Author: JJM3

1981 Volkswagen Scirocco S hatchback coupe

I’ve liked the styling of the first-generation Scirocco since it was new. It was, of course, designed by one of the all-time masters.

“For the most discriminating and demanding sports car enthusiasts”

1981 was the final model year for the first-generation Scirocco, which was first available in North America in 1975. Though the Scirocco used the same platform as the Golf, it was actually released about six months before the Golf.

With its basic form penned by Giorgetto Giugiaro—who seemed to have a hand in nearly every 1970s Volkswagen design—the Scirocco debuted at the 1973 Geneva Motor Show. Like the Karmann Ghia that it putatively replaced, the Scirocco was assembled by Karmann.

Classified as sub-compact by the EPA, the Scirocco was not a large car—its 155.7-inch length is more than a foot shorter than the current Golf GTI. For 1981, the configuration of the Scirocco sold in North America moved to a slightly large 1.7 liter engine, transitioned the standard transmission from a four-speed manual to a five-speed manual, and offered a new Scirocco S package.

The Scirocco’s standard powertrain was the EA827 74 bhp 1.7 liter/105 ci inline four with fuel injection mated with a five-speed manual. A three-speed automatic was optional. With a curb weight of 1,892 pounds, 0-60 came in a little over 11 seconds. Fuel economy was rated at 25 city/40 highway by the day’s standards. With a 10.6-gallon gas tank, a Scirocco owner could expect a range of 280 to 310 miles with a 10% fuel reserve.

Scirocco S pages from the 1981 brochure

Standard mechanical features on the $8,495 Scirocco (about $32,000 in today’s dollars or almost exactly what a 2025 Golf GTI goes for) included front-wheel-drive, rack-and-pinion steering, power-assisted front disc/rear drum brakes, and 175/70SR13 steel-belted radial tires (a size still readily available) on 13-inch wheels. Inside, a tachometer, a trip odometer, and front bucket seats were standard.

Packages & Options

A new package for 1981 was the S, which included black trim, a red VW radiator badge and belt-line moulding, a larger front spoiler, light alloy wheels, and specially designed striped cloth sport seats. The S package was available in three of the eight standard Scirocco colors and cost $520.

Options for the Scirocco were few—a sunroof, a rear window wiper/washer, the aforementioned three-speed automatic transmission, and air conditioning.

The View From 2025

First-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 Cirrus Gray Metallic, please.

Other Volkswagens I have written about include the 1981 Dasher station wagon, the 1983 Rabbit GTI hatchback coupe, and the 1985 Cabriolet.

Last updated April 2025.

1984 Mercury Grand Marquis Colony Park LS station wagon

At Mecum Kansas City 2021, a Light Desert Tan Mercury Grand Marquis Colony Park LS station wagon with bodyside and tailgate rosewood woodtone appliques sold for $8,500. For Boxing Day 2021, here’s a big American station wagon.

“luxurious working cars”

For 1984, Mercury’s Grand Marquis Colony Park station wagon was little changed. The Colony Park name had been around since 1957 as a signifier of Mercury’s top-of-the-line station wagon.

The Colony Park’s only powertrain—indeed the only powertrain available for any Grand Marquis—was a Windsor 140 bhp 4.9 liter/302ci V8 with fuel injection paired with a four-speed automatic. Fuel economy was 17 city/27 highway by 1984 standards (14/20 by current measures). With an 18.5-gallon fuel tank, a Colony Park owner could expect a range of between 285 and 365 miles with a 10% fuel reserve.

The Colony Park was a large car, with a 114.1-inch wheelbase and 218-inch length. It had changed little since 1979, when Ford downsized its full-size cars to the Panther platform. Changes over the next five years were mostly confined to trim and color variations, along with powertrain changes.

Colony Park pages from the 1984 Grand Marquis brochure
Colony Park pages from the 1984 Grand Marquis brochure

Standard exterior and mechanical equipment on the $11,816 Grand Marquis Colony Park (about $32,500 in today’s dollars or about what a base 2022 Ford Explorer goes for) included the distinctive “bodyside and tailgate rosewood woodtone applique,” a three-way tailgate, a power tailgate window, power steering, power front disc/rear drum brakes, and P215/75R14 white sidewall tires (a size still available thanks to Hankook) on 14-inch wheels with Deluxe wheel covers. Inside, reclining Twin Comfort Lounge front seats in vinyl, a fold-down rear seatback, and AM/FM stereo radio with two rear speakers were included.

At $12,437, the Colony Park LS added tinted glass, Luxury cloth seat trim for the Twin Comfort Lounge front seats, seatback map pockets, and 18-ounce color-keyed cut-pile carpeting.

Packages, Options, and Production Numbers

Packages available for the Colony Park included Convenience Group, Lock Group, Light Group, and the Trailer Towing Package.

Since there were no Lincoln station wagons, the Colony Park LS was the top-of-the-line wagon available from Ford Motor Company in the mid-1980s. Despite all the luxury Mercury implied the Colony Park LS had, it still didn’t include standard air conditioning, though the take rate on the two air conditioning options—one manual ($743) and one automatic ($809)—must have been high.

Other options available included “glamour” paint ($77), a luggage rack ($104), a Traction-Lok axle ($95), fingertip speed control ($176), a leather-wrapped steering wheel ($59), a tilt steering wheel ($110) and the Premium Sound System. Optional P205/75R15 tires ($17/$178 if puncture sealant) required the optional turbine spoke cast aluminum wheels ($361). A well-equipped Colony Park could easily get to $14,600—not that many thousand dollars from Lincoln money.

Mercury sold 17,421 Colony Park wagons in 1984, but the split for the base versus the LS versions is unknown.

Make mine Medium Canyon Red Metallic, please.

Two other Panther-based cars I have written about are the 1980 Lincoln Continental Mark VII coupe and the 1983 Mercury Grand Marquis sedan.

1987 Chrysler Fifth Avenue sedan

Up until a few years ago, I still occasionally saw M-body Fifth Avenues on the road. They were always well-kept, but also actually being driven. Now, they seem gone.

“Fifth Avenue remembers what fine car buyers demand!”

Little changed for 1987, Chrysler’s rear-wheel-drive Fifth Avenue sedan did receive an updated steering wheel. Otherwise, things continued along virtually the same as they had been since the M-body Chrysler went from the New Yorker Fifth Avenue name to the Fifth Avenue name in 1984.

The only powertrain available was an LA 140 bhp 5.2 liter/318 ci V8 with a Carter two-barrel carburetor paired with a TorqueFlite three-speed automatic transmission—the slant six had departed from the M-body after 1983. 0-60 came in about 12 seconds in a car with a 3,741-pound curb weight. Mileage ratings were 16 city/21 highway by 1987 standards—which equals 15 city/20 highway today. With an 18-gallon gas tank, a Fifth Avenue owner could expect a range of 285 to 300 miles with a 10% fuel reserve.

Pages from the 1987 Chrysler Fifth Avenue brochure

Standard exterior features on the $15,422 Fifth Avenue (about $41,700 in today’s dollars) included a color-keyed padded vinyl Landau roof and tinted glass on all windows. Mechanical features included power front disc/rear drum brakes, power-assisted steering, and P205/75R15 tires (a size still readily available) on 15-inch wheels with Premium wheel covers. Inside, an air conditioning/heater with automatic temperature control, power windows, a Luxury two-spoke steering wheel, and an AM radio were included.

Packages, Individual Options, & Production Numbers

The Luxury Equipment Discount Package added hood stripes, electroluminescent opera lights, and wire wheel covers with locks. Inside, the same package added automatic speed control, a tilt steering column, Deluxe intermittent windshield washers/wipers, a power deck lid release, and an AM stereo/FM stereo radio with the Premium speaker system and a power antenna. Added upholstery features with the package included a Corinthian (of course) leather 60/40 front seat with vinyl trim, dual front power seats, and a Luxury leather-wrapped two-spoke steering wheel. This substantial package cost $2,113 when ordered with the Ultimate Sound audio system and $2,251 if ordered without Chrysler’s top-of-the-line stereo. Either way, it added 14% to 15% to the Fifth Avenue’s base price.

A Two-Tone Paint Package ($485) was also available. This package included (natch!) two-tone paint with a choice of three colors matched with Radiant Silver, a special padded vinyl Landau roof with electroluminescent opera lights, and cast aluminum 15-inch wheels.

Individual options included a power glass sun roof ($1,076) and a left power seat ($240). A range of three optional car stereos topped out with the $609 Ultimate Sound system, which included an AM stereo/FM stereo radio, a cassette tape player with automatic reverse and Dynamic Noise Reduction (DNR), a five-band graphic equalizer, and a joystick balance/fader control. Many individual options cost less when ordered with the Luxury Equipment Discount Package.

Chrysler sold 70,579 Fifth Avenues in 1987, making it the single most popular Chrysler model, though all the various LeBaron models combined were good for far more sales. With tooling that had long since been paid for, all the M-body cars (the Dodge Diplomat and Plymouth Gran Fury were also in production) were probably good for Chrysler’s profits.

The View From 2025

These cars were the last of the old Chryslers, with a platform dating back to 1977 and some engineering elements that were far older. When rear-wheel-drive returned to big Chryslers in 2005, it was based on a Mercedes-Benz E-class platform. Earlier this year, I blogged about Chrysler Corporation’s Transition To Front-Wheel-Drive.

Though they are far from collector cars, Fifth Avenues of this generation are sometimes available in the Hemmings Motor News classifieds, on eBay Motors, and on Bring a Trailer. They also occasionally show up at in-person auctions.

Make mine Crimson Red, please.

Other rear-wheel-drive Chrysler products I have written about include the 1980 Chrysler Cordoba coupe, the 1980 Plymouth Volaré station wagon, the 1981 Chrysler New Yorker sedan, the 1983 Chrysler Cordoba coupe, the 1983 Imperial coupe, and the 1989 Dodge Diplomat sedan.

Last updated December 2025.

1989 Bentley Turbo R sedan

“The quintessential power trip.”

Bentley’s Turbo R sedan debuted in 1985 but didn’t make it to the US until the 1989 model year. The Turbo R followed the Mulsanne Turbo, which debuted in 1982 and marked the first genuinely sporting Bentley in decades. Bentley stated that the R stood for “roadholding,” and the Turbo R had a completely revised suspension, with different dampers and stiffer anti-roll bars.

The Turbo R’s 6.75 liter/412 ci V8 had an estimated 335 bhp—for decades, Bentley didn’t state actual horsepower. The big V8 featured Bosch MK-Motronic fuel injection, a Garrett AiResearch turbocharger, and an intercooler. The transmission was GM’s Turbo Hydramatic THM-400. Considering that the Turbo R had a curb weight of 5,313 pounds, the 0-60 time of a little under 7 seconds was notable. Fuel economy was less impressive: a 9 city/12 highway rating by the day’s standards meant that the Turbo R was a recipient of the dreaded gas guzzler tax. Despite a sizeable 28.6-gallon gas tank filled with premium gasoline, the proud new owner of Turbo R could only expect a range of about 270 miles with a 10% fuel reserve.

1989 Bentley Turbo R advertisement
1989 Bentley Turbo R advertisement

Standard exterior and mechanical equipment on the $165,000 Turbo R (about $438,000 in today’s dollars) included power rack and pinion steering, four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes, and 255/65VR15 tires (a size still available thanks to Avon) on 15-inch aluminum-alloy wheels. The traditional Connolly leather seats, burled walnut veneer dash, and lambswool carpeting seen in many Bentleys were present inside. More prosaic standard equipment included air conditioning, cruise control, power seats, power mirrors, and power windows. Bentley built 929 Turbo Rs for the 1989 model year, making it an unqualified success.

The View From 2025

Like all Bentleys, the Turbo R attracts collector interest and substantial club support. Perhaps driven by maintenance costs that are substantial if the car has not been rigorously maintained, values are not as high as one might think. According to Hagerty’s valuation tools, all the money for a 1989 Turbo R in #1/Concours condition is $26,000, with a far more normal #3/Good condition version going for $13,500.

Turbo R’s are often available in the Hemmings Motor News classifieds, and they sometimes show up at online (Bring a Trailer) and in-person auctions. As I update this post in March 2025, a Dark Oyster Metallic 1989 Turbo R with red leather front bucket seats and 66,000 miles is for sale on Hemmings for $44,500.

After over eight years, this post is the first on a Bentley in Eighties Cars. There will be others—I definitely expect to get to the aforementioned Mulsanne Turbo at some point.

Make mine British Racing Green, please.

Last updated March 2025.

1986 Pontiac Firebird SE hatchback coupe

“Comfort and function define every Firebird interior.”

For 1986, Pontiac offered three versions of its sporty Firebird—the base car, the SE, and the Trans Am. The SE was intended to be the most comfortable of the three versions (Pontiac stated that it possessed “a subtle sophistication”), and its $11,995 base price (about $35,300 in today’s dollars) slotted between the $9,279 base coupe and the $12,395 Trans Am.

The SE‘s standard engine was the 135 bhp LB8 2.8 liter V6 with fuel injection, while its only optional engine was the $400 155 bhp LG4 5.0 liter/305 ci v8 with a four-barrel carburetor (only Trans Ams could get fancier V8s). Both engines came standard with a five-speed manual and were offered with an optional four-speed automatic ($465). The V8 with the manual was the quickest (0-60 mph in about 9 seconds) and the fastest (top speed of about 131 mph) SE. EPA gas mileage ratings were 17 city/26 highway with the standard powertrain (15/24 by today’s standards). Interestingly, the V8 wasn’t significantly worse at 16 city/26 highway with the manual or at 17 city/25 highway with the automatic. With a relatively small 15.5-gallon gas tank, SE owners could expect a range of between 265 and 320 miles with a 10% fuel reserve.

1986 base and SE Firebird versions from the Pontiac full-line brochure

Standard exterior and mechanical equipment on all Firebirds included concealed rectangular quartz halogen headlamps, Sport mirrors, power steering, power front disc/rear drum brakes, and P215/65R15 tires on 15-inch wheels. Inside, a full-length console, reclining front bucket seats, cut pile carpeting, and a Delco-GM AM radio were standard.

Additional standard equipment on the SE included hood air louvers, black body side moldings, and 15-inch diamond spoke aluminum wheels. Inside, the Formula steering wheel, shift knob, and parking brake were all leather-wrapped. Luxury Trim Group included Custom front bucket seats, a Deluxe split folding rear seat, and Deluxe door trim. An interior roof console included sub-woofer controls if the subwoofer six-speaker system was ordered.

Options & Production Numbers

Optional exterior and mechanical equipment included a body color rear deck spoiler ($70), a hatch roof with removable glass panels, and power four wheel disc brakes ($179 and requiring the limited slip differential). Inside, Custom air conditioning (which required Soft Ray glass), power door locks, power windows, a six-way power driver’s seat, a tilt steering wheel, and five different radios were available. A loaded SE moved from comfortable to relatively luxurious by mid-1980s standards.

Like its Camaro Berlinetta cousin, the SE did not sell well—it was only 2% of overall Firebird sales in 1986.

The View From 2025

According to Hagerty‘s valuation tools, a 1986 Firebird SE with the V8 and the manual in #1/Concours condition is $15,900, with a far more normal #3/Good condition version going for $5,700. Mid-1980s Trans Ams are always available in the Hemmings Motor News classifieds, on eBay Motors, and on Bring a Trailer, but SEs rarely make an appearance—as I update this post in April 2025, there are no third-generation Firebird SEs for sale on either eBay or Hemmings. I have not seen an SE in over 20 years.

Make mine Midnight Blue over Silver, please.

Other Firebird versions I have written about include the 1981 Trans Am coupe, the 1982 Trans Am hatchback coupe, the 1984 Trans Am 15th Anniversary Edition hatchback coupe, the 1985 Trans Am hatchback coupe, and the 1989 20th Anniversary Turbo Trans Am hatchback coupe. I should probably cover a Formula and a GTA at some point.

Last updated April 2025.

1980 Ford Fiesta hatchback coupe

In late 2021, Bring a Trailer featured a 1980 Ford Fiesta with unknown mileage selling at no reserve—it went for $7,200.

Ford’s first-generation Fiesta was in its final year of availability in the United States, soon to be replaced by the Escort. Because of this, the 1980 Fiesta had only minor trim and detail changes.

The Fiesta’s standard powertrain was a transverse-mounted 66 bhp 1.6 liter/98 ci inline four with a two-barrel carburetor paired with a four-speed manual. Ford’s full-line brochure stated that Fiesta acceleration was “exhilarating.” In reality, 0-60 mph took between 11 and 12 seconds in a car with a shipping weight of 1,726 pounds. The EPA rated fuel economy at an impressive 26 city/38 highway by the day’s standards. With a 10-gallon gas tank, a Fiesta owner could expect a range of 260 to 290 miles with a 10% fuel reserve.

Classified by the EPA as a subcompact, the Fiesta was a small car even in 1980, and is tiny by modern standards. With a 90-inch wheelbase and a 147.1-inch length, it gives up 8 inches of wheelbase and over 5 inches of length to a modern MINI Cooper. In 1980 brochures, Ford used the old trick of putting the car in the foreground and putting models at some indeterminate distance in the background.

Fiesta page from the 1980 Ford brochure

Standard equipment for the $5,032 Fiesta (about $21,400 in today’s dollars) included front wheel drive, a MacPherson strut front suspension, rack and pinion steering, front disc brakes, and Michelin 155-12 steel-belted radial tires on 12-inch argent road wheels. Inside, the Fiesta included all-vinyl high back front bucket seats, a fold-down rear seat, and color-keyed passenger compartment carpeting.

Options & Production Numbers

Options included a manually-operated flip-up open-air sunroof ($219), tinted glass ($55), an electric rear window defroster ($96), white sidewall tires ($70), air conditioning ($475 and not available in European versions), and an AM/FM stereo radio ($183). Decor Group and a Ghia interior which included velour and cloth upholstery were also available.

1980 Fiesta sales were off 11% from 1979, but Ford still moved 68,841.

The View From 2025

I haven’t seen a first-generation Fiesta on the streets for many years, and they are rarely seen on eBay Motors or in the Hemmings Motor News classifieds. Apparently, Bring A Trailer auctions one of these Fiestas about once a year.

Make mine Venetian Red, please.

Last updated April 2025.

My Eighties Car Departs

In the spring of 2021, I had a major medical issue that involved lower back surgery. Close followers of this blog might have noticed the paucity of posts between late January and late May.

When I returned home from not one but two hospitals, one of the first things that came to mind was what to do with my 1985 Chevrolet Corvette coupe. With its hard-riding Z51 sport suspension and challenging entry/exit, this car is not for someone who has had back surgery—and I don’t believe in keeping cars around that we don’t drive.

After thinking about it for a while, I decided to auction my Corvette on Bring a Trailer at no reserve—there was nothing that would want me to keep the car. I chose Bring a Trailer in part because I wanted to reach a wide audience: I figured that my 1985’s Light Blue Metallic color was a love it or hate it deal, and I wanted potential bidders to be able to self-sort.

I filled out the vehicle submission form, and the next step was to get the car photographed. Bring a Trailer‘s assigned professional came out in mid-July on what must have been the hottest day of the summer. He took many both accurate and complimentary photos of the car.

In late August, the auction began. Like most Bring a Trailer auctions, it ran for slightly over a week. I was eager not to misrepresent the car but equally interested in putting its best face forward. This desire meant that I spent a lot of time in the comments section.

The 1985 leaves

Three days after the auction ended, the winning buyer sent one of his employees out to pick up the car. He loaded the car onto an open trailer (very on-brand for the purchase venue) in the light rain. A few minutes later, he drove away, and my life with a 1985 Corvette ended.

I was sad to see the Corvette go, but not unhappy. My view is that the car owed us nothing—we enjoyed it for seventeen years and it was our ticket to many interesting experiences. I hope the new owner has as much fun with this C4 as we did.

Interesting Eighties Vehicles at the 2021 Mecum Orlando

I’ve given up trying to chronicle every eighties vehicle sold at any particular auction—there’s often an endless sameness to them. So, we’re going to only write about the cars and trucks that are less seen at auction—and those that sold (a Venetian Blue Porsche 911 Cabriolet with a blue top and coupe with blue leather bucket seats was a no sale at $45,000). Here are ten at the 2021 Mecum Orlando that attracted my eye, described in more detail than usual.

1987 Ford Thunderbird Turbo Coupe, linked from Mecum’s website

[Lot W67] 1987 Ford Thunderbird Turbo Coupe. Medium Canyon Red with scarlet cloth front bucket seats. Lima 190 bhp 2.3 liter/140 ci inline four with fuel injection and a turbocharger mated to a five-speed manual. $9,000 hammer price for this somewhat faded example of the expensively facelifted ninth-generation ‘bird.

1985 Ford Bronco II, linked from Mecum’s website

[W149] 1985 Ford Bronco II SUV. Light Regatta Blue/Wimbledon White two-tone with regatta blue cloth front bucket seats. Cologne 115 bhp 2.8 liter/170 ci V6 with a two-barrel carburetor paired with a five-speed manual. $15,000 is a lot for a Bronco II, but the rising Bronco tide seems to be lifting all boats.

1988 Mazda RX7, linked from Mecum’s website

[T81] 1988 Mazda RX7 convertible. Sunrise Red with a black top and gray cloth front bucket seats. 13B 146 bhp 1.3 liter/80 ci twin-rotor with fuel injection paired with a five-speed manual. Second-generation RX7’s are rare at auction—at least in the US. At $10,000, what would you do with this non-Turbo car with unstated mileage?

1986 Lincoln Town Car, linked from Mecum’s website

[T134] 1986 Lincoln Town Car Cartier Edition sedan. Crystal Clearcoat Metallic with a Dove Gray vinyl top and oxford gray leather seats with cloth inserts. Windsor 150 bhp 4.9 liter/302 ci V8 with fuel injection, a four-speed automatic, and 22,000 miles. $16,500. I now like these cars—especially the special editions—much more than I did when they were new. In 1986, the Cartier Edition cost about 22% more than the base Town Car.

1987 Oldsmobile Cutlass 442, linked from Mecum’s website

[F209] 1987 Oldsmobile Cutlass 442 coupe. Burgundy Metallic/Silver Metallic two-tone with maroon cloth front bucket seats. LG8 170 bhp 5.0 liter/307 ci V8 with a four-barrel carburetor paired with a four-speed automatic. $12,500. The rear-wheel-drive Cutlass was fading away by 1987, with the Calais name already moved to the newer front-wheel-drive car. 1987 was the final year for the rear-wheel-drive 442, whose lineage stretched back to 1964.

1987 Ferrari 328 GTS, linked from Mecum’s website

[F228.1] 1986 Ferrari 328 GTS coupe. Rosso Corsa with tan leather bucket seats. F105B 260 bhp 3.2 liter/195 ci V8 with fuel injection, a five-speed manual, 51,000 miles, and a recent major service. $80,000 is slightly over #2/Excellent money for a 328 GTS, according to Hagerty’s valuation tools.

1983 Jeep J10 Laredo, linked from Mecum’s website

[F261] 1983 Jeep J10 Laredo pickup truck. Olympic White with tan/brown cloth/vinyl front bucket seats. AMC 175 bhp 5.9 liter/360 ci V8 with a two-barrel carburetor and an automatic. $29,500 doesn’t come close to matching the J10 Honcho that sold at this year’s Mecum Indy—but it’s still good money.

1983 DeLorean DMC-12, linked from Mecum’s website

[S86] 1983 DeLorean DMC-12 hatchback coupe. Stainless Steel (of course) with gray leather bucket seats. PRV 130 bhp 2.8 liter/174 ci V6 with fuel injection, a five-speed manual, and 22,000 miles. $50,000 is solid money for a DMC-12.

1987 Porsche 930 Turbo, linked from Mecum’s website

[S93] 1987 Porsche 930 Turbo coupe. Guards Red with champagne leather front bucket seats. 282 bhp 3.3 liter/201 ci flat six with fuel injection and a turbocharger, a four-speed manual, and 46,000 miles. $260,000 for this “factory custom” with many unusual touches created by the first iteration of Porsche’s Sonderwunsch (Special Wishes) program.

1984 Aston Martin Lagonda, linked from Mecum’s website

[S131] 1984 Aston Martin Lagonda Series 2 sedan. Gold with creme leather front bucket seats. 200 bhp 5.3 liter/327 ci V8 with four two-barrel carburetors and a three-speed automatic. $100,000 for this car once owned by Mike Tyson. When I was a teenager, I loved the Lagonda’s exterior design. Now, it seems a little overwrought—and those at-the-time bleeding-edge interior electronics are not easy to keep functioning. Still, you won’t see yourself coming and going.

1987 BMW M6 coupe

At the 2021 Mecum Indy, a Cinnabar Red 1987 BMW M6 coupe with tan leather front bucket seats sold for $50,000. That compelled me to write this blog post, but that price would be somewhat of a steal now.

“For the zealots.”

For the 1987 model year, BMW finally brought the European M635CSi (available since 1983) to North America, but rebadged it as the M6. This rebadging meant that the “civilian” 6-series (previously the 633CSi) was redesignated as the L6. Specific M6 details included front and rear M badging, a larger front air dam and rear spoiler, and matching color side mirrors.

The M6’s engine was the S38B35 256 bhp 3.5 liter/211 ci inline six with Bosch Motronic fuel injection. With an 18.5-gallon gas tank, the fuel economy rating of 10 city/19 highway mpg (9/17 by today’s measures) meant a short range of between 220 and 240 miles with a 10% fuel reserve. Car and Driver recorded a 0-60 time of 6.1 seconds.

The M6’s base price was $58,970—about $173,900 in today’s dollars, and about 23% more than a 2025 M8 Gran Coupe starts at. Standard exterior and mechanical equipment included metallic paint, halogen headlights, speed-related power steering, four-wheel power anti-lock disc brakes, and Michelin TRX 240/45VR-415 tires (still available!) on 7.7-by-16.3-inch BBS alloy wheels.

1987 BMW M advertisement

Inside the very well-equipped M6, BMW paired leather reclining front bucket seats with memory with leather rear bucket seats. Other interior accouterments included front and rear air conditioning, power heated side mirrors, power door locks, a three-spoke leather-covered steering wheel, a trip computer, and a digital clock. Audio entertainment was provided by a BMW Sound System with an AM/FM stereo radio, a cassette player, eight speakers, and a power antenna.

Production Numbers & Period Reviews

The 1987 M6 had no factory options—buyers chose the exterior and interior colors, and that was it.

BMW produced a total of 1,767 M6 coupes for North America between September 1986 and September 1988. Reviews were excellent, with the only complaints being the eye-watering price and the fuel mileage (“drinks gas like a fiend”). Car and Driver stated that the M6 was “one of those wild, wonderful cars that throw the scales of automotive justice totally off balance.”

The View From 2025

Like many BMWs, the M6 attracts collector interest, and there is series-specific club support along with that of the bigger BMW car clubs. According to Hagerty’s valuation tools, all the money for a 1987 M6 in #1/Concours condition is $120,000, with a far more normal #3/Good condition version going for $41,700.

M6s are often available in the Hemmings Motor News classifieds, on eBay Motors, and on Bring a Trailer. As I update this post in February 2026, a Black 1987 M6 with silver grey leather front bucket seats and an indicated 13,000 miles is for sale on Hemmings, asking $120,000.

Make mine Silver, please—I think.

Other BMWs I have written about include the 1982 733i sedan, the 1983 320i coupe, the 1983 633CSi coupe, the 1984 325e coupe, the 1985 535i sedan, the 1987 L6 coupe, the 1988 M3 coupe, and the 1988 750iL sedan.

Last updated February 2026.

Interesting Eighties Vehicles at the 2021 Mecum Indy

I’ve given up trying to chronicle every eighties vehicle sold at auction—there’s an endless sameness to them. Mecum’s Indy auction in May was so large that it made this especially obvious. There were a profusion of Chevrolet/GMC pickup trucks (20 sold at Mecum Indy), Chevy/GMC SUVs, Camaros, Corvettes, Fox-body Mustangs, Mercedes SLs, and Pontiac Firebirds/Trans Ams. Beyond that, we also saw quite enough AM General SUVs, Buick Grand Nationals, Dodge pickup trucks/SUVs, Ford pickup trucks/SUVs, Jeep SUVs, Toyota SUVs, and random neo-classics.

So, we’re going to try something new here and only write about the cars and trucks that are less seen at auction—and those that sold (a Suffolk Red 1985 Aston Martin V8 Volante convertible with tan leather front bucket seats and 21,000 miles was a no sale at $120,000). Here are ten that attracted my eye, described in more detail than usual.

1986 Nissan 300ZX, linked from Mecum’s website

[Lot J59] 1986 Nissan 300ZX hatchback coupe. Hot Red (that’s the real color name) with t-tops and gray cloth front bucket seats. V3G30E 160 bhp 3.0 liter/181 ci V6 with fuel injection and an automatic. $12,000 hammer price for a generation of the Z cars that have yet to attract substantial collector interest.

1989 Lincoln Mark VII LSC, linked from Mecum’s website

[K167] 1989 Lincoln Mark VII LSC coupe. Medium Driftwood Clearcoat Metallic with a moonroof and sandlewood leather front bucket seats. Windsor 225 bhp 4.9 liter/302 ci V8 with fuel injection, an automatic, and 57,000 miles. There are folks collecting LSCs, but this one went for only $12,000. Did the color hold it back?

1987 BMW M6 coupe, linked from Mecum’s website

[G103] 1987 BMW M6 coupe. Cinnabar Red with tan leather front bucket seats. S38B35 256 bhp 3.5 liter/211 ci inline six with fuel injection and a five-speed manual. $50,000 for one of these gorgeous coupes—which doesn’t quite equal the original cost.

1980 Plymouth Volaré Road Runner, linked from Mecum’s website

[W150] 1980 Plymouth Volaré Road Runner coupe. Formal Black with a t-bar roof and cashmere vinyl front bucket seats. 90 bhp 3.7 liter/225 ci Slant Six with a one-barrel carburetor and a three-speed manual. $18,000 would seem to be all the money for the last of the Road Runners—at this point, a $586 package available for the Volaré. How much more would one with the 318 ci V8/TorqueFlite combination have fetched?

1985 Buick Riviera, linked from Mecum’s website

[T133] 1985 Buick Riviera coupe. Dark Blue Metallic with a blue heavily padded vinyl top, an AstroRoof, and tan prima cloth 45/45 front seats. LV2 140 bhp 5.0 liter/307 ci V8 with a four-barrel carburetor, an automatic, and 70 miles. $37,000 for yet another car purchased and saved by a dealer.

Photo of 1982 Jeep J10 Honcho pickup truck
1982 Jeep J10 Honcho, linked from Mecum’s website

[F61] 1982 Jeep J10 Honcho pickup truck. Orange (special order color?) with correct graphics and grey/black cloth/vinyl bucket seats. 110 bhp 4.2 liter/258 ci inline six with a two-barrel carburetor and a five-speed manual. Restored and mostly stock except for the wheels and tires. $100,000 is bonkers for a Honcho—but the whole collector truck market is currently bonkers.

1987 Ford Thunderbird Turbo Coupe, linked from Mecum’s website

[F179] 1987 Ford Thunderbird Turbo Coupe. Oxford White with a moonroof and raven charcoal cloth front bucket seats. Lima 190 bhp 2.3 liter/140 ci inline four with a turbocharger and fuel injection, a five-speed manual, and 45,000 miles. $20,000. These Thunderbirds felt like important cars in the eighties—is the market finally catching on?

1987 Ferrari 328 GTS, linked from Mecum’s website

[S154] 1987 Ferrari 328 GTS coupe. Rosso Corsa with tan leather bucket seats—the “correct” color combination according to many Ferrari fans. 260 bhp 3.2 liter/195 ci V8 with fuel injection, a five-speed manual, and 33,000 miles. $82,000

1989 Porsche 911 Speedster, linked from Mecum’s website

[S175] 1989 Porsche 911 Speedster. Guards Red with cashmere leather front bucket seats. 217 bhp 3.2 liter/193 ci flat six with fuel injection, a five-speed manual, and 299 miles. $275,000 is almost #1/Concours money, according to Hagerty’s valuation tools—Speedster values have always been strong.