Words: Charlie Thomas
The 1980s was a strange decade. Big hair was matched by big shoulder pads and even bigger personalities. The supercars reflected this bold period and large rear-wings, and over-sized vents were commonplace. Love them or hate them, 1980s supercars paved the way for the tech-heavy machines of today. Here are the greatest supercars of the 1980s.
LAMBORGHINI COUNTACH LP5000 QV
By the time 1980 rolled around, the Countach was already beginning to age. It first roared off the production line in 1974, its distinctive V12 engine and striking looks ensuring it adorned the bedroom walls of countless young petrolheads. For 1985 though, Lamborghini upgraded the bull with a larger 5.2-litre V12, 425bhp and more vents, wings and angles than anything before it.
Production: 1985, Engine: 5.2-litre V12, Power: 425bhp, Top speed: 183mph
FERRARI TESTAROSSA
The Testarossa embodied all that the ‘80s were about. Big, brash and bold, it looked the part, but it lacked a certain focus and drew criticism as a result. For a car all about image though, it was strangely imperfect; the front overhang was unusually large, making the side profile look out of proportion, and early models featured only one wing mirror, presumably to save weight.
Production: 1984-1996, Engine: 4.9-litre Flat 12, Power: 390bhp, Top speed: 180mph
FERRARI 288 GTO
For many, the 288 GTO is one of the last, truly great Ferraris. Like many of the automotive world’s best creations, it’s a homologation special, built so that Ferrari could compete in the Group B Rally championship. Due to a fatal crash in the 1986 Tour de Corse though, the series was disbanded and the GTO would never get to race. Banished to the streets forever, the GTO’s looks alone were (and are) enough to make even the toughest of men weak at the knees. It didn’t hurt either that at the time of production it was the fastest road-legal car, with a top speed of 186mph.
Production: 1984-1987, Engine: 2.9-litre twin-turbocharged V8, Power: 400bhp, Top speed: 186mph
PORSCHE 959
When it comes to ’80s supercars though, two stand head and shoulders above the rest. The first, and arguably best, car is the Porsche 959. Unprecedented in terms of technologically-advanced performance, the 959 was nothing short of staggering when it was first unveiled. It was the first high-performance car to feature four-wheel drive, as well as the fastest production car of its time, rocketing from 0-60mph in just 3.7 seconds and gently nudging the 200mph barrier. The 959 was essentially the supercar of the future.
Production: 1986-1989, Engine: 2.8-litre twin-turbocharged Flat-6, Power: 444bhp, Top speed: 195mph
FERRARI F40
The F40 was Ferrari’s answer to the 959. Raw, basic and uncompromising, it was everything the 959 wasn’t. The F40’s legacy was set in stone before it even left the factory, as it was the last car built and personally approved by Enzo Ferrari himself. The engine dominated the car, and for good reason; a characterful twin-turbocharged V8, it delivered 471bhp in a way that would sneak up on you and then push you off a cliff, such was the turbo-lag. For us, it’s the greatest supercar of the 1980s.
Production: 1987-1992, Engine: 2.9-litre twin-turbocharged V8, Power: 471bhp, Top speed: 201mph
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