Cars from the eighties were slow, poorly engineered and most didnt last long.
1980's Performance Car Flashbacks
- Thread starter IMSA_Racing_Fan
- Start date
The '84 up Corvettes, aka C4, were great handling cars and their drive trains continued to improve.
They really stuck in the curves, but when they broke loose they were gone.
Don't ask me how I know.
They really stuck in the curves, but when they broke loose they were gone.
Don't ask me how I know.
OVERKILL
$100 Site Donor 2021
Originally Posted by hemitruck
Cars from the eighties were slow, poorly engineered and most didnt last long.
Yet the fox is probably the most common drag racing platform ever...
I've seen more beaten on fox Mustangs than any car, and those little 302's would take a beating like nobody's business. Factory balanced internals, forged pistons, they were good engines. The weak link was the T-5 trans when you started putting more power through it.
Cars from the eighties were slow, poorly engineered and most didnt last long.
Yet the fox is probably the most common drag racing platform ever...
I've seen more beaten on fox Mustangs than any car, and those little 302's would take a beating like nobody's business. Factory balanced internals, forged pistons, they were good engines. The weak link was the T-5 trans when you started putting more power through it.
Bought this as an Ensign. 1985 Trans-Am. 305 with the Rochester Q-jet....this is the photo I took to list it for sale, six years later.
Turns out that a car seat doesn't really fit well in the back of a Trans-Am...
![[Linked Image]](https://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/attachments/usergals/2020/05/full-38203-44783-399573c6_842e_41fb_bbbf_86da7a232cb0.jpeg "[Linked Image]")
Turns out that a car seat doesn't really fit well in the back of a Trans-Am...
The aerodynamics of that car was outstanding.
- Joined
- Dec 30, 2006
- Messages
- 29,558
Originally Posted by wemay
Originally Posted by simple_gifts
Dodge Conquest/Mitsu Starion.
YES!
Those were SWEET!!
Originally Posted by simple_gifts
Dodge Conquest/Mitsu Starion.
YES!
Those were SWEET!!
- Joined
- Dec 30, 2006
- Messages
- 29,558
Don't know about performance, but was still a sweet car!
I think this is the car that won the Cannonball Run,right?
I think this is the car that won the Cannonball Run,right?
The Starions in wide body were definitely a shot at Porsche's 944 Turbo and had huge "curb appeal" with the creased flares, wide and deep wheels, lip spoiler, etc. The engine however was undersquare (smaller bore than stroke) and the heads were prone to cracking under boost due to air injection steel inserts directly inside the combustion chambers.
- Joined
- Dec 30, 2006
- Messages
- 29,558
The Starion kind've reminds me of the A70 Supra.
The earlier A60 was my favorite.
Originally Posted by IMSA_Racing_Fan
1980's Dodge Daytona/Chrysler Laser.
The Daytona Turbo was on Car and Driver magazine's 10Best list for 1984. Both the Daytona and Chrysler Laser were available with the Chrysler electronic voice alert system through 1987. A performance oriented "Shelby" version of the Daytona was introduced in 1987.
One hot performing cars was the 300-hp twin-turbo Dodge Stealth R/T all wheel drive ... but it came around in the early 90s. It was pretty wicked at the 1/4 mile due to the all wheel drive.
1980's Dodge Daytona/Chrysler Laser.
The Daytona Turbo was on Car and Driver magazine's 10Best list for 1984. Both the Daytona and Chrysler Laser were available with the Chrysler electronic voice alert system through 1987. A performance oriented "Shelby" version of the Daytona was introduced in 1987.
One hot performing cars was the 300-hp twin-turbo Dodge Stealth R/T all wheel drive ... but it came around in the early 90s. It was pretty wicked at the 1/4 mile due to the all wheel drive.
Actually a rebadged Mitsubishi 3000GT for credit's sake.
Originally Posted by IMSA_Racing_Fan
Actually a rebadged Mitsubishi 3000GT for credit's sake.
I wouldn't say it was "rebadged", because Dodge partnered with Mitsubishi during their development of the Stealth. Sure it has a lot of 3000GT DNA, but it's not really a 3000GT with Dodge badges on it.
Actually a rebadged Mitsubishi 3000GT for credit's sake.
I wouldn't say it was "rebadged", because Dodge partnered with Mitsubishi during their development of the Stealth. Sure it has a lot of 3000GT DNA, but it's not really a 3000GT with Dodge badges on it.
https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a15113617/1987-ruf-ctr-yellowbird-911-turbo-driven-video/
Oh, and the 1989 Honda CRX Si-R. My favourite 80s car of all time,followed by the RUF in second place.
https://buy.motorious.com/articles/news/393031/jdm-1989-honda-crx-sir
Honourable mention to both the 1989 Weigert Vector! https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vector_W8
&
the 1989 Porsche 959. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porsche_959
Oh, and the 1989 Honda CRX Si-R. My favourite 80s car of all time,followed by the RUF in second place.
https://buy.motorious.com/articles/news/393031/jdm-1989-honda-crx-sir
Honourable mention to both the 1989 Weigert Vector! https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vector_W8
&
the 1989 Porsche 959. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porsche_959
Originally Posted by hemitruck
Cars from the eighties were slow, poorly engineered and most didnt last long.
If referring to N. American cars, then yes, i could agree.
This was still the decade that the Europeans and Japanese were turning N. Americans away from the big 3.
Not only for quality, buy performance, reliability and durability.
Cars from the eighties were slow, poorly engineered and most didnt last long.
If referring to N. American cars, then yes, i could agree.
This was still the decade that the Europeans and Japanese were turning N. Americans away from the big 3.
Not only for quality, buy performance, reliability and durability.
I had a friend in high school that had a Shelby CSX (1987 I think), white and silver. Cool little car.
Originally Posted by IMSA_Racing_Fan
The Starions in wide body were definitely a shot at Porsche's 944 Turbo and had huge "curb appeal" with the creased flares, wide and deep wheels, lip spoiler, etc. The engine however was undersquare (smaller bore than stroke) and the heads were prone to cracking under boost due to air injection steel inserts directly inside the combustion chambers.
The Plymouth and Chrysler version of the Starion was the Conquest.
The Starions in wide body were definitely a shot at Porsche's 944 Turbo and had huge "curb appeal" with the creased flares, wide and deep wheels, lip spoiler, etc. The engine however was undersquare (smaller bore than stroke) and the heads were prone to cracking under boost due to air injection steel inserts directly inside the combustion chambers.
The Plymouth and Chrysler version of the Starion was the Conquest.
Last edited:
Similar threads
