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 $173,300 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 $38,600.

M6s are often available in the Hemmings Motor News classifieds, on eBay Motors, and on Bring a Trailer. As I update this post in December 2025, a Black 1987 M6 with grey leather front bucket seats and 87,000 miles is for sale on Hemmings, asking $49,900.

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 December 2025.

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.

The Posts That Attract Interest, Part 6

Typewriter icon

Last week, my post on the 1981 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme coupe went over 1,000 views. Ten other 1,000 view posts have preceded it, with the first being the 1986 Chevrolet Camaro Berlinetta hatchback coupe (now at around 2,300 views) and the most recent being the 1987 Buick LeSabre T Type coupe. All but one of these posts has been on a General Motors product—the exception was the 1987 Mercury Lynx XR3 hatchback coupe.

I have various theories—and almost no actual data—about what makes a particular post more popular than most others on Eighties Cars. One belief is that the key to the popularity of many individual posts is generally the rarity of the other coverage available for that particular vehicle or variant thereof.

The “rarity of other coverage” theory definitely seems to apply to the fourth-generation Cutlass Supremes, with my post often showing up on the initial page of an 1981 Cutlass-related Google search. Among eighties Cutlass’s of any type, Hagerty only tracks values for the 1983 and 1984 Hurst and the 1985 to 1987 4-4-2. One other interesting thing about the Cutlass Supreme post’s success is that it’s come on recently—despite being written in 2015, 85% of its views have been in the last year.

As always, I am grateful for the views—and our readers.

They Are Starting to Vanish From the Streets …

… the eighties vehicles, that is.

I can see it in my neighborhood, and I see three phases of this happening.

First to go are the often driven eighties cars. A few months ago, a fourth-generation Honda Civic sedan that I had written about disappeared from its normal street-side parking space. A notably flashier (Mars Red!) and far more modern Mercedes-Benz C-class sedan replaced it—not much bigger, but a major step upmarket.

An original K car wagon sits under snow and a car cover in my neighborhood a few winters ago

Next, those that had been parked for a while finally get taken away. An example is a K car wagon that sat quietly in a driveway next to a small and very well maintained house about two blocks from ours. I rarely saw it move, but it seemed to be in pretty good shape. A few years ago, it was suddenly gone.

Soon, I believe that the only eighties vehicles will be those that folks have plans to save. They’ll also tend to hide in garages or—at very least—under a car cover.

Most of these examples will be special in some way—they will tend to be those classified as collectible by various entities. Like even older cars, they’ll tend to come out only on nicer days.

I think it was first with music that I repeated the observation that “the eighties are no longer recent.” Now, that status seems to be coming to the vehicles this blog follows—the youngest of them is now 32 years old.

Is this slow vanishing happening in your neighborhood, too?

1982 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 Indy 500 Commemorative Edition hatchback coupe

Every May, the Indianapolis 500 race is a “tentpole” event in the international racing schedule. Since 1911, there have been designated pace cars, with replica versions often sold. A 1982 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 Indy 500 Commemorative Edition with 2,630 miles sold for a $35,000 hammer price at the 2021 Mecum Indy. Are these distinctive and good-looking (I think) cars finally attracting significant interest?

“Even its shadow boasts performance”

The 1982 Chevrolet Camaro could reasonably be described as all-new. This moniker applied to the “pleasing and exciting” exterior, the interior, much of the chassis, and most of the engines. Road & Track stated that the new Camaro was “keenly anticipated.”

The Z28‘s standard powertrain was the LG4 145 bhp 5.0 liter/305 ci V8 with a four-barrel carburetor paired with a four-speed manual transmission. An optional LU5 Cross-Fire 5.0 liter/305 ci V8 with throttle-body fuel injection and 165 bhp set the buyer back $450 and required the $72 three-speed automatic transmission. 0-60 took just under 10 seconds with the base V8 and the four-speed manual, and shortened to 9 seconds with the top-of-the-line Cross-Fire motor and the automatic.

The Z28 had a base price of $9,700—about $33,600 in 2025 dollars. Standard exterior and mechanical equipment on all 1982 Z28s included a front air dam, “ground effect” lower body extensions, a rear spoiler, body-color dual Sport mirrors, power front disc/rear drum brakes, and 215/65R-15 tires (a size still readily available) on 15 x 7 inch 5-spoke aluminum wheels. Inside, every 1982 Z28 came with full instrumentation, an electric quartz analog clock, courtesy lamps, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.

1982 Camaro Commerative Edition flyer
1982 Camaro Z28 Indy 500 Commemorative Edition flier

Standard equipment specific to the $10,999.26 (yes, that was really the price) Z50 Indy 500 Commemorative Edition included Silver Metallic/Blue two-tone accent paint, red accents on the wheels, specific commemorative edition decals, Custom interior trim, and blue Custom cloth bucket L/S Conteur (Chevrolet’s spelling) front seats.

Options, Production Numbers, & Period Reviews

Among the many options available for the Camaro Z28 were tinted glass ($88), removable glass roof panels ($790!), power windows ($165), a power door lock system ($106), an electric rear window defogger ($125), automatic speed control ($155), air conditioning ($675), a Comfortilt steering wheel ($95), and a host of radios ($111 to $390).

Chevrolet sold 6,360 Indy 500 Commemorative Edition cars in 1982, in addition to 63,563 “normal” Z28s. However, the most popular Camaro was actually the base Sport Coupe, which moved 78,761 units. The somewhat more luxurious Berlinetta sold another 39,744 copies.

Reviews of the new Camaro were decent. Road & Track liked the Z28‘s exterior and the handling, but bemoaned the interior packaging and the fuel mileage (EPA rated at 17 mpg but rarely attaining that in real life). Car and Driver famously accused the Z28 of being “Emily Post polite” but later retracted the remark.

The View From 2025

Third-generation Camaros attract plenty of collector interest, and there is substantial club support. According to Hagerty’s valuation tools, a 1982 Camaro Z28 hatchback coupe with the Cross-Fire motor in #1/Concours condition is $42,000, with a far more normal #3/Good condition version going for $13,500. 1982 Camaro Commemorative Editions are often available in the Hemmings Motor News classifieds, on eBay Motors, and at online (Bring a Trailer) and in-person auctions. As I update this blog entry in October 2025, a Commemorative Edition with the Cross-Fire, an automatic, and 40,000 miles is for sale on Hemmings, asking $20,000.

Other Camaros I have written about include the 1980 Rally Sport coupe, the 1980 Z28 coupe, the 1985 IROC-Z hatchback coupe, and the 1986 Berlinetta hatchback coupe. Pontiac Firebird Trans Ams with blog entries here include the 1981 coupe, the 1982 hatchback coupe, the 1984 15th Anniversary Edition hatchback coupe, the 1985 hatchback coupe, and the 1989 20th Anniversary Turbo hatchback coupe.

Last updated October 2025.

Eighties Vehicles at the 2021 Mecum Kissimmee, Part One

January’s Mecum auction at Kissimmee always provides some interesting fodder for commentary, if only because it is so large. I’ll concentrate on the at least reasonably stock 1980s vehicles that sold (remember that Mecum auctions are not “no reserve” auctions—a white 1981 Chevrolet Camaro Yenko Turbo Z coupe with black bucket seats and 39,000 miles was a no sale bid up to $70,000) and add some of my opinions. I’m going to separate this auction into two posts—this first covers the eighties 14% of the approximately 680 vehicles sold from Thursday through Sunday.

Thursday, January 7th:

  • 1983 yellow Cadillac Seville sedan with a black carriage roof, ivory leather seats, an HT-4100 135 bhp 4.1 liter/249 ci V8 with fuel injection, an automatic, and 92,000 miles—$4,500 hammer price.
  • 1986 Light Green Metallic Chevrolet El Camino pickup truck with a light green cloth bench seat, an LG4 150 bhp 5.0 liter/305 ci V8 with a four-barrel carburetor, and an automatic—at $10,500, the first eighties vehicle in this auction meets my criteria for serious collectability of fairly original cars or trucks: selling for equal to or above its original base list price. I’ll mark these vehicles in bold green.
  • 1988 Summit White Chevrolet 1500 Silverado pickup truck with garnet Custom cloth bucket seats, an L05 210 bhp 5.7 liter/305 ci V8 with fuel injection, an automatic, and 63,000 miles—at $17,000, the highest eighties vehicle sale on Thursday
  • 1987 Bright Red Chevrolet Corvette convertible with a white convertible top, red leather bucket seats, an L98 240 bhp 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with fuel injection, and the Doug Nash 4+3—$16,500
  • 1988 black BMW 635Csi coupe with black leather bucket seats, an M30B35 208 bhp 3.4 liter/209 ci inline six with fuel injection, and an automatic—$9,000
  • 1986 Black Chevrolet Camaro Z28 hatchback coupe with gray cloth bucket seats, an LB9 190 bhp engine with fuel injection, an automatic, and 62,000 miles—$5,000
  • 1983 blue Dodge W150 Power Ram pickup truck with a blue cloth bench seat, a 5.2 liter/318 ci V8 with a two-barrel carburetor, an automatic, and 52,000 miles—$8,500
  • 1984 white Pontiac Firebird Trans Am 15th Anniversary Edition hatchback coupe with gray leather/cloth bucket seats, an LG9 HO 190 bhp 5.0 liter/305 ci V8 with a four-barrel carburetor, an automatic, and 83,000 miles—$9,000
  • 1984 Silver/Medium Gray two-tone Chevrolet Corvette hatchback coupe with red leather bucket seats, an L83 Cross-Fire 205 bhp 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with throttle body fuel injection, and an automatic—$4,500
  • 1980 Olympic White with woodgrain AMC Eagle Limited station wagon with beige leather seats, a 110 bhp 4.2 liter/258 ci inline six with a two-barrel carburetor, an automatic, and 82,000 miles–$12,000. Is this the nicest one left?
1980 AMC Eagle Limited station wagon, linked from Mecum’s website
  • 1984 Silver/Medium Gray two-tone Chevrolet Corvette hatchback coupe with graphite leather bucket seats, an L83 Cross-Fire 205 bhp 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with throttle body fuel injection, and an automatic—$6,000
  • 1988 White Pontiac Firebird Trans Am GTA coupe with camel leather bucket seats, a B2L 225 bhp 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with fuel injection, an automatic, and 83,000 miles—$11,000 for a rare notchback
  • 1987 Midnight Black/Steel Gray two-tone Chevrolet Blazer Silverado SUV with slate gray Custom cloth bucket seats, an L05 210 bhp 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with fuel injection, and an automatic—$11,500
  • 1984 white Pontiac Fiero Pace Car Edition coupe with red/gray bucket seats, an Iron Duke 92 bhp 2.5 liter/151 ci inline four with throttle-body fuel injection, an automatic, and 27,000 miles—$16,000
  • 1987 Garnet Red Dodge Ramcharger SUV with red cloth bucket seats, a 143 bhp 5.2 liter/318 ci V8 with a two-barrel carburetor, and an automatic—$8,500
  • 1982 silver Chevrolet El Camino custom (engine) pickup truck with blue cloth bucket seats, a 5.7 liter/350 ci V8, and an automatic—$8,000
  • 1988 red Mazda 323 GTX hatchback coupe with a 132 bhp 1.6 liter/97 ci inline four with fuel injection and a turbocharger, a five-speed manual, and 82,000 miles—$6,500 for the most interesting car on day one.
  • 1980 green GMC Caballero custom (powertrain, exterior, wheels/tires) pickup truck with a cloth split seat, a 5.7 liter/350 ci V8, and an automatic—$11,500
  • 1988 tan Chevrolet 1500 pickup truck with an automatic—$3,000
  • 1982 blue Fiat 124 Spider 2000 convertible with gray vinyl bucket seats, a 102 bhp 2.0 liter/122 ci inline four with fuel injection, an automatic, and 57,000 miles—$9,500

Friday, January 8th:

  • 1987 red Chevrolet C10 custom (engine, exterior, suspension, wheels/tires) pickup truck with a gray interior, a Vortec 5.7 liter/350 ci V8, and an automatic—$16,000
  • 1989 Cabernet Red Ford Mustang LX 5.0 convertible with a black top, scarlet red cloth bucket seats, a Windsor 225 bhp 4.9 liter/302 ci V8 with fuel injection, and a five-speed—$8,500
  • 1986 burgundy Chevrolet Corvette custom (exterior, engine, interior) hatchback coupe with tan leather seats, a 5.7 liter/350 ci V8, and an automatic—$7,500
  • 1989 White Jeep Wrangler SUV with black bucket seats and an automatic—$5,000
  • 1984 black Cadillac Series 75 Fleetwood limousine with a black interior, a 140 bhp 6.0 liter/368 ci V8 with throttle-body fuel injection, and an automatic—$12,500
  • 1985 Sunrise Red Mazda RX-7 hatchback coupe with gray cloth bucket seats, a 12A 101 bhp 1.1 liter/70 ci two-rotor with a four-barrel carburetor, an automatic, and 80,000 miles—$11,000
  • 1985 silver/gray two-tone Chevrolet C10 custom (powertrain, suspension, wheels/tires) pickup truck with a burgundy cloth bench seat, a 6.3 liter/383 ci V8, and an automatic—$22,500
  • 1981 Red Chevrolet Corvette coupe with red leather seats, an L81 190 bhp 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with a four-barrel carburetor, an automatic, and 53,000 miles—$21,000
  • 1980 beige Toyota Land Cruiser HJ-45 SUV with black bucket seats, an H 3.6 liter/218 ci diesel inline six, and a four-speed manual—$39,000 made this the highest eighties vehicle sale on Friday
1980 Toyota Land Cruiser HJ-45 SUV, linked from Mecum’s website
  • 1986 white Porsche 944 Turbo hatchback coupe with brown leather bucket seats, a 220 bhp 2.5 liter/151 ci inline four with fuel injection and a turbocharger, and a five-speed manual, and 34,000 miles—$24,500
  • 1987 Red Mercedes-Benz 560SL convertible with tan leather seats, an M117 238 bhp 5.5 liter/339 ci V8 with fuel injection, an automatic, and 84,000 miles—$13,500
  • 1987 Midnight Black/Apple Red two-tone Chevrolet Blazer custom (engine) SUV with red cloth bucket seats, a 5.7 liter/350 ci V8, and an automatic—$11,500
  • 1988 Arctic White Lincoln Town Car with a white vinyl carriage roof, oxford white leather seats, a Windsor 150 bhp 4.9 liter/302 ci V8 with fuel injection, an automatic, and 8,800 miles—$19,000
  • 1989 Silver Frost Lincoln Town Car with a silver frost vinyl carriage roof, titanium cloth seats, a Windsor 150 bhp 4.9 liter/302 ci V8 with fuel injection, an automatic, and 19,000 miles—$16,000
  • 1989 red Classic International Brillanté Vendetta convertible with an L98 340 bhp 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with fuel injection and an automatic—$18,000 for this Corvette-based Ferrari Testarossa imitator.
  • 1986 medium blue/dark blue two-tone GMC Sierra Classic pickup truck with a blue vinyl bench seat, a 5.7 liter/350 ci V8, and an automatic—$19,000
  • 1986 blue/white two-tone Chevrolet C10 custom (exterior, interior, suspension, wheels/tires) pickup truck with a blue bench seat, an unknown V8, and an automatic—$14,500
  • 1986 blue/white two-tone Chevrolet C10 custom (exterior, suspension, wheels/tires) pickup truck with a blue vinyl bench seat, an unknown V8, and an automatic—$21,000
  • 1984 White Chevrolet Camaro Z28 hatchback coupe with tan vinyl bucket seats, a 5.0 liter/305 ci V8, and an automatic—$5,500
  • 1986 blue/white two-tone Chevrolet Blazer SUV with blue vinyl bucket seats, a 5.7 liter/350 ci V8, and an automatic—$21,000
  • 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 46,000 miles—$22,000
  • 1986 Dark Red Metallic Chevrolet Corvette convertible with a white top, red leather seats, an L98 235 bhp 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with fuel injection, an automatic, and 8,200 miles—$20,000
  • 1985 White Chevrolet Corvette hatchback coupe with saddle leather seats, an L98 230 bhp 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with fuel injection, an automatic, and 8,100 miles—$16,000
  • 1985 White Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS coupe with maroon cloth bucket seats, a B4V 180 bhp 5.0 liter/305 ci V8 with a four-barrel carburetor, an automatic, and 24,000 miles—$16,500
  • 1987 silver Toyota Supra Turbo hatchback coupe with blue cloth bucket seats, a 7M-GE 230 bhp 3.0 liter inline with fuel injection and a turbocharger, and a five-speed manual—$13,000
  • 1984 white Oldsmobile Delta 88 Royale Brougham coupe with burgundy cloth seats, an LV2 5.0 liter/307 ci V8 with a four-barrel carburetor, and an automatic—$8,500

Saturday, January 9th:

  • 1982 White Chevrolet Corvette coupe with dark red cloth bucket seats, an L83 Cross-Fire 200 bhp 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with throttle body fuel injection, an automatic, and 13,000 miles—$30,000
  • 1987 red/white two-tone Chevrolet Silverado custom (suspension, wheels/tires) pickup truck with a black custom cloth bench seat, an 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with fuel injection, and an automatic—$34,000
  • 1987 white Pontiac Fiero GT coupe with gray cloth bucket seats, a 135 bhp 2.8 liter/173 ci V6 with fuel injection, an automatic, and 27,000 miles—$9,000
  • 1986 white Spartan II coupe with a gray interior, a 3.0 liter V6 with fuel injection, an automatic, and 39,000 miles—$20,000 for this Nissan 300ZX-based neo-classic
  • 1988 Charcoal/Radiant Silver two-tone Dodge Ramcharger LE SUV with red cloth bucket seats, a 145 bhp 5.2 liter/318 ci V8 with fuel injection, and an automatic—$18,500
  • 1988 brown/tan two-tone Chevrolet Suburban SUV with tan cloth bucket seats, an L19 230 bhp 7.4 liter/454 ci v8 with fuel injection, an automatic, and 73,000 miles—$17,500
  • 1983 yellow Toyota DLX mild custom pickup truck with gray cloth bucket seats, a 22R 2.4 liter inline four, a five-speed manual, and 101,000 miles—$16,500
  • 1981 maroon Jeep CJ-8 Scrambler custom pickup truck with gray bucket seats, an unknown V8, and an automatic—$20,000
  • 1988 red Sebring convertible with tan bucket seats, a 4.9 liter/302 ci V8, and an automatic—$19,000 for this Austin Healey 3000 replica
  • 1988 White Chevrolet Corvette 35th Anniversary Edition hatchback coupe with white leather seats, an L98 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with fuel injection, the Doug Nash 4+3, and 6,300 miles—$26,000
  • 1988 White Chevrolet Corvette 35th Anniversary Edition hatchback coupe with white leather seats, an L98 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with fuel injection, and an automatic—$15,500. A bidder had their choice of these distinctive coupes at this auction.
  • 1980 red/black two-tone Chevrolet El Camino very custom (just about everything) pickup truck with red cloth bucket seats, a 406 ci V8, and an automatic—$13,000
  • 1987 Candy Apple Red GMC Sierra Classic custom (engine, exterior, interior, wheels/tires) pickup truck with silver bucket seats, an LS2 6.2 liter V8, and an automatic—$28,000
  • 1987 white Chevrolet C10 custom (powertrain) pickup truck with a red vinyl bench seat, a 5.7 liter/350 ci V8, and an automatic—$27,000
  • 1987 black Buick Regal T-Type custom (powertrain) coupe with gray cloth bucket seats, a 3.8 liter/231 ci V6 with a turbocharger, and an automatic—$35,000
  • 1985 Burgundy Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS coupe with gray cloth bucket seats, a B4V 180 bhp 5.0 liter/305 ci V8 with a four-barrel carburetor, an automatic, and 10,000 miles—$21,750
  • 1989 Black Ford Mustang ASC/McLaren convertible with a black top, a gray interior, a 225 bhp 4.9 liter/302 ci V8 with fuel injection, an automatic, and 44,000 miles—$15,500
  • 1986 Shelby GLHS custom hatchback coupe with gray cloth bucket seats, a 2.2 liter/135 ci inline four with a turbocharger, an intercooler, and fuel injection, and a five-speed manual—$18,000
  • 1986 black Nissan 300ZX hatchback coupe with black leather bucket seats, a VG30ET 200 bhp 3.0 liter/181 ci V6 with fuel injection and a turbocharger, a five-speed manual, and 43,000 miles—$31,500 is around $7,000 over #1/Concours money, according to Hagerty’s valuation tools.
  • 1986 red GMC Sierra Classic pickup truck with a gray cloth bench seat, a 5.7 liter/350 ci V8, an automatic, and 100,000 miles—$23,500
  • 1985 black Ferrari 308 GTS Quattrovalvole coupe with black leather seats, a Quattrovalvole 230 bhp 2.9 liter/179 ci V8 with fuel injection, a five-speed manual, and 69,000 miles—$50,000
  • 1986 Guards Red Porsche 911 Turbo coupe with black leather seats, a 282 bhp 3.3 liter/201 ci flat six with turbocharging and fuel injection, a four-speed manual, and 57,000 miles—$100,000 made this by far the highest eighties vehicle sale on this Saturday.
1986 Porsche 911 Turbo coupe, linked from Mecum’s website
  • 1980 red/white two-tone Plymouth Trail Duster custom (suspension, wheels/tires) SUV with red bucket seats and an automatic—$15,000
  • 1985 silver Chevrolet K10 Silverado very custom (just about everything) pickup truck with a gray cloth bench seat, a Vortec 6.0 liter V8, and an automatic—$38,000
  • 1986 hazel/brown two-tone Rolls-Royce Silver Spur sedan with a cream vinyl top, cream leather bucket seats, a 6.75 liter/412 ci V8, an automatic, and 17,000 miles—$35,000
  • 1987 Black Buick Grand National coupe with black/gray cloth seats, a 245 bhp LC2 3.8 liter/231 ci V6 with turbocharging and fuel injection, an automatic, and 15,000 miles—$34,000
  • 1985 White Buick Riviera coupe with a white Landau top, blue cloth notchback 55/45 seats, a 5.0 liter/307 ci V8, an automatic, and 12,000 miles—$12,500
  • 1985 Cotillion White Cadillac Eldorado coupe with a white vinyl top, blue leather seats, an HT-4100 135 bhp 4.1 liter/249 ci V8 with fuel injection, an automatic, and 4,100 miles—$23,000
  • 1984 black Oldsmobile 98 Regency coupe with a maroon vinyl top, red cloth seats, an LV2 5.0 liter/307 ci V8 with a four-barrel carburetor, an automatic, and 4,500 miles—$27,000. Who saves these cars?
  • 1989 green Land Rover Defender 90 SUV with brown bucket seats, a 2.5 liter/152 ci diesel inline four, a manual, and 69,000 miles—$60,000
  • 1988 Black BMW M6 coupe with tan leather seats, a S38B35 256 bhp 3.5 liter/211 ci inline six with fuel injection, a five-speed, and 120,000 miles—$27,000
  • 1980 Pollux Orange Toyota Land Cruiser pickup truck with gray seats, a 3.6 liter engine, and a four-speed manual—$40,000
  • 1982 Black Mercedes-Benz 380SL convertible with a brown top, brown bucket seats, a 155 bhp 3.8 liter/234 ci V8 with fuel injection, and an automatic—$11,000
  • 1986 silver Mercedes-Benz 560SEC coupe with gray leather bucket seats, an M117 238 bhp 5.5 liter/339 ci V8 with fuel injection, an automatic, and 75,000 miles—$19,000

Sunday, January 10th:

  • 1984 crimson Rolls-Royce Silver Spur sedan with camel leather bucket seats, a 6.75 liter/412 ci V8, and an automatic—$9,000
  • 1988 white Rolls-Royce Silver Spur sedan with a white vinyl top, tan leather bucket seats, a 6.75 liter/412 ci V8, an automatic, and 97,000 miles—$9,500
  • 1980 blue Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith II with a blue vinyl top, blue leather bucket seats, a 6.75 liter/412 ci V8, and an automatic—$9,000
  • 1983 silver Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit sedan with tan leather bucket seats, a 6.75 liter/412 ci V8, and an automatic—$9,000
  • 1988 dark blue Lincoln Town Car limousine with a dark green interior, a 4.9 liter/302 ci V8, and an automatic—$11,000
  • 1988 Red Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z convertible with a black top, gray leather bucket seats, an unknown 5.0 liter/305 ci V8 (could be the L03 170 bhp engine with throttle-body fuel injection or the LB9 195 bhp engine with fuel injection), an automatic, and 29,000 miles—$22,000
  • 1988 Delphin Gray BMW 635Csi coupe with pearl beige leather bucket seats, an M30B35 215 bhp 3.4 liter/209 ci inline six with fuel injection, an automatic, and 54,000 miles—$44,000 for this gray market car.
  • 1989 blue Toyota FJ-70 Land Cruiser SUV with gray bucket seats, a 3F 155 bhp 4.0 liter/241 ci inline six with fuel injection, and a five-speed manual—$22,000
  • 1988 White Chevrolet Corvette convertible with a white convertible top, red leather bucket seats, an L98 240 bhp 5.7 liter/350 ci V8 with fuel injection, an automatic, and 40,000 miles—$17,000
  • 1980 White/Light Blue Metallic two-tone Chevrolet El Camino pickup truck with a blue vinyl bench seat, an unknown V8 (could be the L39 120 bhp 4.4 liter/267 ci with a two-barrel carburetor or the LG9 135 bhp 5.0 liter/305 ci with a four-barrel carburetor), an automatic, and 14,000 miles—$18,000
  • 1983 blue Ford F100 custom (exterior, wheels/tires) pickup truck with blue seats, a 5.8 liter/351 ci V8 with a four-barrel carburetor, and an automatic—$16,000
  • 1989 Twilight Blue Lincoln Town Car sedan with an arctic white carriage top, shadow blue cloth seats, a 150 bhp 4.9 liter/302 ci V8 with fuel injection, and an automatic—$5,000
  • 1984 silver/black two-tone Tiffany coupe with red leather seats, a 4.9 liter/302 ci V8, and an automatic—$15,000 for this Mercury Cougar-based “neo-classic.”
  • 1989 black AM General Humvee SUV with a black interior, an automatic, and 18,000 miles—$20,000
  • 1983 Sable Black Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz coupe with a bushed stainless steel roof cap, a black vinyl top, red leather “tufted multi-button” seats, an HT-4100 135 bhp 4.1 liter/249 ci V8 with fuel injection, an automatic, and 19,000 miles—$27,000 for this striking Eldorado whose aftermarket continental kit actually doesn’t bother me that much.
1983 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz coupe, linked from Mecum’s website
  • 1988 blue Ford Crown Victoria sedan with a dark blue vinyl top, blue cloth seats, a 4.9 liter/302 ci V8, and an automatic—$3,000
  • 1986 blue Pontiac Firebird Trans Am hatchback coupe with gray cloth bucket seats, a 5.0 liter/305 ci V8, and an automatic—$7,000