The 1980s was one of the best decades for GM as they made one of the best cars in the industry and rivaled the German carmakers. In the 80s GM saw huge growth and the carmaker was loaded with money to spend on great muscle cars that attracted the economy class. What many people saw as the rise of America’s biggest carmaker, was due to the high demands from the economic class that was on the rise. The company was thriving with good cars, some cars turned out to be a huge hit. These are the top 10 best GM cars from the 80s.
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10. Cadillac Allante
Starting off the list with the Cadillac Allante, a car which was almost perfect to its heart. Cadillac which ruled in the 50s and 60s in luxury and premium car sector came back with the Allante. The Cadillac Allante was a beautiful American made car with the Italian design philosophy. It was designed by the popular designer Pininfarina, a name behind many Ferraris and Alfa Romeos. Apart from the beautiful design, the Allante carried a proper V8 engine which just made it more meaner.
9. Chevrolet OBS
The Cadillac OBS or the GMC C/K no matter what you call it, this pickup is among the most popular pickups of all time. A pickup that not only stunning with its looks but also sporty with its performance. The Chevy pickup came with several powertrain options from sturdy V6 and heavy-duty diesel engines to massive V8s. The Chevy OBS is still a legendary blast from the past as people choose it instead of their regular cars.
8. Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS
The Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS is a luxury G-body car in the style of a Riviera. During one of the best days of NASCAR, Chevrolet desperately needed a good car to compete in the race after the Chevelle was discontinued. Being the top SS trim, the Monte Carlo was just the right fit. It came with a powerful 305 cu. in. V8 which made over 180 horsepower.
7. Pontiac Fiero
In the 80s, when the economy class was emerging and the demand for good affordable cars were increasing. Pontiac wanted a car that looked cool as well as had an affordable price. The Pontiac Fiero came with a gorgeous-looking design at a good price and a decently powerful engine to never miss any kind of thrill. The Fiero came with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine which produced over 140 hp of peak power. The car was solely focused on providing the best of both worlds.
6. Oldsmobile Hurst Cutlass
The Oldsmobile Hurst is arguably one of the most popular and rare American classic cars of all time. The Hurst Cutlass was one of the best performance cars ever made by GM. It carried a popular G-body posh design with a luxurious interior and a sick paint job. GM fitted a powerful V8 engine inside which delivered an output of 180 hp. With just over 5000 cars made till 1984, this Oldsmobile is quite a rare car that you will have a hard time finding in a good condition.
5. Pontiac Firebird Trans Am
The 1980s was one of the best times for Pontiac. Especially their one of the most popular Trans America models. In the 80s Pontiac made the Firebird Trans Am which turned out to be a huge hit for GM. This turbocharged monster came with a powerful 4.9-liter V8 engine which made 210 hp. The Firebird is a rare gem to find and could cost you over $50,000 with a good condition model.
4. Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z
The Chevy Camaro IROC-Z is one of the best classic cars to ever come out in the 80s. Delighted with elegance and charged with an insanely powerful engine, the IROC-Z was the best Camaro one could buy. The Camaro came with various engine options up to a 5.0-liter V8 which made over 155 hp of power. Even today,the IROC-Z carries the same elegance and beauty which charms many collector’s eyes.
3. Chevrolet S-10
The Chevrolet S10 pickup is easily one of the most popular chevy trucks to ever exist in the American car industry. The classic American small truck even competed with the popular Ford F-150. From big pickups to SUVs the S10 were made with various kind of bodies with its durable and sturdy chassis. From various bod styles, the S10 also came with different engine configurations from V6 to powerful V8s.
2. Corvette C4
Corvettes have forever been one of the most thrilling machines and one of the most iconic names in the auto industry. 1984 was the golden time when the company introduced their next generation Corvette to the world. The Corvette C4 is a name that many people couldn’t get over by not saying amazing or getting wowed by it. It packed a gorgeous-looking design and a thrilling V8 inside that resulted in the best driving experience offered by Corvette.
1. Buick GNX
The Buick GNX is undoubtedly the most popular GM car ever. The GNX was a result of the collaboration with McLaren Performance Technologies. Thanks to the 80s oil crisis and strict regulations, carmakers build cars that offered good efficiency. The Buick GNX with its 3.8-liter V6 produced a hefty 300 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque. The GNX wasn’t the meanest muscle car but it had classic looks and a powerful engine which made it sell like hotcakes.