Bring A Trailer Highlights From September 2026

Bring a Trailer (BaT) is endlessly interesting to someone who follows eighties cars. To me, one of the best parts is seeing rarely seen or unusual vehicles. I’ve picked ten that stood out to me from September 2026, choosing one from each year of the eighties. All photos courtesy of Bring a Trailer.

1980 Rover 3500, courtesy of Bring a Trailer

[Lot 261445] 1980 Rover 3500 hatchback sedan. Turmeric Yellow with Tan cloth front bucket seats. 3.5 liter/183 ci V6 with a four-barrel carburetor, a five-speed manual, and an indicated 110,000 miles (which the title states is “not actual mileage”). The carburetor replaced the stock Lucas (ack!) fuel injection, which was included in the sale. This Rover sold for $8,000 on September 4th—I should really write a blog post about these interesting and distinctive cars someday.

1981 Porsche 911 SC, courtesy of Bring a Trailer

[262834] 1981 Porsche 911 SC coupe. Caramel Brown with Tan leather front bucket seats. 172 bhp 3.0 liter/183 ci flat six with fuel injection, a five-speed manual, and an indicated 61,000 miles. 911 SCs are quite common on BaT (they’ve auctioned hundreds), but Caramel Brown ones—rating five cans on the Rennbow paint rarity scale—are not. This SC sold for $107,500 on September 12th. I have written about the very similar 1980 Porsche 911 SC coupe.

1982 BMW 320i, courtesy of Bring a Trailer

[265313] 1982 BMW 320i coupe. Graphite Metallic with Black leatherette front bucket seats. M10 101 bhp 1.8 liter/108 ci inline four with Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection, a five-speed manual, and an indicated 90,000 miles. This single-family-owned E21 3-series went for $18,900 on September 27th. I have written about the final-year 1983 BMW 320i coupe.

1983 Cadillac Eldorado interior, courtesy of Bring a Trailer

[262854] 1983 Cadillac Eldorado coupe. Light Grayfern Metallic (oh those Cadillac color names!) with a Grayfern cabriolet (half) vinyl top and Grayfern leather front seats. HT-4100 LT8 135 bhp 4.1 liter/249 ci V8 with fuel injection, a four-speed automatic, and an indicated 34,000 miles. This well-cared-for Eldo, in a splendid early eighties GM light green, sold for $15,250 on September 12th. I have written about the Touring Coupe and the Biarritz convertible, but not yet about the “civilian” tenth-generation Eldorado.

1984 Volkswagen Rabbit, courtesy of Bring a Trailer

[262785] 1984 Volkswagen Rabbit L hatchback sedan. Mahogany with Cordovan cloth reclining front bucket seats. EA827 52 bhp 1.6 liter/97 ci diesel inline four, a four-speed manual, and an indicated 289,000 miles (total mileage unknown). Not a GTI of the same era—those are prevalent on BaT—but a simple diesel sedan. Looking pretty good for its extremely high mileage (averaging at least 8,900 miles a year for its 42 years), this Rabbit went for $4,000 on September 11th.

1985 Buick Electra, courtesy of Bring a Trailer

[263644] 1985 Buick Electra Park Avenue sedan. Light Brown Firemist with a Beige cloth 55/45 front seat. LG3 125 bhp 3.8 liter/231 ci V6 with fuel injection, a four-speed automatic, and an indicated 9,000 miles. This well-equipped first-year example of Buick’s handsome version of GM’s front wheel drive C platform sold for $13,400 on September 17th. I wrote a post about the 1985 Buick Electra sedan last year.

1986 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme, courtesy of Bring a Trailer

[261150] 1986 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Brougham coupe. Burgundy Metallic with a Burgundy cloth divided 55/45 front bench seat. LV2 140 bhp 5.0 liter/307 ci V8 with a four-barrel carburetor, a three-speed automatic, and an indicated 2,600 miles. This good-looking Cutlass Supreme went for $15,750 on September 2nd. I have not written about the 1986 Cutlass Supreme, but I have written about the very similar 1985 coupe sold one year prior.

1987 Honda Prelude, courtesy of Bring a Trailer

[264602] 1987 Honda Prelude Si coupe. Polar White with Gray cloth front bucket seats with patterned inserts. A20A3-BA3 110 bhp 2.0 liter/120 ci inline four with fuel injection, a five-speed manual, and an indicated 200,000 miles (BaT auctioned some high-mileage eighties cars in September). To me, this Prelude is from a time when Honda could seemingly do no wrong. This one-family-owned Prelude went for $8,690 on September 23rd.

1988 Oldsmobile Cutlass Calais, courtesy of Bring a Trailer

[262748] 1988 Oldsmobile Cutlass Calais coupe. Medium Garnet Red Metallic with Burgundy cloth front bucket seats. Tech IV 98 bhp 2.5 liter/151 ci inline four with fuel injection, a three-speed automatic, and an indicated 43,000 miles. Having one of these N-body cars show up on BaT is unusual —there’s been only one other Calais in four years, along with two Buick Somersets/Somerset Regals and two third-generation Pontiac Grand Ams. This Calais sold for $4,800 on September 11th.

1989 Nissan 240SX, courtesy of Bring a Trailer

[262018] 1989 Nissan 240SX XE coupe. Cherry Red Pearl with Charcoal cloth front bucket seats. KA24E 153 bhp 2.4 liter/140 ci inline four with fuel injection, a five-speed manual, and an indicated 64,000 miles. Cherry Red Pearl was a great color for this body style, and Nissan evidently knew it—it was available for all six years the first-generation 240SX was sold. This original-owner example of a first-year S13 sold for $15,000 on September 8th. I still haven’t written a blog post about the 240SX.

1986 Ford LTD Crown Victoria sedan

In August 2026, Bring a Trailer offered a single-family-owned 1986 Ford LTD Crown Victoria sedan for auction. So, for this Labor Day in the United States, here’s a sedan a reasonably successful working man of a certain age might have bought forty years ago.

“There aren’t many cars like them around today.”

For the 1986 model year, Ford’s LTD Crown Victoria sedan was little changed. A high-mount brake lamp was standard, though it had been introduced as a running change late in the 1985 model year. The major news was likely the introduction of an upmarket LX package, which took 1985’s Interior Luxury Group and added other features.

The LTD Crown Victoria name had debuted in 1980 and become a distinct model line in 1983, when Ford released the LTD as a separate mid-sized offering. Each of the components of the name were—of course—much older: LTD dated from 1965 and Crown Victoria first appeared in 1955.

The standard engine in 1986 was Ford’s Windsor 150 bhp 4.9 liter/302 ci V8 with sequential fuel injection paired to a four-speed automatic. These were not fast cars—with a curb weight slightly over 3,700 pounds, 0-60 came in about 11 seconds. Mileage with the standard powertrain was 18 city/26 highway by the day’s standards (16/24 by today’s measures). With the 18-gallon fuel tank, LTD Crown Victoria drivers could expect a range of 325 to 355 miles with a 10% fuel reserve.

Standard exterior and mechanical equipment on the $12,562 LTD Crown Victoria sedan (about $38,600 in today’s dollars) included quad rectangular halogen headlamps, a padded rear half vinyl roof, power brakes (front disc and rear drum), power steering, and P205/75R15 steel-belted radial white sidewall tires on 15-inch wheels. Inside, a cloth flight bench seat with dual front seat recliners, 18-ounce Luxury floor carpet, a 4-spoke Luxury steering wheel, a quartz electric clock, and an AM/FM stereo radio with four speakers were included. Standard items that Ford proudly listed that do not impress in 2026 included power ventilation and Deluxe carpeted lower door trim panels.

Sub-models, Preferred Equipment Packages, Options, & Production Numbers

Unadvertised in the 22-page brochure, the S version of the LTD Crown Victoria was intended for fleet sales, and at $12,188 was slightly cheaper (3% less) than the putative base sedan. As such, it had a vinyl bench seat, an AM radio, and lower-grade carpeting. The padded rear half vinyl roof, several of the courtesy lights, and some other items were deleted.

Two preferred equipment packages were available for the base sedan:

  • 110A (about $1,165) added “complete” tinted glass, rocker panel moldings, a right hand remote control mirror, speed control, manual temperature control air conditioning, and Light Group.
  • 111A (about $2,307) included everything in 110A and added front and rear bumper rub strips, Power Lock Group, power side windows, a 6-way power driver’s seat, a tilt steering wheel, an electronic digital clock, and either a rear window defroster or the Premium Sound System.

Upgrading to the $13,784 LX added split bench front seats with recliners, Luxury door trim with pull straps and full length armrests (the LTD Crown Victoria brochure mentioned luxury a lot), power side windows, an electronic digital clock, and Light Group. Two preferred equipment packages were available for the LX:

  • 112A (about $2,467) added “complete” tinted glass, cornering lamps, rocker panel moldings, P215/70R15 steel-belted radial white sidewall tires, locking wire-wheel style covers, dual electric remote control mirrors, pivoting front vent windows, Power Lock Group, a 6-way power driver’s seat, a leather-wrapped tilt steering wheel, color-keyed carpeted floor mats, interval windshield wipers, speed control, manual temperature control air conditioning, and either a rear window defroster or the Premium Sound System.
  • 113A (about $3,444) included everything in 112A and added an autolamp system, an illuminated entry system, a Tripminder computer, and an electronic AM/FM stereo with a seek/scan radio, a cassette player, and a power antenna. The air conditioning was upgraded to automatic climate control, and both the rear window defroster and the Premium Sound System were included.

Unadvertised in the 22-page brochure, the S version of the LTD Crown Victoria was intended for fleet sales, although it could be ordered by budget-conscious private customers. At $12,188, it was slightly cheaper (3% less) than the putative base sedan. The S came with a vinyl bench seat, an AM radio, and lower-grade carpeting. The padded rear half vinyl roof, several of the courtesy lights, and some other items were deleted.

Ford wanted customers to buy using the preferred equipment packages, but options could still be individually purchased. Notable exterior and mechanical options included two-tone paint ($117), a Brougham vinyl roof ($793!), the Traction-Lok axle ($100), and cast aluminum wheels ($390). Leather seat trim ($433) was late arriving and was only available on the LX.

Sales of the LTD Crown Victoria were substantially down in the 1986 model year. Ford sold 97, 314 sedans, 6,550 coupes, and 20,164 wagons. The average Ford dealer moved greater numbers of the Escort, the Mustang, the Tempo, the new-fangled Taurus, and the Thunderbird.

The View From 2026

Folks are saving these cars, and examples of the LTD Crown Victoria sometimes show up for sale in the Hemmings Motor News classifieds, on eBay Motors, and on Bring a Trailer. BaT has sold twenty of these eighties Crown Vics over the last seven years, including two wagons modified to resemble the “Family Truckster” from National Lampoon’s Vacation.

Make mine Midnight Canyon Red Metallic, I think.

Other mid-eighties Fords I have written about include the 1984 Mustang SVO hatchback coupe, the 1984 Tempo sedan, the 1985 Eddie Bauer Bronco SUV, and the 1985 LTD LX sedan.

Bring A Trailer Highlights From August 2026

Bring a Trailer (BaT) is endlessly interesting to someone who follows eighties cars. To me, one of the best parts is the rarely seen or unusual vehicles you see. I’ve picked ten that stood out to me from August 2026, choosing one from each year of the eighties. All photos courtesy of Bring a Trailer.

1980 Porsche 911, linked from Bring a Trailer

[Lot 255332] 1980 Porsche 911 SC Weissach Special Edition coupe. Platinum Metallic with Doric Gray leather front bucket seats with burgundy piping. 172 bhp 3.0 liter/183 ci flat six with fuel injection, a five-speed manual, and an indicated 76,000 miles. This not perfect but very nice Weissach sold for $81,750 on August 1st. I have written about the 1980 Porsche 911 SC coupe.

1981 Chevrolet Malibu, linked from Bring a Trailer

[260066] 1981 Chevrolet Malibu sedan. Cream with a Camel cloth front bench seat. LC3 110 bhp 3.8 liter/229 ci V6 with a two-barrel carburetor, a three-speed automatic, and an indicated 32,000 miles. This lightly used example—described as a classic “Sunday driver”—went for $8,000 on August 27th. I have written about the similar 1983 Chevrolet Malibu sedan.

1982 AMC Eagle, linked from Bring a Trailer

[258150] 1982 AMC Eagle wagon. Topaz Gold Metallic with beige vinyl reclining front seats. 110 bhp 4.2 liter/258 ci inline six with a two-barrel carburetor, a five-speed manual, and an indicated 121,000 miles on an inoperative odometer. This Eagle went for $4,600 on August 17th. I have written about the 1980 AMC Eagle wagon.

1983 Datsun 280-ZX, linked from Bring a Trailer

[260163] 1983 Datsun 280-ZX Turbo hatchback coupe. Cadet Blue Metallic with Gray velour front bucket seats. L28ET 180 bhp 2.8 liter/173 ci inline six with fuel injection and a turbocharger, a five-speed manual, and an indicated 88,000 miles. This well-cared-for Z-car in a great color went for $27,000 on August 28th. I have written about the 1980 version.

1984 Pontiac 2000 Sunbird, linked from Bring a Trailer

[252179] 1984 Pontiac 2000 Sunbird coupe. White with Blue cloth front bucket seats. 84 bhp 1.8 liter/110 ci inline four with fuel injection, a five-speed manual, and an indicated 8,000 miles. This 2000 Sunbird—Pontiac was in the middle of a naming transition for its version of the J-car in 1984—went for $7,500 on August 15th. I have written about the top-of-the-line 2000 Sunbird S/E hatchback coupe (the one with the turbo) from the same year, but this is a lightly equipped base coupe—the cheapest 2000 Sunbird available in 1984. Who saves these cars?

1985 Mazda RX-7, linked from Bring a Trailer

[258485] 1985 Mazda RX-7 GSL-SE hatchback coupe. Royal Maroon Metallic with Gray cloth front bucket seats. 13B 135 bhp 1.3 liter/80 ci two-rotor Wankel engine with fuel injection, a five-speed manual, and an indicated 19,000 miles. All GSL-SEs came with the “big” engine and were also loaded—ventilated disc brakes, Pirelli P6 tires on alloy wheels, cruise control, air conditioning, etc. This final-year example went for $39,000 on August 18th.

1986 Ford LTD Crown Victoria, linked from Bring a Trailer

[257846] 1986 Ford LTD Crown Victoria sedan. Dark Gray Metallic with a Black Luxury rear half vinyl roof and a Medium Gray cloth split front bench seat. Windsor 150 bhp 4.9 liter/302 ci V8 with fuel injection, a four-speed automatic, and an indicated 67,000 miles. This single-family-owned Crown Vic went for $5,350 on August 14th—I really should write a blog post about these cars someday. [Update: I wrote one!]

1987 Volkswagen Golf GTI, linked from Bring a Trailer

[256545] 1987 Volkswagen Golf GTI 16V hatchback coupe. Dark Blue Mica (not Black) with Rainbow cloth front bucket seats. EA827 123 bhp 1.8 liter/109 ci inline four with fuel injection, a five-speed manual, and an indicated 31,000 miles. This handsome GTI—a California resident from new—went for $27,500 on August 7th.

1988 Rolls-Royce Corniche II, linked from Bring a Trailer

[257825] 1988 Rolls-Royce Corniche II convertible. Royal Blue Metallic with a Tan convertible top and Tan leather front seats. L410I 205 bhp 6.8 liter/412 ci V8 with fuel injection, a three-speed automatic, and an indicated 8,000 miles. A great color combination beautifully presented, this award-winning Corniche II sold for $255,000 on August 15th.

1989 Toyota Camry, linked from Bring a Trailer

[259548] 1989 Toyota Camry LE sedan. Light Blue Metallic with Blue Luxury velour front bucket seats. 2VZ-FE 153 bhp 2.5 liter/231 ci V6 with fuel injection, a four-speed automatic, and an indicated 46,000 miles. With standard air conditioning, the V6-equipped LE was the top-of-the-line front-wheel-drive Camry available in 1989. This example sold for $7,200 on August 25th.

Bring A Trailer Highlights From July 2026

Bring a Trailer (BaT) is endlessly interesting to someone who follows eighties cars. To me, one of the best parts is the rarely seen or unusual vehicles you see. I’ve picked ten that stood out to me from July 2026. All photos courtesy of Bring a Trailer.

1986 Isuzu Impulse, linked from Bring a Trailer

[Lot 250868] 1986 Isuzu Impulse Turbo hatchback coupe. Light Topaz Metallic with Tan/Brown cloth front bucket seats. 4ZC1-T 140 bhp 2.0 liter/122 ci inline four with fuel injection and a turbocharger, a five-speed manual, and an indicated 95,000 miles. Of course, the Impulse’s absolute killer feature was its exterior styling, which was very close to Giorgetto Giugiaro’s 1979 Ace Of Clubs show car. 1985 was the first year for the turbocharged version, which increased horsepower by 55%. Sold for $8,600 on July 5th.

1988 Ford Tempo, linked from Bring a Trailer

[251183] 1988 Ford Tempo GL sedan. Dark Shadow Blue Clearcoat Metallic (I think) with Regatta Blue cloth front bucket seats. 2300 HSC 98 bhp 2.3 liter/140 ci inline four with fuel injection, a three-speed automatic, and an indicated 45,000 miles. By 1988, the GL was the base Tempo—there was no more L. BaT has sold a grand total of five Ford Tempos over the last four years—this example went for $1,000 on July 7th.

1985 Honda Accord, linked from Bring a Trailer

[251461] 1985 Honda Accord sedan. Stratos Blue Metallic with Dark Blue cloth front bucket seats. ES3 86 bhp 1.8 liter/112 ci inline four with fuel injection, a five-speed manual, and an indicated 91,000 miles. Still displaying its exceptional build quality and paint after forty years, this Accord went for $12,600 on July 8th. I have written about the 1983 Accord sedan.

1989 Chevrolet Cavalier, linked from Bring a Trailer

[251992] 1989 Chevrolet Cavalier Z24 convertible. Dark Red Metallic with Gray Sport cloth front bucket seats. LB6 130 bhp 2.8 liter/173 ci V6 with fuel injection, a three-speed automatic, and an indicated 1,600 miles. Loaded up with the Preferred Equipment Group 2, this pristine Z24 in a great color went for $21,500 on July 13th. I have written about the blockier-looking first-year 1986 Z24 coupe.

1986 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme, linked from Bring a Trailer

[252179] 1986 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme coupe. Light Teal Blue Metallic with a Navy Blue vinyl roof and a Dark Blue cloth front bench seat. LV2 140 bhp 5.0 liter/307 ci V8 with a four-barrel carburetor, a three-speed automatic, and an indicated 7,000 miles. Yes, I know—these mid-size Oldsmobile coupes were once everywhere: I have written about the 1980 Cutlass, the 1981 Cutlass Supreme, and the 1985 Cutlass Supreme. This Cutlass Supreme went for $20,250 on July 14th.

1983 Saab 900, linked from Bring a Trailer

[252344] 1983 Saab 900 Turbo hatchback coupe. Ivory with Sierra Tan velour front bucket seats. B201 135 bhp 2.0 liter/121 ci inline four with fuel injection and a turbocharger, a five-speed manual, and an indicated 152,000 miles (just getting started!). This 900 Turbo—owned by the same family for 42 years—went for $14,750 on July 15th. I really should finish my Saab 900 blog entry soon.

1985 Toyota GT-S, linked from Bring a Trailer

[253644] 1985 Toyota GT-S hatchback coupe. Silver Gray Metallic over Black with Gray cloth front bucket seats. 4A-GE 112 bhp 1.6 liter/97 ci inline four with fuel injection, a five-speed manual, and an indicated 111,000 miles. Despite the relatively high mileage, this GT-S went for $31,000 on July 22nd. I have written about the one-year prior Corolla SR5 Sports Coupe.

1988 Volvo 780, linked from Bring a Trailer

[253868] 1989 Volvo 780 coupe. Blue Pearl Metallic with Blue leather front bucket seats. B280F 145 bhp 2.8 liter/174 ci V6 with fuel injection, a four-speed automatic, and an indicated 62,000 miles. Famously both styled and built by Bertone, the 780 was definitively the best-looking Volvo of the eighties. This 780 went for $9,000 on July 23rd. I have written about the first-year 1987 780 coupe.

1985 Pontiac Parisienne, linked from Bring a Trailer

[254878] 1985 Pontiac Parisienne Brougham sedan. Silver Metallic/Medium Gray Metallic two-tone with a Gray cloth 55/45 front split bench seat. LG4 165 bhp 5.0 liter/305 ci V8 with a four-barrel carburetor injection, a four-speed automatic, and an indicated 55,000 miles. To our modern eyes, this car’s lack of a vinyl roof helps its looks, though that would have been unusual when new. Nicely presented, this Parisienne sold for $11,500 on July 29th. I have written about the first Parisienne sold in the United States—the 1983.

Functioning Digital Control Center—a rare sight in 2026

[255073] 1986 Buick Riviera coupe. Dark Gray Metallic over Silver Metallic Designers’ Accent Paint with Gray cloth front bucket seats. LG2 140 bhp 3.8 liter/231 ci V6 with fuel injection, a four-speed automatic, and an indicated 35,000 miles. The 1986 Riviera was a spectacularly unsuccessful downsizing, and these early seventh-generation cars are rarely seen on BaT (you see far more of the substantially restyled 1989-1993 examples). Interesting features of this particular car included the Y56 Performance Package and a working touchscreen Digital Control Center. Sold for $7,500 on July 30th.

Interesting Eighties Vehicles at the 2026 Mecum Harrisburg

The 2026 version of Mecum’s annual Harrisburg auction finished on July 25th. About five years ago, I gave up trying to chronicle every eighties vehicle sold at any particular auction—there’s often an endless sameness to them. So, I now only write about the cars and trucks that are less seen at auction—and those that sold (a Satin Black Metallic 1989 Porsche 911 Carrera 50th Anniversary Edition coupe with Silk Gray leather front bucket seats and an indicated 85,000 miles was a no-sale at $89,000). Here are five that caught my eye, described in more detail than I used to when these surveys were more exhaustive.

1981 Checker Marathon, linked from Mecum’s website

[Lot W107] 1981 Checker Marathon sedan. Gray with a Black vinyl front seat. LF9 105 bhp 5.7.liter/350 ci diesel V8 with a three-speed automatic and an indicated 114 miles. Said to be originally deployed as a municipal fleet vehicle in New York City and then parked for over 35 years, this unusual diesel Marathon generated a $5,000 hammer price.

Photo of 1980 Camaro Sport Coupe
1983 Pontiac Grand Prix, courtesy of Mecum

[T95.1] 1983 Pontiac Grand Prix coupe. Maroon Metallic with a Maroon vinyl top and a Maroon Luxury cloth notchback front seat. LD5 110 bhp 3.8 liter/231 ci V6 with a two-barrel carburetor, a three-speed automatic, and an indicated 38,000 miles. $9,500 for this handsome Grand Prix, decently equipped for a base coupe. I have written about the notably more powerful 1980 SJ and the 1987 base coupe.

1985 Buick Riviera, linked from Mecum’s website

[T204] 1985 Buick Riviera T Type coupe. Red Firemist (but not listed as such) with Red Prima cloth front 45/45 seats. LM9 200 bhp 3.8 liter/231 ci V6 with sequential fuel injection and a turbocharger, a four-speed automatic, and an indicated 41,000 miles. $10,000 seems light for a relatively rare turbo T Type—perhaps better photos would have helped. I have written about the closely-related 1984 version of this car.

Photo of 1981 Datsun 280-ZX
1981 Datsun 280-ZX, courtesy of Mecum

[T210] 1981 Datsun 280-ZX GL 2+2 hatchback coupe. Light Brown Metallic with Beige leather front bucket seats. L28E 145 bhp 2.8 liter/168 ci inline six with fuel injection, a three-speed automatic, and an indicated 60,000 miles. I have written about the two-seat coupe version of the 1980 model. At $7,500, how much was the discount because it was a 2+2?

1981 Cadillac Fleetwood 75, courtesy of Mecum

[T265.1] 1981 Cadillac Fleetwood Series 75 limousine. Cotillion White with a White vinyl top and Blue cloth seats. L62 140 bhp 6.0 liter/368 ci V8-6-4 with fuel injection and cylinder deactivation, a three-speed automatic, and an indicated 27,000 miles. $7,000 for a limousine whose photos and video didn’t give a good view of the rear seating area.

Interesting Eighties Vehicles at the 2026 Mecum Indy

The 2026 version of Mecum’s annual Indy auction finished on May 16th. About five years ago, I gave up trying to chronicle every eighties vehicle sold at any particular auction—there’s often an endless sameness to them. So, I now only write about the cars and trucks that are less seen at auction—and those that sold (a Bianco 1989 Lamborghini Countach 25th Anniversary coupe with Bone leather front bucket seats and an indicated 47,000 kilometers was a no-sale at $480,000). Here are five that caught my eye, described in more detail than I used to when these surveys were more exhaustive.

Photo of 1980 Camaro Sport Coupe
1980 Camaro Sport Coupe, courtesy of Mecum

[Lot K153.1] 1980 Chevrolet Camaro Sport Coupe. Bronze Metallic with Camel vinyl/cloth front bucket seats. LC3 115 bhp 3.8 liter/229 ci V6 with a two-barrel carburetor, a three-speed automatic, and an indicated 17,000 miles. Simply a wow—this attractive Camaro was never messed with in almost half a century. Leaving it original generated a $17,000 hammer price—spectacular money for an early eighties Sport Coupe with a V6. I have written about the 1980 Rally Sport, but not the Sport Coupe.

1987 Subaru BRAT, linked from Mecum’s website

[W95] 1987 Subaru BRAT GL pickup truck. Moon Silver Metallic with blue/gray vinyl/cloth front bucket seats. EA-81 73 bhp 1.8 liter/109 ci flat four with a two-barrel carburetor, a four-speed manual, and an indicated 74,000 miles. An astounding $25,000 for this final year BRAT, which features the bed-mounted seats that were no longer included in 1987. I really should complete my draft blog post on this vehicle.

1988 Chevrolet Camaro, linked from Mecum’s website

[W169] 1988 Chevrolet Camaro convertible. Bright Red with a Black convertible top and Bright Red cloth bucket seats. L03 170 bhp 5.0.liter/305 ci V8 with a throttle-body fuel injection, a four-speed automatic, and an indicated 19,000 kilometers. $20,000 bought this relatively rare Canadian-market convertible, simply called the “Camaro convertible” until they renamed it to RS in 1989.

1986 Pontiac Grand Prix interior, courtesy of Mecum

[W210] 1986 Pontiac Grand Prix coupe. Light Blue Metallic/Dark Blue Metallic two-tone with blue cloth notchback front seat. LD5 110 bhp 3.8 liter/229 ci V6 with a two-barrel carburetor, a three-speed automatic, and an indicated 18,000 miles. A base Grand Prix (not an LE or Brougham—you can tell by the pull straps on the doors). $10,000—I have written about the 1987 version of this car.

1987 Porsche 959, linked from Mecum’s website

[S133] 1987 Porsche 959 Komfort coupe. Graphite Metallic with Gray leather front bucket seats. 444 bhp 2.9 liter/174 ci flat six with electronic fuel injection, a six-speed manual, and an indicated 3,500 miles. At $2,100,000 (that’s Hagerty #2/Excellent money), by far the highest eighties vehicle sale in this auction—a slantnose 1986 RUF was closest at less than a quarter the price.

Interesting Eighties Vehicles at the 2026 Mecum Glendale

The 2026 version of Mecum’s annual Glendale auction finished on March 21st. About five years ago, I gave up trying to chronicle every eighties vehicle sold at any particular auction—there’s often an endless sameness to them. So, I now only write about the cars and trucks that are less seen at auction—and those that sold (a Pearl White 1987 Toyota Supra Turbo hatchback coupe with burgundy leather front bucket seats and an indicated 5,300 miles was a no-sale at $65,000). Here are five that caught my eye, described in a little more detail than I used to when these surveys were more exhaustive.

1989 Chrysler Fifth Avenue, linked from Mecum’s website

[Lot G145] 1989 Chrysler Fifth Avenue sedan. Light Pewter Pearl Coat with a Tan vinyl top and Almond leather 60/40 front seats. LA 140 bhp 5.2 liter/318 ci V8 with a two-barrel carburetor, a three-speed automatic, and an indicated 67,000 miles. A $5,500 hammer price for this late eighties rear-wheel-drive Mopar. I have written about the 1987 version of this car.

1982 BMW 320i, linked from Mecum’s website

[W130] 1982 BMW 320i coupe. Polaris Metallic with Black leather front bucket seats. M10B18 101 bhp 1.8 liter/108 ci inline four with fuel injection, a five-speed manual, and an indicated 76,000 miles. $10,000 took home one of BMW’s marque-defining cars in the “correct” color. I have written about the 1983 320i.

1982 Chevrolet Camaro interior, courtesy of Mecum
1984 Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight, linked from Mecum’s website

[W175] 1982 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 Indy 500 Commemorative Edition Car hatchback coupe. Silver/Metallic Blue two-tone with blue Custom cloth bucket L/S Conteur front seats. LG4 145 bhp 5.0 liter/305 ci V8 with a four-barrel carburetor, a four-speed manual, and an indicated 49,000 miles. $16,000 for a specific year and model that I have written about.

[T103] 1984 Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight Regency sedan. Dark Royal Blue Metallic with a Dark Blue vinyl top and a Blue divided front cloth seat (plenty of blue here). LV2 140 bhp 5.0.liter/307 ci V8 with a four-barrel carburetor, a four-speed automatic, and an indicated 5,900 miles. $22,000 for this well-kept Olds—I should write about a rear-wheel-drive Ninety-Eight at some point.

1982 Chrysler Imperial, linked from Mecum’s website

[T235] 1982 Chrysler Imperial Frank Sinatra Edition coupe. Glacier Blue Crystal Coat with Glacier Blue Kimberly Velvet cloth 60/40 front seats. LA 140 bhp 5.2 liter/318 ci V8 dealer-converted (as was very common) from electronic fuel injection to a two-barrel carburetor, a three-speed automatic, and an indicated 80,000 miles. An ouch! at $3,000. I have written about the final year 1983 Imperial, which did not offer a Frank Sinatra Edition.

1986 Volkswagen Scirocco 16V hatchback coupe

“Igniting the exhilaration of true sports coupe performance.”

For 1986, the second-generation Scirocco gained a substantial amount of power, elevating it from a VW loyalist’s car to one considered by a wider range of sports coupe buyers. The engine was a notably upgraded version of the 90 bhp 8-valve 1.8 liter/109 ci inline four that shipped on the base Scirocco. The new 16-valve version made 123 bhp, changing the character of Volkswagen’s sportiest coupe.

With a curb weight of 2,380 pounds, Car and Driver recorded a 0-60 time of 8.0 seconds and a top speed of 124 mph for the 16V. Fuel economy was rated at 23 city/28 highway by the day’s standards (21/26 by modern measures). A 13.8-gallon gas tank meant that a Scirocco 16V‘s owner could expect a range of 295 to 315 miles with a 10% fuel reserve.

Classified as sub-compact by the EPA, the Scirocco was not a large car—its 165.7-inch length is three inches shorter than the current Golf GTI hatchback sedan. All Sciroccos continued to be assembled by Karmann in Osnabrück, Germany.

Cover of the 1986 Volkswagen Scirocco 16V brochure
Cover of the 1986 Volkswagen Scirocco 16V brochure

The 1986 Scirocco 16V‘s base price was $11,980—about $36,000 in today’s dollars, or almost exactly what a 2026 Golf GTI hatchback sedan goes for. Standard exterior features included halogen headlamps, tinted glass, body colored rocker panels, wheelhouse flares, and a 16V-specific rear spoiler. Mechanical features of the 16V included front wheel drive (still on the window sticker in 1986), quick-ratio power rack and pinion steering, four wheel power disc brakes, and 185/60HR-14 steel belted radial tires (a size still readily available) on 14-inch Sport alloy wheels. Inside, reclining front Sport seats with height adjustment, a foldable rear seat, a leather-wrapped Sport steering wheel, a digital clock, and a stereo prep package were standard.

Options & Period Reviews

Options for the reasonably well-equipped Scirocco 16V were relatively few—a manual tilt and slide sunroof ($450), metallic paint, leather seats, air conditioning ($750), a power door locks and windows package ($445), cruise control, and an AM/FM stereo cassette radio with a cassette storage tray ($390).

Period reviews of the Scirocco 16V were good, though the exterior styling took some lumps for its lack of distinctiveness. Car and Driver stated that the new motor made for an “amazing transformation.” MotorWeek was a little iffy about the 16V‘s price in a very competitive market. Both Car and Driver and MotorWeek noted that the 16V was the fastest Volkswagen yet sold in the United States.

The View From 2026

Second-generation Sciroccos attract collector interest, and there is club support. They are sometimes available in the Hemmings Motor News classifieds, on eBay Motors, and at online auctions such as Bring a Trailer that cater to the eighties car market.

Make mine Tornado Red, please. The only colors available for the 16V in 1986 were Black, Tornado Red, and Flash Silver Metallic.

The only other Scirocco I’ve written about is the 1981 S. Other Volkswagens I have written about include the 1981 Dasher station wagon, the 1983 Rabbit GTI hatchback coupe, the 1985 Cabriolet, and the 1985 Jetta GLI sedan. Sports coupe competition for the 16V in 1986 included the Chevrolet Camaro Berlinetta, the Chevrolet Cavalier Z24, the Honda Prelude Si, and the Mercury Capri.

1989 Ford Taurus SHO sedan

“… superbly equipped …”

For 1989, Ford introduced a high-performance version of its Taurus family car, which Dearborn designated as the SHO.

SHO engine photo from the 1989 Ford Taurus brochure
SHO engine photo from the 1989 Ford Taurus brochure

The centerpiece of the SHO was its engine. Designed and built by Yamaha, it was a 220 bhp Super High Output 3.0 liter/181 ci V6 with four valves per cylinder and sequential multiport electronic fuel injection. A five-speed manual was the only transmission initially available with the SHO. Car and Driver recorded a 0-60 time of 6.7 seconds and a top speed of 143 mph—astoundingly fast for a mainstream sedan in 1989. Mileage ratings were 18 city/26 highway by the day’s standard (16/24 by today’s measures). With an 18.6-gallon gas tank, a SHO‘s proud new owner could expect a range of between 335 and 365 miles with a 10% fuel reserve.

The 1989 Taurus SHO sedan’s base price was $19,739—about $53,400 in today’s dollars. Standard exterior and mechanical equipment included fog lamps, cornering lamps, a handling suspension, 4-wheel disc brakes, and P215/65VR15 black sidewall tires (a size still somewhat available) on 15-inch cast aluminum wheels. Inside, reclining cloth front bucket seats, a 6-way power driver seat adjustment, a center console, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, manual control air conditioning, power side windows, and power door locks were included.

One Package, Individual Options, & Period Reviews

Preferred equipment package 211A ($533) included an autolamp system, an illuminated entry system, and the High-Level Audio System.

Individual options included a power moonroof ($741), a keyless entry system ($137), electronic climate control air conditioning ($183), front bucket seats with leather seating surfaces ($489), a 6-way power passenger seat adjustment ($261), and a rear window defroster ($150).

Period reviews were extremely positive, and often seemed somewhat stunned by what Ford and Yamaha had achieved. Road & Track called the SHO “one of the great surprises for 1989” and, astoundingly, beat Car and Driver‘s 0-60 time by a tenth of a second. As for Car and Driver, their December 1988 issue called the 1989 SHO a “breakthrough car” and compared it to the 1964 Ford Mustang and the 1970 Datsun 240Z. MotorWeek was also enthusiastic.

The View From 2026

According to Hagerty’s valuation tools, a 1989 Taurus SHO in #1/Concours condition is $21,100, while a far more typical #3/Good car goes for $6,900. SHOs of this age come up for sale regularly in the Hemmings Motor News classifieds, on eBay Motors, and Bring a Trailer, so folks are saving them.

Make mine Light Titanium Clearcoat Metallic, please. There were only four exterior colors available with the 1989 SHO, and only one interior color (Titanium).

I have written about the first Taurus sedan. Other aerodynamically styled Ford Motor Company products I’ve written about include the 1983 Ford Thunderbird Turbo Coupe, the 1984 Ford Mustang SVO hatchback coupe, the 1984 Ford Tempo sedan, the 1984 Lincoln Continental Mark VII LSC coupe, the 1987 Ford Thunderbird standard coupe, and the 1988 Mercury Cougar XR-7 coupe.

1980 Mercury Capri hatchback coupe

“Every bit a driver’s car.”

1980 was the second year for the Fox-body Capri and brought few changes from the debut year, and some of those weren’t great, such as a downgraded V8. There was a new rear deck spoiler standard on all RS models.

The standard powertrain on the base Capri was Ford’s Lima 88 bhp 2.3 liter/140 ci inline four with a Holley-Weber two-barrel carburetor matched with a four-speed manual. Three engine options were available:

  • a 91 bhp 3.3 liter/200 ci inline six with a one-barrel carburetor ($169)
  • a Windsor 118 bhp 4.2 liter/255 ci V8 with a Motorcraft 2150 two-barrel carburetor ($288), which required the three-speed automatic ($340)
  • a Lima inline four with a Holley-Weber two-barrel carburetor and a turbocharger ($481). Sources disagree as to whether this engine was rated at 118 bhp, 120 bhp, or 132 bhp, but everyone agrees that it included a 12.5-gallon gas tank

Thus, for 1980, the fastest available Capri had a 0-60 time of a little under 11 seconds. With an 11.5-gallon gas tank and 23 city/38 highway fuel mileage, the owner of a Capri with the base four could expect a range of about 260 to 280 miles with a 10% fuel reserve.

The base 1980 Capri hatchback coupe went for $5,672—about $24,500 in 2026 dollars. Standard exterior and mechanical equipment included dual rectangular headlamps, dual paint stripes, a liftback third door, wraparound taillamps, rack-and-pinion steering, front disc/rear drum brakes, and P185/80R13 tires on 13-inch semi-styled steel wheels with trim rings. Inside, vinyl high-back front bucket seats, a fold-down rear seat, a Sport steering wheel, full instrumentation (tachometer, trip odometer, fuel/temperature/oil/alternator gauges), a lockable glove box, and a cigar lighter were included.

The Capri RS ($204) added a simulated hood scoop, a rear deck spoiler, dual remote control mirrors, and P175/75R14 black sidewall tires on 14-inch wheels with Sport wheel covers.

Front cover of the 1980 Mercury Capri brochure
Front cover of the 1980 Mercury Capri brochure, displaying an RS Turbo

The Turbo RS ($1,185) made the turbocharged 2.3 liter engine standard and added a sports-tuned exhaust system, the Rally Suspension package, and Michelin TRX 190/65R390 tires (they’re still available!) on 15.3-inch forged aluminum three-spoke wheels. Inside, low-back front bucket seats, Deluxe trim, and an 8,000 RPM tachometer were included. Power front disc brakes ($78) were a mandatory option. A base Turbo RS came to $6,935—about $30,000 in today’s dollars and almost what a 2026 Ford Mustang EcoBoost fastback goes for.

Taking a different direction, the comfortable Capri Ghia included P175/75R14 black sidewall tires with 14-inch wheels with Sport wheel covers. Inside, low-back front bucket seats with European type headrests, a four-spoke Luxury steering wheel with a woodtone insert, and Light Group were included. The Ghia‘s base price was $5,968. Power front disc brakes ($78) were a mandatory option.

Options & Production Numbers

Exterior and mechanical options included tinted glass ($65), a flip-up, removable moonroof ($219), power steering ($160), and power brakes ($78). Inside, Recaro adjustable front bucket seats, air conditioning ($538), an electric rear window defroster ($96), interval windshield wipers ($39), a tilt steering wheel ($78), and the power lock group ($113) were available. A series of five stereos was available, with the most capable being an AM/FM stereo radio with a cassette tape player.

The 1980 Capri sold decently. 79,984 were produced, accounting for 23% of Mercury’s overall sales in a brutally down year.

The View From 2026

Capris come up for sale occasionally in the Hemmings Motor News classifieds, on eBay Motors, and on Bring a Trailer.

Make mine Bright Bittersweet, please.

The only other Capri I have covered is the final-year 1986 hatchback coupe. Fox-body Mustangs I have covered include the 1980 Cobra hatchback coupe, the 1981 coupe, the 1982 GT hatchback coupe, the 1983 GT convertible, the 1984 SVO hatchback coupe, and the 1987 LX coupe.