8 Forgotten Cars From The 1980s That Collectors Now Value

The 1980s gave us some of the strangest cars Detroit, Europe and Japan ever cooked up. Many of them sold quietly, faded fast and were left behind by cars that got all the attention.

A black sports coupe parked on a quiet street during the day.

Today a few of those oddballs have collectors circling. Hagerty Media’s August 2023 article by Steven Cole Smith, “8 lost classics of the ’80s, all under $18,000,” picks eight of them and puts a price on each.

All the values below are Hagerty’s valuations for a number 3 “Good” condition car, which the article describes as “better than the average driver, but not a show winner.” Condition matters enormously with old cars, so a nicer or rougher example will land somewhere else. Here are the eight, from the least expensive to the priciest.

1987 Cadillac Allanté Is Valued At Just $8,186

Hagerty says this Pininfarina-bodied two-seater cost about $57,000 new, and that about 21,500 were made over seven model years. The article blames its steep depreciation on being “too expensive, too complex, too ambitious,” though it still drives well.

Think about that gap. A car that listed for about $57,000 when new now sits near $8,186 in Good condition.

1989 Chrysler Maserati TC Is Valued At $8,500

This is a shortened LeBaron-like luxury sports car with a turbo four-cylinder, later a Mitsubishi V-6, according to Hagerty. About 500 were made with a manual gearbox and the 16-valve Cosworth and Maserati head.

The article calls it “a nice oddball for Sunday drives.” That sums up the charm of the whole list.

1983 TVR Tasmin 280i Is Valued At $9,100

Hagerty describes this British car as a hand-built, wedge-shaped convertible with running gear borrowed from many other cars, including a 2.8-liter Ford V-6. The article says it was fun to drive and distinctive.

It adds that many parts remain available, which matters a great deal if you ever plan to keep one on the road.

1985 Merkur XR4ti Is Valued At $9,400

The Merkur was a Ford Sierra-based sport coupe with a turbocharged 2.3-liter four. According to Hagerty, the manual version made 175 hp, versus 145 hp for the automatic.

The article notes that Mercury’s European experiment ended by 1989, and it sums the car up this way: “The XR4ti was a fun car while it lasted.”

1989 Laforza Is Valued At $9,500

This large, heavy four-wheel-drive SUV carried a Ford 5.0-liter V-8, per Hagerty. Only about 1,200 came to the U.S.

The author did not hold back on one point, saying he found the brakes among the worst he had experienced. Collectors who like rare, rugged trucks may still find the price tempting.

1989 Lotus Elan M100 Is Valued At $13,100

Hagerty says this was a front-wheel-drive car with a turbocharged Isuzu 1.6-liter four and an Isuzu manual gearbox. Lotus loyalists were unhappy with it, and only 560 came to the U.S.

Low production numbers often help a car’s collector appeal over time, even when the first owners had mixed feelings.

1985 Bitter SC Is Valued At $15,900

The Bitter SC is an Opel Senator-based coupe with an Italian body and an Opel six-cylinder, according to Hagerty. GM tried to sell it through Buick dealers, where sales were poor.

The article calls it a very pleasant tourer, so it may be the right pick for someone who wants comfort on long drives and a story to tell at gas stops.

1983 Bertone X1/9 Is Valued At $17,900

Hagerty describes a mid-engined sports car originally sold as a Fiat, later imported under the Bertone name by Malcolm Bricklin’s company. It had a 1.5-liter fuel-injected four and a five-speed gearbox.

More than 100,000 were imported, yet the article says it is “all but forgotten today.” It tops the list at $17,900.

Notice how modest these figures are next to the headline-grabbing auction results you read about. That is exactly why Hagerty framed the list as cars under $18,000.

Values move over time, so check Hagerty’s current valuation tools before you pay anyone. Condition and originality drive the price more than the badge, and a pre-purchase inspection by someone who knows the model is worth every penny.

Parts availability varies widely from one orphan to the next, and so does the price of keeping them running. Ask an owners’ club before you buy, since members can tell you what to expect.

Collectors tend to chase cars with a story, and each of these has one: a failed luxury experiment, a tiny production run, a British convertible built from borrowed parts. That is part of the fun of owning an orphan.

Weigh the upkeep, too. A car with only a few hundred examples in the country may need parts from specialists, and an owners’ club is often the best place to find them.

Finally, remember that a price guide is a starting point. Sit down with the seller, take the car for a drive and bring a friend who knows older cars.

Whichever one catches your eye, the best advice is the oldest: buy the best example you can afford, and plan on a little patience while hunting for parts.

Many of these cars have loyal owners who will happily talk for an hour about quirks and fixes, so take notes.

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