1984 Ford Tempo sedan

“Computer-refined design for five-passenger comfort”

The Ford Tempo and Mercury Topaz debuted for the 1984 model year in May 1983. Based on the Escort, they were putative replacements for the Ford Fairmont and Mercury Zephyr.

The Tempo’s base engine and transmission combination was the 2300 HSC 90 bhp 2.3 liter/140 ci inline four with a one-barrel carburetor paired with a four-speed manual. A Mazda-built 52 bhp 2.0 liter/122 ci diesel four was available for $588, but it isn’t clear how many bought it. Road & Track recorded a 0-60 time of 13.6 seconds with the optional five-speed manual ($76) and the gas engine. A three-speed automatic was $439 and was available only with the gas engine and the fancier GL and GLX trims.

1984 Ford Tempo print advertisement
1984 Ford Tempo print advertisement

The 1984 Tempo L sedan’s base price was $6,936—about $22,700 in today’s dollars. Standard exterior and mechanical equipment included single rectangular halogen headlamps, rack and pinion steering, power front disc/rear drum brakes, and P175/80R13 steel-belted radial ply black sidewall tires on 13-inch wheels with Deluxe wheel covers. Inside, individually adjustable front seats with cloth seating surfaces and reclining seat backs, Deluxe carpeting, a mini-console, an A-frame Luxury steering wheel, an inside hood release, and an AM radio with dual front speakers were included.

The $7,159 GL sedan added Luxury wheel covers, Luxury sound insulation, interval windshield wipers, and an electronic digital clock.

The $7,621 GLX sedan added bumper end cap extensions, dual door-mounted remote-control mirrors, a dual note horn, Luxury carpeting, and Luxury luggage compartment trim.

Groups, Packages, Individual Options, & Production Numbers

Ford offered four option groups and packages with the Tempo:

  • The Light/Convenience Group ($50-$85) included ashtray, glovebox, and engine compartment lights, rear door dome light switches, a swivel map light, a headlamps on buzzer, and a trip odometer
  • The Power Lock Group ($202-$254) included power door locks, a power decklid release, and a remote control fuel filler door
  • The Sports Appearance Group ($299) was only available with the GL and included styled steel wheels with trim rings, Sport front seats with a 4-way manual driver’s seat, rear seats with integral headrests, unique sew-style and fabric, a Sport steering wheel, and a Sport instrument cluster
  • The TR Performance Suspension Package ($366-$424) included Michelin TRX tires, TR-Type cast aluminum wheels, and special steering and suspension components

Individual exterior and mechanical options included tinted glass ($510), metallic glow paint ($63), a flip-up open air roof ($315), and power steering ($223). Inside, power side windows ($272), a driver’s side power seat ($224), Fingertip Speed Control ($176), and an electric rear window defroster ($140) were offered. A series of five optional radios were offered, ranging up to an electronic AM/FM stereo search radio with a cassette player ($396).

Options not available with the L included air conditioning ($743) and all-vinyl seats (no charge). A loaded GLX could easily reach $9,400—about $30,800 in today’s dollars, or about what a 2026 Ford Escape Active crossover goes for.

The Tempo sedan sold well in its extended debut year—Ford moved a total of 295,149, which was more than four times as many as the final-year 1983 Fairmont sedan.

The View From 2025

These cars have vanished. They’re gone from the Hemmings Motor News classifieds and eBay Motors. Bring a Trailer has sold four Tempos in the last four years, two of them sedans.

Make mine Dark Academy Blue Metallic, please.

Other eighties Ford sedans I have written about include the 1985 LTD LX and the 1986 Taurus.

1980 Mercury Cougar XR-7 coupe

In October 2025, a Mercury Cougar XR-7 coupe with 16,000 miles came up for auction on Bring a Trailer. It was the first fifth-generation Cougar to appear on BaT—enough to get me to write a blog entry about this era of Mercury’s personal luxury car.

“From a pedigree of personal luxury.”

Mercury made big changes to the Cougar for the 1980 model year, moving from six separate models to just one. The Cougar sedan was gone entirely, and both the base and the Brougham coupes were no more. Only the XR-7 coupe remained, and it was all new.

The third Mercury based on the “Fox” platform (the Zephyr and the Capri had come first), the fifth-generation Cougar was one of the more radically downsized automobiles in the North American auto industry. In comparison to its 1979 predecessor, the 1980 Cougar XR-7 was 17 inches shorter and 700 pounds lighter.

Standard power for 1980 was a Windsor 118 bhp 4.2 liter/255 ci V8 with a Motorcraft two-barrel carburetor paired with a SelectShift three-speed automatic transmission. Powertrain upgrades were available; buyers could specify a $150 Windsor 131 bhp 4.9 liter/302 ci V8 with a two-barrel carburetor and then add a $138 automatic overdrive transmission (available only with that engine). Buyers who purchased both powertrain upgrades got a sprightlier car with a slightly longer range.

Windsor
(4.2 liter V8)		Windsor
(4.9 liter V8)		Windsor
(4.9 liter V8)
Transmission3-speed Select Shift3-speed Select Shift4-speed Automatic Overdrive
0-60 mph
(approximate)		14.9 seconds12.7 seconds11.1 seconds
Fuel mileage
(1982 standards)		18 city/26 highway17 city/26 highway17 city/29 highway
Range
(10% fuel reserve)		285 to 310 miles275 to 300 miles295 to 325 miles

The XR-7‘s base price was $6,569—about $28,300 in today’s dollars. Standard exterior and mechanical equipment included a half vinyl roof, variable ratio power rack-and-pinion steering, power front disc/rear drum brakes, and P185/75R14 black sidewall steel-belted radial tires on 14-inch wheels with full wheel covers. Inside, a cloth front Flight Bench seat, a four-spoke color-keyed steering wheel, a two-tier instrument panel, a trip odometer, and an analog clock were standard. The XR-7 had no standard radio of any type—interestingly, all Thunderbirds included at least an AM radio.

Groups, Individual Options, & Production Numbers

Mercury offered three groups to upgrade the base XR-7:

  • The Decor Group ($516) added Luxury wheel covers, dual bright remote control mirrors, Twin Comfort Lounge front seats, a Luxury steering wheel, and Deluxe seat belts
  • The Luxury Group ($1,987) added a Luxury half vinyl roof, dual remote control sail-mounted mirrors, and metric TR Type radial white sidewall tires on cast aluminum wheels. Inside, it included Twin Comfort Lounge front seats with Luxury trim, the Electronic Instrument Panel, a Luxury steering wheel, power windows, and Light Group
  • The Sports Group ($1,687) added a Tu-tone paint treatment, metric TR Type radial white sidewall tires on cast aluminum wheels, dual bright remote control mirrors, Recaro front bucket seats with a console, and power side windows

Individual options included tinted glass ($71), a flip-up moonroof ($219), air conditioning ($571), and automatic speed control ($108). Leather interior trim ($303) was only available with the Luxury Group. A choice of nine radios, ranging up to an AM/FM stereo with auto-search ($333), was available. A well-equipped Cougar XR-7 could easily reach $10,500—about $45,200 in 2025 dollars.

To say the market was not ready for the 1980 Cougar XR-7 is a distinct understatement. Despite a significantly higher level of standard equipment, the XR-7 was less than five inches longer than the Zephyr Z-7 coupe, whose base price was almost 20% less. Sales of Mercury’s halo coupe collapsed, dropping from 163,716 in 1979 to 58,082 in 1980, and losing substantial sales share during a year when none of the leading General Motors competitors in the personal luxury coupe market had more than a facelift.

The View From 2025

For unclear reasons, Hagerty’s valuation tools do not track any Cougar after 1973, although they do value Ford Thunderbirds through their entire production history. Fifth-generation Cougars occasionally appear in the Hemming’s Motor News classifieds and on eBay Motors. As I write this blog entry in October 2025, there’s a Medium Blue Metallic 1980 Cougar XR-7 coupe with a dark blue vinyl top and a blue interior for sale on Hemmings, showing 31,000 miles and asking $12,000.

Make mine the same Silver Metallic/Back Tu-tone that is in those brochure pages, please.

The only other Cougar I have written about so far is the 1988 XR-7 coupe. I’ve also written about the 1980 and 1982 versions of the Thunderbird. Other Mercury models include the 1983 Grand Marquis sedan, the 1984 Grand Marquis Colony Park LS station wagon, the 1986 Capri hatchback coupe, the 1987 Lynx XR3 hatchback coupe, and the 1988 Grand Marquis Colony Park station wagon.

1980 Lincoln Versailles sedan

“Plush, inviting elegance”

1980 was the final year for Lincoln’s Versailles sedan, and little was changed. There was a new starter under the hood and an improved jack in the trunk. Twin Comfort Lounge seats replaced 1979’s Flight Bench seats. Two options were no more—the full vinyl roof and the floor-mounted shift lever. Otherwise, only color and trim changes were visible.

The 1980 Versailles’ only available powertrain was a Windsor 132 bhp 4.9 liter/302 ci V8 with a Variable Venturi carburetor mated to a three-speed automatic transmission. Car and Driver recorded a 0-60 time of 12.7 seconds, making the 3,880-pound Versailles somewhat less than a hot rod Lincoln. Fuel economy ratings were 15 city/20 highway by the day’s standards. With a 19.3-gallon gas tank, a Versailles owner could expect a range of 250 to 270 miles with a 10% fuel reserve.

Page from the 1980 Lincoln Versailles brochure
Page from the 1980 Lincoln Versailles brochure

The Versailles’ base price was $14,674 for 1980—approximately $63,000 in today’s dollars. Standard exterior and mechanical equipment included tinted glass, power steering, four-wheel power disc brakes, and FR78-14 tires (the modern semi-equivelant P205/75R14 is somewhat available). Inside, every Versailles for that year included Twin Comfort Lounge seats with fold-down center armrests, a leather-wrapped Luxury steering wheel, the Automatic Temperature Control air conditioning/heater, power windows, and an electronic AM/FM stereo search radio with a power antenna.

By 1980, base exterior and mechanical equipment included quad halogen headlamps, an illuminated/keyless entry system, an Electronic Air Suspension with automatic level control, and P215/75R15 white sidewall tires (a size still readily available) on 15-inch forged aluminum wheels. Inside, every Continental for that year included fingertip speed control, interval windshield wipers, and power door locks.

Options & Production Numbers

The Versailles had two no-cost options. Buyers got to choose either forged aluminum wheels or wire wheel covers. They also got to choose either a coach roof with a frenched backlite in Valino vinyl or convertible theme styling in Calvary Twill vinyl—no Versailles roof went unadorned.

A defroster group was $132, while a power lock group was $169. The reclining bucket seat group was $416.

Extra-cost exterior and mechanical options included dual-shade paint ($80) and a power glass panel moonroof ($1,128). Inside, leather/vinyl interior trim ($416), a tilt steering wheel ($81), and an electric rear defroster ($109) were available.

A mere 4,784 copies of the Versailles were sold in its final model year. This meant that it had failed utterly in its stated goal of competing with Cadillac’s Seville, which sold about ten times as many units in the 1979, 1980, and 1981 model years.

The View From 2025

Versailles do attract some collector interest—though not as much as the Mark VIIs and Town Cars—and there is club support. According to Hagerty’s valuation tools, a 1980 Versailles in #1/Concours condition is $17,200, while a far more normal #3/Good condition version goes for $6,900. They are sometimes available in the Hemmings Motor News classifieds and on eBay Motors, and they occasionally show up at in-person auctions. Bring a Trailer has sold a grand total of one Versailles—a 1978.

Make mine Cabernet Clearcoat Metallic, please.

Other Lincolns I have covered include the 1980 Continental Mark VI coupe, the 1984 Continental Mark VII LSC coupe, the 1986 Mark VII coupe, the 1987 Continental sedan, and the 1989 Town Car sedan.

1986 Mercedes-Benz 560SL convertible

“How is a classic transformed into a legend?”

The 1986 Mercedes-Benz 560SL marked the last significant revision to the R107 generation that had begun way back in 1972 with the 450SL. In addition to a larger and more powerful V8, Mercedes added a new rear suspension, anti-lock brakes (ABS), a limited-slip differential, a driver’s side airbag, and standard leather upholstery. The 560SL also got the federally-required high-mounted third brake light, mounted awkwardly on the trunk.

Motive power was provided by a Bosch fuel-injected 227 bhp 5.5 liter/338 ci V8 connected to a four-speed automatic transmission. Motor Trend recorded a 0-60 time of 6.8 seconds, while Road & Track recorded 7.5 seconds—no matter what, the 560SL was over three seconds faster than the 380SL. Mileage wasn’t exactly a priority in a car with 3,781-pound curb weight—the ratings of the day were 14 city mpg/17 highway (adding a $1,300 gas guzzler tax to every vehicle), by today’s standards that would be 12 city/16 highway. With the 22.5-gallon gas tank, 560SL owners could expect a range of between 280 and 315 miles with a 10% fuel reserve.

The 560SL’s base price at the beginning of the 1986 model year was $48,200—about $143,700 in today’s dollars, which is slightly under what a 2026 AMG SL 55 convertible goes for. By the end of the 1986 model year, the 560SL’s base price had risen to $53,730.

560SL pages from the 1986 Mercedes-Benz brochure

For their money, SL buyers got a plethora of standard equipment. Standard exterior and mechanical features included halogen head and fog lamps, tinted glass, power assisted steering, power assisted four wheel disc brakes, and 205/65R15 steel belted radial-ply tires (a size still readily available) on 15-inch light alloy wheels. Inside, adjustable front bucket seats and head restraints, a leather covered steering wheel and gear selector, cruise control, a central locking system, electric window lifts, fully automatic climate control, an electronic AM and FM stereo radio with a cassette player, and a first aid kit were included.

Options & Production Numbers

The 560SL offered only three factory options: heated seats, electronically adjustable headrests, and California emissions ($30).

About 13,788 well-healed buyers took home the first-year 560SL, up about 69% from the final year 380SL.

The View From 2025

There is solid club and forum support for the 560SL, as there is for almost all Mercedes-Benzes. According to Hagerty’s valuation tools, all the money for a 1986 560SL in #1/Concours condition is an astounding $150,000, while a more normal #3/Good condition car goes for $22,300. 560SLs maintain a substantial presence in the Hemming’s Motor News classifieds, on eBay Motors, and on Bring a Trailer. As I wrote this blog post in September 2025, there were 74 available on Hemmings, including 15 of the 1986 models.

Make mine Nautical Blue Metallic, please.

Other Mercedes-Benz models I have written about included the 1980 450SL convertible, the 1981 380 SEL sedan, the 1985 380SL convertible, the 1985 300SD coupe, the 1986 560SEC coupe, and the 1989 560SL convertible.

1986 Yugo GV coupe

I have a personal connection with the Yugo. My father’s younger brother worked for Malcolm Bricklin for many years, including with Yugo America. Years later, my uncle made it to the front page of the Wall Street Journal in an article entitled A Drag Racer Turns Handicap Of His Yugo to His Advantage.

“Introducing the same old idea.”

Famously advertised with a base price of $3,990, the 1986 Yugo GV was a response to escalating prices—the average transaction price of a car in the United States had just passed $10,000. Built by Zastava in Yugoslavia, the Yugo was a shortened variant of the Fiat 128—a design dating from 1969. Serial entrepreneur Malcolm Bricklin saw potential in the Yugo and created Yugo America to import the car into the United States. The GV stood for Great Value.

The Yugo was a tiny car by mid-1980s standards, with a 139-inch length and an 84-inch wheelbase. The slightly more expensive 1986 Chevrolet Chevette hatchback coupe was 18% longer and had a 13% greater wheelbase, while the same year’s class-leading Honda Civic hatchback was 8% longer and had a 12% greater wheelbase. The also newly available Hyundai Excel hatchback coupe was notably larger.

Power, if you could call it that, was provided by a 55 bhp 1.1 liter/68 ci inline four with a two-barrel carburetor. A four-speed manual was standard, and Car and Driver recorded a 0-60 time of 14.0 seconds. Fuel mileage was rated at 25 city/31 highway by the day’s standards (22/29 by modern measures). With a small 8.4-gallon gas tank, a Yugo owner could expect a short range of 195 to 210 miles with a 10% fuel reserve.

1986 Yugo GV print advertisement
1986 Yugo GV print advertisement

Standard exterior and mechanical equipment on the Yugo GV included opening front vent windows, a rear-window wiper, front-wheel-drive, rack and pinion steering, front disc/rear drum brakes, and 145R13 74H tires (now barely available) on 13-inch wheels. Inside, cloth/vinyl reclining front bucket seats, a fold-down rear seat, a rear-window defroster, and a small tool kit were included. A full-sized spare tire was stored under the hood.

The Yugo offered few options—neither air conditioning nor an automatic transmission were available for the 1986 model year. Yugo buyers could choose a variety of dealer-installed radios.

Many Jokes & One Survey

Yugo jokes were many. Just a few of them:

  • What do you call a Yugo with twin tailpipes? A wheelbarrow.
  • What do you call a Yugo with a flat tire? Totaled.
  • How do you make a Yugo go from 0 to 60 in five seconds? Push it off a cliff.
  • Why do Yugos have rear-window defrosters? To keep your hands warm.
  • How do you double the value of a Yugo? Fill the gas tank.
  • What’s on the first page of the Yugo owner’s manual? The bus schedule.

Popular Mechanics‘ owners survey for the Yugo GV found that Yugo buyers wanted a new car instead of a comparably-priced used one, and that, as one said, “you have to keep the car in perspective.”

The View From 2025

Oh, these are vanished. Bring a Trailer has sold a grand total of eight over nine years, and they’re long gone from Hemmings and eBay Motors.

Make mine Adriatic Blue, please.

1986 Chevrolet Nova sedan

“Merging the best of both worlds.”

After a soft rollout in the Midwest in early 1985, 1986 was the first full model year for the fifth-generation Chevrolet Nova sedan, which was built in the New United Motor Manufacturing Incorporated (NUMMI) plant in Fremont, California—a collaboration between General Motors and Toyota. Of course, these front-wheel-drive Novas had nothing to do with the previous four rear-wheel-drive generations, the last of which had been seen in the 1979 model year.

The new Nova was a rebadged and mildly restyled version of the Japanese market Toyota Sprinter, itself a model sold in Japan as a badge-engineered version of the Toyota Corolla. The pre-existing design was chosen over a clean-sheet approach because it could be brought to market more quickly.

The Nova’s standard powertrain was the 4-AC 70 bhp 1.6 liter/97 ci inline four with a two-barrel carburetor paired with a five-speed manual. A three-speed automatic was optional. Car and Driver recorded a 0-60 time of 12.4 seconds with the manual in a car with a 2,260-pound curb weight—edging toward slow by 1986. Mileage ratings with the manual were 30 city/37 highway by the day’s standards (26/33 by today’s measures). As was normal in the eighties, the automatic gave up some mileage—off two mpg in the city and five mpg on the highway. With a 13.2-gallon gas tank, the owner of a manual Nova could expect a range of 355 to 395 miles with a 10% fuel reserve.

1986 Chevrolet Nova print advertisement
1986 Chevrolet Nova print advertisement

The Nova sedan’s price was $7,435—about $22,700 in 2025 dollars or slightly over what a 2025 Chevrolet Trax LS compact crossover SUV goes for. Standard exterior and mechanical equipment included tinted glass, narrow black body side moldings, front wheel drive, rack-and-pinion steering, power front disk/rear drum brakes, and P155/80R13 all-season steel-belted radial tires (a size still available courtesy of Kumho) on 13-inch wheels with a wheel center cap. Inside, reclining front seats with adjustable head restraints, cloth and vinyl seat trim, cut-pile carpeting, a full length console, side window defoggers, and an AM radio were included.

The Nova CL sedan added a wide body side molding and half-cap wheel covers. Inside, all CLs had a Custom Cloth interior, a driver’s seat with lumbar support and vertical adjustment, a console with a storage box and an armrest, a right-side visor vanity mirror, and an adjustable steering wheel.

Option Packages, Period Reviews, & Production Numbers

The 1986 Nova’s configurability was described mainly by eight separate packages, half of them manual and half automatic:

  • Base Package 1 was the base sedan
  • Base Package 2 ($610) added the three-speed automatic, left-hand remote and right-hand manual outside mirrors, and power steering
  • Base Package 3 ($1,180) added halogen high and low beam headlamps, left-hand remote and right-hand manual outside mirrors, power steering, air conditioning, an electric rear window defogger, and an electronically-tuned AM/FM stereo radio with seek/scan and a digital clock to the base sedan
  • Base Package 4 ($1,575) added halogen high and low beam headlamps, air conditioning, an electric rear window defogger, and an electronically-tuned AM/FM stereo radio with seek/scan and a digital clock to Base Package 2
  • CL Package 5 ($1,730) added halogen high and low beam headlamps, left-hand remote and right-hand manual outside mirrors, power steering, air conditioning, an electric rear window defogger, and an electronically-tuned AM/FM stereo radio with seek/scan and a digital clock to the CL sedan
  • CL Package 6 ($2,125) added the three-speed automatic, halogen high and low beam headlamps, left-hand remote and right-hand manual outside mirrors, power steering, air conditioning, an electric rear window defogger, and an electronically-tuned AM/FM stereo radio with seek/scan and a digital clock to the CL sedan
  • CL Package 7 ($2,515) was the sportiest of the Novas and added P175/70R-13 all-season steel belted radial ply blackwall tires, aluminum wheels, electronic speed control with resume speed, an intermittent windshield washer system, and an electronically-tuned AM/FM stereo radio with seek/scan, stereo cassette tape, and a digital clock to CL Package 5
  • CL Package 8 ($2,620) was the most luxurious Nova and added a power door lock system, electronic speed control with resume speed, an intermittent windshield washer system, and an electronically-tuned AM/FM stereo radio with seek/scan, stereo cassette tape, and a digital clock to CL Package 6

The Nova’s only individual option was Two-Tone paint ($176), which was only available with the CL. The absolute fanciest CL sedan retailed for $10,231—about $30,500 in today’s dollars, which is about what a well-equipped 2025 Chevrolet Trailblazer LT compact crossover SUV goes for.

Period reviews freely acknowledged that the Nova was basically a rebadged Corolla. Road & Track‘s tagline was “we have met the enemy, and they is us”—another repackaging of Walt Kelly. Motor Trend stated that the Nova was the “latest installment in the ongoing serial of “If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em.”” Popular Mechanics got more personal and asked, “Can a Japanese car built in California find happiness in America?”

Chevrolet sold 124,961 Nova sedans in the 1986 model year, in addition to the 27,943 that had been sold in the 1985 soft rollout. Predictably, the quality of the Nova was considerably higher than that of any other Chevrolet compact car.

The View From 2025

Some call them “Toyolets,” but I’m going to declare this version of the Nova as vanished. I haven’t seen a fifth-generation Nova in the wild for decades, and they have little presence in the Hemmings Motor News classifieds or on eBay Motors. Bring a Trailer has sold a grand total of one—a 1987 sedan.

Make mine Dark Red Metallic, please.

Other 1986 Chevrolets I have written about include the Camaro Berlinetta hatchback coupe, the Cavalier Z24 coupe, and the Corvette convertible.

1989 Lincoln Town Car sedan

“Luxury that needs no introduction.”

For the 1989 model year, the final big Lincoln of the 1980s remained essentially unchanged. The base version gained a fancier “Frenched” back window on its standard vinyl roof. Otherwise, only color and trim changes were visible.

The 1989 Town Car’s only available powertrain was a Windsor 150 bhp 4.9 liter/302 ci V8 with sequential multi-port fuel injection mated with a four-speed automatic with overdrive. An optional dual exhaust added 10 bhp. 0-60 came in a little over 11 seconds in a car with about a 4,100-pound curb weight. Fuel economy was 17 city/24 highway by the day’s standards (15/22 by 2025 measures). With a smallish 18.0-gallon gas tank (compared to the competition), a Town Car owner could expect a middling range of 300 to 330 miles with a 10% fuel reserve.

Front cover of the 1989 Lincoln Town Car brochure
Front cover of the 1989 Lincoln Town Car brochure

The Town Car’s base price was $25,205 for 1989—approximately $67,700 in today’s dollars, or almost exactly what the 2025 Lincoln Aviator Reserve SUV goes for. Standard exterior and mechanical equipment included quad-rectangular halogen headlamps, tinted glass, power recirculating ball steering, power front disc/rear drum brakes, and P215/70R15 white sidewall steel-belted radial tires (a size still readily available) on 15-inch steel wheels with full wheel covers. Inside, 50/50 Twin Comfort Lounge cloth front seats, a six-way power driver’s seat, interval wipers, fingertip speed control, Automatic Climate Control, power windows, power vents, power door locks, and an AM/FM stereo cassette radio with a six-speaker Premium Sound System were included.

Series’, Options, & Production Numbers

For $3,301 over the base Continental, the Signature Series added the Comfort/Convenience Group, which included a six-way power front passenger’s seat, rear floor mats, dual illuminated visor vanity mirrors, a headlamp convenience system, and a power decklid pulldown. A Luxury half-vinyl coach roof with a frenched rear window, turbine-spoke aluminum wheels, and an illuminated/keyless entry system also came with the Signature Series.

For an additional $1,326, the Cartier Designer Series included everything in the Signature Series and added Dual-Shade paint in Silver Frost Clearcoat Metallic over Pewter Clearcoat Metallic, a Silver Frost coach roof, and maroon accent stripes. Inside, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and front floor mats with the Cartier logo were included. Cartier purchasers got a no-cost choice of either leather and cloth seat trim or all leather seat trim.

Exterior and mechanical options included a power glass moonroof ($1,420), a Traction-Lok differential ($101), and wire-spoke aluminum wheels ($873 for the base car, $395 otherwise). Interior options included an automatic-dim day/night mirror ($89), an Anti-Theft Alarm System ($200), a twelve-speaker Ford JBL Audio System with a 140-watt amplifier ($525), and a compact disc player ($617). The Cartier Designer Series was the only way to get Dual-Shade paint in the 1988 model year.

1989 was a good year for Lincoln’s traditional full-size sedan. 123,669 were sold, making the Town Car almost 60% of total Lincoln production, and marking the peak for the first-generation Town Car.

The View From 2025

Town Cars of this era attract collector interest—and there is club support. According to Hagerty’s valuation tools, a 1989 Town Car in #1/Concours condition is $26,900, with a far more normal #3/Good condition version going for $4,800. These Town Cars are often available in the Hemmings Motor News classifieds, on eBay Motors, and on Bring a Trailer. As I write this blog entry in September 2025, there’s a Cinnabar Clearcoat Metallic 1989 Town Car with 8,700 miles for sale on Hemmings, asking $34,500.

Make mine that same Cinnabar Clearcoat Metallic, please.

Other Lincolns I have covered include the 1980 Continental Mark VI coupe, the 1984 Continental Mark VII LSC coupe, the 1986 Mark VII coupe, and the 1987 Continental sedan.

1980 Buick Skylark sedan

“… a car to delight the driver in you.”

Along with the other X-cars, the Buick Skylark was all new for 1980. Only the model name was carried over as the Skylark moved from rear-wheel-drive to front-wheel-drive and downsized yet again, losing about a foot and a half in overall length.

The Skylark name was a long-running and important one to Buick. 1953’s gorgeous limited production Roadmaster Skylark convertible was followed by the smaller Century-based Skylark convertible in 1954. In the middle of the 1961 model year, the Skylark name was reintroduced as a luxury trim of the Special compact. For 1962, the Skylark became its own model. By 1964, the Skylark had become its own model line and had moved to an intermediate size. The intermediate rear wheel drive Skylark would continue for three generations (with one slight interruption in 1973-74).

Like with every other 1980 X-car, the Skylark’s standard engine was GM’s Iron Duke 90 bhp 2.5 liter/151 ci inline four with a Rochester Varajet II two-barrel carburetor, paired with a four-speed manual transmission. Fuel economy was 24 city/38 highway by the day’s standards (21/34 by today’s measures). With a 14-gallon gas tank, a Skylark’s driver could expect a range of 350 to 390 miles with a 10% fuel reserve. 0-60 times for the Iron Duke are hard to find, but were likely around 16 seconds for the four-speed manual transmission and probably about 19 seconds (oog) with the optional ($337) three-speed automatic transmission.

Spending $225 to upgrade to the LE2 2.8 liter/173 ci V6 with a Rochester Varajet II two-barrel carburetor got you 115 bhp and a 0-60 time of a little over 13 seconds. Fuel economy dropped substantially to 20 city/28 highway with the four-speed manual transmission. Moving to the three-speed automatic transmission dropped highway mileage to 27 mpg.

Sedan pages from the 1980 Buick Skylark brochure
Sedan pages from the 1980 Buick Skylark brochure

Standard exterior and mechanical equipment on the $5,306 Buick Skylark sedan included front-wheel-drive, rack-and-pinion steering, front disc/rear drum brakes, and P185/80R13 fiberglass-belted radial-ply tires (a size now only marginally available) on 13-inch wheels. Inside, buyers got a no-cost choice of either a houndstooth cloth or a vinyl notchback front bench seat. A Delco AM radio with two front speakers and a windshield antenna was also included.

The $5,726 Skylark Limited included a distinctive hood ornament, wide rocker and wheel opening moldings, Deluxe wheel covers, and a gas strut under the hood. Inside, a choice of a Limited level brushed woven cloth or a vinyl notch back seat with a fold-down center armrest, door entry courtesy lights, a simulated wood grain instrument panel, a special acoustic insulation package, and a plush carpeted back window panel were present. Limited identification was, of course, included.

The $5,920 Skylark Sport Sedan included a specially styled grille, amber front park and turn lamps, front and rear bumper strips, black moldings, wheel opening moldings, Sport mirrors, smoked tail lamp lenses, a Rallye ride-and-handling package system, a larger rear stabilizer bar, and P205/70R-13 steel-belted radial-ply blackwall tires on Designers’ Sport wheels. Inside, the Sport Sedan included a Sport steering wheel and a black instrument panel with a voltmeter, a temperature gage, and a trip odometer.

Options & Production Numbers

The Skylark’s options list gives you a sense that Buick was trying to serve two masters. The base prices were affordable, but you could load the Skylark sedan up with thousands of dollars’ worth of options, bringing it close to a Century or a LeSabre.

Individual exterior and mechanical options for the Skylark included the Designers’ Accent paint treatment ($174), a Landau top, a long vinyl top, a Vista-Vent flip-open glass sunroof ($240), power steering ($164), power brakes ($76), and chrome-plated road wheels ($141). Inside, front bucket seats ($48), a 6-way power seat ($165), a full-length operating console, Cruise-Master speed control ($105), a tilt steering column ($75), air conditioning ($564), power windows ($189), and electric door locks ($123) were available.

Four Delco radios ranging up to an AM/FM stereo with a cassette tape player and a CB ($491) were available. Lower body sport stripes with a Hawk decal were available only for the Skylark Sports versions.

Buick sold 80,940 base Skylark sedans in the 1980 model year. Combined Limited and Sports Sedan sales totalled 86,948, with the vast majority being the Limited. The Skylark was 26% of Buick’s total production in 1980.

Despite an astounding nine recalls for the 1980 version, the Skylark’s yearly sales percentage declines were notably less than those of other X cars—by 1983, Buick was actually selling more Skylarks than Chevrolet was selling Citations. The fifth-generation Skylark sedan, which Buick called its “little limousine,” would continue through the 1985 model year and end up selling 729,523 copies over six model years.

The View From 2025

A few—but only a few—of the X-cars were saved, and Skylarks of this generation occasionally appear in the Hemming’s Motor News classifieds, on eBay Motors, and on Bring a Trailer.

Make mine Dark Red Metallic, please.

Other X-bodies I’ve written about in this blog included the 1980 Chevrolet Citation hatchback sedan, the 1981 Chevrolet Citation X-11 hatchback coupe, the 1982 Pontiac Phoenix SJ coupe, the 1983 Buick Skylark T TYPE coupe, the 1984 Oldsmobile Omega sedan, and the 1985 Chevrolet Citation II hatchback sedan.

1982 Ford Thunderbird coupe

For some reason, I’m always interested in the last year of a “failed” model. Usually, not much gets changed, as the manufacturer’s hopes have already been dashed. For Labor Day 2025, we’ll cover the fruits of Ford’s labors for the 1982 model year.

“Three distinctive series, each built to be driven with pride.”

For 1982, Ford’s Thunderbird personal luxury coupe added a 3.8 liter V6 option, and removed the 4.9 liter V8 option. A Tripminder trip computer was a new option, and the gas tank size increased to 21 gallons. Otherwise, Ford changed little besides colors and trims.

Ford engine availability and power ratings were still in decline in 1982—except if you were purchasing a Mustang. The Thunderbird’s standard powertrain was the Thriftpower Six 87 bhp 3.3 liter/200 ci inline six with a one-barrel carburetor paired with a SelectShift three-speed automatic transmission. Powertrain upgrades were available: buyers could specify the aforementioned Essex 112 bhp 3.8 liter/232 ci V6 with a two-barrel carburetor or the Windsor 120 bhp 4.2 liter/255 ci V8 with a Motorcraft two-barrel carburetor. Both of the optional engines cost $241.

The Thunderbird was a notably different car depending on the engine choice. Looking at the table, it’s hard not to believe that the new Essex engine was the winner—almost as quick as the Windsor V8, and with notably better fuel mileage than either the inline six or the V8.

Thriftpower Six
(3.3 liter inline six)		Essex
(3.8 liter V6)		Windsor
(4.2 liter V8)
0-60 mph
(approximate)		17.3 seconds13.2 seconds12.6 seconds
Fuel mileage
(1982 standards)		17 city/24 highway19 city/30 highway17 city/26 highway
Range
(10% fuel reserve)		315 to 345 miles375 to 415 miles330 to 365 miles

Standard exterior and mechanical equipment on the $8,492 base Thunderbird (about $29,400 in today’s dollars) included concealed rectangular halogen headlamps, variable ratio power rack and pinion steering, power front disc/rear drum brakes, full wheel covers, and P-metric white sidewall steel-belted radial ply tires. Inside, a Flight bench seat in fine-ribbed cloth and vinyl trim, a day/night inside mirror, a trip odometer, a quartz electric clock, and an AM radio were included.

Packages, Options, & Production Numbers

Ford continued to decontent the $9,703 Town Landau (approximately $33,600 now), so its price was closer to the base Thunderbird compared to 1980. Moving up still added Luxury wheel covers, dual remote control mirrors, diagnostic warning lights, interval windshield wipers, a tilt steering wheel, and an AM/FM stereo radio. The Luxury vinyl roof—a padded rear half vinyl roof with a color-coordinated wrapover band and coach lamps—was also standard on the Town Landau. Finally, the included Interior Decor Group added cloth covered head restraints (vinyl if vinyl trim was purchased), Decor door trim panels with assist straps, and a choice of either split bench seats with dual recliners in higher level knit cloth fabric or bucket seats with console.

For the second year, the Heritage edition was the top-of-the-line Thunderbird ($12,472 then, $43,100 now). Exterior and mechanical features the Heritage edition added over the Town Landau included front cornering lamps, complete tinted glass, rocker panel moldings, the 3.8 liter V6 engine, an Automatic Overdrive transmission, and wire wheel covers. Inside, the Heritage edition included a 6-way power driver’s seat, an electronic instrument cluster, air conditioning with manual controls, the power lock group, and an AM/FM stereo search radio.

Every Heritage edition buyer also got a padded rear half vinyl roof with a brushed aluminum wrapover band, coach lamps, and a frenched backlight. They also received the Interior Luxury Group, which included split bench seats with dual recliners in crushed velour cloth, cloth covered head restraints, a Luxury steering wheel, an automated parking brake release, a right hand visor illuminated vanity mirror, 18-oz floor carpeting, burled rosewood woodtone instrument and door panel appliques, the Light Group (dual beam map light, instrument panel courtesy lights, and engine compartment light), power side windows, interval windshield wipers, diagnostic warning lights, an electronic digital clock, and Luxury luggage compartment trim.

Individual options included a flip-up open-air roof ($276), metallic glow paint ($80), a Tu-Tone paint/tape treatment ($128-206), the Keyless Entry System ($319), Recaro bucket seats with a console ($523/$405/$222 depending on series), the SelectAire conditioner with automatic temperature control ($754 for all but the Heritage, which charged $78), and the Tripminder trip computer ($215-261). Nine different audio selections were available, ranging up to an electronic AM/FM stereo search radio with a cassette tape player and the Dolby noise reduction system ($318/$233/$87), which could be paired with the Premium Sound System ($133-187).

Ford sold 45,142 Thunderbirds in the 1982 model year, which was the lowest number since 1975. It was handily outsold by all four of the mid-size GM coupes: Buick Regal, Chevrolet Monte Carlo, Oldsmobile Cutlass, and Pontiac Grand Prix. It would take the next Thunderbird design in 1983 to redress this balance.

The View From 2025

According to Hagerty’s valuation tools, a 1982 Thunderbird with the V8 in #1/Concours condition is $17,400, with a far more typical #3/Good “normal” Thunderbird with the six going for $6,500. This generation of Thunderbirds maintains a presence in the Hemmings Motor News classifieds, on eBay Motors, and on Bring a Trailer, but you see very few 1982 examples. As I update this blog entry in October 2025, there’s a Silver Metallic 1980 with gray cloth seats and the 255 ci V8 on Hemmings, showing 73,000 miles and asking $11,500.

Make mine the extra-cost Medium Blue Glow, please.

Other eighties Thunderbirds I have written about include the 1980 coupe, the 1983 Turbo Coupe, and the 1987 standard coupe.

Last updated October 2025.

1983 Dodge Shelby Charger hatchback coupe

“It ain’t just paint.”

Dodge released the Shelby Charger hatchback coupe in February 1983. Based on the Dodge Charger 2.2, the Shelby Charger marked the reunion of Lee Iacocca and Carroll Shelby, years after their legendary success with the 1965 to 1970 Ford Mustang. It was the first vehicle to emerge from the Chrysler-Shelby technical center in Santa Fe Springs, CA.

Motive power was provided by a 107 bhp 2.2 liter/135 ci inline four with a two-barrel carburetor, which was mated to a five-speed manual transmission. With the aid of a 2,400-pound curb weight, Car and Driver recorded a 0-60 mph time of 9.0 seconds—sprightly for a reasonably priced sports coupe in 1983 and faster than the class-leading Volkswagen GTI. As usual, most other testers were notably slower—Road & Track listed a 10.0 second 0-60 time.

Fuel economy ratings were an impressive 25 city/40 highway by the day’s standards. With a 13-gallon gas tank, the owner of a Shelby Charger could expect a range of 310 to 340 miles with a 10% fuel reserve.

1983 Dodge Shelby Charger print advertisement
1983 Dodge Shelby Charger print advertisement

The Dodge Shelby Charger’s base price was $8,290—about $27,400 in today’s dollars, or about 9% less than a 2025 Dodge Hornet GT crossover goes for. Standard exterior and mechanical equipment included a front air dam, halogen headlamps, tinted glass on all windows, a rear spoiler, a special handling sport suspension, quick ratio power rack and pinion steering, heavy duty power front disc/rear drum brakes, and 195/50VR15 Goodyear Eagle GT tires (a size still readily available) on 15-inch cast aluminum wheels. Inside, front cloth bucket seats featured a CS logo, a Sport steering wheel, a console, a Rallye instrument panel cluster with a tachometer, clock, and trip odometer, and a power liftgate release were included.

Options, Period Reviews, & Production Numbers

Options included air conditioning ($632), automatic speed control ($176), and a series of four radios ranging up to an electronically tuned AM/FM stereo with a cassette player ($485).

Period reviews were generally positive, with many magazines pleased to see Carroll Shelby back in the automotive modification business. Car and Driver stated that the Shelby Charger was “built to slay giants.” Road & Track‘s tag line was “Carroll helps Chrysler bring back the Sixties,” which seems like just a bit of overreach. R&T also compared the Shelby Charger with the Nissan 200SX and the Toyota Celica GT-S. All was not perfect, and just about everyone complained about the seats and the steering wheel.

Dodge produced 8,251 Shelby Chargers for the 1983 model year, making the shortened first year of production the highest of the five years the model was available. 63% of 1983 Shelby Chargers were Santa Fe Blue Crystal Coat, with the rest being Silver Metallic. After 1987, the front-wheel-drive Charger would be gone, replaced by the Shadow, which would have its own Shelby version.

The View From 2025

Though Hagerty doesn’t track their values, Shelby Chargers do have their own following as part of Dodge’s storied high-performance history. They are often available in the Hemmings Motor News classifieds, on eBay Motors, and on Bring a Trailer. As I update this blog post in October 2025, there’s a Ruby Red Pearl Coat 1985 Shelby Charger with a grey and tan interior and 134,000 miles for sale on Hemmings, asking $19,000.

Make mine Santa Fe Blue Crystal Coat, please. That also gets me the silver stripe.

Other sporty Dodges I have written about include the 1984 Daytona Turbo Z hatchback coupe, the 1985 Shelby Charger hatchback coupe, and the 1985 Omni GLH hatchback sedan. I should write about the Shadow, and maybe the Mirada.

Last updated October 2025.