Why are 80s cars less loved than those from other eras?

[Dos_Box]

This is quite an interesting article from the Beeb: BBC News - Why are 80s cars less loved than those from other eras?

Primarily focused on British built cars my initial reaction to the question was 'Because British built 80's cars are rubbish', but that is not strictly true. Mainly it was British marques (British Leyland etc.) and not Fords/GM (Vauxhall) IMO.

Mind you, it did put a smile on my face last weekend when I saw what was some kind of 80's hot-hatch owners club on an outing. Lovely mix of Golfs, 205's, Metros and XR 2's amongst others.

[gshaw]

Not in my case, they're the most loved ones of the lot as it's what I remember from growing up

 

Orange Morris Ital, Austin Maestro, MG Metro those were the days!

[tech_guy]

I had a Triumph TR7 in the early eighties for a short time. Great fun to drive but shoddy build quality. Everything rattled in it when you went above 50mph.

[laserblazer]

Most of them had built-in obsolescence in the form of rust!

[tech_guy]

Lol, the car I had came from a colleague and it was only a year old but had rust already on some of the wheel arches. Sold it on and it ended up being wedged under the back of a bus by the next unfortunate owner after that!

[Brucy]

I think that German cars from the 80's (particularly BMs and Mercs) are well loved. We had a late 80's merc estate which was really well made.

[FN-GM]

I love the Audi Quattro from Ashes to Ashes!

[MYK-IT]

I miss my Ford Capri (my 1st ever car) and my Fiesta XR2...

[korifugi]

Funny you should bring this up - this morning we did actually have our own representative in that little article in the form of the owner of the Sierra, our very own @TheCrust

 

I was wondering if anyone'd put something about it...

[sted]

judging by what they go for on ebay/autotrader they arnt. I looked a while back at getting the sort of car I couldn't insure when I learned to drive as a weekend car and almost fainted when I saw the costs (£4500 ish for a 205gti) silly money for xr/rs fiesta/escorts. Nearly ended up finding what looked like a bargin of a 309gti6 but it went above what I was prepared to pay. There may be less out there (but I also suspect that there was more choice and models were replaced more frequently in 80's than previously so less for example escort mk3 1600 ghias were made than the mk2 version). There is also the fact that the tax exemption year for classic cars hasn't changed in years which cant help

 

ive got a friend who has spent a lot of time/money/effort restoring a 1990 (registered 1990 but its the late 80's shape) and it is in my opinion the best project car ive seen in years done properly as many original bits as possible but not to the nth degree so its actually a usable car. If he ever sells it I hope I can buy it off him id hate to see anything happen to it

 

that said I still want a mk2 escort granted a 70's car but they are well expensive.

Edited May 14, 2013 by sted

[broc]

I am almost ashamed to admit I had a 'lemon' coloured lemon of a Morris Marina 1.8 ........ but at least in those days I could repair it & service it myself, unlike todays cars packed with electronic gadgetry.

 

We also had one of Scotlands finest, a pea green Hillman Imp. A fun car to drive

[jinnantonnixx]

My first car was an '84 Chevette. In brown. It had a radio.

[HarryMonkey]

Marina, Princess and a 3.5 V8 Rover SD1 ... Had them all ... wonderful cars (especilly the Rover).

[Sunnyknight]

Most of the 80's onwards cars had a huge issue with rust. Sills, arches, wings etc etc. Not to mention they looked BUTT ugly (minus mk1 - 6 escort ).

[samba_man]

I've got one of these beasts, photos nicked from Google - http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a3/Citroen_gsa_special.png

 

A lovely A road cruiser, rolls a bit but unbeatable comfortable suspension. 1.3L air cooled flat four boxer engine with a dashboard that could have only ever been designed in the 80s.

 

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6TVXNr5zf3w/UEhCm5livmI/AAAAAAAAAFI/0hrQYS-TNHU/s1600/citroen-gsa+dash.jpg

[TheCrust]

Funny you should bring this up - this morning we did actually have our own representative in that little article in the form of the owner of the Sierra, our very own @TheCrust

 

 

Crikey that plaza was cold at 6am this morning....!

[Roberto]

I've got one of these beasts, photos nicked from Google - http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a3/Citroen_gsa_special.png

 

A lovely A road cruiser, rolls a bit but unbeatable comfortable suspension. 1.3L air cooled flat four boxer engine with a dashboard that could have only ever been designed in the 80s.

 

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6TVXNr5zf3w/UEhCm5livmI/AAAAAAAAAFI/0hrQYS-TNHU/s1600/citroen-gsa+dash.jpg

 

Clearly inspired by Blakes 7 there...

[mats]

I've got one of these beasts, photos nicked from Google -

 

A lovely A road cruiser, rolls a bit but unbeatable comfortable suspension. 1.3L air cooled flat four boxer engine with a dashboard that could have only ever been designed in the 80s.

 

 

That's a proper bit of weird French - before Citroen's boring phase. Nice.

[jinnantonnixx]

That dash is straight out of Start Trek TNG. It's fabulous.

[LiamH]

One of my friends has had a Toyota MR2 AW11, he bought it when he was 17, so had it over 10 years now.

 

His ideal car would be an original dodge viper, which he could have afforded a fleet of with the money he has spent keeping the MR2 running, spends more time in the garage than on the road.

[hardtailstar]

I used to have a 1988 Ford Fiesta, i loved that car, shame it fell apart from all the rust!

[korifugi]

That dash is straight out of Start Trek TNG. It's fabulous.

 

I was thinking more along the lines of the original Battlestar Galactica...

 

"Starbuck - come in"

[MYK-IT]

One of my friends has had a Toyota MR2 AW11, he bought it when he was 17, so had it over 10 years now.

 

His ideal car would be an original dodge viper, which he could have afforded a fleet of with the money he has spent keeping the MR2 running, spends more time in the garage than on the road.

 

To this day I would still love to own an Toyota MR2 MKII in white (even the MKI). Something about Toyota's and that era (Supra's and Celica's)

[sippo]

The best 80's car has to be the golf gti. One of the best cars ever made.

[Sirbendy]

Maestro. Don't laugh. Had 2, both 1.6 auto. Comfy, handled well, simple to fix..heh. Most I had was an AA man telling me the engine had siezed..no, the crank sensor lead had snapped. Still got the talking digidash - couldn't bear to part with it when I GAVE the last car to a collector who is restoring it AFAIK.

 

 

Great fun bit of kit. Going down a hill hell for leather.."*ding dong* Warning! Brakes Require Service."...WTFARGHNO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!