The 1980s were a strange and fearless time for car design. Fuel crises, new safety rules, and bold styling experiments collided, producing vehicles that felt futuristic, awkward, or just plain confusing. Many disappeared quietly, overshadowed by safer, more sensible choices. Looking back now, these forgotten oddballs capture the decade better than the icons ever could.
Subaru XT 1985 to 1991
The Subaru XT looked like a concept car that escaped into production. Its wedge shape, pop up headlights, and aircraft inspired interior felt wildly ambitious for the era. Subaru even gave it a joystick style shifter and a digital dash that looked borrowed from a fighter jet. It was available with all wheel drive, which was still a novelty then. Buyers did not know what to make of it, but today it feels like a bold preview of Subaru’s future thinking.
Chevrolet Citation X 1984 to 1985
The Citation X tried to turn a deeply ordinary family hatchback into a performance hero. It wore aggressive body cladding, special wheels, and promised excitement that the front wheel drive chassis struggled to deliver. On paper it sounded daring. In reality it confused buyers who wanted either comfort or real performance. It vanished quickly, but it remains one of GM’s strangest attempts at redefining sporty in the 80s.
Renault Fuego 1980 to 1986
The Fuego was meant to be sleek and modern, a European coupe with flair and technology. It offered features like remote keyless entry long before that was common. The styling was distinctive, but not universally loved, and reliability concerns scared off many buyers in North America. It ended up forgotten, yet it represents a time when French automakers still took big design risks abroad.
Nissan Pulsar NX 1983 to 1989
Few cars embraced modular thinking like the Pulsar NX. Owners could swap roof panels and even the entire rear section to change the car’s shape. It was part hatchback, part coupe, and part targa. While clever, it was also heavy and awkward compared to simpler rivals. The idea was ahead of its time, but execution left buyers scratching their heads.
Chrysler Laser 1984 to 1986
The Chrysler Laser was a personal luxury coupe built during a period when Chrysler was experimenting with identity. It shared much with other K based cars but tried to position itself as upscale and sporty at the same time. Digital dashboards, turbo options, and plush interiors clashed with underwhelming driving dynamics. It was neither exciting nor luxurious enough to last, making it easy to forget today.
Isuzu Impulse 1983 to 1992
The Impulse had serious pedigree, with styling by Giorgetto Giugiaro and handling tuned by Lotus on later versions. Despite that, it never found a clear audience. It was too expensive for an Isuzu and too obscure for mainstream buyers. Those who drove one often praised its balance and steering. Those who saw one often had no idea what it was.
Ford EXP 1982 to 1988
Ford tried to create a sporty coupe based on the humble Escort, and the result was the EXP. It was light, aerodynamic, and aimed at fuel conscious buyers who still wanted style. Unfortunately, performance never matched the look. It existed in a narrow space between economy car and sports coupe and never truly satisfied either crowd.
AMC Eagle Sedan 1980 to 1988
The AMC Eagle is now recognized as a pioneer, but in the 80s it was deeply odd. A raised sedan with all wheel drive felt unnecessary to many buyers at the time. It looked like a regular car on stilts, confusing shoppers and sales staff alike. Only later did the industry realize AMC had accidentally invented the modern crossover.
Pontiac Fiero 1984 to 1988
The Fiero promised mid engine excitement for the masses, but early models disappointed with modest power and quality issues. It looked exotic, sounded exciting, and felt different from anything else in its price range. Pontiac eventually fixed many problems, but by then the damage was done. The Fiero became a cautionary tale rather than the breakthrough it could have been.
Yugo GV 1985 to 1992
No list of odd 80s cars is complete without the Yugo. Cheap, simple, and controversial, it arrived with massive expectations and left with an even bigger reputation. It became a punchline almost immediately, yet it symbolized a moment when affordability trumped refinement. Love it or hate it, the Yugo remains one of the most unforgettable oddities of the decade.
These cars did not fail because they lacked ideas. They failed because the 80s moved fast and rewarded only the clearest visions. Today, these forgotten oddballs remind us just how experimental that decade really was.
25 Facts About Car Loans That Most Drivers Don’t Realize
Car loans are one of the most common ways people fund car purchases. Like any other kind of loan, car loans can have certain features that can be regarded as an advantage or a disadvantage to the borrower. Understanding all essential facts about car loans and how they work to ensure that you get the best deal for your financial situation is essential. Here are 25 shocking facts about car loans that most drivers don’t realize:
25 Facts About Car Loans That Most Drivers Don’t Realize
