I look at the end-of-year results for the blog’s most viewed posts every December. For 2024, it once again looked like the key to an individual post’s popularity was often in the rarity of the other coverage available for that particular vehicle. We’ll discuss this year’s top ten most viewed posts in reverse order.
10) 1980 Pontiac Sunbird Sport Hatch—dropping eight slots this year, but hanging on (still top five all-time with almost 4,000 views). Perhaps the salient example of my rarity theory—any first-generation Sunbird coming up for sale is now a rare sight.
9) 1985 Chevrolet C20 Suburban Silverado SUV—the first eighties SUV to make any year’s top ten dropped two spots this year, proving that SUVs don’t dominate everything in 2024. According to Hagerty, a 1985 C20 Suburban Silverado in #1/Concours condition is $47,300, with a more typical #3/Good condition example going for $20,300.
8) 1984 Dodge Daytona Turbo Z hatchback coupe—a newish post from July 2023 makes its first appearance in the top ten. It’s also the highest ranking MOPAR entry ever.
7) 1983 Honda Civic S hatchback coupe—for me, at least, researching early eighties Hondas is challenging. Thus, this post was a 250-word “short take,” but it makes its first appearance in the top ten.
6) 1988 Mercury Cougar XR-7 coupe—Hagerty does not track these distinctive sixth-generation Cougars, though they do track eighties Thunderbirds on the same platform. Dropping one slot for this year.
5) 1989 Buick Electra Park Avenue Ultra sedan—this 2020 post about the top-of-the-line Buick for 1989 (more expensive than the Riviera) rose four spots in 2024.
4) 1980 Pontiac Grand Prix SJ coupe—a relatively recent post from early 2022 shows some staying power. Up two spots in 2024 for Pontiac’s final Grand Prix SJ.
3) 1985 Buick Somerset Regal coupe—this post has been picked up by other websites a few times, including in 2018 by Jalopnik. Hilariously, I don’t think I would have ever gotten around to writing about the Somerset Regal if I hadn’t seen one on the streets of Philadelphia back in 2014. Returning to the top ten this year, this post is the fourth most popular entry since Eighties Cars debuted over a decade ago.
2) 1981 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme coupe—this post is #1 all-time (5,500 views), but drops one spot for 2024. Popularity does not always equal collectability, and Hagerty has yet to track eighties Cutlass Supreme values.
1) 1987 Mercury Lynx XR3 hatchback coupe—Mercury is, of course, an orphan make, but this blog entry has been viewed more than six times more than my write-up on the related 1981 Ford Escort hatchback coupe. Up three spots this year.
Three posts that did not make it into the top ten in 2024 after doing so in 2023 were all Chevrolets—the 1980 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 coupe, the 1983 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS Sport Coupe, and the 1986 Chevrolet Camaro Berlinetta hatchback coupe. The best-performing European product post was the 1983 Jaguar XJ6 sedan (15th). An entry coming on strong at the end of 2024 was the 1984 Buick Skyhawk coupe.
Thanks to all who viewed this blog in 2024!
Eighties Cars 
This list brings back some memories. Over the years family and friends had similar models…
73 GMC 3/4 ton pick up a 75 Chev 1/2 ton, more crude cousins to the suburban.
Dad had an 81 Civic 4dr hatch, when that was totaled he got an 80 Civic 2dr hatch with the Hondamatic 2speed.
Mom had a new 85 Park Avenue. Great car once you learned to live with some of the typical 80s-GM issues.
My best friend had a Firenze sedan. His next car was an 86 Skylark sedan.
And my cousin had a 79 Cutlass Supreme coupe.
All pretty nice vehicles overall.
I’ve got myself back into 1980s car ownership. A year ago I acquired a 1988 Mustang LX convertible. 5.0L, converted from AOD to 5 speed. A few minor modifications. Such a fun car to zip around in.