Growing up as a child in the '80s had its ups and its downs. Sure, every generation looks back at its past-self and wonders-out-loud, "What were you thinking," from time to time. Still, our generation sure did have plenty of cool cars, and many of those were featured on television. A rare day went by when we didn't lust for Magnum P.I.'s Ferrari 308; sitting in the movie theater being mesmerized by Doc's De Lorean (not that it's that great of a car, but it's iconic nonetheless) from Back to the Future; or salivating over the Ferrari Daytona and Testarossa from Miami Vice?
British television viewers have also had their fair share of hit shows with vehicular co-stars. According to a survey by HPI Limited, Porsche's peerless 911 has earned the top spot as the ultimate '80s car, followed only one percentage point in the rears by the original Audi Quattro -- a car featured on current U.K. television in the show Ashes to Ashes. British TV fans also have fond memories of the Ford Capri SLE 71R driven by Terry McCann in Minder, a long-running comedy-drama in the U.K.
With many of our readers residing in our own age bracket, we'd love to get your input on the ultimate '80s car in the comments, and feel free to mention more of your favorite cars made famous on TV.
[Source: HPI International]
PRESS RELEASE
FIRE UP THE 911
HPI survey reveals the Porsche 911 is the ultimate in 80s cars
Gene Hunt would doubtless mutter resignedly about "southern nancies" but the Porsche 911 has beaten his beloved Audi Quattro in a new survey of dream eighties cars.
With the hit BBC TV series, Ashes to Ashes drawing to a close this week, the Porsche 911 took almost a third of all votes 29%, just pipping the Audi Quattro with 28%, to be crowned the decades most desirable car, in a poll conducted by vehicle check specialists HPI.
Both cars left their 80s rivals trailing in the dust, with only the Ford Sierra RS Cosworth and BMW M5 to make any impression in the survey with 15% and 12% respectively.
The survey also asked respondents about which iconic cars from that period they most fondly remembered, and it was another TV car that swept all before it. The Ford Capri SLE 71R, immortalised by Terry McCann in Minder, polled 30% of the votes, receiving more than twice as many votes as the Jaguar XJ6 driven by his TV boss Arthur Daly which polled 11%.
Sonny Crockett's Ferrari Testarossa also proved memorable with the Miami Vice car getting 26% of the votes. The DeLorean DMC12 from Back to the Future was next with 23% and the Ferrari 308, as driven by Magnum, scooped up 21% of the vote. But it wasn't all high performance vehicles that were fondly regarded, the Reliant Regal – the three-wheeler of choice of Del Trotter in Only Fools & Horses came fifth with 19%.
The HPI survey also revealed that despite the 80s stereotype of dodgy car dealers as celebrated in shows such as Minder, two thirds of used car buyers were actually more trusting then than they are now – a result that surprised Nick Lindsay, Director of HPI.
"The revelation that used car buyers felt more confident buying a car in the 80s is, I believe, down to the greater levels of awareness now about car crime, such as clocking and cloning. At HPI we have long led the way in helping car buyers arm themselves against the unscrupulous, providing the most comprehensive history check on an unprecedented number of vehicles over many decades.
"The success of Ashes to Ashes and the proposed remake of Minder have piqued people's interest in 80s cars again and, though you need to approach older cars with care, they need not necessarily be old bangers. In fact, as this survey has shown, many of these vehicles are highly desirable classics. With our unrivalled database able to reveal if your dream car is all it's cracked up to be, HPI is the ideal place to turn if you are thinking of reliving those glory days."
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Mark Stevenson @ Mar 27th 2008 6:52PM
One word: Countach.
Paul Y @ Mar 27th 2008 6:57PM
Seconded. As much as I love 911s, the Countach is the embodiment of the 80s.
Franz @ Mar 27th 2008 7:03PM
Ditto. I think every teenager either had a poster of a Countach on their bedroom wall, or they wish they did.
mickster @ Mar 27th 2008 7:06PM
Ditto; second: Porsche 928 (Risky Business anyone???); Third, Ferrari 308 (s or b, quatrovalvole perferred); Fourth, Porsche 911; Fifth: Pontiac Firebird Trans Am (in K.I.T.T. trim only of course!!!)
k.w.a @ Mar 27th 2008 7:35PM
i was about to say the EXACT same thing... i mean it's practically on every car poster.. even to this day
Stoobiedoo @ Mar 27th 2008 8:20PM
My favorite as a kid was a poster of a Countach painted up to look like a cop car on a beach/desert road, pulling over a motorcycle with the headline "Welcome to California".
I cringed a little bit when Top Gear had it on the show and they showed how bad it was.
rav3 @ Mar 27th 2008 6:57PM
I love me some Targas...
BlackbirdHighway @ Mar 27th 2008 7:03PM
I suppose we can't consider Columbo's 1959 Peugeot 403 Cabriolet convertible? Nah!
HotRodzNKustoms @ Mar 27th 2008 7:10PM
So many cars could claim this title
F40
Countach
911
308
DMC12
Grand National
W126 S classes
Just how you choose is beyond me
havoc @ Mar 27th 2008 7:13PM
camaro berlinetta.
ugly slow pointless and lavish at the same time
Richard Owen @ Mar 27th 2008 7:13PM
Compared to the F40, the 911 is a nasty Zuffenhausen creation with its engine hanging out the back.
Dream cars, Ultimate cars? Countach, F40, 959.
havoc @ Mar 27th 2008 7:19PM
what are your requirements?
technological dominance?
technological advancement?
superfluous and gaudy cladding?
track record?
power output?
the 928, the 308 and the T/A were all cars we saw on US tv shows in the 80s.
the good the bad and the ugly i'd say:
959, cimarron, delorean
Fooman @ Mar 27th 2008 7:30PM
I'm 32 and Countach screams 80's like nothing else... Although a charcoal grey 911 with the factory turbo appearance kit (widebody and whale tail), and color matched Fuch's.....
Johnnycake @ Mar 27th 2008 7:31PM
Loved my poster of the Vector W-2. The American Countach.
POV @ Mar 27th 2008 7:31PM
Tesatrossa was the car for me. They were so wide and flat and unlike anything back then. The side strakes/gills were awesome then but really dated now.
Countach was/is also great. Also Isdera and Porsche 928.
SPG @ Mar 27th 2008 7:45PM
I'd have to say that the Mercedes 190e and the BMW 3-Series are the ultimate 80's cars.
In the "Me" generation style to impress was everything.
And having an aspirational car was a big deal. Bigger then now even.
GOKARTN @ Mar 27th 2008 7:47PM
I always like the BMW 635CSI or M6
Jvijil @ Mar 29th 2008 2:01PM
i'm gonna have to agree with you... love that car
Michael @ Mar 27th 2008 8:18PM
I m kinda partial to the black 85 Porsche 930 in my garage .
f1pilot @ Mar 27th 2008 8:33PM
AMG Hammer