The Early 80's-Mid 90's Performance Car Club

[Jetboy.]

So, searching back a bit in the car forums here, I found we really don't have much of a group collection or club devoted to cars from this specific area of car culture. The closest option would fall into the Sleepers thread of not-so-far back, but digressed too far from the age to really be applicable.


So, where do we start.. The Oil Crisis of 1973 seems about right. Having killed the muscle car (Along with raising insurance), manuafacturers were left scrambling to make better, safer, and more fuel efficient vehicles. I and others would gladly call this The Dark Ages of the Automobile. In 1979 there was a second oil crisis, further tightening regulations. By 1980, vehicles with over a 130.0 inch wheel base and weighed over 4500 lbs (2040 kgs) were phased almost entirely out of production and front wheel drive became the mainstream replacement offering a reduction of vehicle size and weight. Between 1980 and 1986, oil prices dropped almost by half with the upped production by various other countries and the collapse of OPEC. The Oil Glut, as it was known, had happened.

So what did this mean to automakers: Suddenly the stranglehold was gone, but everyone was still front wheel drive. The advent of the Japanese Front Wheel Drive revoloution provided better technology and in some cases, performance cars that were much better than American Counterparts. Suddenly it seems everyone is in a hurry for a fast answer. Witness, the birth of the Hot Hatch and other performance machines of the 80's-90's. Want some examples?

Ford Escort XR3i (Eu.)
Ford Probe GT Turbo
Nissan Sentra SE-R
Mazda 323 GTX
Vauxhall Astra GTE 16v
Ford Taurus SHO
Pontiac Sunbird GT Turbo
The GM Quad 4 Series
Dodge Omni GLHS
Mekur XR4Ti
Lotus Carlton
Volvo B23ET Redblock Series...


Yeah, sorry for the history lesson, but it sets the stage. This is the collective thread for owners or enthusiasts of said cars. I felt a discussion thread would do well here.




Cheers,
Jetboy

 

[Boffin]

I have always loved the Lotus Carlton.

Once when I was in Paris, my brother pointed at something and called it space junk which tuned out to be a Lotus Carlton. I slapped him over the head for getting it so wrong, and then a lucture on what it was ensued.

 

[mafia_boy]

I can add to this by the bucketload. Enjoy a selection of pics, plenty more to follow if needed. 👍

Mazda 323GT-R [BG]

Nissan Skyline GTS-R [R31]

Holden Commodore Turbo [VL]

Nissan Pulsar GTi-R [N14]

Nissan 180SX/240SX [S13]

Nissan Silvia [S13]

Nissan Skyline GT-R [R32]

Ford Sierra Cosworth RS500

Toyota Chaser [JZX81]

Toyota Soarer [JZZ20]

Toyota Supra [JZA70 & MA70]

Toyota Celica GT-Four [ST185]

Subaru Liberty/Legacy RS Turbo

Nissan Bluebird SSS [U13]

Ford Laser TX3 Turbo [KC]

Opel/Holden Calibra 4x4 Turbo

Mitsubishi Cordia Turbo [AA/AB]

Mitsubishi Starion Turbo [JA]

Daihatsu Charade GTti [G100]

I am proud to say that I was raised in the TURBO era!!

 

[Jim Prower]

The one-year-only '88 Nova Twin Cam. I'd love to have one, restore it as original.

 

[Rue]

Daihatsu Charade GTti [G100]

My first car (a white one) and I loved it to bits until the head-gasket went.

 

[homeforsummer]

Witness, the birth of the Hot Hatch and other performance machines of the 80's-90's.

The 80s and 90s is a bit late on that front You're forgetting things like the Mk1 Golf GTI, the Fiat Strada Abarth, the Alfasud Ti and other little FWD firecrackers that appeared in the 1970s...

That said though, I'm definitely a fan of the performance cars from this era. It's worth remembering things like the E30 BMW 3-Series and it's performance derivatives, Cloverleaf versions of the Alfa Romeo 33, classic Peugeots like the 205 GTi and 405 Mi16, the first wave of VTEC Hondas (step forward CRX), and the Saab 900 Turbo.

My favourites from the era though? Well, I couldn't go without mentioning the one that I own...

Undoubtably one of the best drivers cars produced between the mid eighties and the mid nineties. Not an outright "performance" machine but roughly on par with the GTIs and XR3is of the time. Also broke from the trend of boxy Eighties styling. Even if I didn't own this car I'd still consider myself a fan of this era of inexpensive performance cars, but I've put my money where my mouth is now...

The other ones that really come to mind are the Renaults. I've grown up as a Renault fan because we've had a number of them in the family. Unfortunately you don't see many 80s/early 90s Renaults on the roads in the UK much any more as many were driven into the ground and then scrapped, but there are still plenty about in mainland Europe. Hard to forget some of these though...

Renault 5 GT Turbo...

Renault 11 Turbo...

Renault 19 16v...

Renault Clio 16v and Williams...

All critically acclaimed for excellent handling and impressive performance. If I had to choose just one I'd go for an immaculate example of the 19 16v, but unfortunately the chavs get them these days and good ones are few and far between

 

[Tornado]

I always thought it was cool how absolutely crazy Detroit (and Chrysler in particular) went with turbo motors in the 80s, even ignoring the captive imports (which were plentiful in their own right). And I find it weird how the entire automobile industry (excepting the rare Japanese car that still trickled out) abandoned them by 1994 and instead decided to build boring NA engines instead.

 

[homeforsummer]

I always thought it was cool how absolutely crazy Detroit (and Chrysler in particular) went with turbo motors in the 80s, even ignoring the captive imports (which were plentiful in their own right). And I find it weird how the entire automobile industry (excepting the rare Japanese car that still trickled out) abandoned them by 1994 and instead decided to build boring NA engines instead.

To be fair to the auto industry, turbo cars weren't as reliable or tractable back then as they are now. Nowadays they've pretty much sorted stuff like overheating and turbo lag. Back then, Renault 5 Turbos used to blow up all the time and had absolutely zero traction in the wet.

The naturally-aspirated period was probably good for the industry as it gave them time to sort out the chassis before strapping turbos back onto the engines a decade later...

Anyway, there were some pretty damn awesome naturally aspirated engines in that time. Certainly not ones I'd call "boring". I'm thinking Renault's 16v "F16" line (as in the 16vs mentioned above, the Williams etc), Honda's efforts with VTEC with the distinct kick as they crossed from one cam profile to another, Alfa Romeo's twin-sparks, BMWs vanos-equipped engines... none are engines that leave you thinking "I wish this had a turbo...".

 

[Shant J.]

Ooohhh.... I love '80s sports cars.

 

[Jetboy.]

Excellent examples from mafs and homeforsummer, especially for the Renaults. 👍 Also honourable mention to Jim for the mention of the Twin-Cam Nova, which only the two of us prolly know about.

Now, I will concede that there were performance cars of the '70's, but it wasn't near as widespread, as Toronado pointed out. It really did seem that everyone had a car they were stuffing a turbo (or turbos) into or an engine that was slated for turbos but never recieved.

So along with this I'm providing cars either that I had owned or almost purchased (but the deal fell apart, car was sold first, etc.)


Hyundai Scoupe GT Turbo

Ford Probe GT Turbo

Chrysler Conquest Tsi

Oldsmobile Cutlass Calais Quad 442

Mazda MX-3 GS V6

Subaru Leone RX Turbo

Cheers,
Jetboy

 

[YSSMAN]

Oh how I love my early '90s cars...

Chevrolet Beretta GTU/GTZ

Honda Prelude Si

Saturn SC1

...Otherwise, it seems like a lot of the rest of you have hit on the awesome.

 

[Strittan]

So, searching back a bit in the car forums here, I found we really don't have much of a group collection or club devoted to cars from this specific area of car culture. The closest option would fall into the Sleepers thread of not-so-far back, but digressed too far from the age to really be applicable.


So, where do we start.. The Oil Crisis of 1973 seems about right. Having killed the muscle car (Along with raising insurance), manuafacturers were left scrambling to make better, safer, and more fuel efficient vehicles. I and others would gladly call this The Dark Ages of the Automobile. In 1979 there was a second oil crisis, further tightening regulations. By 1980, vehicles with over a 130.0 inch wheel base and weighed over 4500 lbs (2040 kgs) were phased almost entirely out of production and front wheel drive became the mainstream replacement offering a reduction of vehicle size and weight. Between 1980 and 1986, oil prices dropped almost by half with the upped production by various other countries and the collapse of OPEC. The Oil Glut, as it was known, had happened.

So what did this mean to automakers: Suddenly the stranglehold was gone, but everyone was still front wheel drive. The advent of the Japanese Front Wheel Drive revoloution provided better technology and in some cases, performance cars that were much better than American Counterparts. Suddenly it seems everyone is in a hurry for a fast answer. Witness, the birth of the Hot Hatch and other performance machines of the 80's-90's. Want some examples?

Ford Escort XR3i (Eu.)
Ford Probe GT Turbo
Nissan Sentra SE-R
Mazda 323 GTX
Vauxhall Astra GTE 16v
Ford Taurus SHO
Pontiac Sunbird GT Turbo
The GM Quad 4 Series
Dodge Omni GLHS
Mekur XR4Ti
Lotus Carlton
Volvo B23ET Redblock Series...


Yeah, sorry for the history lesson, but it sets the stage. This is the collective thread for owners or enthusiasts of said cars. I felt a discussion thread would do well here.




Cheers,
Jetboy

My 240 was a performance car!? I just now started missing her. Why did I sell her!?

It was a '81 GLT with an M46 gearbox (4-speed and overdrive) and, that's right, the B23ET (136hp and 190nm).

Took these right before I sold it to Gothenburg last spring :'(

 

[nobuffalo]

Excellent examples from mafs and homeforsummer, especially for the Renaults. 👍 Also honourable mention to Jim for the mention of the Twin-Cam Nova, which only the two of us prolly know about.

Make that three! And I would prefer one of these over the nova, I think.

 

[Jetboy.]

...wow. Haven't truly even seen one of those before. Reminds me of the Impulse Wagonback that was.


So, walking through the local scrap yard, it turns out sitting there is a Sunbird GT turbo with the Brazillian 2.0 OHC with.... 175 horse. The body's a little rough, there are no seats, but everything is in the engine bay, even the dinky turbo. I'm seriously considering picking it up for a project car. If not, I'd love to swap the shifter assembly for the knob in my Olds (The Sunbird's shifter is nearly half as tall as the Semi-truck lever in The Brick).

 

[Boffin]

classic Peugeots like the 205 GTi and 405 Mi16

You CANNOT simply just mention these two absolute legends. They are terribly deserving of shots.

Mi16

205GTI

Was going to get one of those, unitll it turned out the uni I was going to was a 5 hour drive, and I'd rather something much bigger for it.

And now my contribution:

Lancia Delta HF Integrale. Evo II was the sweetest.

BMW E30 M3

 

[nobuffalo]

Yep, Geo Prizm GSi. Came with the hi compression 4age, disc brakes and "sports suspension". I've read it came with the only map sensored 4ag in america, but i've also read that was false. Either way it would be a neat little car. Try looking up info or pics, not much to find.

 

[Balocco]

Since it's pretty much impossible to find a 70s Celica coupe in the northeast, I've been considering getting a mark 1 MR2 and putting a 20v 4AGE in it, making myself a micro-Ferrari.

 

[Boffin]

Can we post balls to the wall supercars?

If so, the McLaren F1 was mechanical art, the XK220 was design art and the F40 was........just amazing art. The Diablo defied all human reason, the Porsche 959 defies physics, the Ferrari 355 was an amazingly balanced car.....which looks better than the two that followed it. The 456GT was a sedate Ferrari, that was terribly understated.

There are more, I could go on - and Id love to find pictures as well, seeing as we are talking performance cars. Its just everyone has posted fizzy 4 pots and the like, so I don't know.

 

[Jetboy.]

Can we post balls to the wall supercars?

If so, the McLaren F1 was mechanical art, the XK220 was design art and the F40 was........just amazing art. The Diablo defied all human reason, the Porsche 959 defies physics, the Ferrari 355 was an amazingly balanced car.....which looks better than the two that followed it. The 456GT was a sedate Ferrari, that was terribly understated.

There are more, I could go on - and Id love to find pictures as well, seeing as we are talking performance cars. Its just everyone has posted fizzy 4 pots and the like, so I don't know.

Eh... Truly not sure. We're all fans of the fizzy four-pot and I first intended the club to stay that way, but it's hard to deny the power of those that you listed. I'd say go ahead and let them in.


Cheers,
Jetboy

 

[Slicks]

You can't mention early 90's turbo cars without mentioning...

The DSM trio... Talon/Laser/Eclipse.

 

[Keef]

I smiled the other day when I thought about what my RX7 actually is. It's from the very beginning of Japan's crazy sports car battles of the late 80s through the mid 90s. Everyone slapped turbos on everything, they experimented with four wheel drive, four wheel steer, electronic driving aids, and they pioneered many technologies that are mainstream today, but without their efforts may never have come about.

There's nothing spectacular about my car in particular as it's one of the lesser, naturally aspirated models. But it does have a few interesting carryovers, including aluminum suspension components, brake cooling ducts, big four-piston front calipers and discs all around, and even Mazda's passive four wheel steering system, which simply consisted of a toe control arm in the rear suspension which changed the toe angle depending on the car's cornering force. Under light loads, like turn-in, the system would toe out for increased response, and under heavy loads it would toe in for more cornering stability. There were side effects. The term "light load" happens to include cruising down the highway, and the rear suspension made--and makes--for a busy steering hand and a nervous feeling car. Under heavy loads the outside rear wheel was prone to "bump steer" where it would unload, change the toe angle, and end up with the driver in a tree without a clue what happened.

That pretty much sums up all the tech the Japanese makers came up with during that time. Sometimes it worked brilliantly, and sometimes it failed miserably. The best of the bunch live on in today's Toyota Camry, and nobody really cares where it came from until a rare, two-decade old sports car pulls into the lot and only one headlight folds down.

 

[homeforsummer]

For me, the appeal of your car would be knowing that my engine was so vastly different to virtually everything else on the road...

 

[EA11R]

^Lovely. Quick, say something fantastic about my Altima! Impossible challenges aside, I shall contribute the only way I know how: PHOTOBUCKET

(@ Keef)

M-B 190E 2.5 16

Mazda RX-7

Toyota MR-2

Volkswagen Golf

Admit it, this makes you happy. So 80s

I accidentally uploaded small images, but I think they retain some of their loveliness.

 

[Famine]

Mazda MX-3 GS V6

I have one. It's not a:

performance car

Edit: Okay, two and one of them might be. But as stock they just aren't "performance" cars. 135hp, 115lbft, 0-60mph in 8ish, 135mph or so... not really "performance" figures. Though to be honest the same could be said - almost literally exactly the same - for the 205 1.9 GTi. Unless we're not having a minimum standard, but even then it seems incongruous to put them in the same bracket as the Lotus Carlton and Sierra XR4i...

 

[homeforsummer]

The 205 GTI strays into giant-killer territory though so I'd say that it has "enough" performance. Perhaps not outright, but certainly on the right road if you have big enough cojones. Same applies to your Mazda. And of course, they're the "performance" models in the range - compared to the positively pedestrian versions.

 

[Famine]

I dunno... the 205 has claim to being the fastest Pug at the time (the 309 GTi being slightly faster but not as quick, but only by fractions in each case), but the MX-3 V6 wasn't even the fastest Mazda MX at any time, let alone fastest Mazda...

I did destroy an E46 325 though.

 

[homeforsummer]

I dunno... the 205 has claim to being the fastest Pug at the time (the 309 GTi being slightly faster but not as quick, but only by fractions in each case), but the MX-3 V6 wasn't even the fastest Mazda MX at any time, let alone fastest Mazda...

I did destroy an E46 325 though.

Still, a V6 in a car the size of a supermini?... Worked for Renault...

 

[Boffin]

almost literally exactly the same - for the 205 1.9 GTi. Unless we're not having a minimum standard, but even then it seems incongruous to put them in the same bracket as the Lotus Carlton and Sierra XR4i...

If the stage were, say, a real world road road with bumps, tricky cambers, pot holes etc, I'd have to disagree with you. Give it a twisty road in the Cumbria fells and there wouldn't be much that could get past it, save for those taking the same recipe to more extremes (step in Evos and WRXs).

If it were a racetrack, then I'd agree with you.

Eh... Truly not sure. We're all fans of the fizzy four-pot and I first intended the club to stay that way, but it's hard to deny the power of those that you listed. I'd say go ahead and let them in.


Cheers,
Jetboy

Hmmmm - we'll try to keep it to a minimum of posts then.

Ferrari F40

Ferrari 355

Ferrari 456GT

McLaren F1

Jaguar XK220

Porsche 959

Lamborghini Diablo

Cizeta V16

Venturi 260LM

----------------


And one with a cult following (strangly)

Renault Alpine A600

 

[Famine]

Still, a V6 in a car the size of a supermini?... Worked for Renault...

Aye, but they put it in the boot and had 50% more capacity...

If the stage were, say, a real world road road with bumps, tricky cambers, pot holes etc, I'd have to disagree with you. Give it a twisty road in the Cumbria fells and there wouldn't be much that could get past it, save for those taking the same recipe to more extremes (step in Evos and WRXs).

If it were a racetrack, then I'd agree with you.

Preaching to the choir, but I don't necessarily think point-to-pointing is the same as performance.

 

[homeforsummer]

Aye, but they put it in the boot and had 50% more capacity...

...and 100% browner trousers.

(And 200% more "HFS has won the UKGTP Clio enduro twice" )