How Well Do You Remember ’80s Cars?
If you grew up staring out the back window of a station wagon, sliding across a vinyl bench seat, or fighting with your siblings over the radio, this quiz is for you. Grab a pencil, keep track of your points, and see how much 1980s automotive knowledge you really remember.
Which Company Introduced The Plymouth Voyager?
Let’s start with one of the vehicles that changed the American family driveway forever. Which major Detroit automaker introduced the Plymouth Voyager minivan during the 1980s?
Ethan Llamas, Wikimedia Commons
Chrysler
The answer is Chrysler. The company introduced the Plymouth Voyager alongside the Dodge Caravan for the 1984 model year, helping make the minivan the new must-have family vehicle.
ajay_suresh, Wikimedia Commons
What Was The Dodge Caravan’s Corporate Twin?
The Dodge Caravan wasn’t alone when it appeared in showrooms. Chrysler sold an extremely similar minivan under another one of its brands. Can you name it?
Greg Gjerdingen from Willmar, USA, Wikimedia Commons
Plymouth Voyager
It was the Plymouth Voyager. The Voyager and Caravan became familiar sights in school parking lots, grocery-store lots, and suburban driveways throughout the decade.
Which Car Was KITT?
If you watched Knight Rider, you probably remember KITT better than some of your childhood classmates. What real production car was transformed into Michael Knight’s talking crime-fighting machine?
Pontiac Firebird Trans Am
KITT was based on a Pontiac Firebird Trans Am. Unfortunately, the Trans Am available at your local Pontiac dealership couldn’t talk, think, or drive itself.
hugh llewelyn, Wikimedia Commons
What Car Took Marty McFly Back In Time?
Doc Brown could have built his time machine out of anything, but he chose one of the strangest sports cars of the decade. What was it?
DeLorean DMC-12
The time machine was a DeLorean DMC-12. Back to the Future turned the unusual stainless-steel sports car into a permanent piece of pop-culture history.
What Was Unusual About The DeLorean’s Body?
The DeLorean looked futuristic even without cables, flashing lights, and a flux capacitor. What unusual material gave its body its instantly recognizable appearance?
Michael Rivera, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Unpainted Stainless Steel
The DMC-12 featured unpainted stainless-steel body panels. That bare-metal finish made the DeLorean stand out from practically everything else on the road.
Which Ford Became America’s Best-Selling Car?
Ford introduced a dramatically styled family sedan during the 1980s that quickly became a huge success. Can you remember the name of this aerodynamic favorite?
Ford Taurus
It was the Ford Taurus. Introduced for the 1986 model year, its smooth, rounded styling looked radically different from the boxy sedans that had dominated American roads.
Which Chevrolet Shared Its Name With A Famous Person?
Chevrolet sold a family car during the decade with a name that sounded more appropriate for someone walking a red carpet. What was it called?
Mike Mozart from Funny YouTube, USA, Wikimedia Commons
Chevrolet Celebrity
The answer is the Chevrolet Celebrity. Available as a sedan, coupe, and station wagon, it became one of those ordinary 1980s cars that seemed to be everywhere.
What Did The “5.0” Mustang Badge Mean?
Seeing “5.0” on the side of a Mustang usually meant there was something interesting under the hood. What exactly did that famous badge refer to?
Marcus Wong Wongm, Wikimedia Commons
A 5.0-Liter V8
The badge referred to the Mustang’s approximately 5.0-liter V8 engine. The famous 302-cubic-inch small-block helped turn the Fox-body Mustang into an ’80s performance icon.
User Duke53 on en.wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons
Which Buick Became A Turbocharged Legend?
Buick wasn’t the first name most people associated with street performance, but one black coupe changed that completely. Which model are we talking about?
Buick Grand National
It was the Buick Grand National. Its turbocharged V6 produced serious performance, while the sinister black exterior made sure everybody knew this wasn’t an ordinary Buick.
Greg Gjerdingen from Willmar, USA, Wikimedia Commons
What Was The Ultimate Grand National Called?
Buick pushed its turbocharged formula even further for 1987 with a limited-production version of the Grand National. What three-letter name did it wear?
GNX
The answer is GNX. Developed with help from ASC/McLaren, the GNX became one of the most collectible and intimidating American performance cars of the decade.
Buick Grand National Experimental Review // The Demon Of The ‘80s, Throttle House
Which Ferrari Starred In Magnum, P.I.?
Tom Selleck may have been the star of Magnum, P.I., but his bright red Ferrari received plenty of attention too. Which Ferrari model did Magnum drive?
Ferrari 308 GTS
The answer is the Ferrari 308 GTS. Thanks to the television series, the mid-engine Italian sports car became almost as recognizable as Magnum’s Hawaiian shirts and mustache.
What Was Ferrari’s Wild 1980s Flagship?
Near the end of the decade, Ferrari unveiled a brutally fast supercar that immediately appeared on bedroom posters everywhere. What was its name?
Ferrari F40
It was the Ferrari F40. Introduced in 1987, the twin-turbocharged machine delivered outrageous performance and became one of the defining supercars of its generation.
Kieran White from Manchester, England, Wikimedia Commons
Which Lamborghini Had Scissor Doors?
Few cars screamed “1980s excess” louder than this wedge-shaped Lamborghini. It had dramatic styling, huge rear tires, and doors that opened upward. Name it.
Fabrizio Pivari (Pivari.com), Wikimedia Commons
Lamborghini Countach
The car was the Lamborghini Countach. Although it first appeared during the 1970s, increasingly wild versions made it one of the most unforgettable supercars of the ’80s.
What Does GTI Mean To Volkswagen Fans?
Volkswagen helped create an entirely new kind of performance car by combining a practical hatchback with extra power and sharper handling. What famous badge identified it?
Vanellus Foto, Wikimedia Commons
Golf GTI
The answer is the Volkswagen Golf GTI. Its combination of practicality, light weight, and lively performance helped establish the formula we now know as the hot hatch.
Makizox, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Which Japanese Brand Created Acura?
Acura arrived in America during the 1980s as a completely new luxury brand. Which established Japanese automaker was responsible for creating it?
Nick Kimmons, Wikimedia Commons
Honda
The answer is Honda. Acura launched in the United States in 1986, becoming the first major Japanese luxury-car brand established specifically for the American market.
What Was Acura’s First Flagship Sedan?
Early Acura dealerships offered a sporty Integra and a larger, more luxurious model designed to compete with established premium cars. What was that sedan called?
Acura Legend
It was the Acura Legend. The comfortable, sophisticated sedan helped convince American buyers that a Japanese automaker could successfully compete in the luxury market.
Kevauto, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Which Company Made The MR2?
The little MR2 brought mid-engine sports-car excitement to buyers who couldn’t afford an exotic machine. Which Japanese automaker built it?
Toyota
The answer is Toyota. The MR2 combined compact dimensions, rear-wheel drive, and a mid-mounted engine, making it one of the most entertaining affordable sports cars of the era.
What Made The Mazda RX-7 Different?
The Mazda RX-7 was already distinctive, but what really separated it from most other sports cars was the unusual type of engine hidden beneath its hood.
Jeremy from Sydney, Australia, Wikimedia Commons
A Rotary Engine
The RX-7 used a rotary engine rather than a conventional piston engine. Its compact design helped give Mazda’s lightweight sports car a character all its own.
Rutger van der Maar, Wikimedia Commons
Which Toyota Became Famous For Its Pop-Up Headlights?
Toyota produced several sporty cars during the decade, but one six-cylinder model grew into an especially serious performance machine. Which Toyota are we looking for?
Toyota Supra
The answer is the Toyota Supra. By the late 1980s, the Supra offered dramatic styling, pop-up headlights, six-cylinder power, and even optional turbocharging.
Kieran White, Wikimedia Commons
Which Nissan Was Called The 300ZX?
Nissan’s famous Z-car family received a major update for the 1984 model year. What name did the newest member of the lineup carry?
ZidaneHartono, Wikimedia Commons
Nissan 300ZX
It was the Nissan 300ZX. Its angular styling, available turbocharged engine, and futuristic interior made it perfectly suited to the high-tech mood of the decade.
Which Tiny Honda Became A Fuel-Economy Hero?
Honda built its reputation in America partly by selling small, efficient cars that could stretch a gallon of gasoline surprisingly far. Which familiar model fits the description?
Jeff Bedford, Wikimedia Commons
Honda Civic
The answer is the Honda Civic. Lightweight construction and efficient engines made the Civic one of the most recognizable economical cars on American roads during the 1980s.
Charlie from United Kingdom, Wikimedia Commons
What Was Chrysler’s Famous 1980s Platform Called?
Before minivans took over suburban America, Chrysler relied heavily on a family of practical front-wheel-drive cars sharing one basic architecture. What was that platform called?
The K-Car Platform
It was the K-car platform. Cars including the Dodge Aries and Plymouth Reliant weren’t glamorous, but they played an important role in helping Chrysler recover financially.
Greg Gjerdingen from Willmar, USA, Wikimedia Commons
Which Executive Led Chrysler’s Comeback?
One larger-than-life auto executive became closely associated with Chrysler’s dramatic turnaround, appearing in advertisements and defending the company publicly. Who was he?
Mikerussell at English Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons
He Was Lee Iacocca
The answer is Lee Iacocca. After previously working at Ford, Iacocca became Chrysler’s public face and oversaw the era of K-cars and hugely successful minivans.
João Tavares de Medeiros (government press official), Wikimedia Commons
Which Jeep Arrived For 1984?
This compact Jeep became one of the most influential SUVs ever produced. It arrived for the 1984 model year and stayed around for years. Name it.
The Jeep Cherokee XJ
The answer is the Jeep Cherokee XJ. Its compact proportions, unibody construction, and genuine off-road ability helped establish the template for countless modern SUVs.
Which Wagon Had Fake Wood On The Sides?
Woodgrain trim was everywhere during the era, but one luxurious Jeep wore it particularly well. Which upscale four-wheel-drive wagon became famous for those faux-wood sides?
The Jeep Grand Wagoneer
It was the Jeep Grand Wagoneer. Its combination of rugged capability, leather-lined luxury, and unmistakable woodgrain trim made it an early ancestor of today’s premium SUVs.
Greg Gjerdingen from Willmar, USA, Wikimedia Commons
Which Car Gave Us The Phrase “Yugo”?
One extremely inexpensive imported hatchback became almost as famous for jokes about its quality as for its bargain price. What model was it?
Mr.choppers, Wikimedia Commons
The Yugo GV
The answer is the Yugo GV. Imported from Yugoslavia during the 1980s, the tiny hatchback attracted attention with its remarkably low price before becoming an automotive punchline.
Mr.choppers, Wikimedia Commons
How Did You Score?
Time to count those points. 0–8 correct: You were probably asleep in the back seat. 9–16: Respectable ’80s car memory. 17–21: You definitely read the brochures. 22–25: You’re an ’80s automotive trivia master. Drop your score in the comments and see who can beat you.
Mr.choppers, Wikimedia Commons
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