Author: JJM3

1983 Toyota Camry sedan

“Introducing the family Camry”

The Toyota Camry debuted in the middle of the 1983 model year, in four-door sedan and five-door hatchback models. Instead of designing it to compete with European manufacturers, Toyota designed the Camry to compete with American cars. In fact, Car and Driver famously wrote that “the Camry drives as if Buick engineers had moonlighted on its development.” The Camry’s measurements split the difference in size between the GM J-body (Buick Skyhawk, Cadillac Cimarron, Chevrolet Cavalier, Oldsmobile Firenza, and Pontiac 2000) and the GM X-body (Buick Skylark, Chevrolet Citation, Oldsmobile Omega, and Pontiac Phoenix).

Power for the first-year Camry was provided by a 92 bhp 2.0 liter/122 ci inline four with fuel injection, which was available with either a standard five-speed manual or an optional four-speed automatic. With the manual, 0-60 mph came in a little under 13 seconds in the 2,236-pound car. Mileage was good—32 city/44 highway by the day’s standards (25/31 by modern measures). With a 13.8-gallon gas tank, a Camry owner could expect a 350 to 420 mile range with a 10% fuel reserve.

Sedan page from the 1983 Toyota Camry brochure
Sedan page from the 1983 Toyota Camry brochure

Standard exterior and mechanical equipment on the $7,988 (about $26,400 in today’s dollars—a 2025 Camry starts at $29,000) Deluxe sedan included tinted glass, front wheel drive, rack-and-pinion steering, power-assisted front disc/rear drum brakes, and 185/70R13 steel-belted radial tires (a size still available from Kumho and Vredestein) on 13-inch styled steel wheels. Inside, reclining front cloth bucket seats with adjustable headrests, an electric rear window defogger, and a quartz analog clock were included.

Upgrading to the $9,698 LE made the four-speed automatic standard and added tungsten halogen headlights, dual outside mirrors with powered remote control, power steering with variable assist, full instrumentation, a fold-down rear seat armrest, a digital quartz clock, and an AM/FM stereo radio with five speakers and an automatic power antenna.

Options, Period Reviews, & Production Numbers

Individual options were relatively few and included aluminum alloy wheels, dual-stage air conditioning ($630), and a power sunroof with maplight ($460). A Power Package included cruise control, power locks, and power windows.

The first-generation Camry was well received and got good reviews—the tagline in Car and Driver‘s test was “At home in America.” 52,651 were sold in that first model year, with sales increasing steadily throughout the decade.

The View From 2025

Unlike other Toyotas that are deemed more collectible from the eighties (Land Cruisers, pickup trucks, Celicas, Supras, MR2s), first-generation Camrys rarely come up for sale in the Hemmings Motor News classifieds, on eBay Motors, or on Bring a Trailer.

Make mine Deep Maroon Metallic, please.

Other Toyotas I’ve written about include the 1980 Corolla Tercel Liftback, the 1981 Celica Sport Coupe, the 1982 Celica Supra hatchback coupe, the 1984 Corolla SR5 Sport Coupe, and the 1985 MR2 coupe.

Last updated December 2025.

Eighties Vehicles at the 2018 Mecum Louisville

Mecum’s September auction in Louisville provided some fodder for commentary. I’ll concentrate on the at least reasonably stock 1980s cars (and a few trucks) that sold (remember that Mecum auctions are not no reserve auctions—a highly customized gray 1981 Jeep Scrambler pickup truck hatchback coupe with a black interior was a no sale bid up to $40,000) and add some of my opinions. Eighties vehicles were about 10% of the 332 vehicle lots sold in this auction.

Friday, September 7th:

  • 1988 purple Chevrolet S10 very custom (engine, exterior, interior) pickup truck with a purple interior, a 5.7 liter/350 ci V8, and an automatic—$3,500 hammer price.
  • 1988 black Ford Mustang custom (engine, exterior, interior) hatchback coupe with gray seats, a 225 bhp 4.9 liter/302 ci V8 with fuel injection, and an automatic—$4,500
  • 1984 white Pontiac Fiero Pace Car Edition coupe with red/gray cloth/leather seats, an “Iron Duke” 92 bhp 2.5 liter/151 ci inline four with fuel injection, an automatic, and 40,000 miles—$3,500
  • 1988 black/orange two-tone Ford Econoline Harley-Davidson Edition van with charcoal cloth seats, a 4.9 liter/302 ci V8, an automatic, and 55,000 miles—$9,000 for this rarely seen special edition.
  • 1983 gold Mercedes-Benz 380SL convertible with both tops, a burgundy interior, a 155 bhp 3.8 liter/234 ci fuel injected V8, an automatic, and 40,000 miles—$6,000
  • 1985 bright red Chevrolet Corvette hatchback coupe with an L98 230 bhp 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with fuel injection, and an automatic—$4,500
  • 1985 red/cream two-tone Ford F-150 Lariat pickup truck with a red cloth bench seat, an unknown V8 (could be a 4.9 liter/302 ci or a 5.8 liter/351 ci), an automatic, and 4,200 miles—$14,000
  • 1980 dark blue metallic Chevrolet Corvette coupe with blue seats, a 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with Rochester Quadrajet four-barrel carburetor, and an automatic—$12,500
  • 1988 black Ford Mustang ASC/McLaren convertible with a black top, red leather seats, a 225 bhp 4.9 liter/302 ci V8 with fuel injection, an automatic, and 80,000 miles—$14,500
  • 1987 white Chevrolet C10 custom (engine, suspension, body, wheels/tires) pickup truck with a gray interior, a 7.4 liter/454 ci v8, and a four-speed manual, and 93,000 miles—$14,000
  • 1980 orange Toyota Land Cruiser FJ-40 custom (powertrain) SUV with black seats, a 1FZ-FE 212 bhp 4.5 liter/273 ci inline six with fuel injection from a much newer Toyota, and a five-speed manual—$28,000
  • 1985 tan/brown two-tone Ford Bronco II XLT SUV with tan cloth seats, a Windsor “High Output” 210 bhp 5.8 liter/351 ci V8 with Motorcraft two-barrel carburetor, an automatic, and 91,000 miles—$9,000
  • 1985 blue/black two-tone Chevrolet C10 Silverado pickup truck with a blue cloth bench seat, a 5.0 liter/305 ci V8, and an automatic—$8,500
  • 1983 yellow Jeep CJ-8 Scrambler pickup truck with black seats, a 112 bhp 4.2 liter/258 ci inline six with Carter BBD two-barrel carburetor, and a four-speed manual—at $15,500, the first vehicle in this auction to meet my criteria for serious 1980s collectability of original cars or trucks: selling for equal to or above its original base list price. I’ll mark these vehicles in bold green.
  • 1980 orange International Harvester Scout II SUV with tan seats, an SD33T 101 bhp 3.3 liter/199 ci diesel inline six, and a four-speed manual—$31,500
  • 1982 white Chevrolet Corvette coupe with red leather seats, an L83 Cross-Fire 200 bhp 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with throttle body fuel injection, and an automatic—$9,000
  • 1983 white/blue two-tone Chevrolet K10 Silverado pickup truck with blue cloth bench seat, a 5.7 liter/350 ci V8, and an automatic—$10,500
  • 1982 butternut Cadillac Coupe DeVille with a white vinyl half top, butternut leather seats, an HT-4100 135 bhp 4.1 liter/249 ci V8 with fuel injection, an automatic, and 46,000 miles—$7,500 for a Cadillac from the days of many color choices.

1982 Cadillac Coupe DeVille, linked from Mecum’s website.

  • 1987 burgundy Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS coupe with a burgundy cloth interior, a 180 bhp 5.0 liter/305 ci V8 with a four-barrel carburetor, and an automatic—$8,500
  • 1988 green/tan two-tone GMC Suburban SUV with a tan interior, a 7.4 liter/454 ci with fuel injection, an automatic, and 64,000 miles—$7,000
  • 1988 blue/silver two-tone GMC Sierra 1500 custom (suspension, paint, wheels/tires) pickup truck with a gray cloth bench seat, a 5.7 liter/350 ci V8, and an automatic—$10,000
  • 1984 red/tan two-tone Chevrolet Silverado custom (engine, suspension, interior, wheels/tires) pickup truck with a black/red interior, a 5.0 liter/305 ci V8, and an automatic—$8,000
  • 1986 red Chevrolet Corvette hatchback coupe with gray leather seats, an L98 230 bhp 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with fuel injection, the Doug Nash 4+3 transmission, and 54,000 miles—$6,500
  • 1989 red Mazda RX7 convertible with a black top, a black interior, a 13B 160 bhp 1.3 liter/80 ci two-rotor with fuel injection, a five-speed manual, and 23,000 miles—$6,500

Saturday, September 8th:

  • 1985 red Ford Mustang GT hatchback coupe with gray cloth seats, a Windsor 210 bhp 4.9 liter/302 ci V8 with a four-barrel carburetor, a five-speed manual, and 71,000 miles—$6,500
  • 1983 black/silver two-tone Oldsmobile Cutlass Calais Hurst/Olds 15th Anniversary coupe with red leather seats, a 180 bhp 5.0 liter/307 ci V8 with Rochester four-barrel carburetor, an automatic attached to that famous lightning rod shifter, and 13,000 miles—$19,000

1983 Oldsmobile Cutlass Calais Hurst/Olds 15th Anniversary shifter, linked from Mecum’s website.

  • 1981 white Chevrolet Corvette coupe with tan leather seats, an L81 190 bhp 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with a Rochester Quadrajet four-barrel carburetor, an automatic, and 27,000 miles—$13,000
  • 1984 white Porsche 911 Carrera Targa coupe with tan leather seats, a 217 bhp 3.2 liter/193 ci flat six with fuel injection, a five-speed manual, and 75,000 miles—$38,000
  • 1989 blue Rolls-Royce Silver Spur sedan with blue leather seats, a 6.75 liter/412 ci V8, an automatic, and 66,000 miles—$10,000
  • 1989 black Bentley Mulsanne S sedan with tan leather seats, a 205 bhp 6.75 liter/412 ci V8, an automatic, and 52,000 miles—$10,000
  • 1985 red Pontiac Firebird Trans Am hatchback coupe with black /gray cloth seats, a 5.0 liter/305 ci V8 with a four-barrel carburetor, and a five-speed manual—$7,000
  • 1982 stainless steel DeLorean DMC-12 coupe with a gray interior, a ZMJ-159 130 bhp 2.8 liter/174 ci V6 with Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection, a five-speed manual, and 15,000 miles—$25,500
  • 1985 gray Dodge Ram pickup truck with a gray interior and an unknown V8 (could be a 5.2 liter/318 ci or a 5.9 liter/361 ci)—$13,000
  • 1980 red Chevrolet Camaro Z28 coupe with black seats, an LM1 190 bhp 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with a Rochester four-barrel carburetor, and an automatic—$19,000 is between #3/Good and #2/Excellent money, according to Hagerty’s valuation tools.

Eighties Chevrolets and Fords were heavily represented in this auction—combining for 53% of the lots from that decade. What do you think of these results?

1988 Pontiac Grand Prix coupe

“… one of the most aerodynamic cars in the world.”

The Grand Prix was all new for 1988. Gone was the elderly G-body rear-wheel-drive (dating from 1978), replaced by an aerodynamic front-wheel drive W-body.

For 1988, the standard Grand Prix powertrain was the LB6 130 bhp 2.8 liter/173 ci V6 with fuel injection paired to a four-speed automatic (a five-speed manual was available). With a curb weight of 3,038 pounds, 0-60 took a little over 10 seconds with the standard powertrain. Mileage with the same powertrain was 20 city/29 highway by the standards of the day (18/26 by today’s standards). A 16.0-gallon fuel tank meant that a Grand Prix owner could expect a range of between 315 and 355 miles with a 10% fuel reserve.

The 1988 Grand Prix came in base, LE, and SE forms. Standard exterior and mechanical equipment in the $12,539 base coupe (about $27,300 in today’s dollars) included composite halogen headlamps, dual sport mirrors, power steering, four-wheel power disc brakes, an independent rear suspension, and P195/75R14 tires (a size still available from multiple vendors) on 14 x 6 inch wheels with custom wheel covers. Inside, notchback front bench seats, an electronic digital speedometer, a glove box with a combination lock, and an AM/FM stereo radio were included.

Moving up a little to the $13,239 LE added power windows with illuminated switches, lamp group, 40/60 split reclining pallex cloth seats, rear folding armrest with pass through to the luggage compartment, and mechanical analog gauges with tachometer and trip odometer.

The top-of-the-line $15,249 SE (about $32,300 in 2018 dollars) added the Y99 Rally Tuned suspension, dual exhaust system, and P215/65R15 tires on 15-inch aluminum wheels and switched the standard transmission to a five-speed manual. Inside, air conditioning, leather-wrapped tilt steering wheel, cruise control, power cloth front bucket seats with three-position lumbar controls, and rear bucket seats were all part of the SE experience.

Options included power door locks, an electric rear window defogger, a power antenna, and a UX1 AM stereo/FM stereo radio with seek, scan, auto-reverse cassette, five-band graphic equalizer, and digital clock.

The 1988 Grand Prix was relatively well received—it was Motor Trend‘s Car of the Year, and Pontiac sold 86,357 cars in slightly over half a model year (sales only began in January 1988), which marked more than five times as many as the last of the G-body versions in 1987. For 1989, sales would top 136,000 and would stay over 100,000 for every year through 1995.

Grand Prix’s of this generation are rarely seen in the Hemming’s Motor News classifieds and on eBay Motors. Sometimes you do see the ASC/McLaren or GTP versions, but rarely the “civilian” models.

Make mine red, please.

Eighties Vehicles at the 2018 Mecum Monterey

Mecum’s three-day auction in Monterey included 22 vehicles from the 1980s—7% of the 317 cars and trucks that sold. As always, I’ll concentrate on the vehicles that actually sold (remember that this is not a no reserve auction—a guards red 1989 Porsche 911 Speedster with tan leather seats and 22,000 miles was a no sale bid up to $130,000) and add some of my opinions.

Thursday, August 23rd:

  • 1985 champagne Mercedes-Benz 380SE sedan with brown seats, a 155 bhp 3.8 liter/234 ci V8 with Bosch Jetronic fuel injection, an automatic, and 62,000 miles—$4,000 hammer price marks the usual ignominious beginning for eighties vehicles we see at most auctions.
  • 1989 red Jaguar XJ-S convertible with a black top, black leather seats, an HE 262 bhp 5.3 liter/326 ci V12 with fuel injection, an automatic, and 26,000 miles—$6,500 for one of the first full XJ-S convertibles.
  • 1981 silver Alfa Romeo Spider custom (engine) convertible with a black top, black leather seats, a 2.0 liter/120 ci inline four with dual Weber carburetors, a five-speed manual, and 58,000 miles—$4,000
  • 1989 black Mercedes-Benz 560SL convertible with a black convertible top, black leather seats, a 227 bhp 5.5 liter/338 ci V8 with Bosch KE-Jetronic fuel injection, an automatic, and 24,000 miles—$38,000
  • 1981 stainless steel DeLorean DMC-12 coupe with a gray interior, a ZMJ-159 130 bhp 2.8 liter/174 ci V6 with Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection, a five-speed manual, and 22,000 miles—$17,500
  • 1981 maroon Datsun 280ZX hatchback coupe with red cloth seats, an L28 145 bhp 2.8 liter/168 ci inline six with Bosch L-Jetronic fuel injection, a five-speed manual, and 75,000 miles—at $14,000, the first vehicle in this auction to meet my criteria for serious collectability of 1980s cars or trucks in stock condition: selling for equal to or above its original base list price. I’ll mark these vehicles in bold green.

1981 Datsun 280ZX, linked from Mecum’s website

  • 1989 green Nissan Pao convertible with gray cloth seats, a MA10S 51 bhp 1.0 liter/61 ci inline four, a five-speed manual, and 67,000 miles—$15,000
  • 1988 black Porsche 924 S Special Edition hatchback coupe with gray cloth seats, a 160 bhp 2.5 liter/151 ci inline four with fuel injection, a five-speed manual, and 58,000 miles—$10,000
  • 1983 white Porsche 928 S hatchback coupe with blue leather seats, a 234 bhp 4.5 liter/285 ci V8 with fuel injection, an automatic, and 86,000 miles—$6,500

Friday, August 24th:

  • 1985 red Alpha Romeo Spider Graduate Edition convertible with a black top, black seats, a 115 bhp 2.0 liter/120 ci four with Bosch L-Jetronic fuel injection, a five-speed manual, and 20,000 miles—$18,000
  • 1981 brown Toyota Land Cruiser FJ-40 SUV with gray seats, a 2F 135 bhp 4.2 liter/258 ci inline six, a four-speed manual, and 23,000 miles—$40,000
  • 1987 white Toyota Land Cruiser FJ-60 SUV with gray seats, a 2F 4.2 liter/258 ci inline six with a carburetor, a four-speed manual, and a “surprisingly low” 148,000 miles—$31,000
  • 1987 silver Porsche 959 Komfort coupe with burgundy leather seats, a 444 bhp 2.8 liter/174 ci flat six with twin turbochargers and Bosch Motronic fuel injection, a six-speed manual, and 3,700 miles—$425,000 for this car whose front end was heavily damaged in a trailer accident.

Damaged 1987 Porsche 959, linked from Mecum’s website.

  • 1989 black Land Rover Defender 110 SUV with black seats, a 2.5 liter/152 ci diesel inline four with a turbocharger, and a five-speed manual—$45,000
  • 1981 tan Toyota Land Cruiser FJ-40 custom (engine, brakes) SUV with tan seats, a five-speed manual, and 23,000 miles—$30,000
  • 1988 red Ferrari 328 GTS coupe with tan leather seats, an F105B 260 bhp 3.2 liter/215 ci V8 with Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection, a five-speed manual, and 35,000 miles—$55,000 is #3/Good money, according to Hagerty’s valuation tools.
  • 1986 white Toyota Land Cruiser FJ-45 pickup truck with gray vinyl seats, a 2F 135 bhp 4.2 liter/258 ci inline six, and a four-speed manual—$48,000
  • 1981 bright yellow Porsche 911 SC Targa custom (body) coupe with black seats, a 180 bhp 3.0 liter/183 ci flat six with fuel injection, and a five-speed manual—$15,000

Saturday, August 25th:

  • 1982 red Toyota Land Cruiser FJ-40 SUV with black seats, a 2F 135 bhp 4.2 liter/258 ci inline six, a four-speed manual, and 48,000 miles—$40,000
  • 1985 white Buick Riviera convertible with red leather seats, an LD5 200 bhp 3.8 liter/231 ci V6 with turbocharger and fuel injection, and an automatic—$20,000 for this rare car, one of 49 Riviera convertibles built with the turbocharged engine in 1985.
  • 1989 green, gold, and white Porsche 962 Miller High Life race car with a twin-turbocharged flat six—at $2,000,000, this multiple race-winning car finally sells after at least two previous attempts.

1989 Porsche 962 race car, linked from Mecum’s website

  • 1985 red Modena GT Spyder California convertible with tan seats, a 5.0 liter V8 with four Weber carburetors, a five-speed manual, and 1,500 miles—$370,000 for one of the three faux Ferraris featured in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off

Porsches of all types and Toyota FJ SUVs were strong at this auction, with Alfa-Romeos, Mercedes-Benzes, and Nissan/Datsuns also present. What do you think of the results?

1983 Buick Skylark T TYPE coupe

“A road car with a very distinct personality.”

Buick offered five separate T TYPE models (their spelling) in 1983. One of the new ones was the Skylark coupe, Buick’s version of the X-car.

The Skylark T TYPE‘s standard powertrain was the LH7 “high output” 135 bhp 2.8 liter/173 ci V6 with a Rochester E2SE two-barrel carburetor paired with a four-speed manual. The 0-60 time was a little over 9 seconds—respectable but not great in 1983. Mileage was 21 city/34 highway by the day’s standards (17/23 by today’s measures). With a 15.1-gallon gas tank, a T TYPE owner could expect a range of 270 to 335 miles with a 10% fuel reserve.

Skylark pages from the 1983 Buick T TYPE brochure
Skylark pages from the 1983 Buick T TYPE brochure

Standard mechanical equipment on the $9,337 T TYPE coupe (approximately $30,700 in today’s dollars or about what a 2026 Buick Encore GX Avenir SUV costs) included a Sport suspension (stiffer rate springs, stiffer shock absorbers, a more rigid front stabilizer bar, and added rear stabilizer bar), a “special tuned” exhaust, a 3.65:1 final drive ratio, and P215/60R14 steel belted radial tires (a size still available from BFGoodrich and Riken) on 14-inch styled aluminum wheels. Exterior equipment specific to the T TYPE included a blacked out grille, smoked tail lamp lenses, and charcoal lower body accent paint. Inside, vinyl or cloth bucket seats with backrest recliner, a full-length operating console, a special Sport steering wheel, and color-coordinated seat belt buckles were included.

Standard equipment on all Skylarks included front-wheel drive, power rack and pinion steering, power front disc/rear drum brakes, tungsten-halogen high/low beam headlamps, a Delco Freedom II Plus battery, and an AM radio with two front speakers and a fixed-mast radio antenna.

Options & Production Numbers

Options included dual electric remote mirrors ($78), the Vista-Vent flip-open removable glass sunroof ($295), air conditioning ($725), Cruise Master speed control with resume ($170), power windows ($180), tilt steering ($105), and an ETR AM/FM stereo radio with a cassette player and a graphic equalizer ($505).

Despite Buick’s commitment to extending the T TYPE line (they even went to the trouble of creating a T TYPE brochure), sales were not impressive—about 3.5% of the sales of the Skyhawk, Skylark, Century, Regal, and Riviera. Of the T TYPEs, the Skylark was comparatively successful, with 2,489 sold—about 6.1% of overall Skylark sales.

The View From 2025

I haven’t seen a Skylark T TYPE since they were new, and I saw one parked outside of the long-gone Crown Buick on the Lincoln Highway in Ardmore, PA. Skylarks of this era are rarely seen in the Hemmings Motor News classifieds, on eBay Motors, or on Bring a Trailer—when one does come up for sale, Hemmings considers it worthy of a portion of a blog entry.

There were only four exterior colors available for the Skylark T TYPE: White, Silver Metallic, Dark Red Metallic, and Light Sand Gray. Make mine Silver Metallic, please.

Other X-cars I have written about in this blog include the 1980 Chevrolet Citation hatchback sedan, the 1981 Chevrolet Citation X-11 hatchback coupe, the 1985 Chevrolet Citation II hatchback sedan, the 1984 Oldsmobile Omega sedan, and the 1982 Pontiac Phoenix SJ coupe.

Last updated August 2025.

1980 Chevrolet Camaro Rally Sport coupe

At Barrett-Jackson’s 2018 Northeast auction, a bright blue metallic 1980 Chevrolet Camaro Rally Sport coupe with black vinyl seats, a 3.8 liter/229 ci V6 with a two-barrel carburetor, an automatic, and 45,000 miles crossed the block. The hammer price was $4,700 for this honest, reasonably original car that no one ever tried to turn into something resembling a Z28. I find these non-top-of-the-line cars interesting because they are rarely saved, leading to something like what we have with 1957 Chevrolets, where you’d think 90% of them were Bel Airs.

“It’s an escape from the ordinary.”

For 1980, Chevrolet featured four versions of the Camaro. The base model was the Sport Coupe, followed by the Rally Sport, the Berlinetta, and the Z28. This post is about the Rally Sport, which cost $5,916 (almost exactly $25,000 in today’s dollars) and got a few changes in the final year of this particular iteration. A new blacked-out grille and a new three-tone striping package were visible, while a new standard V6 sat inside.

Rally Sport page from 1980 Camaro brochure
Rally Sport and Sport Coupe pages from the 1980 Chevrolet Camaro brochure

That new standard powertrain on the 1980 Rally Sport was the LC3 115 bhp 3.8 liter/229 ci V6 with a Rochester M2ME two-barrel carburetor paired with a three-speed manual. EPA fuel economy was 20 city/26 highway by the standards of the day—with a 20.9-gallon gas tank, a Camaro owner could expect to go 390 to 430 miles with a 10% fuel reserve. The trade-off was performance that belied the Camaro’s sporty looks: 0-60 in a little under 13 seconds with a top speed of 112 mph.

Optional powertrains included two V8s, both of which required power brakes ($81): the L39 120 bhp 4.4 liter/267 ci with a two-barrel carburetor ($180) and the LG4 155 bhp 5.0 liter/305 ci with a four-barrel carburetor ($295). An automatic ($358) was available with all three engines, while a four-speed manual was only available with the larger of the two V8s. The LG4/four-speed combination yielded notably better performance than the base powertrain: 0-60 in about 10 seconds. It didn’t make mileage that much worse—16 city/24 highway by 1980 standards.

Standard exterior and mechanical equipment on all Rally Sports included High Energy ignition, power steering, front stabilizer bar, sport mirrors, rear spoiler, concealed windshield wipers, front disc/rear drum brakes, and 205/75R14 steel-belted radial ply tires (a size still available thanks to Hancook and Kumho) on 14-inch color-keyed Rally wheels. Inside, flow-through ventilation system, contoured full-foam vinyl bucket seats, a “centre” (as spelled in the brochure) floor console, and cut-pile colour-keyed carpeting were included.

Options & Production Numbers

Exterior and mechanical options included removable glass panels ($695) and 14 x 7 aluminum wheels ($337). Inside, air conditioning ($566), intermittent windshield wiper system ($41), electric rear window defogger ($107), automatic speed control ($112), power door locks ($93), power windows ($143), a Custom interior ($68), a gauge package with a tachometer ($120), Comfortilt steering wheel ($81), and an AM/FM stereo radio with stereo cassette tape ($272) were all available.

Though the Z28 wasn’t the most popular Camaro, the Rally Sport did not hold up its end of the bargain (likely why it was gone in 1981). The leading seller remained the entry-level Sport Coupe (46% of production), followed by the Z28 (30%), the Berlinetta (16%), and the Rally Sport (8%).

The View From 2025

Badge for 2,500 web hits

According to Hagerty’s valuation tools, all the money for a 1980 Camaro Rally Sport with the LG4 V8, a four-speed, and T-tops in #1/Concours condition is an astounding $24,400, with a far more typical #3/Good car with same equipment going for $14,200. Values slide down substantially with the base equipment—a base V6 Rally Sport in #3 condition is only worth $10,300.

This generation of the Rally Sport maintains some presence in the Hemming’s Motor News classifieds, on eBay Motors, and at online auctions such as Bring a Trailer that cater to the eighties car market. As I update this post in February 2025, there’s a Bronze Metallic 1981 with the LG4, an automatic, and 77,000 miles for sale asking $16,000.

Make mine Bright Blue Metallic, please.

Last updated February 2025.

1980 Plymouth Volaré station wagon

“Value where it counts.”

For 1980, Plymouth’s Volaré got a new grille but was otherwise little changed aside from a few new options. 1980 would be the Volaré’s last year—the Reliant would replace it in 1981.

The Volaré’s standard engine continued to be Chrysler’s evergreen 3.7 liter/225 ci Slant Six with a Holley one-barrel carburetor, making 90 bhp and giving a 0-60 time of a little over 16 seconds. Optional power was (of course) the LA 5.2 liter/318 ci V8 with a Carter two-barrel carburetor, making 120 bhp, costing an additional $211, and bringing the 0-60 time down to about 14.5 seconds. A three-speed manual was standard with the six, but a TorqueFlite automatic was required with the V8. Mileage with the three-speed manual and the six was (ooog) 16—with the 18-gallon fuel tank, a Volaré driver could expect a 235 to 260-mile range with a 10% fuel reserve.

Station wagon pages from the 1980 Plymouth Volare brochure
Station wagon pages from the 1980 Plymouth Volaré brochure

Standard exterior and mechanical equipment on the $5,422 Volaré station wagon (about $23,100 in today’s dollars) included power front disc/rear drum brakes, a torsion bar front suspension, and P195/75R14 glass-belted radial-ply tires. Inside, a heater, a defroster, a three-spoke steering wheel, an all-vinyl bench seat, and an AM radio were included.

Options, Packages, & Production Numbers

Exterior and mechanical options included halogen headlamps ($37), a power liftgate ($24), a luggage rack ($91), a rear wiper/washer system ($64), and cast aluminum road wheels ($287). Inside, air conditioning ($543), automatic speed control ($106), an electronic digital clock with a fluorescent display ($55), carpeting in the rear ($69), lockable storage bins ($24), and a range of stereos were available.

A Premier package ($831) added woodtone trim on the body sides, rear gate, instrument panel, and glove box door, along with a hood ornament, deluxe wheel covers, and 60/40 individually adjustable vinyl seats. You could also get (but few did) the $721 Sport Wagon package, which included fender flares, front air dam, tape stripes, black grille highlights, dual sport mirrors, aTuff three-spoke color-keyed steering wheel, and eight-spoke road wheels with trim rings. Finally, the Handling/Performance package ($385) included heavy-duty shocks, Firm-Feel power steering, and FR70x14 Aramid-belted radial tires.

Like almost every Chrysler product in 1980, sales of the Volaré station wagon were not good. At 16,895, they were well less than half of 1979’s total of 44,085. Sales would recover substantially with the release of the Reliant station wagon in 1981.

The View From 2025

Plymouth Volarés and Dodge Aspens were once common on American roads, but have virtually disappeared by now. You do occasionally see them for sale in the Hemming’s Motor News classifieds, on eBay Motors, and on Bring a Trailer, but there are no Volaré station wagons out there as I updated this blog entry in April 2025.

Make mine Light Cashmere, please, with the Premier package. Beige seems somehow correct.

Other Plymouths I have written about include the 1980 Horizon hatchback sedan, the 1981 Reliant coupe, and the 1984 Voyager minivan.

Last updated April 2025.

1982: What Cars Are Collectible?

The question always arises: what cars are considered collectable? One way is to look at what Hagerty tracks with their valuation tools. For 1982 cars, the full list is below—I have added a few comments.

question mark graphic

Alfa Romeo; GTV-6 hatchback coupe, Spyder convertible

Alpine; A310 coupe

Aston Martin; Lagonda sedan, V8 coupe and convertible

Avanti; Avanti II coupe

Bentley; Corniche convertible, Mulsanne sedan

Bitter; SC coupe

BMW; 320i coupe

Bristol; 412 convertible

Buick; Regal coupe, Riviera coupe and convertible

Cadillac; Cimarron sedan, DeVille coupe and sedan, Eldorado coupe, Fleetwood coupe and sedan, Seville sedan (yes, Hagerty really tracks the Cimarron)

Checker; Marathon sedan

Chevrolet; C10/K10 pickup truck, C10/K10 Blazer SUV, C10/K10 Suburban SUV, C20/K20 pickup truck, C20/K20 Suburban SUV, C30/K30 pickup truck, Camaro hatchback coupe, Corvette coupe, El Camino pickup truck

Chrysler; Imperial coupe

Clenet; SII convertible. SIII coupe and convertible

Datsun; 280ZX hatchback coupe

Delorean; DMC-12 coupe

DeTomaso; Deauville sedan, Pantera coupe

Dodge; Ramcharger SUV

Duesenberg; LaGrande convertible

Excalibur; Series IV convertible

Ferrari; 308 GTBi/GTSi coupe, 400i coupe, 512 BB coupe, Mondial coupe

Fiat; X1/9 coupe

Ford; Bronco SUV, F-100 pickup truck, F-150 pickup truck, F-250 pickup truck, F-350 pickup truck, GT40 coupe and convertible, Mustang hatchback coupe, Thunderbird coupe

GMC; C1500/K1500 pickup truck, C2500/K2500 pickup truck, C3500/K3500 pickup truck, Caballero pickup truck

Jaguar; XJ-S coupe

Jeep; Cherokee SUV, CJ-5 SUV, CJ-7 SUV, CJ-8 Scrambler pickup truck, Wagoneer SUV

Lamborghini; Countach coupe, Jalpa coupe

Lancia; Beta coupe, convertible, and station wagon, Gamma coupe and sedan

Lincoln; Continental sedan, Continental Mark VI coupe and sedan, Town Car sedan

Lotus; Esprit coupe

Maserati; Quattroporte III sedan

Matra; Murena coupe

Mazda; RX-7 hatchback coupe

Mercedes-Benz; 240D sedan, 300CD coupe, 300D sedan, 300SD sedan, 300TD station wagon, 380SEL sedan, 380SL convertible, 380SLC coupe

Morgan; 4/4 convertible, Plus 8 convertible

Panther; DeVille convertible and sedan, Kallista convertible

Peugeot; 504 convertible

Pontiac; Firebird hatchback coupe

Porsche; 911 coupe, 924 hatchback coupe, 928 hatchback coupe

Puma; GT coupe, GTC coupe and convertible

Renault; Fuego hatchback coupe

Rolls-Royce; Camargue coupe, Corniche I convertible, Phantom VI sedan, Silver Spirit sedan, Silver Spur sedan

Stutz; Bearcat convertible, Blackhawk coupe, IV-Porte sedan

Subaru: BRAT pickup truck

Toyota; Celica hatchback coupe, Land Cruiser SUV

TVR; 280i coupe and convertible

Hagerty casts a wide net, except when they don’t. Coupes are dominant—32% of 117 models listed with an additional 9% being hatchback coupes. Unsurprisingly, the rarest body style is a station wagon, at 2%.

1985 Chevrolet Citation II hatchback sedan

“One car that does it all.”

1985 was, mercifully, the last year for the Chevrolet Citation. In a sad General Motors tradition, it was also the best Citation (the 1985 Citation had no recalls after the nine that the 1980 had). Half-heartedly renamed Citation II in 1984, the X-car would be replaced by the Nova in 1986. There were some changes: new colors were available, and the dashboard was revised, allowing the “normal” horizontal Delco radios.

For 1985, the Citation II’s standard powertrain remained the LR8 “Iron Duke“ 92 bhp 2.5 liter/151 ci inline four with throttle-body fuel injection paired with a four-speed manual (the Citation never got a five-speed—even as an option). With the standard powertrain, 0-60 came in a little under 12 seconds in the 2,500-pound car with a theoretical top speed of 101 mph. Mileage was competitive: 24 city/34 highway by the day’s standards (21/31 by today’s standards). With a 14-gallon fuel tank, the owner of a base Citation could expect a range of between 325 and 365 miles with a 10% field reserve.

Powertrain options included two different versions of the 2.8 liter/173 ci V6 (why?): the LE2 112 bhp version with a two-barrel carburetor ($260) and the LB6 130 bhp type with fuel injection ($435). A three-speed automatic was—of course—available ($425). The V6 in general, and especially the fuel-injected version, made the Citation II substantially more spritely: 0-60 times of about 9 seconds and a top speed of about 118 mph. You paid a mileage price for that performance: 19 city/26 highway by 1985 standards (17/24 by today’s standards).

Cover of the 1985 Chevrolet Citation II brochure
Cover of the 1985 Chevrolet Citation II brochure

Standard exterior and mechanical equipment on the $7,090 Citation II hatchback sedan (approximately $21,500 in 2025 dollars—precisely what base 2025 Chevrolet Trax LS SUV goes for) included halogen headlamps, rack-and-pinion steering, front disk/rear drum brakes, and P185/80R-13 radial tires (now a trailer size) on 13-inch by 5.5-inch steel wheels with full wheel covers. Inside, a low back front bench seat with adjustable head restraints, sliding door locks, a lockable glove box, a folding rear seat, and an AM/FM radio with two speakers were included.

Options & Production Numbers

Exterior and mechanical options included tinted glass ($110), two-tone paint ($176), power brakes ($100), power steering ($215), and the F41 sports suspension (acknowledged to be a bargain at $33). Inside, a quiet sound/rear decor package ($92), air conditioning ($730), cruise control ($175), Comfortilt steering wheel ($110), an electric rear defogger ($140), and an electronic-tuning AM/FM stereo radio with cassette, clock, and seek/scan ($319) were all available.

The 1985 Citation II did not sell—overall sales in this last year fell to a mere 8% of the first year sales. At an average Chevrolet dealership, you could expect it to be outsold by the Chevette, the Cavalier, the Camaro, the Celebrity, the Monte Carlo, and the Caprice Classic.

The View From 2025

I haven’t seen a Citation in years—the last one was an X-11 in early 2014. They rarely appear in the Hemming’s Motor News classifieds, on eBay Motors, or on Bring a Trailer. I’m pretty sure I’ve never seen one shown, though I’m not betting against that at some point.

Make mine the Medium Gray Metallic/Silver Metallic two-tone, please.

Other Citations I’ve written about include the 1980 hatchback sedan and the 1981 X-11 hatchback coupe. X-cars from other marques covered in this blog include the 1983 Buick Skylark T TYPE coupe, the 1984 Oldsmobile Omega sedan, and the 1982 Pontiac Phoenix SJ coupe.

Last updated March 2025.

Eighties Vehicles at the 2018 Mecum Harrisburg

Mecum’s August auction in Harrisburg provided some fodder for commentary. I’ll concentrate on the at least fairly stock 1980s cars (and a few trucks) that sold (remember that Mecum auctions are not no reserve auctions—a red 1981 Toyota BJ42 Land Cruiser SUV with black seats was a no sale bid up to $50,000) and add some of my opinions. Eighties vehicles were about 10% of the 694 vehicle lots sold in this auction.

Thursday, August 2nd:

  • 1986 silver Pontiac Grand Prix 2+2 Aerocoupe with gray cloth seats, an LG4 165 bhp 5.0 liter/305 ci V8 with a four-barrel carburetor, and an automatic—$7,000 hammer price.
  • 1988 white Chevrolet Corvette hatchback coupe with red leather seats, an L98 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with fuel injection, the Doug Nash 4+3 transmission, and 52,000 miles—$7,750
  • 1989 red Dodge Shadow Shelby CSX hatchback coupe with gray seats, a Turbo IV 175 bhp 2.2 liter/135 ci inline four with fuel injection and turbocharger, a five-speed manual, and 73,000 miles—$6,500

1987 Dodge Shadow Shelby CSX, linked from Mecum’s website.

  • 1984 blue Oldsmobile Toronado Brougham coupe with blue cloth seats, a 140 bhp 5.0 liter/307 ci V8 with Rochester four-barrel carburetor, an automatic, and 24,000 miles—$3,000 bought this attractive car
  • 1988 red/white two-tone Ford Bronco II XLT SUV with red cloth seats, a Cologne 140 bhp 2.9 liter/179 ci V6 with fuel injection, and an automatic—$3,500
  • 1982 black Chevrolet El Camino custom (paint, wheels, seats) pickup truck with maroon seats, a 5.0 liter/305 ci V8, and an automatic—$4,500
  • 1985 black Pontiac Fiero GT coupe with gray cloth seats, an L44 130 bhp 2.8 liter/173 ci V6 with fuel injection, a five-speed manual, and 65,000 miles—$5,000
  • 1982 silver beige Chevrolet Corvette Collector Edition hatchback coupe with silver beige leather seats, an L83 Cross-Fire 200 bhp 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with throttle body fuel injection, an automatic, and 69,000 miles—$12,500
  • 1981 white Chevrolet Corvette coupe with medium red leather seats, an L81 190 bhp 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with Rochester Quadrajet four-barrel carburetor, an automatic, and 40,000 miles—$15,000
  • 1985 white Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz coupe with blue tufted leather seats, an HT-4100 135 bhp 4.1 liter/249 ci V8 with fuel injection, an automatic, and 38,000 miles—$10,000
  • 1980 red Chevrolet Corvette coupe with black seats, a 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with Rochester Quadrajet four-barrel carburetor, and an automatic—$9,000
  • 1982 bright blue Chevrolet Corvette coupe with charcoal leather seats, an L83 Cross-Fire 200 bhp 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with throttle body fuel injection, and an automatic—$15,000
  • 1987 signal red Mercedes-Benz 560SL convertible with a hard top, palomino leather seats, a 227 bhp 5.5 liter/338 ci V8 with Bosch KE-Jetronic fuel injection, an automatic, and 57,000 miles—$23,500
  • 1988 bright red Chevrolet Corvette convertible with a white top, red leather seats, an L98 240 bhp 5.7 liter/350 ci inch V8 with fuel injection, an automatic, and 8,300 miles—$6,700
  • 1987 midnight blue Chevrolet Scottsdale regular cab fleetside pickup truck with a charcoal deluxe cloth bench seat, an LB4 160 bhp 4.3 liter/262 ci V6 with fuel injection, and an automatic—$7,000
  • 1987 black GMC Sierra Classic regular cab fleetside pickup truck with a maroon interior, an L05 210 bhp 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with fuel injection, and an automatic—at $18,000, the first vehicle in this auction to meet my criteria for serious collectability of 1980s cars or trucks in stock condition: selling for equal to or above its original base list price. I’ll mark these vehicles in bold green.
  • 1988 brown Dodge Ram 250 regular cab flatbed truck with a beige cloth bench seat, an unknown engine, and an automatic—$8,000
  • 1989 signal red Mercedes-Benz 560SL convertible with a hard top, black leather seats, a 227 bhp 5.5 liter/338 ci V8 with Bosch KE-Jetronic fuel injection, an automatic, and 88,000 miles—$8,000
  • 1988 black Ford Mustang ASC/McLaren convertible with a black top, red leather seats, a 225 bhp 4.9 liter/302 ci V8 with fuel injection, an automatic, and 80,000 miles—$10,500
  • 1987 flame red Pontiac Firebird Trans Am hatchback coupe with gray cloth seats, an LB9 190 bhp 5.0 liter/305 ci V8 with fuel injection, an automatic, and 26,000 miles—$11,000
  • 1984 blue Porsche 928 S hatchback coupe with blue leather seats, a 288 bhp 4.7 liter/285 ci V8 with fuel injection, an automatic, and 44,000 miles—$10,000
  • 1985 white Chevrolet C10 custom (engine, body, suspension, wheels) regular cab step side pickup truck with a maroon bench seat, a 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with a carburetor, and an automatic—$12,500
  • 1980 green Jeep CJ-5 custom (engine, suspension) SUV with black seats, a 5.7 liter/350 ci V8, and a four-speed manual—$13,500
  • 1984 gray Oldsmobile Toronado Brougham coupe with tan cloth seats, a 140 bhp 5.0 liter/307 ci V8 with Rochester four-barrel carburetor, an automatic, and 97,000 miles—$2,000. Eighties Toronados are showing up at auction, but they sure aren’t getting any money.
  • 1985 black Buick Regal T-Type coupe with gray cloth seats, a 200 bhp 3.8 liter/231 ci V6 with fuel injection and turbocharger, and an automatic—$7,000
  • 1981 gray metallic Buick Riviera coupe with a gray interior, an unknown engine, an automatic, and 67,000 miles—$2,000
  • 1984 blue Chevrolet C10 Scottsdale regular cab fleetside pickup truck with a blue custom cloth bench seat, an unknown engine, an automatic, and 54,000 miles—$6,500
  • 1981 yellow Jeep CJ-5 custom (engine, body, paint) SUV with gray vinyl seats, a 4.2 liter/258 ci inline six with Weber carburetor, a four-speed manual, and 120,000 miles—$7,500
  • 1989 blue/white two-tone GMC Suburban with blue cloth seats, a 210 bhp 5.7 liter/350 ci V8, and an automatic—$14,000
  • 1985 bright blue metallic Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z hatchback coupe with gray cloth seats, a 215 bhp 5.0 liter/305 ci V8 with fuel injection, an automatic, and 107,000 miles—$3,500
  • 1981 red Pontiac Grand Prix custom (engine, transmission, body, interior, wheels) coupe with red cloth seats, a 6.6 liter/400 ci V8 with dual four-barrel carburetors, and an automatic—$3,500
  • 1987 black/gray two-tone Chevrolet K5 Blazer with a gray interior, a 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with fuel injection, and an automatic—$20,000
  • 1983 burgundy Mercedes-Benz 240D sedan with brown seats, a 67 bhp 2.4 liter/147 ci inline diesel four, and an automatic—$5,000
  • 1983 silver BMW 633 CSi coupe with black seats, an M30B32 181 bhp 3.2 liter/196 ci inline six with Bosch Motronic fuel injection, and an automatic—an ouch! at $1,000

Friday, August 3rd:

  • 1981 purple Chevrolet Camaro custom (engine, paint, interior, wheels) coupe with blue cloth seats, a 5.7 liter/350 ci V8, and an automatic—$8,500
  • 1980 white Chevrolet Corvette coupe with claret leather seats, an L82 230 bhp 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with Rochester four-barrel carburetor, and an automatic—$12,000
  • 1981 blue Dodge Ram D150 regular cab step side pickup truck with a red cloth bench seat, a 3.7 liter/225 ci Slant-Six, a four-speed manual, and 18,000 miles—$10,000
  • 1987 black/silver metallic two-tone Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme 4-4-2 coupe with gray cloth seats, a 170 bhp 5.0 liter/307 ci V8 with a Rochester Quadrajet four-barrel carburetor, and an automatic—$16,500
  • 1985 white Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz coupe with red tufted leather seats, an HT-4100 135 bhp 4.1 liter/249 ci V8 with fuel injection, and an automatic—$4,000 for this car with period external bling (Rolls-Royce grill, continental kit)
  • 1988 white Chevrolet Corvette 35th Anniversary Edition hatchback coupe with white leather seats, an L98 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with fuel injection, an automatic, and 49,000 miles—$10,500
  • 1988 white Chevrolet Corvette custom (Greenwood kit, interior) convertible with a white top, red leather seats, an L98 240 bhp 5.7 liter/350 ci inch V8 with fuel injection, an automatic, and 44,000 miles—$10,000
  • 1980 cream Ford Thunderbird coupe with a brown cloth interior, a Windsor 131 bhp 4.9 liter/302 ci V8 with a Motorcraft two-barrel carburetor, an automatic, and 222 miles—$7,500
  • 1988 blue Ford Mustang ASC/McLaren convertible with a blue top, blue leather seats, a 225 bhp 4.9 liter/302 ci V8 with fuel injection, and an automatic—$9,500
  • 1988 oxford white Ford Bronco mild custom (wheels, tires, suspension) SUV with blue cloth seats, a 4.9 liter/302 ci V8 with fuel injection, an automatic, and 25,000 miles—$30,000
  • 1982 gray Jeep CJ-8 Scrambler custom (engine, suspension, wheels, tires) pickup truck with a gray interior, a 4.2 liter/258 ci inline six, and a four-speed manual—$19,000
  • 1985 gold/white two-tone Chevrolet S10 Blazer Tahoe SUV with tan cloth seats, a 110 bhp 2.8 liter/173 ci V6 with a two-barrel carburetor, and an automatic—$9,000
  • 1984 cotillion white Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz convertible, with a white top, dark carmine tufted leather seats, an HT-4100 135 bhp 4.1 liter/249 ci V8 with fuel injection, an automatic, and 45,000 miles—$16,500
  • 1989 black Jaguar XJ-S custom (engine, transmission, wheels, tires) convertible with a black top, biscuit leather seats, an 8.0 liter/488 ci V10 with fuel injection, a six-speed manual—$35,000. If a Jag with a small block Chevrolet V8 is known as a “lump,” what is one with a Viper V10 called?
  • 1984 blue Toyota FJ40 Land Cruiser SUV with a blue interior, a 2F 135 bhp 4.2 liter/258 ci inline six with a carburetor, and a four-speed manual—$50,000

1984 Toyota FJ40 Land Cruiser, linked from Mecum’s website.

  • 1986 russet metallic Pontiac Firebird Trans Am hatchback coupe with pewter/graphite cloth seats, a 210 bhp 5.0 liter/305 ci V8 with fuel injection, an automatic, and 30,000 miles—$10,000
  • 1989 orange/black two-tone Chevrolet C1500 custom (body, paint, wheels, tires) pickup truck with an orange interior, a 5.7 liter/305 ci V8, and an automatic—$11,000
  • 1987 black Buick Grand National custom (engine, suspension, brakes, wheels) coupe with black/gray cloth seats, a 3.8 liter/231 ci V6 with fuel injection and turbocharger, and an automatic—$30,000
  • 1982 cream Mercedes-Benz 380SL convertible with brown convertible top, hard top, brown seats, a 155 bhp 3.8 liter/234 ci V8 with Bosch Jetronic fuel injection, an automatic, and 44,000 miles—$17,500
  • 1981 white Chevrolet Corvette custom (body, exhaust) coupe with black leather seats, an L81 190 bhp 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with Rochester Quadrajet four-barrel carburetor, an automatic, and 40,000 miles—$17,000
  • 1987 white Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupe with a burgundy cloth interior, a 180 bhp 5.0 liter/305 ci V8 with a four-barrel carburetor, an automatic, and 15,000 miles—$15,000
  • 1982 olive Toyota FJ43 Land Cruiser SUV with tangerine seats, a 2F 135 bhp 4.2 liter/258 ci inline six with carburetor, and a four-speed manual —$50,000

Saturday, August 4th:

  • 1982 brown/beige two-tone Chevrolet El Camino Conquista pickup truck with a medium doeskin cloth bench seat, a 5.0 liter/305 ci V8, and automatic, and 65,000 miles—$7,000

1982 Chevrolet El Camino, linked from Mecum’s website.

  • 1987 silver/blue two-tone Chevrolet Silverado custom (paint, suspension, wheels, tires) regular cab fleetside pickup truck with a blue interior, a 5.7 liter/350 ci V8, and an automatic—$6,500
  • 1981 martinique blue Pontiac Firebird Trans Am custom (engine, exterior, interior) coupe with black seats, a 6.6 liter/400 ci V8 with Holley carburetor, and a four-speed manual—$21,000
  • 1985 black Buick Grand National coupe with black/gray cloth seats, a 200 bhp 3.8 liter/231 ci V6 with fuel injection and turbocharger, and an automatic—$30,000
  • 1982 green Jeep CJ-8 Scrambler custom (paint) pickup truck with black seats—$10,000
  • 1988 black Land Rover Defender 110 custom (just about everything) SUV with black seats, a 2.5 liter/152 ci diesel inline four with a turbocharger, and a five-speed manual—$52,000
  • 1982 black Pontiac Firebird Trans Am custom (body, interior) hatchback coupe with beige cloth seats, a V8, and an automatic—$60,000 for this well-done KITT replica.
  • 1981 stainless steel DeLorean DMC-12 custom (body) coupe with gray seats, a ZMJ-159 130 bhp 2.8 liter/174 ci V6 with Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection, and a five-speed manual—$70,000 for this Back to the Future replica.
  • 1986 rosso corsa Ferrari Testarossa coupe with tan leather seats, a 380 bhp 4.9 liter/302 ci V12 with Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection, a five-speed manual, and 13,000 miles—at $120,000, by far the highest eighties vehicle sale of this auction. That’s #2/Excellent money, according to Hagerty’s valuation tools.
  • 1985 yellow Cadillac Eldorado coupe with yellow leather seats, an HT-4100 135 bhp 4.1 liter/249 ci V8 with fuel injection, and an automatic—$9,000
  • 1981 beige Toyota FJ40 Land Cruiser SUV with black seats, a 2F 135 bhp 4.2 liter/258 ci inline six with a carburetor, and a four-speed manual—$27,000
  • 1987 camouflage AM General Humvee SUV with a green interior, a 6.2 liter diesel V8, and an automatic—$18,000

What do you think of these results?