Two tone paint jobs on cars became the rage in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s. I first remember the two tone paint when I went with my parents to the Buick dealership in 1978 so they could buy… more»
Turbo
Rare McLaren Turbo: 1989 Pontiac Grand Prix
The popularity of the Pontiac Grand Prix remained strong in 1988 when the car entered its sixth generation of production, this time as a front-wheel-drive coupe with a completely updated design outside. However, the car’s standard engine didn’t provide… more»
Can It Be Saved? 1989 Dodge Daytona Shelby
We’ve seen some head-scratchers in the Can It Be Saved series here on Barn Finds, and this 1989 Dodge Daytona Shelby Z is one of the head-scratchin’est ones so far. A small front-drive car that needs a total restoration… more»
Pocket Rocket: 1991 Daihatsu Mira J Turbo
Well here’s something you don’t see every day in the U.S., or ever. Most of us know the name Daihatsu for its trucks or possibly for the short-lived (in the U.S.) Charade or 4×4 Rocky. The company makes fantastic… more»
French Mercedes: 1985 Peugeot 505S Turbo Diesel
If you want to buy a new French car in the U.S. today, you have one choice and you had better be a trust fund baby or a YouTube mega-star, as the new Bugattis are sold out, even for… more»
Cheap 1988 Pontiac Sunbird GT Turbo Convertible
This 1988 Pontiac Sunbird may not be the most exhilarating ragtop ever made, but for a late-eighties J-platform car this one’s pretty cool and seems like a lot of fun for a driver officially priced at $3,650, but in… more»
Satisfyingly Quick: 1984 Dodge Daytona Turbo Z
Compared to the numerous fine offerings the folks at Dodge have provided us with since then, the 1984 Dodge Daytona Turbo Z may not seem like much of a performer by today’s standards, but back in the mid-eighties when… more»
17k Miles! 1988 Mazda RX-7 10th Anniversary Edition Turbo
I’m a fairly early bloomer when it comes to being a fan of the Mazda RX-7, as my older sister purchased a new blue one in 1982. She was cool with letting me get behind the wheel, even when… more»
Turbo Pace Car: 1980 Pontiac Trans Am
The 400 cubic inch V8 engine was gone from the line up for the Pontiac Trans Am but Pontiac was still trying to put performance in the hands of car enthusiasts. In 1980, Pontiac introduced a turbocharged Trans Am… more»
Boosted Performance: 1985 Dodge Omni GLH-T
The name Carroll Shelby is legendary in the world of American muscle cars, although as a “gun for hire,” he was willing to weave his brand of magic on almost any vehicle to enhance performance. One of his less… more»
EFI Turbo V8! 1981 Mercury Zephyr
Defined as “a gentle, mild breeze,” the word zephyr has adorned trains, V12 luxury sedans, and Mercury’s 1978 through 1983 offering seen here. This 1981 Mercury Zephyr in Colorado Springs, Colorado uses a VS Racing 7875 turbo to blow… more»
38k-Mile Rarity! 1980 Pontiac Turbo Trans Am
Given the resources and materials Pontiac had to work with for the early eighties, the Turbo Trans Am was actually a commendable effort in its time period. You’ve got to remember the oil crisis of the late seventies and… more»
V-Twin Turbo: 1983 Honda CX650T
The 1980s, back when everything was turbocharged right down to your nose hair trimmer. The seller lists this 1983 Honda CX650T (T = Turbo, of course) as an XC650TC, which actually would have been a 1982 designation and this… more»
Mom’s Car: One-Owner 1990 Toyota Supra Turbo
Toyota changed things up for the third-generation Supra (1986-1993), separating it from the now-front-wheel-drive Celica. The Supra, now its own separate model, retained its rear-drive configuration and gained even more power with an available turbocharged engine available beginning in… more»