QOTD: Were There Any Lustworthy American Cars Built Between 1979 and 1989?
Earlier this week, our Junkyard Find was a totally rad 1989 Chevrolet Camaro RS, complete with interesting personal touches applied by an owner who was quite familiar with taste and elegance.
In the comments, things quickly turned to the nature of the automobile during a dark and Malaisey period — 1979 to 1989. A question bubbled to the surface for me: Were there any lustworthy American cars made in that period? Let’s find out.
This question came from an
Majestic, isn’t it? It is of course the Dodge Caravan, introduced to the world in 1984. Built on the ever-versatile K-car platform that saved Chrysler’s bacon, this (tiny, in modern terms) minivan was a new way to cart children and their auxiliary equipment around the country. Up to that point, van offerings were not of the mini variety. Rough, thirsty, based on trucks, and rear-drive, those vans were cargo haulers first, and forced into people-carrying service after. The Chrysler vans were more comfortable, more practical, and much more efficient in times of gasoline Malaise.
The Caravan defined the segment, prompting Ford to follow with the rear-drive Aerostar in 1986 and General Motors to create its Dustbuster vans for 1990. For the reasons above, these minivans were lustworthy to a whole generation of parents. People who, until then, were forced to drive their large families around in a modified cargo van, or perhaps a baroque, wood-sided station wagon.
The Caravan showed North America there was a different way to travel — a better way. And for that reason, it’s a lustworthy vehicle of our selected period.
What are your picks for lustworthy American rides from ’79 to ’89?
[Image: Fiat Chrysler]
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A few from my blog, with comments: 1982 Ford Mustang GT—The first of the GTs is still the one that gets me. 1983—What an upgrade these cars where. 1984 Buick Riviera T-Type—I love these big slightly sporty coupes 1984 Lincoln Continental Mark VII LSC"—The eighties definition of Hot Rod Lincoln. 1987 Chevrolet Caprice Classic 1989 Cadillac Allante—Dave Hill's baby gets an engine upgrade. 1989 Pontiac 20th Anniversary Turbo Firebird Trans Am—The ultimate eighties Trans Am and by far the most collectible.
(forgive my delusion that I could make links work) A few from my blog, with comments: https://eightiescars.com/2014/08/04/1982-ford-mustang-gt/ 1982 Ford Mustang GT—The first of the GTs is still the one that gets me. https://eightiescars.com/2017/11/20/1983-ford-thunderbird-turbo-coupe/ 1983 Ford Thunderbird Turbo Coupe—What an upgrade these cars where. https://eightiescars.com/2014/06/09/1984-buick-riviera-t-type/ 1984 Buick Riviera T-Type—I love these big slightly sporty coupes https://eightiescars.com/2014/07/27/1984-lincoln-continental-mark-vii-lsc/ 1984 Lincoln Continental Mark VII LSC—The eighties definition of Hot Rod Lincoln. https://eightiescars.com/2014/04/02/1987-chevrolet-caprice-classic-coupe/ 1987 Chevrolet Caprice Classic https://eightiescars.com/2014/02/09/1989-cadillac-allante/ 1989 Cadillac Allanté—Dave Hill's baby gets an engine upgrade. https://eightiescars.com/2014/07/04/1989-pontiac-20th-anniversary-turbo-firebird-trans-am/ 1989 Pontiac 20th Anniversary Turbo Firebird Trans Am—The ultimate eighties Trans Am and by far the most collectible.