1984 was a turning point for automakers: a new Corvette generation debuted, the first BMW M5 arrived, and a handful of limited-run supercars defined collector tastes for decades. That year marked a shift toward turbocharging, race-derived engineering, and purpose-built performance variants that blurred the line between road cars and track cars.
This piece surveys the ten most influential, interesting, and enduring cars from 1984 — the models that mattered to drivers then and still matter to collectors and enthusiasts today. Readers who care about driving character, investment potential, or simply great design will find a concise, ranked tour grouped by category.
Expect supercars and homologation specials, new-generation icons, sporty imports, and hard-working domestic performance cars. For each entry I note why the car mattered, key specs, and a brief collecting note.
Below are ten standout models from that pivotal year, from halo machines to accessible sportsters — a snapshot of where performance was headed in the mid-1980s.
Performance & Supercars
1984 produced several halo cars and limited-production models that pushed both performance and design boundaries. Manufacturers leaned on turbocharging, lightweight materials, and racing-derived engineering to justify homologation specials and to showcase what their road cars could do. Rarity and provenance became part of a car’s appeal, and those factors still drive collector demand today.
The three cars below exemplify that era’s extremes: a factory-built, race-minded homologation car; the wedge-shaped poster supercar everyone wanted; and a refined sports-car staple that married everyday usability with sharp handling.
1. Ferrari 288 GTO — Limited-production V8 supercar
Ferrari unveiled the 288 GTO in 1984 as a homologation special, and its scarcity helped cement its legend: roughly 272 units were built. Underneath the sculpted body sat a mid-mounted, twin-turbocharged V8 producing about 400 hp, good for 0–60 mph times in the high-4-second range by period testing.
Collectors prize the GTO for its direct link to Ferrari’s road-to-race narrative and for its desirability at auction — six-figure to low-seven-figure results have been commonplace for well-documented examples. Museum placements and celebrity ownerships only increased its cachet, making the 288 GTO one of the most sought-after classic cars from the 1980s.
2. Lamborghini Countach LP500 S — The flamboyant poster car
The Countach embodied 1980s exotica with its wedge profile and scissor doors, and mid-era variants like the LP500 S (seen through the late 1970s into the 1980s) refined the concept with broader hips and improved aerodynamics. By 1984 the Countach had evolved visually and mechanically from its early predecessors while retaining an over-the-top presence that became synonymous with the decade.
Countachs remain desirable partly for cultural reasons — countless posters and magazine covers — and partly for their rarity and dramatic styling. Period road tests highlighted their theatrical performance, and museums and private collections still showcase mid-era Countachs as icons of 1980s automotive fantasy.
3. Porsche 911 Carrera 3.2 — Refined sports-car formula
The Carrera 3.2 was Porsche’s bread-and-butter 911 through much of the 1980s, offering proven balance and mechanical simplicity. The 3.2-liter flat-six produced a typical range of roughly 200–230 hp depending on market and tune, delivering responsive throttle response and the driving dynamics that made the 911 famous.
It served as a competent daily driver and a platform for amateur motorsport, and its robust aftermarket support makes restoration and tuning straightforward. As a result, the Carrera 3.2 is often recommended as an attainable entry into classic 1980s sports-car ownership.
Those performance halo cars set the tone for the more accessible sports coupes and new-generation icons that followed.
Sports Coupes and New-Generation Icons
1984 saw introductions and refreshes that shaped the next decade of sporty coupes: a clean-sheet Corvette, BMW’s first road-going M5, and a new Z-car that modernized Nissan’s sports-car offering. These cars brought new platforms, performance-focused variants, and technology that filtered into mainstream models during the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Some of these models offered sports-car thrills without exotic pricing, making them influential for the broader market and important today as both collectibles and drivers’ cars.
4. BMW M5 (E28) — The first true M5 arrives
BMW M GmbH introduced the original M5 in 1984, creating a new niche: the high-performance executive sedan. Built on the E28 chassis, the early M5 used a motorsport-tuned inline-six (the S38 family) producing about 286 hp and featuring a high-revving character and sharpened suspension geometry.
The M5 appealed to drivers who wanted sedan practicality with sports-car performance, and it set a template for future performance saloons. Its mix of everyday usability and track-capable dynamics helped define the performance-sedan segment for decades.
5. Chevrolet Corvette (C4) — All-new generation
As a 1984 model-year debut, the C4 Corvette replaced the long-running C3 with a clean-sheet platform focused on handling and aerodynamics. The new chassis offered a stiffer structure and improved suspension geometry, which transformed the Corvette’s on-road behavior compared with the outgoing model.
The C4 became a versatile platform that later accommodated more aggressive performance variants and advanced electronics. For buyers seeking an American sports car that felt modern, the C4 broadened Corvette’s appeal during the 1980s and beyond.
6. Nissan 300ZX (Z31) — A turbocharged import for the era
The Z31 300ZX arrived for the 1984 era with contemporary styling and available turbocharged VG-series V6 engines. Introduced in the 1983/1984 timeframe, the car kept the Z-car relevant in the U.S. market by offering both non-turbo and turbo variants that appealed to a wide range of buyers.
Its tunability and aftermarket support made the 300ZX popular among enthusiasts, and the turbo models provided real performance at an accessible price. The Z31 played an important role in the rise of Japanese sports cars in North America during the 1980s.
Those new-generation coupes showed that performance could be modern and attainable, setting up a wave of accessible performance cars.
Everyday Performance & Hot Hatches
Not all standout 1984 models were exotic or expensive. That year also produced cars that delivered memorable performance, efficiency, or value to everyday drivers — lightweight imports, turbocharged domestic experiments, and muscle-car sleepers. These cars often had the greatest cultural reach, influencing enthusiast communities and aftermarket scenes.
Below are three examples that show how performance filtered down to commuting cars and how affordability helped build lasting enthusiast followings.
7. Honda CRX — Lightweight, efficient, and fun
The CRX was well established by the mid-1980s and the 1984-era models stood out for light weight, sharp handling, and excellent fuel economy. Small-displacement engines and a low curb weight translated to strong mpg figures for the era; many owners saw well over 35 mpg on the highway with conservative driving.
Sporty trims like the Si (in later model years) emphasized the CRX’s fun-to-drive character, and the car’s simplicity made it a favorite among first-time enthusiasts and tuners looking for an affordable, lightweight platform.
8. Ford Mustang SVO — Turbocharged experiment
Introduced in 1984, the Mustang SVO used a turbocharged 2.3-liter inline-four and sport-tuned suspension to offer a different kind of Mustang experience. Factory horsepower was rated at roughly 175 hp, and the SVO featured distinctive aerodynamic elements and suspension upgrades that emphasized handling over straight-line brute force.
The SVO appealed to buyers seeking a modern, more European-feeling Mustang alternative to the traditional V8 muscle variants, and it broadened the performance choices within Ford’s lineup during the mid-1980s.
9. Buick Grand National — The 1980s sleeper
The Grand National began the decade as an understated Regal-based performance car and by the mid-1980s helped define the turbocharged domestic resurgence. With a turbocharged V6 tuned for torque, the Grand National earned a reputation for surprising straight-line speed despite its anonymous looks.
Later Grand National variants became legendary for their pace, and unrestored examples are now highly sought after by collectors who appreciate the car’s sleeper charm and historical significance in American performance lore.
Performance in everyday cars made enthusiasm more democratic, but manufacturers also used limited runs to showcase technology and race intent.
Luxury, Tech, and Homologation
A smaller set of models from 1984 blended luxury or technical ambition with clear motorsport intent. Manufacturers collaborated with specialist firms, produced limited-run variants, and homologated features for touring-car competition. These cars often foreshadowed later high-performance luxury lines.
The Mercedes‑Benz entry below is a prime example of how a compact executive car was transformed for racing and for drivers who prioritized handling as much as badge prestige.
10. Mercedes‑Benz 190E 2.3‑16 — Homologation and handling focus
Introduced in the mid-1980s as part of Mercedes’ push into touring-car competition, the 190E 2.3‑16 used a Cosworth-developed four-valve cylinder head on a 2.3-liter engine to extract high-revving performance from a compact sedan. The model was specifically tied to homologation needs for series like the DTM in the mid-1980s.
With beefed-up suspension, better brakes, and a focus on chassis balance, the 2.3‑16 helped lay the groundwork for later AMG and performance-Mercedes offerings. Enthusiasts prize early, well-preserved examples for their precise handling and motorsport pedigree (Cosworth collaboration is often noted in sales and restorations).
Summary
1984 blended exotic supercars with practical performance in ways that still matter. From the limited-run Ferrari 288 GTO to the efficient Honda CRX, the year produced machines that were both statements and usable cars.
- Turbocharging and race-derived engineering were major trends that year, appearing in models from the SVO to the 288 GTO.
- Several introductions — notably the C4 Corvette and the E28 M5 — set templates for future generations of performance cars.
- Rarity and provenance (for example, ~272 Ferrari 288 GTOs) and practical appeal (fuel-efficient CRX models) both drive collector interest in different parts of the market.
- Which of the best cars of 1984 would you choose — an exotic halo car, a modern sports coupe, or an everyday performance sleeper?
