Our top five cars from the 1980s!

The 1980s were a bit of a golden era for British motoring. It was a decade of Rubik’s Cubes, shoulder pads and dodgy eyeshadow - and also a variety of cars that still spark nostalgia today. From hot hatches to executive saloons, the car scene in the eighties delivered vehicles that were more than just a way to get to work - they represented a new way of doing things, and as a result sometimes became cultural icons in their latter years! 

Here are five of our most legendary cars of that unforgettable decade, and why they continue to capture our imagination today…

The Ford Escort XR3i

The Ford Escort XR3i was the dream car for countless young drivers in the eighties. With its sharp styling, fuel-injected engine and sporty handling, it brought hot hatch thrills to the masses. Unlike the expensive sports cars of the time, the XR3i was attainable - and that made it wildly popular on British roads. It also became something of a style statement, appearing in TV programmes such as Ashes to Ashes and Dempsey and Makepeace, cementing its reputation as a suitable car for the daring crime solver amongst us.

The Volkswagen Golf GTI Mk2

The Mk2 Golf GTI refined the hot hatch formula and set a new benchmark for performance and practicality. Arriving in 1984, it offered more power than its predecessor, improved aerodynamics, and a cabin that balanced comfort with a sporty edge. It wasn’t just about speed, though - the GTI was reliable, well-built, and versatile enough to handle daily driving as well as some backroad blasting. Its understated looks also meant it appealed to both car lovers and families, making it one of the most celebrated cars of the decade.

The Ford Sierra RS Cosworth

Another Ford here! Arguably the king of 1980s performance cars, the Ford Sierra RS Cosworth was a monster both on the road and the racetrack. With its whale-tail spoiler, turbocharged engine and rally-bred DNA, it was a car designed to dominate touring car championships - and it certainly did just that. Limited numbers on the road made it an instant collector’s item, and today, pristine examples sell for eye-watering sums of money. Back then, however, it was every boy racer’s fantasy and one of the most thrilling cars you could buy in Britain…

The Austin Metro

While not as glamorous as some of its rivals, the Austin Metro was a quintessentially British car of the eighties. Launched in 1980 as a replacement for the Mini (although the Mini lived on alongside it), the Metro was small, affordable and hugely popular as a city car. Its clever packaging and practical design made it a hit with families, students and first-time drivers alike. Interestingly, even Princess Diana famously drove one in her early days, giving the humble Metro a brush with royalty. My dad had one, whereby the bottom was black and the top was yellow - we called it The Bee!

The BMW 3 Series (E30)

The E30 BMW 3 Series epitomised the eighties yuppie lifestyle. Del Boy would surely have loved one! Whether in two-door coupe, four-door saloon or cabriolet form, it was stylish, well-built, and a joy to drive. It became a symbol of success and aspiration, with the M3 version in particular earning legendary status as one of the greatest performance cars of all time. Even today, the E30 is highly sought after, beloved for its balance of engineering precision and timeless design.

These cars from the eighties were markers of identity, aspiration and a little dash of cultural change. They defined entire lifestyles, from the city-dwelling yuppie in a BMW E30 to the boy racer in a Ford XR3i… They brought some track glamour to the streets and yet also everyday practicality to millions of families. Perhaps that’s why these cars tend to stay in our memories - they represent not only nostalgia, but also the spirit of a decade…

Have you enjoyed this trip down memory lane? If so, you might like to read about cars from the swinging sixties and also the disco era seventies too!