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Curbside Classics Archives
1980s Archive
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![(first posted 10/4/2016) As part of the 1987 domestic new car issue, Car and Driver also served up “Short Take” reviews on new and/or updated products. Read […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/CD1086DomesticMainImage.jpeg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage Reviews: Car And Driver 1987 New Car Issues – Short Take Reviews For Domestics")
Vintage Reviews: Car And Driver 1987 New Car Issues – Short Take Reviews For Domestics
Posted on April 21, 2025 | 34 Comments(first posted 10/4/2016) As part of the 1987 domestic new car issue, Car and Driver also served up “Short Take” reviews on new and/or updated products. Read […] -
![For 1986, Oldsmobile redesigned its FWD Toronado personal luxury coupe, hoping to expand its market with a trimmer, more efficient new model bristling with high-tech features. In August 1985, Car […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Car-and-Driver-1985-08-cover-snippet-with-Toronados.webp?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage C/D Review: 1986 Oldsmobile Toronado – A Downsized E-Body Begins Oldsmobile’s Downward Spiral")
Vintage C/D Review: 1986 Oldsmobile Toronado – A Downsized E-Body Begins Oldsmobile’s Downward Spiral
Posted on January 16, 2025 | 38 CommentsFor 1986, Oldsmobile redesigned its FWD Toronado personal luxury coupe, hoping to expand its market with a trimmer, more efficient new model bristling with high-tech features. In August 1985, Car […] -
![In early 1984, two of the leading UK car magazines tested the final generation of hot RWD Toyota Corolla coupes, the legendary twin-cam AE86 (sold in the States as the […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/AutoTest-Toyota-Corolla-GT-Coupe-Autocar.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage Review: 1984 Toyota Corolla (AE86) GT Coupe – Drift King In The UK")
Vintage Review: 1984 Toyota Corolla (AE86) GT Coupe – Drift King In The UK
Posted on December 15, 2024 | 17 CommentsIn early 1984, two of the leading UK car magazines tested the final generation of hot RWD Toyota Corolla coupes, the legendary twin-cam AE86 (sold in the States as the […] -
![On a recent junkyard trip, I came across a car I never knew existed. I was vaguely aware of the slow-selling sporty Escort EXP Ford dabbled in for a brief […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/exp4.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Curbside Recycling: 1987 Ford EXP – Forgotten Commuter Coupe")
Curbside Recycling: 1987 Ford EXP – Forgotten Commuter Coupe
Posted on October 24, 2024 | 27 CommentsOn a recent junkyard trip, I came across a car I never knew existed. I was vaguely aware of the slow-selling sporty Escort EXP Ford dabbled in for a brief […] -
![(Update: the text has been revised since publishing to amend one factual error regarding the project’s origin, plus some other minor revisions) Let’s revisit this Deadly Sin chapter through this […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Untitled-1.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage R&T Review: 1983 Cadillac Cimarron – An Improved Upscale J-Car")
Vintage R&T Review: 1983 Cadillac Cimarron – An Improved Upscale J-Car
Posted on August 4, 2024 | 36 Comments(Update: the text has been revised since publishing to amend one factual error regarding the project’s origin, plus some other minor revisions) Let’s revisit this Deadly Sin chapter through this […] -
![(first posted 7/27/2018) As Chrysler Corporation lurched and stumbled from crisis to crisis through the years, hidden in the mistimed mayhem were a few oddly compelling products. One […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/CD1279-Mirada-Main-Image.jpeg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage Review: 1980 Dodge Mirada – Retro Before Retro Was Cool")
Vintage Review: 1980 Dodge Mirada – Retro Before Retro Was Cool
Posted on July 27, 2024 | 47 Comments(first posted 7/27/2018) As Chrysler Corporation lurched and stumbled from crisis to crisis through the years, hidden in the mistimed mayhem were a few oddly compelling products. One […] -
![Car magazines from back in the day tend to get stereotyped, with Road & Track commonly being called out for being very anti-Detroit. Well, it wasn’t quite as simple as […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Seville-diesel-1-top.jpeg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage Review: 1980 Cadillac Seville Diesel – “Seems To Serve Little Purpose Other Than To Force The Rich Go Slumming In Truck Stops”")
Vintage Review: 1980 Cadillac Seville Diesel – “Seems To Serve Little Purpose Other Than To Force The Rich Go Slumming In Truck Stops”
Posted on June 24, 2024 | 47 CommentsCar magazines from back in the day tend to get stereotyped, with Road & Track commonly being called out for being very anti-Detroit. Well, it wasn’t quite as simple as […] -
![(first posted 5/17/2018) Last week, Paul covered the 1983 generation Fairmont-based LTD and its challenging mission of bridging between the “Brougham” and “Aero” eras at Ford. The […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Fox-LTD-Main-Image.jpeg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage Reviews: 1983 – 1986 Ford LTD, LTD/LX & LTD Brougham – Lethargic, Tuned or Dutiful?")
Vintage Reviews: 1983 – 1986 Ford LTD, LTD/LX & LTD Brougham – Lethargic, Tuned or Dutiful?
Posted on May 17, 2024 | 65 Comments(first posted 5/17/2018) Last week, Paul covered the 1983 generation Fairmont-based LTD and its challenging mission of bridging between the “Brougham” and “Aero” eras at Ford. The […] -
![The transverse FWD layout was taking over passenger cars by the 1980s. By then, the format’s advantages for passenger vehicles were hard to deny, particularly in compacts. A market that […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Scan-240430-0015.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage R&T Comparison: 1981 Ford Escort, Mazda GLC, VW Rabbit And Honda Accord — FWD Compacts For The ’80s")
Vintage R&T Comparison: 1981 Ford Escort, Mazda GLC, VW Rabbit And Honda Accord — FWD Compacts For The ’80s
Posted on May 17, 2024 | 19 CommentsThe transverse FWD layout was taking over passenger cars by the 1980s. By then, the format’s advantages for passenger vehicles were hard to deny, particularly in compacts. A market that […] -
![There are several ways to start this entry, all in the form of a question. For example; what’s it like to be around when a car legend appears? Particularly one […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Toyota-1985-Corolla-GT-S-hatch-a.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage R&T Review: 1985 Toyota Corolla (AE86) GT-S – The Exciting TwinCam 16 – An Honest High Performance Weapon")
Vintage R&T Review: 1985 Toyota Corolla (AE86) GT-S – The Exciting TwinCam 16 – An Honest High Performance Weapon
Posted on May 5, 2024 | 21 CommentsThere are several ways to start this entry, all in the form of a question. For example; what’s it like to be around when a car legend appears? Particularly one […] -
![(first posted 4/23/2018) If I were to pinpoint a specific year when the flagship Cadillac Division of General Motors lost its mojo (yet to be recovered), it would […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/CD0481-V864-Main-Image.jpeg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage Reviews and Commentary: 1981 Cadillac – The Year Caddy Stopped Firing On All Cylinders – GM’s Deadly Sin #29")
Vintage Reviews and Commentary: 1981 Cadillac – The Year Caddy Stopped Firing On All Cylinders – GM’s Deadly Sin #29
Posted on April 23, 2024 | 173 Comments(first posted 4/23/2018) If I were to pinpoint a specific year when the flagship Cadillac Division of General Motors lost its mojo (yet to be recovered), it would […] -
![The ’70s had certainly been a rough decade for Chrysler. After barely surviving, a renaissance of sorts had been in the works with the K-Car era that arrived in 1981. […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/42430047982_4716a54732_6k.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage Review: 1984 Chrysler Laser (Dodge Daytona) XE Turbo — “A Strong Running Package In Need Of Refinement”")
Vintage Review: 1984 Chrysler Laser (Dodge Daytona) XE Turbo — “A Strong Running Package In Need Of Refinement”
Posted on April 21, 2024 | 20 CommentsThe ’70s had certainly been a rough decade for Chrysler. After barely surviving, a renaissance of sorts had been in the works with the K-Car era that arrived in 1981. […] -
![Many many magazines have been sold by the presence of a Ferrari, Aston Martin, Corvette or Rolls-Royce on the cover, accompanied by “Exclusive First Test” type headlines. But, inevitably, many […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/title-join.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage Review: CAR Rates The Worst Cars of 1985 – Lada Riva, Reliant Rialto, Citroen 2CV and Skoda Estelle")
Vintage Review: CAR Rates The Worst Cars of 1985 – Lada Riva, Reliant Rialto, Citroen 2CV and Skoda Estelle
Posted on March 26, 2024 | 25 CommentsMany many magazines have been sold by the presence of a Ferrari, Aston Martin, Corvette or Rolls-Royce on the cover, accompanied by “Exclusive First Test” type headlines. But, inevitably, many […] -
![(first posted 12/21/2017) Just in time for Christmas, way back in 1979, Datsun (Nissan) sent a new 200-SX stateside. For buyers seeking a small-scale Personal Luxury car, […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/CD-1279-200SX-Cover.jpeg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage Review: 1980 Datsun 200-SX – Samurai Stocking Stuffer")
Vintage Review: 1980 Datsun 200-SX – Samurai Stocking Stuffer
Posted on December 21, 2023 | 49 Comments(first posted 12/21/2017) Just in time for Christmas, way back in 1979, Datsun (Nissan) sent a new 200-SX stateside. For buyers seeking a small-scale Personal Luxury car, […] -
![Every once in a while, disasters are worth revisiting. Not only in an attempt to analyze what happened but also, because they are fascinating to our collective psyche. Success and […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Untitled-1-2.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Vintage Car And Driver Review: 1986 Buick Riviera T-Type – What Is This Car Supposed To Be?")
Vintage Car And Driver Review: 1986 Buick Riviera T-Type – What Is This Car Supposed To Be?
Posted on November 30, 2023 | 26 CommentsEvery once in a while, disasters are worth revisiting. Not only in an attempt to analyze what happened but also, because they are fascinating to our collective psyche. Success and […]
