Your ideal “80’s Car Museum” cars

VW GTI 16v

VW Rabbit GTI

VW Scirocco 16v

Mercedes 560SEL

E30 BMW

First gen Acura Integra

Ford EXP

Plymouth Fire Arrow

Maserati Quatttroporte III

Maserati Biturbo

Maserati TC (plus for the one with the maserati head)

Renault Alliance GTA

Peugeot 505 turbo

Peugeot 405 MI16

Chevy Citation X-11

84 corvette 

Tons of cool stuff here.  For an actual museum,  I'd go for cars that were "game changers" when they came out.  I'd first nominate a clean example of an '84 Dodge Caravan.  They were a revolution.  An early K car would probably fit the description too.

In some ways, the '86 Taurus and Sable were game changers.  I'd include a minty clean Sable ('cause I like the styling better), or if you can find a super clean Taurus MT5

The '84 Corvette would be a no-brainer. 

I'm sure there are others I'm not thinking of.

Then I'd start throwing in the oddball cars, such as the Subie XT6, Nissan Pulsar hatch, Citroen SX, maybe even one of the talking Chrysler E Class/LeBarons. 

I'd also include a Mercedes W126 chassis ('80's S class).  They were one of the ultimate status symbols of '80s excess.

What about adding a Cadillac Cimarron?  What better example of funny yet tragically sad GM badge engineering?

VW Cabrio was very '80s and very symbolic of the Beverly Hills valley girl culture of the the day, I'd get one of those.  Park it next to a 5.0 'Stang, so you're representing both genders.

Pontiac Firefly / Chevrolet Sprint Turbo

Honda CRX 

RX7 (both first and 2nd gen please!)

IROC Camaro

And of course the ubiquitous yuppie BMW 3 and 5 series :)

Greg Smith (Forum Supporter) said:

 

And of course the ubiquitous yuppie BMW 3 and 5 series :)

 

 

I wonder if the Saab 900 'vert would be a better yuppie status symbol icon?  They even had that rear "wing" which looked like a starched turned up shirt collar.

Indy Fiero and Saab Toppola.

Also...any car in your museum that has a GM 2.8 V6 should be required to have a bad muffler.

Firebird/Trans Am 

Chevy S-10 4x4 short box

Sunbird Turbo

Fiero GT 

Citation X11

Monte SS

Thunderbird Turbo Coupe

Woody said:

Also...any car in your museum that has a GM 2.8 V6 should be required to have a bad muffler.

I don't know why, but I always loved the sound of the exhaust on the 2.8 and 3.1L.  The engines weren't great by any stretch, but the cars always had a unique sound to them.

Holy crap, you guys are nailing it. Some we'd discussed and I'd forgotten about. Some I'd never considered.

In reply to Tk8398 :

1G Integra is an awesome suggestion. IIRC, there was an "LE" model with special side-skirts, rear-spoiler, and DOHC badges.

aircooled said:

RX7 GSL SE

(I don't know if you want non-US cars):

Mitsibushi Cyborg

R32 Skyline

 

GSL SE is definitely on the list. Forgot about that one.

NickD said:

Subaru BRAT

OOOOOOH YEEEEEEEAH!

1986 Pontiac Grand Prix Aerocoupe

Also, 1982 Mustang GT dark red

Antihero (Forum Supporter) said:

Delorean definitely has to happen.

 

All the Dodge Shelby cars too( which seem to be escalating quick in value)

Yes to all the TD's as I am a whore for them. Not so much on Deloreans. I know they "scream 80's," but, I dunno. I'm thinking of stuff I'd freak out looking at at a car show.

Oh, and 1988 BMW M6

wawazat said:

1986 Pontiac Grand Prix Aerocoupe

 

YES!

Cosworth RS500

Last one...for now anyways.

ASC McLaren

Fox body convertible, 2 seater, unique body mods and top.

Nissan Maxima SE

Nissan 240SX

Ford Mustang GT with the so ‘80’s louvered tail lights. 

Late 80’s Chevy Silverado 

Toyota Celica  All-Trac Turbo

Triumph TR8

81 > Citation X11 

1986 Pontiac sunbird GT turbo

fun fact that year had fwd Muncie 4 spd 

and why not Ford exp 

If this isn't bought right now, it's not an 80's museum

https://gainesville.craigslist.org/cto/d/gainesville-rare-1984-isuzu-impulse/7135500453.html