_242
How well do you know your minivans?
Chevrolet Astro
Ford Aerostar
Dodge Grand Caravan
Mercury Villager

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Chrysler LeBaron
Wiki Commons by Greg Gjerdingen
Can you correctly identify this behemoth?
Dodge Lancer
Cadillac Cimarron
Chrysler Town & Country
Chrysler LeBaron
Ferrari Testarossa
Wiki Commons by dave_7
*wolf whistle* How YOU doin'?
Porsche 959
Ferrari Testarossa
DeLorean DMZ-12
Lamborghini Countach
Ford Tempo
Wiki Commons by dave_7
Next up, here we have a _________?
Mercury Sable
Chevy Cavalier
Buick Skylark
Ford Tempo

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AMC Eagle Station Wagon
Wiki Commons by CZmarlin
Name this wood-paneled beast.
AMC Eagle Station Wagon
AMC Hornet
Volkswagon Fox
Mercury Bobcat
Pontiac Phoenix
Wiki Commons by dave_7
"Who am I?" -- this car
Pontiac Phoenix
Chevrolet Nova
Pontiac Grand Am
Dodge Peacock
Chevrolet Cavalier
Wiki Commons by Bull-Doser
Hit this with your best shot. Fire away.
Corvette ZL-1
Mitsubishi Mirage
Chevrolet Cavalier
Corvette "305" California

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Chevrolet Citation
Wiki Commons by Herranderssvensson
Let's see if you can identify this clunker.
Pontiac Phoenix
Chevrolet Nova
AMC Hornet
Chevrolet Citation
Subaru BRAT
Wiki Commons by Subarubratman
A car? A truck? You tell us what this thing is.
Volkswagon Rabbit
Dodge Rampage
Chevrolet El Camino
Subaru BRAT
Cadillac Cimarron
Wiki Commons by IFCAR
Identify this vehicle, if you please.
Cadillac Cimarron
Chevrolet Cavalier
Ford Thunderbird
Bentley Turbo R

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Honda Ballade
Wiki Commons by Charlie
What do we have here?
Acura Integra
Toyota Tercel
Honda Ballade
Ford Fiesta
Mercury Lynx
Wiki Commons by dave_7
Here's an ugly car. Know what it is?
Mazda 323
Mercury Lynx
Ford EXP
Subaru Sailfish
Renault Fuego
Wiki Commons by Riley
Do you remember this homely fellow?
Volkswagon Jetta
Ford Capri
AMC Gremlin
Renault Fuego

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Suzuki Samurai
Wiki Commons by order_242
Do you know what this monstrosity is called?
Suzuki Samurai
Suzuki Sidekick
Geo Tracker
Jeep Wrangler
Zimmer Quicksilver
Wiki Commons by HSV
What even IS this thing?
Chrysler Executive
Lincoln Town Car
Zimmer Quicksilver
Mercury Grand Marquis
Oldsmobile Firenza
Wiki Commons by dave_7
Do you know what this car is called?
Chevrolet Cavalier
Buick Skyhawk
Oldsmobile Firenza
Pontiac Sunbird

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Sterling 825 Sedan
Wiki Commons by order_242
What car do you see here?
Sterling 825 Sedan
Acura Legend
Ford Tempo
Toyota Corolla
Triumph Acclaim
Wiki Commons by Charles01
Recognize this tin can on wheels?
Volvo 240
Mercedes-Benz 500E
Triumph Acclaim
Ford Sierra
Alfa Romeo Milano
Wiki Commons by Mr.choppers
Oh goody! Another boxy 4-door sedan.
Toyota Cressida
Ford Escort
Saab 900-S
Alfa Romeo Milano

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Nissan Micra
Wiki Commons by Niels de Wit
ID this car and you'll get 50 points for Slytherin.
Audi Quattro
Nissan Micra
Ford Orion
Subaru XT
Pontiac Firebird Trans Am Turbo
Wiki Commons by nakhon100
Identify this 1980s car, please.
AMC Eagle
Pontiac Firebird Trans Am Turbo
Pontiac LeMans
Ford Phoenix
Cadillac Seville
Wiki Commons by User:Morven.
Name that ugly car!
Cadillac Seville
Chrysler LeBaron
Buick Riveria
Lincoln Continental

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Maserati Biturbo
Wiki Commons by Mr.choppers
Will you be stumped by this set of wheels?
Maserati Biturbo
Buick GNX
Pontiac Firebird Trans Am
Lotus Esprit Turbo SE
Oldsmobile Delta 88 Diesel
Wiki Commons by Niels de Wit
Know what this car is?
Chevrolet Omega
Oldsmobile Delta 88 Diesel
Chevrolet Monte Carlo
Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme
Oldsmobile Omega
Wiki Commons by Bull-Doser
Channel your inner Click and/or Clack to tell us what this big ol' beaut is.
Oldsmobile Omega
Oldsmobile Alpha
Pontiac Ventura
Chevrolet Citation

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Geo Metro
Wiki Commons by Inkadove
Like ET, this car is so ugly it's almost cute. What is it?
Geo Metro
Mitsubishi Mirage
Chevrolet Aveo
Suzuki Celerio
Pontiac Fiero
Wiki Commons by Greg Gjerdingen
Here's an easy one to get you started. What car is this?
Pontiac Firebird
Pontiac Fiero
Porsche 911
Pontiac Freebird
Cadillac Allante
Wiki Commons by Greg Gjerdingen
What car is shown in this picture?
Jaguar XJS
Mercedes-Benz SL
Cadillac Allante
Buick Reatta

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Ferrari Mondial 8
Wiki Commons by DanielPenfield
Can you tell us what make and model this car is?
Audi Quattro
Ferrari Mondial 8
Rolls Royce Globillion
Porsche 959
Hyundai Excel
Wiki Commons by Hyundai Excel GLS
What do we have here?
Hyundai Excel
Honda Civic
Daewoo Pony
Ford Escort
Subaru Justy
Wiki Commons by Niels de Wit
Who are you, little hatchback?
AMC Spirit
Renault Encore
Pontiac Acadian
Subaru Justy

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Plymouth Caravelle
Wiki Commons by Bull-Doser
Take a guess at what this homely car is.
Plymouth Acclaim
Skoda Estelle
Plymouth Caravelle
Oldsmobile Ciera
Kia Concord
Wiki Commons by Chu
Any ideas as to this ugly car's name?
Daewoo Espero
Hyundai Elantra
Kia Concord
Kia Credos
Ford Granada
Wiki Commons by Draco2008
The vehicle in this image is a...?
Mercury Zephyr
Mercedes-Benz 280 W114
Ford Ranchero
Ford Granada

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Subaru XT
Wiki Commons by Maggot666PLb
Last but not least, this car is a ...?
Subaru XT
BMW M-3
Nissan Skyline GT-R
Shelby Cobra