Cars from 1980

[Zach]

What kind of cars from 1980 would be worth working on? By that I mean something interesting, fun, non-exotic (expensive), worth working on as a hobby.

I'm curious because I'd like a project car someday, and 1980 would be a good model year since I was born in '80. 1981 would make sense too, since it seems like cars are built the year before their sale (judging from my last two cars anyway). Now that I have the money to think about it I want to start considering options.

I'd want a truck to help with home improvement or something fun to drive around in. I don't do anything off-road, so Bronco's, Blazers and similar aren't standing out despite looking fun to play with. I like smaller cars too -- convertibles are appealing.

Any suggestions?

Malibu's and Mustangs have caught my attention, they have an odd cool boxieness. Plus, just for kicks doing a google image search for "1980 malibu" picked up on a pic of a naked chick, "Nina Hagen & Ari Up, 1980 Malibu". What fun. Can we link to stuff like that now? Since it's art and all........

 

[Zenmervolt]

1980 was not a very good year for cars. The mid 70's through the mid 80's were dark days for fun cars, and even for trucks. Emissions controls were not fully figured out yet, electronics were unreliable, too many early computers that are prone to failure.

It's a period where the cars aren't simple and easy to work on like they were in the 1960's and earlier, and where they aren't reliable enough that you don't need to work on them like today.

ZV

 

[BUTCH1]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
1980 was not a very good year for cars. The mid 70's through the mid 80's were dark days for fun cars, and even for trucks. Emissions controls were not fully figured out yet, electronics were unreliable, too many early computers that are prone to failure.

It's a period where the cars aren't simple and easy to work on like they were in the 1960's and earlier, and where they aren't reliable enough that you don't need to work on them like today.

ZV

I'll second that opinion, my 1983 Cutlass had a "feedback" carburetor and I had a nightmare
trying to rebuild it. Re-man's were running $500, this was for a 2bbl Rochester too!

 

[CrackRabbit]

The good news is that you live outside the Oregon DEQ required testing zones. Meaning you can get away with stripping out some of the nasty emissions control and such and run a more normal setup.
I have a thing for El Caminos, and Monte Carlos from that period, but it is hard to find them that haven't been ghettofied or beaten to crap.

Good luck in your search.

 

[imported_Truenofan]

zv is right on that, my car is known for electrical problems as well. they had privative FI systems that were problematic as well if I'm not mistaken.

 

[Pliablemoose]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
1980 was not a very good year for cars. The mid 70's through the mid 80's were dark days for fun cars, and even for trucks. Emissions controls were not fully figured out yet, electronics were unreliable, too many early computers that are prone to failure.

It's a period where the cars aren't simple and easy to work on like they were in the 1960's and earlier, and where they aren't reliable enough that you don't need to work on them like today.

ZV

Thirded.

 

[shabby]

How aboot a gnx?

 

[thedarkwolf]

BS. Once you rip all that stupid half assed emission stuff out they are fine and easy to work on. All the big three had their boxy rwd cars at that time and I like them all. I had an 81 dodge mirada as my first car. Mine only had a /6 in it, very reliable but not fast, but I've seen plenty where people have swapped in 440s and other big v8s. Still think they are nice looking cars even today. The problem with all those cars is the compression ratio, heads, intakes, etc are from the time they didn't know how to make power, clean emisions, and get decent gas mileage at the same time or really even one of those things very well. Pretty much have to strip them down to bare block and start over or just put a whole different engine in them,

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: thedarkwolf
BS. Once you rip all that stupid half assed emission stuff out they are fine and easy to work on.

That would be the key. And that would also be a pain in the ass. This is a guy who hasn't worked on a car before and wants something to start with. He's better off to start with something older where he doesn't have to rip out all the emissions controls (which is technically illegal, by the way) to have a car that he can work on easily.

Not only that, but with very few exceptions, there's no market for cars from that time period. Hell, even Porsche 911's from the late '70's to the early '80's are barely worth anything. He'll just end up putting a lot of time and money into a car that he'll never be able to sell again. It's true that you always come out behind on a restoration, but it will be much more so with a car from that time period unless he goes after a GNX or something.

ZV

 

[thedarkwolf]

Well thats all true but they are cheap as hell to buy and parts aren't a problem to find. As long as you find one with a nice body and interior to start with, drive train doesn't matter, for cheap it wouldn't be too bad. Just build up a drive train and if you get tired of the car sell it as a rolling chassis and stick the drivetrain in something else. Go to any drag strip and you will see a bunch of those early 80s cars. Just saw a nice ford fairmont futura otw home from biking today.

 

[Pliablemoose]

Originally posted by: thedarkwolf
Well thats all true but they are cheap as hell to buy and parts aren't a problem to find. As long as you find one with a nice body and interior to start with, drive train doesn't matter, for cheap it wouldn't be too bad. Just build up a drive train and if you get tired of the car sell it as a rolling chassis and stick the drivetrain in something else. Go to any drag strip and you will see a bunch of those early 80s cars. Just saw a nice ford fairmont futura otw home from biking today.

Dear god, those were awful cars. Text

 

[Arkaign]

An El Camino can be found for cheap and fixed up into something nice. Though I prefer the big beastly evil giant one that ended in the '77 model year. Slam a new modern crate 350 in it with wiring harness and exhaust, and you've got a genuine road-burning fun box

 

[thedarkwolf]

Originally posted by: Pliablemoose

Originally posted by: thedarkwolf
Well thats all true but they are cheap as hell to buy and parts aren't a problem to find. As long as you find one with a nice body and interior to start with, drive train doesn't matter, for cheap it wouldn't be too bad. Just build up a drive train and if you get tired of the car sell it as a rolling chassis and stick the drivetrain in something else. Go to any drag strip and you will see a bunch of those early 80s cars. Just saw a nice ford fairmont futura otw home from biking today.

Dear god, those were awful cars. Text

Different tastes I guess . They are basically long wheel base mustangs so just about everything even a lot of the interior swaps between them. They came in several different body styles futura, regular 2 door coupe, 4 door, and my favorite the wagon.
Text
Text
nice wagon

 

[Summitdrinker]

ya, if you want to drag race he could get dodge mirada etc, drop in a 360 or 360 stroker motor, either a rebuild or new crate motor, build up a tranny, etc

he would have a somewhat fast car, 13 second 1/4er is possible and still have a street driver that practical for some daily driving

all of this is not extremely tuff/complicated to do for a newbie if he takes his time and, does his homework

but you need a garage, tools plus live somewhere were you can get away with it legaly

 

[BUTCH1]

There's a guy running around town with a 70's Ford Maverick W/ a 302 in it, he
got some 5.0 and Cobra emblems from somewhere and has them planted all
over the car. Of course the homemade spoiler is there too. He created his own
5.0 Cobra-jet Maverick!! Wish I had a pic of it to post..

 

[fstime]

You see Mercedes-Benz's from that era ALL the time on the road and still functioning.

In fact, I know someone who has a 79'' 300SD turbodiesil, that car is a TANK.

 

[Pacfanweb]

Originally posted by: shabby
How aboot a gnx?

Didn't exist in 1980.

I recommend a Trans Am or Camaro.

Simple to work on, parts from 70-81 pretty much all work. Lots of performance parts, and IMO, the late 70's T/A's are the best looking cars ever built...but that's just me.

Trans Ams that year came with both Pontiac and Chevrolet engines. So if you have the Pontiac, it's easy to find engines and parts....and it obviously is for the Chevy engines, too.

Edit: ZV, if the OP went with one of these cars, it's not hard to remove the emissions equipment....in fact, I think it would be shocking to find many of them that still had the emissions stuff on them in the first place. Depends on where you live, I guess.

But the 80 Firebirds/Camaros were the same underneath as the mid-70's versions. So all the fun stuff to add on still applies.

 

[Summitdrinker]

Originally posted by: BouZouki
You see Mercedes-Benz's from that era ALL the time on the road and still functioning.

In fact, I know someone who has a 79'' 300SD turbodiesil, that car is a TANK.

there hardly (none maybe) late 70's thru late 80's benz's left in my part of the woods, well maybe if it was stored/pampered or came from the south

why? rust, heck mid to late 80's benz's were rusted badly when they were 5 years old if driven in winter they sure wee rust buckets for considering the price when new

oddly I see more Jags left from that time period, and they weren't that great of a car rust and dependablity wise

 

[rbV5]

1980 RX7 would be a fun project with serious fun potential if you want something a little out of the ordinary. I miss my 1979 RX7.

 

[imported_Truenofan]

lol rb, yeah a 80 would be nice, but they're 12a's which dont have much in the name of high power options, 13b/b-t are usualy where you hit 500rwhp(and those are fairly few) not to mention the gas milage lol. 5mpg here we come. he he.

 

[zerocool84]

DMC!!!!!!!!

Need I say more???

 

[Ronstang]

Originally posted by: Pacfanweb

Originally posted by: shabby
How aboot a gnx?

Didn't exist in 1980.

I recommend a Trans Am or Camaro.

Simple to work on, parts from 70-81 pretty much all work. Lots of performance parts, and IMO, the late 70's T/A's are the best looking cars ever built...but that's just me.

Trans Ams that year came with both Pontiac and Chevrolet engines. So if you have the Pontiac, it's easy to find engines and parts....and it obviously is for the Chevy engines, too.

Edit: ZV, if the OP went with one of these cars, it's not hard to remove the emissions equipment....in fact, I think it would be shocking to find many of them that still had the emissions stuff on them in the first place. Depends on where you live, I guess.

But the 80 Firebirds/Camaros were the same underneath as the mid-70's versions. So all the fun stuff to add on still applies.

Although I do not agree that the Trans Ams were the best looking cars ever built I was going to suggest a Camaro/Firebird for you plans simply because they were the only cars available in 1980 that were even remotely performance oriented and sporty. Parts availability is also another big plus as already mentioned.

 

[RU482]

Olds Cutlass coupe with T-tops. You could put a smallblock Chevy in it. Parts are cheap, and the t-tops make it fun to cruise around.

That or an old Mercedes diesel

 

[natto fire]

Ahhh, back when Corollas were rear wheel drive.

Yeah, '80s cars have their problems, but they also have charm, and can still be pretty tough.

 

[Zach]

Originally posted by: Pliablemoose

Originally posted by: thedarkwolf
Well thats all true but they are cheap as hell to buy and parts aren't a problem to find. As long as you find one with a nice body and interior to start with, drive train doesn't matter, for cheap it wouldn't be too bad. Just build up a drive train and if you get tired of the car sell it as a rolling chassis and stick the drivetrain in something else. Go to any drag strip and you will see a bunch of those early 80s cars. Just saw a nice ford fairmont futura otw home from biking today.

Dear god, those were awful cars. Text

It looks awesome in a bad way.