Category: By Year

1985 Ferrari 308 GTB Quattrovalvole coupe

“Only those who dare … truly live”

1985 was the final year for the Ferrari 308 (the 328 would follow in 1986). Ferrari’s least expensive two-seater was also overshadowed in the public view by the release of its big brother Testarossa.

The engine was Ferrari’s Tipo F105AB 2.9 liter/179 ci V8 with Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection and four valves per cylinder (thus Quattrovalvole), making 230 bhp and mated to a five-speed manual transmission. In the 3,200 pound GTB, this was good for period 0-60 times of under 7 seconds. Mileage was pretty awful compared to some of the 308’s fuel-injected competition—10 city/16 highway by the day’s standards (9/15 by today’s standards). With an 18.5-gallon gas tank, 308 owners could expect a chastening 200 to 215 mile range with a 10% fuel reserve.

Ferrari 308 GTB Quattrovalvole, courtesy of Ferrari

Standard exterior and mechanical equipment on the $54,000 GTB (about $134,000 in 2020 dollars) included four-wheel disc brakes, rack and pinion steering, and 16-inch alloy wheels. Inside, leather bucket seats, power windows, tinted glass, and a heated rear window were all included. Available options included metallic paint, a deep front spoiler, a satin black finished aerofoil at the rear of the roof, 16 x 8 inch Speedline wheels with Pirelli P7 tires, air conditioning, and cloth seat centers.

The lovely Pininfarina styling that first appeared in 1975 had aged well with relatively few changes. Debuting for the 1983 model year, the Quattrovalvole could be differentiated from previous 308s by the addition of a slim black louvered panel on the hood to aid radiator exhaust air exit and a redesigned radiator grille with rectangular driving lights on each side. Also new were power-operated side mirrors carrying small enamel Ferrari badges and rectangular side repeaters. The interior also received some minor updates, such as a satin black three-spoke steering wheel with a triangular center.

The View From 2025

Values for the 308 have gone up and down over the last decade. According to Hagerty’s valuation tools, all the money for a 1985 Ferrari 308 GTB Quattrovalvole in #1/Concours condition is currently an astounding $234,000, with the targa-top GTS in the same condition getting $174,000 (the GTB is far rarer, at about 20% of overall Quattrovalvole production). Prices drop significantly for more normal #3/Good condition cars—$128,000 for a GTB and $108,000 for a GTS. Ferrari 308s frequently appear for sale in the Hemmings Motor News classifieds, on Bring a Trailer, and at in-person auctions.

Make mine Rosso Corso, of course. Is there really a question?

Other Ferraris I have written about in this blog include the 1983 Berlinetta Boxer 512i coupe and the aforementioned 1985 Testarossa coupe.

Last updated March 2025.

1984 Pontiac 2000 Sunbird S/E hatchback coupe

“One of the world’s most advanced production turbos”

For 1984, Pontiac’s top-of-the-line Sunbird S/E gained a new turbocharged motor along with a minor front-end revision and clear fog lamps.

The S/E‘s new engine was an LA5 150 bhp 1.8 liter/110 ci inline four with a Garrett turbocharger and fuel injection. It was paired with a standard four-speed manual gearbox, with a three-speed automatic optional for $320. With the standard powertrain, Car and Driver recorded a 0-60 time in 8.3 seconds—class-competitive in 1984. Fuel economy ratings were 25 city/36 highway by the day’s standards (20/26 by today’s measures). The Sunbird’s 13.5-gallon gas tank meant that owners could expect a range of 280 to 370 miles with a 10% fuel reserve.

2000 Sunbird S/E pages from the 1984 Pontiac prestige brochure
2000 Sunbird S/E pages from the 1984 Pontiac prestige brochure

Standard exterior and mechanical equipment on the $9,489 S/E hatchback coupe (about $30,000 in 2025 dollars) included two-tone paint, power steering, power front disc/rear drum brakes, a WS6 performance suspension, special chassis tuning, and Goodyear Eagle GT P205/60R14 tires (a size now only marginally available) mounted on attractive 14-inch “hi-tech turbo” cast-aluminum wheels. Inside, fully adjustable reclining front seats, a folding split-back rear seat, a three-spoke leather-wrapped steering wheel, rally gages, and a Delco-GM AM radio were included.

Options, Period Reviews, & Production Numbers

Exterior options included a power glass sunroof ($300) and a louvered rear sunshade ($199). Inside, custom air conditioning, electronic cruise control, and Lear Siegler bucket seats ($400) were available.

Reviews of the new turbocharged configuration were positive—Popular Mechanics called it a “150-hp screamer.” 1984 Sunbirds did sell well—almost 170,000, but more than 80% of them were the base coupes and sedans, not the LE or the S/E.

The View From 2025

Sunbirds of this generation (1982-1994) are now almost completely vanished from the nation’s roads, and models other than the convertibles rarely show up in the Hemming’s Motor News classifieds, on eBay Motors, or on Bring a Trailer.

Make mine Black over Silver Metallic, please.

I wrote about the last of the previous-generation Sunbirds here. Other J-platform cars I have covered this blog include the 1984 Buick Skyhawk coupe, the 1982 Cadillac Cimarron sedan, the 1988 Cadillac Cimarron sedan, the 1986 Chevrolet Cavalier Z24 coupe, and the 1985 Oldsmobile Firenza ES sedan.

Last updated May 2025.

1981 Chevrolet Corvette coupe

“Corvette is a rolling showcase of new technology …”

For 1981, Chevrolet’s Corvette gained a new standard powertrain—the L81 190 bhp 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with a Rochester four-barrel carburetor combined with a four-speed manual transmission (a three-speed automatic was a no-cost option). The new engine featured Computer Command Control, which automatically adjusted the ignition timing and the fuel/air mixture. Chevrolet engineers also replaced the steel rear leaf spring with a fiberglass one in cars with the automatic.

With the four-speed manual, 0-60 came in about 8 seconds—quick for a 1981 model year car. Fuel economy was 14 city/20 highway by the day’s standards with either transmission. With a 23.7-gallon gas tank, one of the 40,606 proud new owners of a 1981 Corvette could expect a range of 295 to 325 miles with a 10% fuel reserve.

For the $16,258.52 base price at the beginning of the model year (about $62,100 in 2026 dollars), Corvette buyers got removable roof panels, a Delco Freedom II battery, four-wheel power disc brakes, power steering, dual sport mirrors, and P225/70R15 tires (a size still readily available) on 15 x 8 inch rally wheels. Inside, air conditioning, power windows, a tilt-telescopic steering column, an AM/FM radio with dual front speakers, a quartz clock, and a choice of either cloth/vinyl or leather/vinyl bucket seats were all standard.

Options, Production Locations, & Advertising

Exterior and mechanical options included two-tone paint ($399), aluminum wheels ($428), and a power antenna ($55). Inside, buyers could add power door locks ($145), cruise control ($155), and a rear window defogger ($119). 1981 was the first year that the AM/FM stereo radio with a cassette player ($423) was more popular than the AM/FM stereo radio with an 8-track player ($386). New options included a power driver’s seat ($183) and electric twin remote sport mirrors ($117).

1981 was the first year Corvettes were produced in two factories at one time. The new Bowling Green, Kentucky plant produced its first Corvette on June 1, 1981, while the St. Louis plant was making its last Corvettes—the final St. Louis Corvette was built on August 1, 1981. All St. Louis Corvettes were painted with lacquer paints, while the new Bowling Green plant had a brand-new paint facility and used enamels with clear top coats.

1981 Chevrolet Corvette brochure cover
Cover of the 1981 Chevrolet Corvette brochure

One of the two 1981 Corvette brochures has what I think is one of the best visual expressions of the “shark” Corvette as its fold-out cover. A silhouetted 1981 is in the foreground, with the image of the curving path it has just traversed carved with a time-lapse of its taillights.

The View From 2026

There is strong club support for the 1981 Corvette, as there is for all Corvettes. According to Hagerty’s valuation tools, a loaded 1981 Corvette in #1/Concours condition is $40,500, with a more normal #3/Good condition car going for $18,600. 1981 Corvettes often appear in the Hemmings Motor News classifieds, on eBay Motors, and on Bring a Trailer. As I update this blog entry in February 2026, there’s a Red 1981 Corvette with Silver leather bucket seats and 46,000 miles available on Hemmings, asking $29,000.

Make mine Autumn Red/Dark Claret, please—two-tones seem appropriate for 1981.

Other Corvettes I have written about in this blog include the 1980 coupe, the 1982 coupe, the 1984 hatchback coupe, the 1986 convertible, and the 1988 35th Anniversary Edition hatchback coupe. I also wrote about traveling long distances in an eighties Corvette.

Last updated February 2026.

1984 Oldsmobile Omega sedan

“… comfort and value you can feel good about …”

In its final year, Oldsmobile’s Omega variant of GM’s X-car received few changes. The grille now consisted of horizontal stripes with vertical park/signal lamps, and there were new bumper treatments.

The Omega’s standard powertrain continued to be an LR8 “Iron Duke“ 92 bhp 2.5 liter/151 ci inline four with electronic fuel injection paired with a four-speed manual transmission. Powertrain options included the LE2 112 bhp 2.8 liter/173 ci V6 ($250) and a three-speed automatic transmission ($425). Mileage with the 2.8 liter V6 and the automatic was 21 city/33 highway by the day’s standards (17/24 by today’s measures). With a 14.6-gallon fuel tank, an Omega’s owner could expect a range of between 270 and 350 miles with a 10% fuel reserve.

Standard equipment on the $7,832 (about $24,700 in 2025 dollars) Oldsmobile Omega sedan included front-wheel-drive, power-assisted rack and pinion steering, power front disc/rear drum brakes, P185/80R13 steel-belted radial tires (now a trailer size) on 13-inch wheels, Deluxe wheel discs, Custom bench seating, and a fold-down center armrest.

Omega Brougham page from the 1984 Oldsmobile brochure
Omega Brougham page from the 1984 Oldsmobile brochure

Moving up to the $8,104 Omega Brougham added a stand-up hood ornament, a pillar applique molding, lower bodyside moldings, carpeted lower door panels, and a Deluxe steering wheel.

The $675 ES package (RPO W48) remained available in 1984 as an upgrade for the Brougham, but only 224 were ordered. By far the sportiest version of the Omega, the ES included a suspension with higher-rate front and rear springs, firmer front and rear shock absorbers, and thicker stabilizer bars. In an attempt to appear more European, the ES2500 was the version with the 2.5 liter inline-four, while the ES2800 was the version with the 2.8 liter V6. Both versions got a blacked-out grille.

Options & Production Numbers

Exterior and mechanical options on all Omegas included a glass-panel sunroof ($300), power steering, and high-capacity cooling. Inside, cruise control, power windows, and a four-season air conditioner were available.

Omega sales were significant but not great, and they had been dropping steadily from the 1981 peak of almost 148,000 (including over 101,000 sedans). Oldsmobile produced 41,874 Omega sedans in the 1984 model year—small potatoes compared to all the other Oldsmobile sedans available (Firenza, Cutlass Ciera, Cutlass Supreme, Delta 88 Royale, and Ninety-Eight Regency).

The View From 2025

I haven’t seen an Omega on the streets in almost two decades, and they rarely show up in the Hemmings Motor News classifieds, on eBay Motors, or on Bring a Trailer. I’m also pretty sure I’ve never seen one shown, though I’m not betting against that happening at some point.

Make mine Dark Royal Blue Metallic, please.

Other X-cars I have written about include the 1983 Buick Skylark T TYPE coupe, the 1980 Chevrolet Citation hatchback sedan, the 1981 Chevrolet Citation X-11 hatchback coupe, the 1985 Chevrolet Citation II hatchback sedan, and the 1982 Pontiac Phoenix SJ coupe.

Last updated March 2025.

1983 Lotus Turbo Esprit coupe

This early (December 2013) blog entry has been revised and extended enough to consider it a new entry.

“Low, sleek, ultra-competitive.”

The 1983 Lotus Turbo Esprit finally brought the performance that the original Esprit’s supercar looks had promised over half a decade before.

Horsepower was up to 205 bhp from the 140 bhp that had come with the debut of the Esprit in 1977. The engine was still the type-910 2.2 liter/131 ci inline four with a carburetor, but a Garrett AiResearch turbocharger making 8.0 psi of boost was attached along with an intercooler. Other engine technology included an aluminum block, aluminum heads, and four valves per cylinder.

Performance for the almost 3,000-pound exotic substantially improved with the turbo: a 0-60 time of about 6.5 seconds was about 1.5 seconds quicker than the original naturally aspirated car. The Turbo Esprit’s top speed was about 140 mph. From the perspective of 2025, mileage wasn’t so great for a small turbocharged four with a five-speed manual transmission; 14 city/25 highway by the day’s standards and 11/18 by today’s measures. A 22.7-gallon gas tank helped with range, which was likely about 300 to 355 miles with a 10% fuel reserve.

The Esprit’s looks were updated in the same way that many 1970s designs were as they headed into the 1980s. Ground effects were added to the original Giorgetto Giugiaro design, and of course there were huge Turbo Esprit logos on the rear quarters.

1983 Lotus Esprit Turbo photo
1983 Lotus Esprit Turbo photo, courtesy of Car and Driver

Standard exterior and mechanical equipment on the Turbo Esprit included a four-wheel independent suspension, rack and pinion steering, four-wheel disc brakes, and 195/60R15 front tires and 235/60R15 rear tires, all of them Goodyear NCT‘s riding on BBS 15-inch alloy wheels. Inside, air conditioning, power windows, and Connolly leather bucket seats were included.

A few years ago, Car and Driver republished their story on the Turbo Esprit from the November 1983 issue, and it is interesting and instructive to read—though it is notable that they put the Nissan/Datsun 300ZX Turbo on the cover that month instead of the Lotus. They believed that the car would find a hole in the exotic market even at a relatively dear price of $47,984 (about $157,100 in 2025 dollars).

The View From 2025

For reference, according to Hagerty’s valuation tools, all the money for a 1983 Turbo Esprit in #1/Concours condition is currently $65,300, with a more normal #3/Good car going for $30,000. There is good club support for Esprits on LotusTalk, and they regularly show up in the Hemming’s Motor News classifieds, on eBay Motors, and on Bring a Trailer.

Make mine Black, please.

Last updated June 2025.

1988 BMW M3 coupe

In late 2019, my ex-wife and I visited the small but excellent BMW Zentrum Museum in Greer, SC. Of course they had a first-generation M3 on display—so I wrote a blog entry about this game-changing little coupe.

“Created for the race track, destined for the road.”

It took the M3 two-and-a-half years to make it to the United States following its debut in Europe, but most agreed it was worth the wait. Reviews were enthusiastic; Car and Driver exclaimed that “This is a car for us.”

The powertrain was the thing: an S14 192 bhp 2.3 liter/141 ci 16-valve inline four with four valves per cylinder and Bosch Motronic fuel injection mated to a five-speed manual. In a car with a curb weight of 2,734 pounds, this meant impressive acceleration—0-60 times were in the seven-second range. Given this, fuel economy wasn’t bad: 17 city/28 highway on premium gasoline by the day’s standards (15/26 by today’s standards). With a 14.5-gallon gas tank, the proud new owner of an M3 could expect a range of 265 to 295 miles with a 10% fuel reserve.

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1988 BMW M3 advertisement

Standard exterior equipment on the pricey $34,000 M3 (about $94,000 in 2025 dollars or well over what a loaded 2025 M4 coupe goes for) included tinted glass, halogen headlights, an electric dual position sunroof, boxed-out fender flares, a unique front bumper, and a cap over the C-pillar which helped to feed air onto the large for the day rear wing.

Mechanical features included a limited-slip differential, four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes, and 205/55VR15 tires on 15 x 7 inch cast light alloy BBS wheels. Inside, the M3 was comfortably equipped; leather sport seats, full instrumentation, power door locks, power windows, cruise control, air conditioning, a trip computer, and an AM/FM stereo cassette were all included.

The View From 2025

Over the last 12 years or so, the first-generation M3 has become one of the definitive eighties collector cars, with values for the very best examples nearly doubling. According to Hagerty’s valuation tools, all the money for a 1988 M3 in #1/Concours condition is an astounding $215,000, with a more normal #3/Good car going for $65,700. Some M3s come up for sale in the Hemming’s Motor News classifieds or on eBay Motors, but many are now sold at auction, whether on-line (Bring a Trailer) or in-person.

Make mine Salmon Silver Metallic, I think.

Other BMWs I have written about include the 1983 633CSi coupe, the 1984 325e coupe, the 1987 L6 coupe, the 1987 M6 coupe, and the 1988 750iL sedan.

Last updated March 2025.

1984 Audi 5000S sedan

“The World’s Most Aerodynamic Sedan”

1984 was the first year of Audi’s new aerodynamic design for their biggest sedan. At the time, the exterior design was differentiating—though many would follow, Audi’s was first. Despite being the top-of-the-line, the 5000S was not a large car by modern standards—every dimension was smaller than Audi’s current A6 sedan.

The standard powertrain on Audi’s new sedan was Volkswagen’s corporate 100 bhp 2.1 liter/123 ci inline five with Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection mated with a five-speed manual transmission. An automatic was available with the standard engine. The automatic was the only transmission available with the upmarket Turbo option—the same engine with a turbocharger that made 140 bhp.

Period road tests showed 0-60 times of 10.6 seconds for the Turbo, making it not much quicker than the base 5000S but almost 20 mph faster. Fuel economy ratings for the Turbo were 19 city/28 highway by the day’s standards (15/20 by today’s measures). With a 21.2-gallon gas tank, the driver of a new Turbo could expect a 335 to 400 mile range with a 10% fuel reserve.

1984 Audi 5000S advertisement

Standard exterior and mechanical equipment on the $16,840 5000S (about $53,600 in today’s dollars—approximately what a 2025 S4 sedan costs) included halogen headlamps, flush-mounted window glass, power rack-and-pinion steering, power front disc/rear drum brakes, and 185/70SR14 tires (a size still readily available) on 14 x 6 inch aerodynamically styled lightweight aluminum wheels.

Inside, standard features included Electronic Climate Control, cloth bucket seats, a center console, and power windows. Features that look strange to our modern eyes include an illuminated ash tray and a “radio prep kit with power antenna” and four “high-quality” speakers.

Options, Packages, & Controversy

Exterior options for the 5000S included an electric two-way tilting/sliding sunroof, power heated mirrors, and metallic paint. Inside, leather seats, heated seats, and a trip computer were all available.

In addition to more power, the Turbo package included an electric two-way tilting/sliding sunroof, a slightly tighter suspension, four-wheel disc brakes, and 205/60HR15 tires (also still readily available) on 15 x 6 inch aluminum wheels. Inside, power seats, power door locks, a trip computer, and a “fine-sounding” Audi Design/Blaupunkt AM/FM stereo radio with a cassette player and four speakers were included. The Turbo‘s $5,570 additional cost moved the 5000 into another price bracket, bringing it up to about $71,300 in 2025 dollars—more like today’s S6 pricing.

Period reviews of the new design were quite good, and sales reflected that. Then, of course, things all went horribly south with the unintended acceleration controversy. Sales would crater, and it would take Audi many years to recover.

The View From 2025

5000S’s sometimes show up in the Hemming’s Motor News classifieds, on eBay Motors, and on Bring a Trailer, but there’s not a lot of activity—BaT has sold a total of ten over eight years.

Make mine Sapphire Metallic, please.

The only other Audi I have written about so far is the 1983 Quattro hatchback coupe.

Last updated June 2025.

1986 Mercury Capri hatchback coupe

Hemmings has been making a go at auctions. One of their first offerings was a white 1982 Mercury Capri RS coupe with red vinyl bucket seats, a Windsor 157 bhp 4.9 liter/302 ci V8 with a Motorcraft 356CFM two-barrel carburetor, a four-speed manual, and 33,000 miles. That was enough to get me to generate an update to this eight-year-old post about the later 1986 version.

“Proof that getting there can be a fun experience in itself.”

For 1986, Mercury’s Capri had three engine choices and two transmission choices. Standard on the GS was the Lima 88 bhp (aargh!) 2.3 liter/140 ci in-line four with a Carter YFA one-barrel carburetor mated to a four-speed manual transmission. Power options for the GS included the Essex 120 bhp 3.8 liter/231 ci V6 with fuel injection and the (wonderful) Windsor 200 bhp 4.9 liter/302 ci V8 with sequential fuel injection that was standard on the 5.0L. All three engines could be paired with a three-speed automatic transmission for an additional $510 (the V6 required the automatic while the 5.0L came standard with a five-speed manual transmission with overdrive).

Mileage ratings for the various configurations ranged from 23 city/28 highway (21/26 by today’s standards) for the four-speed manual/in-line four combination that I’m not convinced that anyone bought to 17/25 for the “big daddy” five-speed manual paired with the V8.

Performance with the 2.3 liter four paired with either transmission was ghastly. 0-60 came in about 15 seconds, which meant a Capri driver with the Lima engine would see only the taillights of Iron Duke-powered Camaros and Firebirds (such a sad competition!). Moving to the V6 paid significant performance dividends, dropping the 0-60 time by about 3.5 seconds. Of course, the V8 was by far the best: even the automatic was in the 7 second range, while the manual could do 0-60 in about 6.5 seconds.

Mercury made three attempts at the Capri. The first was an imported version of the European Ford Capri and was sold from the 1970 to 1978 model years, first as the Capri and then as the Capri II. The second was Mercury’s version of the Fox body Mustang and was sold from 1979 to 1986. The final version of the Capri was an imported version of the Australian Ford Capri, sold from 1991 to 1994. Sense a trend here?

The base price for a Capri GS was $8,331 (about $24,900 in 2026 dollars). For that money, the Capri came relatively well equipped by mid-1980s standards. External features included halogen headlamps, tinted glass, and the distinctive bubble-back rear hatch with rear-window defroster. Mechanical equipment included power steering, power brakes, and P195/75R14 tires (still available thanks to Hankook and Kumho) on 14-inch wheels with turbine wheel covers. Inside, power windows, interval wipers, tilt steering wheel, and an AM/FM stereo radio were standard.

Pages from the 1986 Mercury Capri brochure
Pages from the 1986 Mercury Capri brochure

The more sporty Capri 5.0L stickered for $10,950 (about $32,800 in today’s dollars) and added the V8 mentioned above, dual exhaust, a Traction-Lok rear axle, and P225/60VR15 low-profile tires (a size still readily available) on cast-aluminum performance wheels.

Options & Production Numbers

Exterior options for both the GS and the 5.0L included a flip-up open-air roof ($315) or a T-Roof ($1,100). Inside, buyers could add air conditioning ($762), power door lock group ($182), speed control ($176), and an AM/FM stereo radio with cassette ($300).

MercuryCapriSales

Sales for the last of the second-generation Capris were not at all good, but Capri sales had not been good for years—Mercury’s traditional problem wedged between Ford and Lincoln. By 1986, Capri sales were about 9% of Mustang sales.

The View From 2026

Fox body Capris sometimes show up in the Hemmings Motor News classifieds and eBay Motors, but there’s not a lot of activity. Bring a Trailer has auctioned a total of eleven second-generation Capris, most of them the specialty ASC McLaren version. I’ll say that Capris are uncommon rather than unloved. As I update this post in February 2026, there’s a 1986 Capri 5.0L for sale on Hemmings with Bright Red paint, Sand Beige cloth front bucket seats, an automatic, and a claimed 161,000 miles, asking $18,000.

Make mine Smoke Metallic, please.

Other Mercury models I have written about include the 1983 Grand Marquis sedan, the 1984 Grand Marquis Colony Park LS station wagon, the 1987 Lynx XR3 hatchback coupe, the 1988 Cougar XR-7 coupe, and the 1988 Grand Marquis Colony Park station wagon. I seem to like the big Mercury’s.

Last updated February 2026.

1981 Plymouth Reliant coupe

Lee Iacocca passed in July 2019 after leading a full life—he was 94. In his honor, I revised my write-up on one of his most famous creations.

“right for the times we drive in”

The 1981 Plymouth Reliant and its sibling, the Dodge Aries, are the K-body cars often (and reasonably) credited with saving Chrysler in the early 1980s. The first K cars were basic transportation, famously (like the GM X cars a year before) with no roll-down rear windows and just barely mid-size by the EPA’s classification—with an overall length of 176 inches, the Reliant coupe is almost exactly as long as a 2025 Mini Countryman.

The standard powertrain was an 84 bhp 2.2 liter/135 ci inline four with a Holley two-barrel carburetor paired with a four-speed manual. A Mitsubishi built 92 bhp 2.6 liter/156 ci inline four was optional for $159 and required both power steering ($174) and the three-speed TorqueFlite automatic ($360). Gas mileage with the base powertrain combination was rated at 29 city/41 highway by the day’s standards (23/29 by today’s measures). With a 13-gallon gas tank, a Reliant coupe with the standard engine and transmission could travel between 305 and 410 miles with a 10% fuel reserve.

1981PlymouthReliant
1981 Plymouth Reliant two-door coupe, scan courtesy of Alden Jewell

For $5,880 (about $22,200 in 2025 dollars), you got a Reliant coupe with front-wheel drive, rack-and-pinion steering, front disc/rear drum brakes, and P175/75R13 tires (a size that isn’t generally available anymore) on 13-inch wheels. Inside, a cloth and vinyl split back bench seat and an AM radio were included. The base coupe was only available in Pearl White, Natural Suede Tan, and Formal Black.

Spending another $435 on your Reliant coupe moved you up to Custom trim, which added quarter-window louvers, halogen headlights, a cigarette lighter, a color-keyed Deluxe two-spoke steering wheel, a digital clock, and a glove box lock. You also got many more exterior and interior color choices.

The top-of-the-line Special Edition (SE) Reliant coupes ($6,789 or about $25,600 in today’s dollars) added dual horns, deluxe wheel covers, special sound insulation, a cloth bench seat, and a snazzier “luxury” two-spoke steering wheel. Cloth bucket seats ($91) were only available with the SE.

Options, Production Numbers, & Performance

External and mechanical options for all Reliant coupes included tinted glass ($75), a glass sunroof ($246), and power brakes ($82). Both the mid-range upgrade P185/75R13 tires and the P165/75R14 upmarket tires (a size that fit the mid-90s Plymouth Neon compact just fine) are still readily available.

Inside, air conditioning cost $605 and required tinted glass, power brakes, and power steering—things were tightly engineered in the early 1980s. Other options included automatic speed control ($132), intermittent wipers ($44), a tilt steering wheel ($81), power door locks ($93), power front seats ($173 and said to be quite rare), along with a variety of radios up to an AM/FM radio with a cassette tape player and four speakers ($224).

The Reliant sold well in 1981—between the coupe and the sedan, Plymouth moved 101,127. Motor Trend managed to get a 2.2 liter with the automatic to do 0-60 in 12.4 seconds—they tried with another Reliant running the same combination, and it took 14.0 (oog) seconds. Top speed (if you could call it that) ranged from 88 to 96 mph in the 2,350-pound car.

The View From 2025

In 2025, Plymouth Reliants coupes rarely come up for sale in the Hemmings Motor News classifieds, on eBay Motors, or on Bring a Trailer, though you do see them occasionally on Craigslist. I haven’t seen a coupe in the wild for many years.

Make mine Baron Red, I think.

Other K-body and K-body based cars I have covered in this blog include the 1982 Chrysler LeBaron convertible, the 1984 Chrysler Laser hatchback coupe, the 1984 Dodge Daytona hatchback coupe, the 1985 Dodge 600 Club Coupe, and the 1986 Chrysler Town & Country convertible, and the 1987 Dodge Aries LE sedan. I also did a short commentary on an unidentified K-car wagon called Some Quiet Love For A K Car.

Last updated April 2025.

1983 Chevrolet Malibu sedan

When I used to go out running early on weekday mornings, I would often see an eighties Malibu sedan driving along the Lincoln Highway in Bryn Mawr.

“… a beautiful and practical choice …”

The 1983 Malibu was the final rear-wheel-drive Malibu and the last Malibu of any kind until the 1997 model year. For 1983, Chevrolet eliminated the Malibu Classic designation and reverted to Malibu as the single trim level, which you could get in either a four-door sedan or a five-door wagon.

Standard motivation for the 3,100 to 3,200-pound sedan (weight largely depended on engine choice) was provided by the evergreen LD5 3.8 liter/231 ci V6 with a two-barrel carburetor hooked up to a three-speed automatic transmission, making 110 bhp and getting 20 city/29 highway by the day’s standards. Power options included two different diesels (a $500 V6 and a $700 V8 that just about no one purchased) and the LG4 150 bhp 5.0 liter/305 ci V8 with a Rochester E4ME four-barrel carburetor rated at 18 city/26 highway. With an 18.1-gallon gas tank, the owner of a V8 Malibu could expect a range of 325 to 355 miles with a 10% fuel reserve. Performance was not exactly sparkling: 0-60 took slightly over 11 seconds with the V8.

Cover of the 1983 Chevrolet Malibu brochure
Cover of the 1983 Chevrolet Malibu brochure

Standard exterior and mechanical equipment on the $8,084 Malibu V6 sedan (about $26,300 in today’s dollars or about what a 2025 Malibu LS costs) included quad rectangular headlamps, high-energy ignition, a Delco Freedom II battery, power front disc/rear drum brakes, power steering, and P185/75R14 glass-belted radial tires (a size currently available thanks to Hankook) on 14-inch wheels. Inside, a base Malibu came spare—highlights were a vinyl bench seat, a cigarette lighter, a locking glove compartment, and a day/night rearview mirror.

Options & Production Numbers

Moving to the V8 brought the Malibu sedan’s base price up $225 to $8,309 (about $27,100 in 2025 dollars). Options ordered in more than 50% of 1983 Malibus included air conditioning (the most expensive option at $725), tinted glass ($105), remote left-hand side-view mirror ($22), and rear window defogger ($135).

Interestingly, you could still order some performance-oriented options for the Malibu even in its final year. A limited-slip differential ($95), performance rear axle ($21), gauge package with trip odometer ($95), heavy-duty battery ($25), heavy-duty cooling, rally wheels ($108), and the F40 heavy-duty suspension ($26) were all available, though I’m not convinced they found a lot of buyers among the total of 117,426 Malibus purchased in 1983.

The View From 2025

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This generation of Malibu does come up for sale every once in a while in the Hemming’s Motor News classifieds, on eBay Motors, and on Bring a Trailer, but unmodified sedans are very rare.

Make mine Dark Blue Metallic, please.

Among the many rear-wheel drive G-platform (designated A-platform before 1982) cars I have written about include the 1984 Buick Regal Grand National coupe, the 1981 Chevrolet Monte Carlo Sport Coupe, the 1983 Monte Carlo SS Sport Coupe, the 1980 Oldsmobile Cutlass coupe, the 1981 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme coupe, the 1980 Pontiac Grand Am coupe, the 1980 Pontiac Grand Prix SJ coupe, and the 1987 Pontiac Grand Prix coupe.

Last updated April 2025.