Supercars in the Eighties
The Italians continued to innovate in the ’80s, but they also came under pressure like never before from a series of supercar wannabes. The Germans fettled the humble 911 Turbo into the race-spec 959, which showed how computers could sport brains as well as brawn. Meanwhile Honda showed the NSX, which became the first contender from the Orient. It was the first supecar your nan could drive.
Browse our GBU-style pick of the decade’s landmarks below – and vote for your favourite supercar decade in our poll
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Make and model
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Year
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Price
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Engine
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0-60mph
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Top speed
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1984
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£59,540
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2855cc V8, 400bhp, 366lb ft
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4.9sec
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190mph
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For
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Way rarer than the F40: just 272 were made
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Against
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Nasty cabin: cheap materials and Fiat switchgear
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Verdict
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Brutal and beautiful Ferrari does Group B with predictable results
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The first of the hyper-Ferraris with its twin-blown, 2.8-litre 400bhp V8, and for some the greatest road-going Ferrari of them all. The fastest production car of its day at 189mph.
Related Articles: Other Ferrari stories
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Make and model
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Year
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Price
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Engine
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0-60mph
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Top speed
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1987
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£163,000
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2936cc V88, 478bhp, 426lb ft
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4.9sec
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201mph
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For
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Better steering than a McLaren F1, says Gordon Murray
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Against
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Hard ride and laggy engine make for an edgy drive
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Verdict
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Ferrari’s raw response to Porsche’s brainbox 959
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Enzo’s last road car, and the first production road car to claim a 200mph top speed, though it’s never been proven. Ferrari’s 40th brithday present to itself wasn’t luxurious, but a massive 478bhp in 1235kg was some consolation. An epic supercar
Related Articles: Other Ferrari stories
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Make and model
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Year
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Price
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Engine
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0-60mph
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Top speed
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1987
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£145,000
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2850cc flat six, 450bhp, 369lb ft
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3.7sec
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197mph
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For
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Electronics radically altered the supercar driving experience
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Against
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Could leave the driver feeling a little forgotten. Nick Faldo had one
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Verdict
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For the first time, brains were as important as brawn
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Computers controlled the damping, the four-wheel drive and the 2.8-litre, 450bhp turbo six, and produced a scarcely believable 3.7sec 0-60mph time. But modest Porsche left the 200mph boasting to Ferrari. This was a prescient car, and set the template for the modern 997 Turbo
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