The 1980s may not have been the best decade for cars—not for starters, at least—but it was a great decade for car ads. Soon–like, really soon–we’ll see a premium paid for a clean CRX Si. © 2021 Motorsport Marketing. Then: The annals of history will likely not be kind to the Dodge Omni. Roger Young says: Thursday, June 9, 2011 at 11:58 am Advice: Good examples of normally aspirated cars are still out there, but prices are coming back up. sawn in half) so that each of the halves can be more accurately positioned over the slightly staggered intake runners. Advice: Everyone wants an M3, but those have become museum pieces for a good reason: They’re street-legal Group A Touring cars, down to the super-cool box flares and high-winding engine. Advice: Do you seek one in classic black or ever-fashionable white? Allow Carroll Shelby–yes, the Cobra guy–to have his way with it, and then things get really, really interesting. Made famous by JDM fanatics everywhere, the AE86-generation Corolla remains one of the most popular '80s cars around. All raw components must available to anyone for general public purchase. Bob Glidden’s Flip at Atlanta, 1986 → 1 Response to Pro Stock Drag Racing in the ’70s and ’80s. What is there not to like about the troubled swede? I worked at a Toyota dealer and when we got the Corolla GTS no one else in the shop thought it was cool. Pininfarina made the car visually striking, but Thomas Magnum made the tube-framed, V8-powered Ferrari an icon. Advice: Collectors tend to gravitate to the first or last models of a model run, so we’d have to recommend either a first-year car or an RX-7 fitted with the optional GSL-SE package. The new-for-1984 Corvette produced 205 horsepower from the same displacement, and by the end of the decade that number had rocketed to 245. You and your Members Only jacket could stroll up to the local Porsche dealership and pick up a thoroughly modern 944. good to see my 80s rides made the list though :). Aftermarket support is still huge, and the cars are popular with so many enthusiast groups, from NASA and SCCA road racers to hotrodders and even the stance crowd. Except in the NHRA 500ci formula (starting in 2018), the engine must be manufactured by the same company as the car body. Check. And another Navy friend had a Shelby Charger (88 maybe). Then: In 1970, the Datsun Z-car demoted the traditional British sports car to second-class status. The Glidden car was sold to New Jersey-based Pro Stock racer Larry Sengstack. Fuel injection replaced carburetors, turbochargers had become more than a novelty, and performance was back. that is why I was bitching about putting two different generations of the same car in it. 1995 Chevrolet Impala SS. The resurgence of the American concept car started with the Portifino, unveiled at the Frankfurt show in 1987. The Fiero is a fascinating piece of GM history, and thanks to some enterprising enthusiasts, it’s no longer an orphan. Rules initially favored big block V8s with Chrysler Hemi engine powered cars winning the World title the first two years. It's small, simple, and revs to the moon. Cheap, fun, and your mother would refuse to ride in it too. Here are our 16 favorites. Ford's first supermini was launched in 1976. The E30 couple put each other's belts on. People who learned to drive during the era have the expendable income to pursue that inner 16 yr olds dream car. Both the front and rear shock absorbers can be adjusted automatically during the run by air circuits that are controlled by an electronic control unit. The 70s were a great era for cars. Instead of the DSM triplets how about the Evo 0? Now: Shelby only made 500 examples. The 80s supercar scene was exploding around the world and demand was skyrocketing. Most Camaros and Firebirds of this era have achieved full groder status by now, but a well-preserved example could be turned into a fun weekend toy. You also forgot the 968. Features You’ll have trouble making the rear suspensions handle with OEM control arms–they’re very prone to binding and snap oversteer–but solutions are readily available from a variety of sources. Off the top of my head: My favorite of course. How about Best Cars of the 1970s? Loved my '87 CRX Si...but life got in the way and I didn't have any mechanical friends...sold it. Will the Shelby Dodges ever capture that magic? Advice: If you want one, get it now while you still can. The body still looks modern, and the driving experience continues to captivate. Then: It won showroom stock races and autocross championships, all while burning a gallon of gas every 30-plus miles. Now: Everything that made the GTI so cool back then holds water today. They should do a special on that. Often called “factory hot rods” because of their resemblance to production-based automobiles, Pro Stock cars are some of the most technologically advanced machines in drag racing. The ’80s gave us some cool stuff. Can’t afford one? First generation Honda CRX/Si. For a while, the SCCA Solo department famously bumped the car all the way up to A Stock. They’ve aged poorly, and the big aftermarket companies haven’t embraced them (despite production numbers exceeding 350,000). Larry went back to his Pinto for the next year, running local Pro Stock races. In the late 1980s and into the 1990s, car sizes increased as mid-size family sedans had become the car of choice, but cars shrank by the 2000s (decade) as compact cars, banking off the popularity then of the sport compact class, became the trend, as General Motors and Daimler (then owning the Dodge brand) began using compact cars (similar to Pro RWD except for the engine). Not ONE mention of any danged fox-body, let alone the Thunderbird Turbo Coupe?!? Hopping in one these days is like going back in time to your fondest memories, except they really are just as good as you remember. Only the 1985 cars feature the sunk-in headlamps, making them even more special. | The recipe was simple: Take a small, three-door hatchback, stiffen up the steering, and add more power. per cubic inch) Australian Legal Pro Stock (small block only) Legal IHRA/AHRA/Match Race Pro Stock Legal NHRA Pro Stock test runs Extra bonus: The Porsche Club of America will welcome you with hugs, kisses and, if you’re nice, a back rub. I've got an 85 and an 88 XR4Ti now...and am now more mechanically inclined, which apparently is a prequalifier for owning these cars. In fact, like many sporting cars from the ’80s, stock performance could best be described as “slightly lacking” by today’s standards. 3. Its cooling medium? But the 1988 Formula and GT still turn heads on the road. That should take more work. Advice: Although convertibles were offered, let’s bypass them–they were just too weird-looking and never amassed a real following. However, that the push back to pony cars and mid-size family sedans became the choice again, as Ford uses a "pony car" and Dodge and Chevrolet began using mid-size family sedans. T-tops leaked, the wheezer 305s all had valve-guide issues sooner or later, and the heavy bodies eventually sagged their way into maturity. And rust is an issue–around sunroofs, rear fenders, and pretty much everywhere in cars from moist climates. Advice: All Ferraris will likely appreciate at some point, and 308 prices have been climbing steadily. If you were young and upwardly mobile, then you were issued a BMW along with your MBA. Plus, the fact that cops liked it meant the highway patrol version always had some nice bits to swap in. I love my 80's rides. The earlier models had been good, even with the odd exterior frames but a decent engine. It produces a then-staggering 145 horsepower. Ford Fiesta. If I had to sell either the MR2 or my '94 Corvette, it wouldn't be the MR2. Glidden started the 1986 season out slowly. Honda paint from the era was not exactly heirloom-quality, so they’ve all been repainted. We rely on your financial support. Unlike some other forms of "stock car" racing, Pro Stockers must use contemporary body styles that closely follow the contours and shapes of actual production line cars. Cars also started to look modern. These cars are mechanically solid but fragile everywhere else, and someone needs to preserve these treasures. Then there’s the threat of rust. Pro Stock Sometimes called factory hot rods, these vehicles must have engines and bodies from the same OEM and all of the components must be available to the public, and for the NHRA, engines are restricted to 500 ci. … Now: The Rabbit is a child of the ’70s. In 2016, the NHRA implemented a major overhaul to the engine formula. For as little as $3, you can support Grassroots Motorsports by becoming a Patron today. Toyota, The 80's really gave us some great cars. Ah Minitruckin' now you're talking! Mustang, Camaro and Firebird with 4-cylinder engines. Pasterjak • Photos Courtesy of Respective Manufacturers. Lee Shepherd won the second of four championships in a row in 1983, the year he also won IHRA's title, making him the first driver ever to do so; he repeated the feat in 1984.[3]. Then: The ’80s were a trendy time of big hair, leg warmers and Swatch watches in all sorts of neon colors. Then: In GT-S trim, the AE86 Corolla is the car that introduced America to Toyota’s gem of a 1587cc 4AGE engine. The rare factory hotrods (1LE, WS6, etc.) Got 2 AE86 and a 280zx. The car did not qualify at the U.S. Nationals, running in the nines. Still, despite having struts in front and a live axle in the rear, they can be made to handle surprisingly well. They were 90’s babies. He drove his new car, a Ford Probe, to a national e.t. Need even more excitement? I always thought he CRX was more of a "chick car." In 1982, the NHRA did away with the weight break system and implemented a 2,350 pound minimum weight, 500 cubic inch maximum rule across the board, due to the popularity of the Mountain Motor IHRA Pro Stock cars, which have unlimited displacement. Windows are manufactured from. So what if we lived under constant threat of nuclear winter, Terminators and hairspray fires? Bryant raced in Pro Stock from the early '70s through the early '80s and today is one of the main suppliers of billet crankshafts for NHRA and NASCAR teams. Now: Like the MR2, the Corolla is still a good driver due to its stellar ergonomics–if you can find one, that is. Turbo, room for 5, funky looking body. ", "Mountain Motor Information | Jon Kaase Racing Engines", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pro_Stock&oldid=997618010, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. The 1970’s were the golden age of Pro Stock, otherwise known as the “Factory hot rods.” The cars still readily resembled production models albeit with better stance and flared fenders not to mention hood scoops. I prefer the g body over the f body but I can see how the f body is a much sportier platform. Then: Engaged in a perennial war with contemporary Camaros and Firebirds, the seemingly inferior 5.0-liter Mustang almost always prevailed in the many magazine face-offs of its day. It was great big dirty fun anyway, though. The NHRA formula (starting in 2016) requires, and the PDRA Extreme Pro Stock permits, cars to use electronically-controlled throttle body fuel injection systems. Fuel injection, the prevalance of boxes and wedges, and manuals weren't even becoming rare yet! At the 2019 NHRA Houston Raceway Park race, where the Mountain Motor formula replaced the NHRA formula, the fastest car reached 6.233 seconds. Know what? record with a 9.33, while Bill Jenkins turned in a record 148.76 mph (239.41 km/h) speed; later at the same event, Nicholson made a 9.01 second/150.50 mph (242.21 km/h) pass, breaking both his and Jenkins' records.[2]. The National Hot Rod Association Pro Stock class emerged from the production-based Super Stock in 1970 with a more liberal set of rules and an absence of handicaps. Like what you're reading? About twenty or so years ago there began a phenomena of nostalgia drag racing going back to race-car of the 60s, 70s and 80s at drag strips throughout the country. well, the 924S is really a 944 underneath.... People I take for rides seem to be shocked that my Supra is an 87. I remember when my best friend got an Eclipse GSX...turbo, awd, that cool bulge on the hood...man, it was something special and looked so cool... EDIT: Brain Fart....yes the DSMs were 90s not 80s. There are dozens of them. My personal bias is that the 80's (mostly the 2nd half) were basically the best years for the type of cars i've learned to like. It was his sixth Pro Stock championship. Now: The roller-cam 5.0 offered from 1986 and up is still a decent engine, and the bodies have aged better than their GM rivals. A creative yoke had been lifted off automotive stylists, who responded with aero-pleasing shapes for everything from our favorite supercars to rank-and-file peoplemovers like the Ford Taurus and Honda Accord. Now: Despite all of those IMSA titles, a stock RX-7 is not exactly fast. IDK why but for some reason I read the title of the article as "Best Cars of the 80s-90s"......ugh. 6. Now: The E30-chassis 3 Series represents the last of the early, traditional BMWs. Yep. Then: The 911 wasn’t Porsche’s only starchild of the ’80s. Squeaks and rattles, poorly embossed door panels, saggy springs, orange peel (at least it was white). Go for the Turbo model. my biggest issue with the article, and it seems a lazy way to write it.. was to include two seperate listings for the same car under a different generation. Sure. It was also one of the best of a dying breed of four-seat, rear-drive sports coupes that were essentially miniature Asian ponycars. Late Model Restoration and other shops offer a huge supply of Fox-chassis restoration parts, so ownership is easy. Even if you find one, are all of the special bits present, down to the sticker that extended the speedometer’s range from 85 mph to a buck-25? Once GM and Ford finally entered the minitruck scene as OEM’s, you wouldn’t have had the whole 90’s minitruck scene. The chutes utilize either springs or compressed air launchers to get the chutes into the air as fast as possible and to avoid the dead air behind the car. This turbo beast produced a staggering 175 horsepower, enough to embarrass the day’s pony cars–assuming the driver didn’t torque-steer into oncoming traffic. Personally, we’ve always been intrigued by the 16-valve 944S. And not only did the RX-7 look fresh and modern, but it featured something unique under the hood: a rotary engine. Don't forget the second gen Mazda (FC) Rx7 86-92. 1980 Lada Riva / Nova / Signet See all 11 photos The malaise era was drawing to a … Cars were light and reasonably simple and were 'modern enough' in the sense that if in proper shape they'd start and run perfectly and could be driven anywhere, many times with exceptional economy. I plan to keep this one forever. Like most GM cars of the era, time has not been good to the soft bits. Now: The 308 is still a beauty after 40 years, but time has caught up with reality: Its reputation as only a so-so performer in the world of supercars seems even more overstated in these days of 300-horsepower minivans. The early death of the 200-4R and the massive oil burning by 90K were probably due to the 80's vintage chip and other mods. Rear spoilers cannot be longer than 13 inches (330 mm), measured from the body-line-to-spoiler transition point to the tip. [2], Following a 1973 NHRA rule change to allow records to be set at any national meet, at the 1973 NHRA Winternationals, "Dyno Don" Nicholson set the first official Pro Stock e.t. Some information and pricing may be different today. In 1983 the U.S. government struck down a 44-year-old law requiring automakers to use standardized round or square headlamps. JEzMlaLCZYm192Wjm36w8Vkcugaf4VECB3uiZQG1ZpHUecFjjtRqwuYxnbPqzIUP, https://www.youtube.com/embed/klUIJQZOvhA?rel=0&start=30. I will post photos from the Fairplex in Pomona and the Famoso Raceway in McFarland (aka: Bakersfield). Pro Stock is a class of drag racing featuring "factory hot rods". Oh, and we also had hot hatches. | Never miss an article, [Editor's Note: This article originally ran in the August 2015 issue of Grassroots Motorsports. The NHRA will mandate a specification Sunoco racing fuel, but it is unknown if the specification fuel will be unleaded racing fuels as they are in other classes of motorsport where they are official fuel, or allow alcohol in the official NHRA fuel (as has been the case in INDYCAR, 85% ethanol, or NASCAR, 15% ethanol). I would have thrown the Saab 900 SPG (or aero) in there. It used the turbo body and a 3 liter motor. JaguarV12. Either XJ12 or XJS either one had 262 horsepower in California specs or 299 hp euro spec. Today, Erica Enders-Stevens holds both ends of the … In the NHRA, an electronic control unit (ECU) will be implemented on the EFI systems, including a 10,500 RPM limit, with modern engines approaching 12,000 RPM. Hood scoops and double four-barrel carburetors were eliminated and replaced by electronic fuel injection, an overhaul designed to reflect on modern automotive trends, as all automobiles being produced for sale in North America have used electronic fuel injection for over 20 years. Since 1973, the most popular transmission was the Lenco planetary design, first used as a four-speed and now as a five-speed. Three pages and no one mentioned W126? Among the rest, choose your poison and find a good example. On 1 July 1973, NHRA finally required Pro Stock drivers to have competition licences, just like blown or fuel dragsters and funny cars. My father bought am '87 Regal T-Type new. Now: Considering that the 944 lineage goes back to the 924–brand new for 1976–the 944 has aged well. Pro Stock. [1] Rules initially favored big block V8s with Chrysler Hemi engine powered cars winning the World title the first two years. Did the GTI or CRX need to be listed twice when they were not significantly different cars except in sheetmetal? Worst snow car ever. Doesn’t matter. OK, that was an easy one. The Ferrari F40 was the last car that the Enzo Ferrari, the great Italian car maker, would … | From the Aug. 2015 issue Weigh a minimum of 2,350 pounds (1,066 kg), including driver (2,450 pounds for Mountain Motor formula cars), In NHRA competition, the cars must be produced within the last five model years (2011–2015). Funny Car Summer; Interesting Car Videos; Modified Production; ... ← Pro Stock Racing at the 1992 NHRA Gatornationals. When I was in elementary school my dad drove a Chrysler Conquest and I thought it was the coolest thing ever. Apr 14, 2020 This decade produced some of the most legendary supercars ever made such as the Ferrari F40 and Porsche 959 (the later is Bill Gates favorite car). Wish I could figure out how to transfer pictures. Advice: If you want one, prepare to pay handsomely for a used Corolla. Still makes me happy to see cars of the 80's that are driven and or loved. Plastic interior bits are prone to dry rot and are somewhat rare. If anything is a sign of how the '80s were going to be awful for GM, the Cadillac Seville is it. Those days are quickly coming to a close, as prices have been spiking. Now: Early cars are still mostly crap, but there are enough parts out there to make any of the suspensions work. Advice: If you want an eight-valve Golf GTI, seek one built before 1991. What about the 4x4 cars of the 80's?....Eagle wagons & SX4s?....Subaru Justys & Brats? Jul 19, 2016 - Explore Jeremy Rouse's board "70's and 80's late models, super late models" on Pinterest. So much for the nostalgia! Ferrari F40. Shelby, Unlike some of its competitors, the 1585cc, 16-valve Honda got by with just one cam and a relatively low 6500-rpm redline. record of 7.277, the fastest in NHRA Pro Stock history at that time and won the championship. Otherwise, you won’t get the GTI-specific big brakes or sportier suspension. Having a variety of them, the 44S is not that bad, but I still think the 68 is the best of them. Anything else is a great starting point for a performance project. Some organisations will mandate a specification fuel. Pontiac, The '80s were my "formative" years and when I really got into cars. even though it was very good. Audi largely dominates any discussion of '80s and '90s all-wheel-drive cars, thanks to the legendary success of Quattro in the rally world. The NHRA attempted to balance the playing field for 1972 and introduced rules allowing for small cubic inch V8, compact cars carrying favorable weight. Fast (ran away from a few sport bikes) but crap. Ferrari, Nostalgia Injected Alcohol Funny Cars Doorslammers (all) Pro Stock (all) Legal Pro Stock (1982 later; 500 cubic inches) Legal Pro Stock (1969 to 1981; lbs. The models on this list are going to come as somewhat of a surprise to '80s kids who wanted to owner a car like Kitt from Knight Rider, but not to those ... Stock … Hmm, had two different '84 Camaros (second one only because it had AC and I had moved to New Orleans after the Navy, got out of the 1st one [that wasn't even an option installed] and thought berkeley I need AC). The. It’s not super refined. With the exception of the 1987 stock market crash, the 1980’s was a relative economic boom time. When I was a teenager in the 80s, those were the two cars I longed after. A complete suspension revamp for 1988 transformed the Fiero into a legit contender, and a five-speed and torquey 2.8-liter V6 gave it a unique powerplant in a world of high-revving four-cylinder sports cars. Now: The chassis handles admirably to this day, but the suspension stiffness took its toll on the fiberglass body. Then: By the time the GTI finally came stateside, the VW Rabbit had been in production for nearly a decade and was readying for its final descent. By 1989, the Vette had 17-inch wheels and a six-speed manual transmission. Then GM "improved" it with the terrible Olds 350 5.7 L diesel V8, which dragged the car down. Lots of botched engine swaps out there, too. This page was last edited on 1 January 2021, at 12:15. Complete stock headlights, parking lights and taillights must be retained in the original factory location. Some have complained that the "Stock" portion of "Pro Stock" is not really all that accurate anymore, because so little, if any, of the race cars' bodies having their origins in the respective manufacturers' factories. Seriously? The rules that exclude forced induction of any sort, plus allowing head modifications, have resulted in Pro Stock heads being the most sophisticated in any drag racing category, with valve lifts in the 1" region. Larry, it seemed, followed the beat of his own drummer, using the rare SOHC engine to propel the star-spangled Mustang. Also surprised the DSM triplets (particularly the Eclipse GSX) aren't on there. The DSMs didn’t arrive in the 80’s. Chevy and Pontiac offered factory specials, but the Mustang was easier to obtain in stripped-down trim. A decade later, the RX-7 picked up that torch and ran with it. The driver with the most wins in a single season is three time champion Darrell Alderman, who won all but three events en route to his 1991 championship. A strange new substance known as water. Once BMW shelved their fuel-efficient eta engines and turned the 325e into the 325i, however, we really had a keeper for the ages. The 944 received a major interior redesign halfway through 1985, though, and we’ll concede that the earlier dash does have a VW Rabbit vibe to it. It's quite the hoot, one which at the moment appears to have developed a power steering leak. A good Turbo, recently a $40,000 or so purchase, is now a six-figure car. I've had my (second) '89 MR2 for 18 years. Those giant VDO gauges just look so good at night. Don’t forget the turbo Mustang SVO, too. Practical hatchback cargo hold? Later models came with those odd-sized TRX tires, further complicating contemporary operation. Add in the small minority of new enthusiasts are finding that a 25 year old hot hatch is way more interesting than a 15 year old Camry, and you'll start to see why some cars of the era are starting to go for real money, while events like Radwood are starting to get a real following. ADVERTISEMENT This sentiment was met with an abundance of criticism from virtually everyone he shared his plans with. Then: It was revolutionary when it debuted in 1984. Two other Navy friends with Mustangs. For a bigger smile, check out the supercharged version offered for 1988-’89. at 7.655 seconds, and Warren Johnson had the speed record of 181.28 mph. Pro Street cars have the same look, they have the big engines – typically with a tunnel ram or a roots-type blower sticking through the hood – and they look like they’re poised to pounce on any and all comers. By 1975–not exactly a high-water mark for performance–output had dipped to a pitiful 165 horsepower from a seemingly sufficient 350 cubic inches. The Regal T type, Grand National and the GNX need to be in this list. The 2013 legal cars are the. As a hired wrench in through most of the '80s, the best cars I recall were about 20 years old at the time. (The rest of the world knows about Lancia, too, though.) I think 80s cars are in the perfect storm of auto enthusiasm right now. Underrated Classics: Corvair, TR7, MGB, 928, and Biturbo, 12 Cars That Raised the Bar for All Sports Cars. Time Capsule – 1970’s Pro Stock Drag Racing. NHRA Pro Stock engines are restricted to a maximum 500 cu in (8.2 L) single-camshaft, 90-degree. We were climbing out of the doldrums of the previous decade, and the automotive landscape reflected that optimism. Need a CRX with a backseat? An LT1-powered Vette (1992 and up) in good shape will probably not depreciate much more, though, so it’s kind of a performance bargain–if you can live with the datedness. But the X-cars would go down as among the worst of the 80s, helping to initiate a slide in GM's market share that continues to this day. Now: Anyone who got rid of a good CRX Si more than 10 years ago deeply regrets it. All rights reserved. Since the 1970s, front suspensions have utilized. Now: Slip behind the wheel of an air-cooled 911, and suddenly you’re at Daytona, Sebring or Le Mans. Jan 31, 2017 - Explore Michael Barcala's board "70s pro stock" on Pinterest. You can’t buy a real Cobra for much less than a million dollars, and the Sunbeam Tiger finally crossed the six-figure threshold. Mountain Motor cars, because of their massive 800+ cubic inch mountain motors, dip into the 6.30s at almost 220 miles per hour (354 km/h). Advice: These cars weren’t designed to be family heirlooms, as evidenced by the brittle plastic front fenders and flimsy interior bits. Edit* This prompted me to google it and they are still making the magazine. "Mountain Motors," run by the PDRA (eighth-mile) and at selected NHRA events in 2019, do not have a 500-cubic inch rule, with some engines exceeding 800 cu in (13.1 L), to upwards of 1,000 cu in (16.4 L). Lovely! Chevrolet Celebrity Eurosport VRWe’ll forgive you if you’re never head of this car but it’s a very retro … Also only commenting because of the  Black Flag, Minor Threat and Bad Brain reference as my favorite part. Mazda, Still, there’s not much like the sound of a small, overhead-cam V8 winding through the gears. Ford, The qualifications rounds are separated by less than a tenth of a second across all competitors. A crazy young one. Advice: Everything Shelby touched seems to have turned to gold. Tight chassis paired with a willing engine? Then: GM’s third-generation pony car turned the proverbial mullet-mobile into a genuine–for the period–American GT. Then: By the time the GTI finally came stateside, the VW Rabbit … But with a curb weight of just 1840 pounds, the CRX was a scorcher. See more ideas about dirt late models, dirt racing, racing. The class is often described as "all motor", due to the cars not using any form of forced induction such as turbocharging or supercharging, or other enhancements, like nitrous oxide, along with regulations governing the modifications allowed to the engines and the types of bodies used.