A 6-Pack of ’80s American Rides for Under $25K
The winter is a great time to take stock and plan for the future. Maybe you’ve packed your summer car away for the season and realized there’s still room for one more, or perhaps you’ve been whiling away the winter daydreaming about the car that got away years ago. We took a peek at our latest valuation info to find some ’80s-vintage American cars and trucks that we would like to add to our collections, and we think you might agree with at least some of them.
The following six vehicles can all be had for less than $25,000 in #3 (Good) condition. That’s a solid starting place for a classic you plan on putting some miles on, and a great place to start if you want a running and driving project that you can cruise to RADwood with. Here are our picks, in descending order based on value.
1989 Ford Mustang LX 5.0
The LX was a bit of a sleeper as it had the same EFI 5.0-liter V-8 as the GT without the flashy bits. We like the later Fox-body styling, and while the ’89 comes close to our $25,000 price cap, 1987 and 1988 models look just as good and tend to be just a bit more affordable. Of course, four-eyed Fox-body Mustangs (which some of our team find more stylish) tend to be even less expensive, but they are also less powerful. One of these later LX models would be a great place to start for a mild build to enjoy the fantastic 5.0-liter soundtrack, as few platforms have the kind of aftermarket behind it that the Fox-body still enjoys.
1987 Buick Regal T-Type Turbo
Speaking of sleepers, the turbocharged Buicks of the ’80s are some of the most infamous. Even when the sinister black Grand National gained a reputation, the less overt turbocharged Buick models still flew under the radar. The later turbo Buicks were fuel injected and Buick kept improving the punchy 3.8-liter V-6, with final models getting upgraded airflow by way of a new charge cooler, an aluminum intake manifold, and an improved turbocharger. The final tweaks gave 1987 turbo Buicks 245 hp and 355lb-ft of torque. While those numbers aren’t particularly impressive when compared to more modern performance cars, or family sedans for that matter, they put Buicks firmly in the fight for the title of quickest new cars on the market. Their interesting development history makes them a worthy collectible, and the less flashy T-Type is a great entry point at about 35 percent less than a comparable Grand National.
1989 Chevrolet Corvette Callaway
If 245 horsepower was a lot in 1987, imagine how exotic a 382hp twin-turbo Corvette must have been. The late Reeves Callaway had a long history of building exciting and powerful Corvettes, and even the earliest models were an ambitious project. The first twin-turbo Corvettes his company turned out in 1987 produced 345 hp, the same rating the first C5 Corvettes would receive with their naturally aspirated LS1 V-8s starting in 1997. Ever improving, Callaway soon had the 350-cubic-inch small-block pumping out 382 hp and 525 lb-ft of torque, making it one of the most powerful cars you could buy. It even came with a 12-month warranty. Just 69 Callaway Twin-Turbo Corvettes were built in 1989 and today their #3 value is just less than the $26,000 cost of the B2K RPO code that indicated the rare powertrain option. They might be more trouble to maintain than the rugged and simple 350 that came in everyday C4 Corvettes, but the Callaway Twin-Turbo mill was truly special. It’s also one of the best-looking C4 variants ever created, if you ask us.
1988 Stutz Bearcat
The Stutz Bearcat is not well known, and those that do have any knowledge of the low-volume cars probably remember the ’60s iteration, a reemergence of the nameplate, and based on the Pontiac Grand Prix. Few will remember the original: a racy, brass-era runabout, and you can bet that if you arrived at a show in the final version of the Bearcat, based on the third-gen Firebird and sporting a carbon fiber composite body built in Turin, you’d be met with a lot of puzzled looks. Only about a dozen were built on the F-body platform, making them a truly rare sight. While the ubiquitous small-block drivetrain would make them easy to maintain, everything else about the car would be difficult to replace. Still, it’s quite a head-turning piece of American and Italian coachwork.
1980 International Harvester Scout Terra
International Harvester gave its Scout lineup a makeover for its final year, featuring a new grille designed by Dick Hatch that used rectangular headlights. We think that the final grille is a great fit for the simple, blocky trucks and SUVs. The one shown above, with orange and yellow graphics, is practically perfect. While the standard wheelbase Scout II and the stretched Scout Traveler SUV are both outside of our $25,000 threshold, the stretched wheelbase Terra pickup is a more affordable entry point to Scout and meets our criteria when equipped with either the six-cylinder Nissan turbodiesel or the 196-cube four-cylinder that used the passenger bank of the company’s venerable 392 V-8. We love these rugged rigs and the Terra, with its 118-inch wheelbase and short overhangs, combines a decent-sized bed with maneuverability that’s appreciated off-road. The final year of Scout production would make an excellent addition to a collection where it could pitch in with its rugged utility and look great doing it.
1989 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z
Chevrolet’s competitor to the lighter, more angular Mustang GT was the IROC-Z, the performance-oriented F-body that finally got the 350-cubic-inch Tuned-Port Injection (TPI) engine from its big brother, Corvette, starting in 1987. The 5.7-liter powerplant was only available with a four-speed auto as the T5 transmission that fits under the Camaro’s floorplan couldn’t handle the larger motor’s torque. The TPI intake, perched like a spider on top of the engine, featured long runners that favored low-speed torque. Unfortunately the intake, and the engine’s meager cylinder heads, weren’t great at maintaining that torque to get the power numbers up, Still, it competed well against the smaller Ford V-8 in the Mustang. Contemporary reviews praised the IROC-Z’s power, road-holding, steering feel, and traction compared to its Mustang counterpart, but the 5.0-liter Mustangs were formidable opponents. Your choice might come down to brand loyalty or whether you prefer the boxy Fox-body or the sleek F-body. If we found one of these in our garage, we’d be tempted to troll eBay and swap meets for vintage ’80s speed parts to build a day-two IROC-Z for canyons and backroads.
Fun list. That Bearcat II actually has diamond-fiber composite bodywork, which is inherently different from carbon fiber. For those who love to be stared at, I can’t imagine a more attention-seeking car for less than $25k.
But what are diamonds made of?
But does it come with the (obligatory) wide-brim purple Fedora?
Ha!! Huggy Bear!
Cock-a-doodle-doo baby! (“Rooster” from Barretta) (Please tell me I’m not the only one old enough to remember)
HAHAHA! Too funny.
Don’t forget the big feather with that hat!
Shhh – don’t tell my wife that diamonds aren’t made of shattered side-window glass…
And the purple fedora remark is the “Funniest Comment of the Week” on my awards list!
Has pimp appeal for sure.
I watched an episode of Rockford Files last week and Rita’s pimp was driving a two tone Stutz.
I always thought the newer Bearcats were an insult to the history of the originals.
Yes, people stare at it, similarly to the way they can’t take their eyes off of a terrible accident.
Lots of fun 80’s fun here. The Buick Regal Turbos are my favorite. The IROC-Z’s still look so good to this day.
The T-Type is the best of them all… want a sleeper? She’s the one. Want a car where you can load in the family, drive to the store to buy groceries, head to the beach for a picnic then go to the dragstrip and blow the doors off of other muscle cars and then arrive at home at the end of the day with half a tank of gas left? You will do all of this in the comfort of a Buick. That’s a T-Type… a real practical dream/muscle car.
I had an 87 Buick Century T-Type that was pretty much that shade of white but had two extra doors and sans turbo. I bought it for 200 bucks as a kicking around car. It had chevy disease, so its white finish was pocked with areas of bare metal, and I referred to it as the UWC (ugly white car). My neighbors hated it. I always contemplated trying to stuff a turbo in it and make the ultimate front-wheel-burnout sleeper out of it
Had an ‘86 Regal T Type. Put 160k miles on it. Good car, but I got tired of explaining that it was a Grand National that wasn’t black.
Love the Buick! I had a ’75 Custom with factory t-tops I absolutely cherished and I so regret selling it!
Tell Rod I said HI!
Loved the last years of the IH products. Always longed for a Scout but ended up with a more practical ’74 1/2 ton IH pickup. Solid truck…
I have my dad’s ’73 Scout II. It is in great condition. I have pre-ordered one of the new Scout Travelers (EV). Thought it would be interesting to have an ‘old school’ and the new one in the same collection. We’ll see if the new ones ever get built as I expect the Federal incentives for EV will be a thing of the past soon after January 20th.
Where is the Chrysler Laser? What about the Dodge Daytona? Monte Carlo SS?
Those came to mind quickly. Are these cars too expensive to qualify?
If some extra time and thought was put in, perhaps we could have a twelve pack…
The Laser was just a rebadged Mitsubishi Eclipse. I had one (my first new car) and while it was great, they didn’t even bother to change the name on the valve cover. Also the Eagle Talon. Equally not American.
That’s not the Laser he’s talking about.
My mistake. My Laser was a Plymouth. I forgot that Chrysler had one too.
Correct. Thank you…
Good point! The little 2.2 Intercooled Turbos were a real sleeper! I actually had a 85 Chrysler New Yorker with a 2.2 Turbo, non-intercooled. I tweeked with it for fun and it looked immaculate in black, like grandpa’s car. I took it to a test and tune and when it hit a 14.94 in the quarter mile, it had allot of people stumped! That was a good time back in the early 90’s for a compact car and techology!
The Regal is the only one here to be, well, regal. IMHO the others are just “old cars”. A classic should have presence. In this group, only the Buick fills that requirement. The 80s was not the best period for design….
What about the 83-88 Monte Carlo SS ?
My ‘86 Monte Carlo SS is valued higher than this that’s why it’s not on this list.
Also the G body El Caminos that had an SS model as well?
The Regal Turbo T-type is definitely the best of those cars; same drivetrain as the GN, but in a variety of much nicer colors (than black)..
My 87 Firebird Formula 350 compares favorably to the IROC. It’s still sitting in my garage. Original owner.
You have achieved what so many others like me (and Maggie Mae, above) who read these great Hagerty articles can only wish we had done – found an early classic, bought it, and kept it. Congrats!
Way to go for keeping it! Those are one of the very best looking and fun to drive cars of their time and still are today. Especially when it is garage-kept
Ever consider selling it, maybe to another Jeff?😁 I had a red and gray Formula 350 when I was 17. Then 3 more Formulas after that. Still have a couple GTAs but miss that Formula.
I had a ’92 LX Mustang, hatchback, 5.0 with five-speed. It was plenty quick and got decent highway MPG.
Reason for selling: newborn child and difficulty of using a child seat (in the back seat of the LX). Sigh…
Hello, As for the Buick, my Park Avenue with the 3.8 and a super charger was a fantastic car. All O.E.M. and 28 mpg on the highway to Ft Rucker Alabama from N.E. Penna. A ride I’ll never regret or forget.
I’m the original owner of a 1985 jalapeno red t-top GT mustang. Last carbureted, first roller cam 5.0L plus factory headers. Best of the 4-eyed in my opinion. Never had a problem spanking IROCS and VETTES in the days. I suppose an 86 GN would have been my challenge. Think I’ll keep it a while longer.
I still have my first new car, 1984 20th Anniversary Mustang (5.0, 5 speed, 4 eyes) that has been modified over the years and still going strong after 200,000 miles (including drag racing, cross country moves, home improvement projects), for me it was the right car at the right time for the right price.
I looked at a 1984 Hurst Olds (as a relative campaigned one in NHRA Pro Stock) but was over $16,000 compared to $10,000 big difference. However, I spanked a lot of F Bodies and Corvettes, Grand Nationals were another issue, as they were fast right out of the box.
I try to enjoy all cars for what they are, rather than trying to tear them down. Afterall, aren’t we all in this together?
Camaro is a great choice, but surprised no mention of the Firebird.
I had an ‘85 Trans Am with the 305/5 spd. While I’ve since turned my attention to European makes, the T/A remains of the most fun cars I’ve ever owned.
Once again in these types of articles, I’m disappointed by the lack of love for the Pontiac F-Body counterparts. Not even a casual, cursory mention to acknowledge their existence.
While the one-year-only Turbo Trans Am falls well above the price cap, The Trans Am/Trans Am GTA were just as capable as the IROC-Z. Why no mention…?
An even more glaring omission is the 1989 Firebird Formula, which according to some industry magazines, with a factory-upgrade to the 5.0L TPI/5-speed or 5.7L TPI powertrains, could outrun both of the pricier Trans Am models — and perhaps the IROC-Z as well. According to the Hagerty valuation on the Firebird Formula, even a #2 (Excellent) condition car falls below the $25,000 threshold for these under-appreciated models.
I agree about the Formula. Huge miss.
I wonder if the Trans Am GTA isn’t on this list because they probably cost more than $25K? They were great looking cars for the ’80s. The Buick still gets my nod as the best looking American car built in the 80’s. I’m biased, as I have my ’87 Grand National with 39k miles on it. Of the three cars I have, it still is my favorite over my ’68 SS Camaro with a ZZ502 in it, and my ’04 Corvette. FWIW, I haven’t seen any T-Type or Turbo T’s for under $25K in a while.
I agree with your last sentence, a clean, solid, well sorted Regal T-Type is going to cost at least in the $30’s. They might be worth less but nobody is selling them for less unless they need a LOT of work.
There’s an F-body underpinning the Stutz, so technically…
Just an FYI to the author of the article…
There is no such thing as a Fox body Mustang. It is actually the Fox platform (a.k.a. Fox chassis).
People have been using the wrong term forever. It’s likely a spillover from Fisher terminology.
It’s funny how you never hear people say “Fox body Zephyr” or “Fox body Mark VII”
Pantyhose’s bunched up much?
Nope, just trying to help educate automotive enthusiasts.
An author has an even better potential to educate others by having a much wider reach.
That’s all I hear is Foxbody [insert car here], and never heard anyone try and correct everyone else.