5 1980s Cars That Should Have Never Been Canceled

The American car market underwent a massive transformation during the 1980s. Many new car models were introduced while many popular car models went the way of the dinosaur. Here is a breakdown of the 5 cars available in the U.S. market during the 1980s that should have never been canceled.

[@marks4374]

I bought my 88 Fiero GT in late 87 and I still have it to this day. It still looks great and runs like the day I picked it up. It’s still as fun to drive now as it was back then.

[@scottbiddle3967]

You are so lucky I would love to have one

[@vice4134]

@John Stone Your answers are weirdo! You sound like you don't know what the heck you're talking about.

[@vice4134]

@John Stone, LOL What's the matter with your mind, huh? Jeez! Just sit down & SHUT up.

[@superglue46]

'88 Fiero Formula here. Got it 6 months ago and absolutely love it. Looking forward to doing some like light reconditioning and making it shine again!

[@vice4134]

@John Stone, Huh? You are not making any sense. Jeez! Yeah, go ahead & lay down. It will do your mind some good. LOL

[@tetchuma]

All of these cars have one thing in common: “Don’t let the bean counters, dictate the advancement of the companies products.”

[@pgtmr2713]

I'd like to add to that... DON'T make cars for people who DON'T LIKE CARS. Seriously it's a bad business model.

[@Teknokill-jm2ub]

@@pgtmr2713 I totally agree, even better way to say that is don't put none car guys on your board of directors

[@michaelvarga8252]

I really wanted to know what happened to the Toyota mr2! Is there a video on that?

[@beauxguidry5373]

@@michaelvarga8252 It has been rumored lately that there is work being done on a new all electric version to be announced. But hold your enthusiasm about it, the last time Toyota took a long time to build something they ended up with the latest "Supra".

[@uttasyda9746]

Well said!! I miss my conquest tsi!!!☹😞I'd pick that car over 3/4 of the cars made now!!!

[@buckshot6481]

That Eagle wagon would be a massive success today 😎💃🕺. I'm sorry mate but that Cadillac was a clunker.

[@christopherconard2831]

Given AMCs penchant for unique body styles it would probably look like the Nissan Juke.

[@bradzimmerman3171]

Cadillac( all GM are clunkers ) hubcaps &bumper stickers totally useless

[@johndoee4742]

@John Stone true but realistically they'd make it electronic like all modern 4wd vehicles. But it still would be a cool mopar and good idea

[@johndoee4742]

@John Stone yes but at least it's something more substantial than a forester, v90, or outback. No real American competition in awd "wagons" (cuv as you said). Best one you can get is a mini clubman

[@pancudowny]

The Cimarron was built for one reason only: To increase the number of fuel-sipping models produced to counter-balance the gas guzzlers, in order to meet CAFE mandates. Once said mandates were temporarily frozen by President Reagan, the need for such models--and the numbers they were built in--vanished faster than the 4-cyl from the engine compartment of a Camaro/Firebird.

[@Thomas63r2]

The legacy of GM is that they are famous for holding back on a car model, then finally giving it everything is should have had in the beginning - then killing it the following year! Over and over again they have done this, the ‘80’s showcased this great flaw at GM

[@Thomas63r2]

@John Stone Can you give examples of another car manufacturer. I'm not doubting you, I just can't think of another company with GM's record.

[@barnabyjones6995]

@@Thomas63r2 GM always seemed like they were throwing darts at a board for their new ideas. Look at new Buicks, all of their new models have goofy names that nobody knows.

[@robsteingruber9488]

GM and their infamous badge engineering.

[@GoingPostalSince2012]

GM wouldn't let any in house manufacturers step on the Corvette's toes. Hence the Fiero and Grand National was killed to name a few.

[@robsteingruber9488]

GM has always had some of the most idiotic policies as far as platform development. That's why DeLorean had to do the GTO in secret. They are also in the recent past one of the least willing to realize, adopt and embrace change.

[@BryceLovesTech]

What happened to Pontiac was criminal. They had some great cars

[@johnliotta2583]

Oldsmobile too. Had a 442. Gm broke my heart.

[@steveespinola7652]

GM broke my heart when they cnxld OLDSMOBILE then they stomped on it when they pulled the plug on PONTIAC, these two brands had some nice looking cars, from the Olds 442 to Pontiac's last great looking car: the G8.

[@BuzzLOLOL]

I wouldn't have missed Buick, instead...

[@charlescarmichael1124]

@@BuzzLOLOLAbsolutely! They should have closed Buick and GMC which was just rebadged Chevy trucks. Kept Pontiac and we could have had the modern Trans Am!

[@dlm9477]

GM had no problem screwing over Pontiac. In 1964 Pontiac made a car called the Banshee. GM told them you can't build and sell. GM then gave that Pontiac car to Chevrolet and told them to use it for their 3rd gen Corvette.

[@danielulz1640]

I never knew about the proposed second generation Fiero.

[@vice4134]

@John Stone WRONG! They did build several Fiero prototype for notchback & fastback. Look it up! Jeez!

[@tedharvick9010]

Would have loved to see the Cyclone power plant in the Fiero. 280hp and AWD in that car would have been one heluva ride.

[@brianberkenkemper6924]

Same here.... that 2nd gen Fiero looks dope tho

[@skaldlouiscyphre2453]

@@tedharvick9010 Mid-engine and AWD is tricky to implement. Look at how Ford, Peugeot and Lancia all took different approaches with their designs from that era. If GM was gonna build an AWD Fiero it probably would have been for 1985 or 1986, but why bother building a Group B homologation model as a Pontiac when Americans don't watch rally? The bean-counters never would have went for it no matter what badge it wore, but the only way to rationalize it would be as an Opel. Unless the goal was to go rallying MR would be just as good as M4 so odds are any halo Fieros still would have been MR. I like coming up with different what-if takes on the Fiero though, like Group B, or more generations, or Opel, Saturn or Chevy rebadged versions, etc.

[@john-vy1ml]

Eagles were way ahead of their time. Still have my g body.

[@stephenmartini5890]

I still drive a 1988 Eagle Wagon, my Show Car.

[@john-vy1ml]

@@stephenmartini5890 that is awesome

[@trwsandford]

@@stephenmartini5890 I love that car! Never sell it!

[@jelly7310]

My friend had a Eagle Talon. Very quick little car.

[@kingchakazulu7762]

@@jelly7310 That was not made by AMC, that was made by Mitsubishi.

[@johnhutchison9782]

You almost lost all credibility with that Cimarron pick. 😂 as long as it even resembled a Cavalier, it didn't stand a chance.

[@monkeywkeys3916]

Whata pile that thing was.

[@crw3673]

If you think about it, look at the first generation Escalade and Denali. Exactly the same vehicles. Took time for Cadillac and GMC to distinguish themselves from the Tahoe and Suburban. So If Cadillac had made it look less like a cavalier and started with a V6, who knows?

[@dodgeplow]

It didn't *resemble* a Cavalier, it *was* a Cavalier with minimal sheet metal changes.

[@cliffordgill9052]

One of these showed up at the shop I worked out in the early 2000s, I thought it was a total joke before I looked closer and realized it was a legit Cadillac🙄

[@slymcalhoun8809]

The Cimarron, was straight TRASH 🚮!!

[@paulhoffman778]

I always thought the Eagle was a handsome car. Love your videos.

[@the-btc-tradingfloor2808]

We called it the jokers clown car

[@ILC-eo6vk]

My parents had an 82 Cimarron. 0-60 in 2 hours.

[@frankcovert6196]

And that was only down hill.

[@creamcitysista1970]

😂

[@jeffreyrubish347]

Another '80's vehicle that shouldn't have been discontinued is the International Scout II.

[@tinyb69]

They didn't have the money to keep building a vehicle that wasn't turning them a profit. They just couldn't compete with the Big 3 when it came to cost efficiency per vehicle, and they didn't have the sales numbers to reduce costs through higher production numbers. Add to that, The U.S. was in a pretty bad recession at the time that they canned production. If memory serves me correctly, the prime rate hit 21% near the end of 1980. Pretty tough time to be losing money with every vehicle sold.

[@jeffreyrubish347]

@John Stone 1980 was last year of production so it just squeaks in.

[@genekelley7579]

Dude...I had one with a “slight lift” and the V8. It went “anywhere” and “push or pulled” everyone one out, like the Blazers and the Broncos. I wish I had it today, but it was so hard on gas and rusted to death. 😀👍

[@jeffreyrubish347]

@@genekelley7579 Unfortunately they were rust prone, especially where road salt was used. They were contemplating a fiberglass version but the worker strike was the final nail in their coffin.

[@jbirdmax]

Good call. Another vehicle ahead of its time. If they were to make it today with modern alloy, 95% if it’s issues wouldn’t exist.

[@stevethomas760]

Owned a Eagle Talon TSI back in the day. Fun car to drive but a firm grip when the turbo spooled up.

[@sheldonk5747]

I have the Grand National and love it. It's a car to be preserved. The car still attracts attention and have that iconic Mastodon sound when coming off boost. Guaranteed head turner from young to old when that turbo flutter.

[@jdgreen214]

I have one too and a 92 typhoon. I don't know if it's the upgraded turbo on my typhoon but when it spools it sounds like it's gonna suck everything in around it. I love that feeling in the GN when that turbo lag then boom it's like being shoved hard down a cliff. It gets to 80mph so fast it seems like 5 seconds I'm in getting a ticket territory. I think if the transmission had 2 more gears these things would still be pretty formidable in stock form. It's jarring sometimes when you drive a older car because it lacks the smoothness in down shifting that even my jeep wrangler has.

[@keepitsimple5573]

@@jdgreen214 @Sheldon K those GNs would whip anyone on the road back in the late 80s

[@toddanderson6952]

Nothing says poor decisions and mis management like North American auto manufacturers

[@andrefecteau]

hasn't changed...too many "managers" ZERO visionairies...they gave Tesla a 10 year head start, good job you just ended gas powered cars when everyone saw it could go fast and far.

[@judethaddaeus9742]

UK volume manufacturers would like to enter the chat, but there aren’t any left.

[@thedevilsadvocate5210]

Ford getting rid of the Crown Vic

[@howardkerr8174]

@@thedevilsadvocate5210 Sorry, I have an 09 model and to get it updated to safety standards of the 20 teens pretty much required a clean sheet effort. At that point, why call it a Crown Victoria? As much as I really like mine, I (and I am pretty sure other owners of this car and the Grand Marquis) like it because it is a " throwback " type of car. I considered replacing my Crown Vic with, of all things, a Toyota Avalon...preferably the hybrid model. Found it difficult to sign the papers because the Avalon is quite ugly and a high leap tech-wise. In fact, the big attraction for me was that the model I looked at (a 2015) still had a CD player...stupid reason, right? The (recently discontinued) Taurus is a decent Crown Vic replacement except for a fatal flaw with its engine, or I would have considered it, too.

[@dontmesswitbill9161]

Oh no..that honor goes to the brits with British Leyland. They wrote the book on how to screw up a company from the ground up.. This company started out as a mess..And after multiple owners, from different countries, and continents, and even government funded, ended as one.

[@jezuzfreek777]

The Cimarron? Really? That thing was always and will always be detested.

[@pancudowny]

The Cimarron was built for one reason only: To increase the number of fuel-sipping models produced to counter-balance the gas guzzlers, in order to meet CAFE mandates. Once said mandates were temporarily froze by President Reagan, the need for such models--and the numbers they were built in--vanished faster than the 4-cyl from the engine compartment of a Camaro/Firebird.

[@JeffDeWitt]

That Eagle kammback... got to love its weirdness, it's basically a 4WD Gremlin!

[@rsuffridge1]

Loved the Starion and the 2 door Eagle fastback...

[@acemobile9806]

Surprise, the Eagle did live on... disguised as the Jeep Cherokee XJ. They are essentially the same chassis, just different bodies. The real shame was AMC in general being absorbed. Their uniqueness was killed off just to plunder the Jeep brand. Sometimes I wonder who deserved to live more, AMC or Chrysler 🤔

[@superglue46]

Amen to that last line.

[@judethaddaeus9742]

The XJ Cherokee was *very* different than the Eagle, with an 8” shorter wheebase, 14” shorter and 5” narrower body, solid front axle as opposed to the Eagle’s independent setup, and an engine bay that wasn’t initially designed to carry the AMC straight 6 like the Eagle had... until a significant update came in ‘87. Their platforms had nothing in common.

[@lancasterritzyescargotdine2602]

Then if the subject changes to who deserves a bailout, what about Studebaker? Here is an American car company that built vehicles for 104 years and never whimpered once when the weather turned bad. They were not a victim of bad management or schlocky cars, but only of dwindling profits that kept them from investing in technological advancements. A Studebaker was as quality a car as any mainstay Chevy, Ford, Plymouth, Dodge or Rambler. And before there were automobiles, Studebaker was the leading producer of covered wagons that expanded and settled an evolving midwest and western America. If anyone deserved a bailout, it is Studebaker. Only Ford has a nameplate as American as Studebaker, and Ford has never asked for a bailout, either.

[@tomsmith5216]

The Fiero is the best "what might have been" car from GM Pontiac. The last yesr model fastback was beautiful, and had they continued refining the car yearly, with subtle body changes, it could have been something like the Corvette.

[@karendadd483]

I had a new 1986 mustang gt and had alot of success in beating most performance cars of the day ..until one day I was sitting at a light and what pulls up but a new 1987 black grand nationalI thought to myself this 6 cylinder car isn't going beat this 5.0.light turns green and we both hammered it ..I had him out of the hole by a car length and remained ahead for the first 200 ft then I heard that high pitched whistle noise coming from behind me ..and soon I was staring at his tail lights he was slowly pulling away ..never forget this and had a new respect for the Buick Grand national

[@sparkythedetroitdoggo8281]

I had a square body cavalier that I made into a Z24 clone after several trips to the junkyard . The cool part was I got a leather interior from a cimmeron at the junkyard too ! Woa ! And I had 2 fieros after that ! Thanks for the Great memories .

[@newdefsys]

I agree with everything, especially the Starion/Conquest. But the Cimarron was an abomination.

[@kingrex1931]

Other luxury makes use small car platforms to make luxury cars off of. Toyota has a Corolla based Lexus, Honda has a Civic based Acura and Nissan has a Sentra based Infiniti. The Cimmaron was just poorly executed. It should have been reskinned and started out with the 2.8L V6 as its engine.

[@robnation2475]

Bingo

[@lancasterritzyescargotdine2602]

NeDeS Hey, you could even go uphill with 4 people in the car if you downshifted into 2nd gear. What a fun return to the Roaring Twenties! You could spend all day going from Santa Monica to Bakersfield over the Old Ridge Route.

[@johnanderson591]

Strong 😊

[@MP-zf7kg]

yes, I do always remember the AMC eagle wagon as being VERY close to what the modern cuv's turned out to be. it was decent-looking, looked "balance" compared to a lot of other vehicles on the road. even back then, people were looking for something more nimble than a full-sized wagon, but with more interior load room than a car.

[@bkaley8974]

What is a "cuv?" You mean SUV? AMC was the Gremlin of car companies. Jeep included.

[@benbond3433]

I drooled over a Fiero restomod from a few years back...someone planted an '86 GT with a supercharged 3800. Me likey!!

[@iwantyourcookiesnow]

I always loved the Starion’s looks, kinda like a stealth fighter with all of those flat panels

[@RustbeltBlues]

I was more inclined toward the Chrysler Conquest version of the Starion. But yeah, great looks that stand the test of time.

[@michaelcooke2559]

Excellent presentation. Thank you.

[@thetrumpnewsnetwork7503]

The Starion was a badass car back in its day.

[@BuzzLOLOL]

With 188 HP it wasn't "more muscular" than a 240 HP Porsche 944... LOL!

[@thetrumpnewsnetwork7503]

@@BuzzLOLOL It was a blast to drive

[@BuzzLOLOL]

@@thetrumpnewsnetwork7503 - I've been advocating for a TTNN - Trump True News Network...

[@bartricky5894]

I love your videos but, Cimarron? A bad joke that almost ruined Cadillac.. Just a rebadged Chevrolet Cavalier young people knew what they were and didn't want them. They may have fooled a few old folks that thought they could get a cheap caddy..

[@rmknicks]

Yes it was a joke but I think he's saying that there should have been a second generation where they could've gotten it right.

[@elmarko9051]

There were a lot of fatal hits on Caddy in the 80's, this one was just the most insulting. The V8-6-4, the Cadillacs with the Olds Diesel, there were so, so many. It's nothing short of a miracle Cadillac survived to the 90's where they got the impressive, but fatally flawed Northstar.

[@pancudowny]

The Cimarron was built for one reason only: To increase the number of fuel-sipping models produced to counter-balance the gas guzzlers, in order to meet CAFE mandates. Once said mandates were temporarily froze by President Reagan, the need for such models--and the numbers they were built in--vanished faster than the 4-cyl from the engine compartment of a Camaro/Firebird.

[@bartricky5894]

@@pancudowny I had a roommate that had a 4cyl Firebird, at the time I thought that strange..

[@markmayfield2228]

I had a Cavalier as a rental car after an accident. That disaster of a car had no traction. When I saw that GM introduced the Cimmaron, I cringed so hard. Caddy has no business making a front wheel drive car. Especially that hot mess.

[@orange70383]

A friend of mine bought a new 86 Grand National when they came out and in 87 he bought his wife one as well. The 86 for some reason made more boost and was faster than the 87. At the time I had a 70 Cuda 440 automatic and I could beat the 87 but the 86 would come around me as it hit 2nd spinning the tires and continued to steadily pull away.

[@JVLIVSPhoto]

Growing up in the 80s, I remember these vehicles vividly. ALL of these cars mentioned were ahead of their time. I really didn't care for the Cimarron much until its final years when it was getting the recognition it deserved. I've said it time after time over the decades that these automakers keep shooting themselves in the foot! The best examples mentioned was AMC Eagle, The Buick GN/GNX, and the Fiero. GM had pretty much committed career suicide with their downsizing.

[@lrg3834]

"GM had pretty much committed career suicide with their downsizing." ABSOLUTELY--especially Cadillac.

[@MBB563]

I know the Fiero tho a basket case car in the beginning, many experts believed that Fiero last model year was actually a great car, one of the best engines.... just when GM finally got it right, they pulled the plug. Tho I have to say GM probably could have out done Toyota and their European counterpart, if they stopped the boxy boat like models in the 90's.. Sadly GM was slow to innovate, they kept milking those boxy cars into the 90's and shotty manufacturing. I remember a brand new 89 Cutlass Olds, the trimming on the dashboard was off....like really? Today I have a GMC, it's solid, great technology innovation tight and solid, reliable....but I think GM lost a whole generations of people with bad cars in the 90's

[@michaelsimko7694]

2 cars I right away thought of before watching the video were the Grand National and Fiero. It was so sad to see what GM decided to replace the RWD G-Body platform with and how Buick didn't continue building a 2-door performance car with its legendary turbocharged V6. If only the Fiero did get the facelift it needed instead of being cancelled, then there would have been a good chance Pontiac wouldn't have vanished.

[@stanburk7392]

Buick GNX worlds quickest brick. loved them. wish they would have kept making them.

[@matthewlibanio8227]

What a great video. Very true about the Cimmaron, great car, woefully under developed. PS... I am sure nobody has said this to you, but my 1 year old goes to sleep when watching your videos. I think it's your amazingly calm voice. Please take that as a compliment as my husband and I enjoy your videos so much. 😊

[@joshuagibson2520]

Oh yes. I've fallen asleep to these vids many times. Good for him because I reach when I get up lol. 2 views from me.

[@1VaDude]

I always loved the Buick Grand National........and they fetch high prices today. The "T-Type" Regal was nice too.

[@jonharris794]

When the Grand National and Regal T types come out in '86-'87, I could just see Corvette engineers pulling their hair out. Then in 1991 the Syclone hit and 1992 the Typhoon, did the Corvette engineers commit harakiri?

[@BruceLee-xn3nn]

Friday Saturday nights nobody liked seeing GN roll into parking lot. Not even the 5.0 guys

[@shantyburton6854]

The 3.8 was one of the best engines of all time. Had a lovely vin code 7 myself. Yeah , great cars

[@DuBstep115]

Did you forget that GM made ZR1 in 1990? A 375hp corvette that sprinted 0 to 60 in just 4.4sec and a top speed of 180mph (GN was limited to 124mph). First DOHC V8, while every other V- engine was pushrod trash.

[@beauxguidry5373]

No, they put those vehicles out in limited numbers. Someone else stated the reason why, but it was PR move only. And none of them ever really treatened the 'Vette, or they would have never seen the light of day.

[@BuzzLOLOL]

Also, Fieros looked better and handled better than Corvettes... and at 1/3 the price... they had to go... And in 2021 when they built a Corvette like a Fiero they discovered it could do 0 - 60 in under 3 seconds!

[@ebayerr]

If only I had known then what I know now.

[@joshuagibson2520]

Oh man. No doubt.

[@joeottsoulbikes415]

Exactly.

[@fitfogey]

When you get my age you wish you could know now what you knew then.

[@ebayerr]

@@fitfogey: What is your age?

[@mjb12141963]

Me too! About Fieros and the rest of the dumb s- -t I did back then.

[@danjenkins8981]

Those starion/conquest were awesome!

[@bruceh92]

Grand National best of the lot.

[@oliverdelgado6952]

GNX!!

[@ubroberts5541]

I bought a new one in 1987. Modified it with Applied Technology after market stage 3 kit. It was awesome. I would still have it today but it was stolen from my driveway in 1990.

[@jdgreen214]

@@ubroberts5541 That's why mine stays locked up in storage. It's funny when the first line someone says to you, "Nice car haven't seen one of those in a long time, better be careful they get stolen."

[@JeffDeWitt]

I understand why you say that, personally I'd rather have a nice Eagle wagon.

[@bruceh92]

@@JeffDeWitt I saw a houtube story today of two Eagle wagons owned by guys in Japan of all places and still driving them today. I love those cars too.

[@jerryking7502]

Make no mistake, the switch from rear wheel drive to front wheel drive was all about the dinero, nothing else!

[@plastiksurgeon9129]

Very true! It’s MUCH cheaper for the automakers to make a FWD car than a RWD one. It’s a myth about “better handling in snow”. Some instances yes, but I got along just fine long before FWD became mainstream and I’m glad that it’s not the sole powertrain any longer. I do believe it’s one reason people flocked to trucks and SUV’s. They tired of the FWD platform and at least the Crossovers and such do come in AWD.

[@garymckee8857]

Exactly cheap disposable junk.

[@superglue46]

To be fair, the packaging of a FWD drivetrain is pretty great for the designers to work with. Cheaper to make, yes, but packaging played a role.

[@paulshaffer9674]

The change to front wheel drive was to kill off the Shade Tree Mechanic.

[@judethaddaeus9742]

Nope. The switch to FWD was about downsizing and lightweighting vehicles to achieve better fuel economy without sacrificing interior room. It’s why the 1985 C-bodies were 2 feet shorter and 400lbs lighter than the B-bodies they replaced, but had just as much interior space. GM spent $7 billion developing the W-bodies, and had to spend more than that converting their plants to build transverse FWD unibody cars when the G’s were FAR cheaper to build.

[@glenpower1677]

I agree that the Eagle should never been cancelled, along with the Malibu.

[@isakjohansson7134]

@John Stone i think the Malibu is cool, especially the wagon

[@thelastcowboy7576]

Square body wagons unite!

[@the-btc-tradingfloor2808]

Ahead of it's time

[@cnance1972]

Back then those were AMAZING in 12" snow ❄️Miss the old Buick square RWD wagon , that sound of the drivetrain from sitting right over the diff as dad drives, never knew or cared about "seatbelts" just get in and shut up

[@micksterboone4517]

There was a gorgeous blonde in my hometown that drove a brown Eagle. Thanks for the memories!

[@micksterboone4517]

@John Stone Troll

[@micksterboone4517]

@John Stone Troll fail.

[@Jason_Quinn]

My father owned an Eagle Wagon. He had to buy a replacement part once and told me that the part was coded for "Nash." AMC family history.

[@towertito2149]

We all know the turbo cars from GM in the 80s were criminally underrated in power. Even the GNX

[@BuzzLOLOL]

GM had turbo V8s in 1960s !!!

[@scottbiddle3967]

I absolutely love the '88 Fiero GT never saw the '88 Formula but to this day I would love to have one. I was 17 that year that has always been my dream car!!

[@tomsmith5216]

My boss at the time had a beautiful silver 88 Fiero GT fastback. He was an ex jet-fighter jockey and drove it like one. He passed me on the way to work seversal times on the highway like I was parked, and honked and waved as he went by.When I got in he'd stop by my office and ask me what took me so damned long to get to work, lol. I have never worked for a better boss.

[@jeffjackson9679]

Same here. Was saving up all of my money in HS, to try to buy one. Never could find one though, and had to settle for a TA.

[@beyonbeach]

Eagle wagon with cb radio oh yeah awesome.

[@gsxerwhite]

The Conquest/Starion looked more similar to the 83-85 Supra. That’s what I always thought.

[@circuitsandcigars1278]

The worst thing is my uncle leased a Dodge Conquest TSI and if you took it to go to a Mitsubishi dealer, they'd tell you they can't touch it even if not leased and the Dodge guy who fixed it only got to the dealer every few weeks. He has a 5 year lease and shop time added up to a year of that

[@ericbitzer5247]

My friend's father had a red Conquest and it was a good looking fast car.

[@robertwright5487]

While stationed at Ft. Bliss Texas I came upon a black Buick GS at a Buick dealer ship. When I went to check it out and saw the whole car it was a station wagon! Black with wood grain paneling and a 3.8 turbo. I was told that it was a special order. Personally I would have deleted the wood grain paneling however it was still sharp looking.

[@BuzzLOLOL]

GM had turbo V8 in 1962...

[@warrenpuckett4203]

My favorite was the MK VII LSC. It was great when you managed to get everything to work. Which took a lot of wrenching to keep it working. But if you put Mustang R parts on it. That worked real well. Sold it to somebody that can't find anybody that knows how to fix it.

[@PaulJersey]

I had both a 1986 Grand National & a 1987 442. Both were great cars on a long trip, rode nice, comfortable seats, got decent mpg, ice cold air & a huge trunk. The trunk could easily fit a couple of suitcases, a few travel bags and a cooler.

[@mentok3027]

The Fiero with that 3.4 and the Quad4 would have been beast as well!

[@jeffjackson9679]

Weirdly enough, I had both of those engines in cars I owned in the past. the 3.4 in a Cutlass Supreme Convertible and the Quad4 in a Z24. I honestly didn't like the Quad4, too loud and raspy, but the DOHC 3.4 was a great engine. Revved up really high and felt faster than it's HP rating.

[@nightmathzombieethan]

Had a black eagle wagon with the woodgrain. That thing would drive through 2 foot tall snowdrifts like they weren't even there. That magnificent beast was unstoppable in the worst of weather.

[@neozeed1984]

Thank you for another great video. I always look forward to your videos. As soon as I see it I have to watch it. They are such great shows! The only problem is they make me wish I had every car you ever talk about.

[@1_Papa]

Look, I still love your videos and your information is always spot-on accurate! But the Cadillac Cimarron? NO! The K-Body Seville had Rolls Royce styling, but was smaller and shared quite a bit with the X-Body Nova, but it had a longer wheelbase and a 5.7 litre V8 in gas or "diesel" were the only engines available. That's why it worked so well! The Catera was far and away a better car than Cimarron, and it was also a failure. It wouldn't be until the CTS that they did "small Cadillac" right. Then Johan DeNysschen destroyed everything about Cadillac and now, it's suffering because of that. Everything else about your list I agree with; especially about the AMC Eagle and Pontiac Fiero.

[@BuzzLOLOL]

'76 Seville didn't look like a Rolls and had first EFI 5.7L V8s... that engine made it one year into the Rolls look body with FWD...

[@raywyatt5368]

@@BuzzLOLOL I think what Papa means is that the Seville, like some Rolls Royce models, had more front end than rear end.

[@Ninerforlife1979]

Subaru Outback totally came to mind when you were talking about the AMC Eagle. Good call.

[@stevecosentino1981]

I had an 87 Cavalier Z24 that was nicer and faster than my Dad's Cimmaron.

[@jaybrown1828]

LOL 😂 A slant six Duster was faster than a Cimarron

[@BruceLee-xn3nn]

Those Z24s were pretty nice. I wouldn't mind having one now but beefed up a little

[@JR-uy3zo]

I have two 87 z24s. Would like to restore them. Were very fun cars.

[@hurricanesrule4959]

That was a nice looking car. They also had a convertible version too.

[@harpermotorsports16]

I loved my '87 Z24.....with the 5-speed trans it was fun and quick for the time! Most people don't realize that they had a functional ram air hood too! I would love another, but good luck finding a nice one, and restoring 1 is impossible since parts are not available for them

[@danjenkins8981]

GM’s SOP is to a introduce a car that doesn’t meet buyer expectations and by the time the car comes up to standard they quit making it.

[@robertpoudrette4483]

That's what they've been doing since the late 70's, start subpar, then take 5 years to fix things up then when it's ready for prime time people are aware of the bad rep and stay away. Great policy... That made GM's reputation and still sticks today unfortunately.

[@markarnold6257]

So right. and poor marketing as well. see Pontiac...

[@user-kb2bs9hy2v]

G.M. wrost enemy is General Motors

[@thomasofone]

Cadillac Cimarron: Even worse than the Alante.

[@pancudowny]

The Cimarron was built for one reason only: To increase the number of fuel-sipping models produced to counter-balance the gas guzzlers, in order to meet CAFE mandates. Once said mandates were temporarily froze by President Reagan, the need for such models--and the numbers they were built in--vanished faster than the 4-cyl from the engine compartment of a Camaro/Firebird.

[@stevenhunt3113]

K cars universally sucked

[@thomasofone]

@@stevenhunt3113 nahhh, not all. Some of the Chryslers were nice. Remember, the first mini van was on a k car platform. BOOM!

[@stevenhunt3113]

@@thomasofone I had a k car and the carb messed up, you had to replace it with the same one, out of 286 different ones that all came on that year model. Of that car.

[@thomasofone]

@@stevenhunt3113 all cars have lemons.

[@jaycoppola4324]

I had a 1983 Eagle SX-4 hatchback. My first car. (17 y.o.,1989) Yep--Pretty much as capable as a CJ off-road. As a matter of fact,to put it simple,I would tell people that it was basically a Jeep with a car body-Exact same drivetrain. I used to have fun playing with people--Drive right into a deep mud pit with a carload of people-Shut the engine off,and let it sink to the axles. Just when they began to whine about having to slog through knee-deep mud,I'd start it up and drive RIGHT OUT. With regular passenger car tires.

[@kc0lif]

love the amc eagle wagon actually the eagle came from amc concord.

[@davidmunro3910]

Which came from Hornet.

[@syxepop]

My daddy bought in '78 a '75 AMC Hornet Sportabout wagon (4.2L / 258 I6) and the Eagle wagon was just an updated (and AWD'd) version of that one (the '80s Concord was the RWD sedan version of the Eagle).

[@andrefecteau]

very GM oriented...let's do Ford Thunderbird, Mustang SVO

[@warrenny]

The 5 vehicles mentioned were all canceled in the 80s. The Thunderbird flew on in the 90s and beyond. The SVO - if you mean turbo charged 4cyl, Ford sells them now. If you mean Special ops....Ford had the SVT and Shelby in the 90s and beyond,

[@houseofno]

@Cherokee Blood Sigma Soul Not the Grand National. Discontinued after the 1987 model year. Helps to watch the video.

[@TylerDurden-rh6hu]

@Cherokee Blood Sigma Soul thunder chicken was trash. Ford's 2.3 4 cylinder was weak.

[@robertnicholls9917]

@@TylerDurden-rh6hu lol

[@BuzzLOLOL]

@Nunya Grooves - Nope, the RWD Regal/Special/Century ended in 1987... just FWD trash after that...

[@Richaag]

I took my driver’s test in a 1983 AMC Concord with a 258 Inline 6. I’m not sure if I should be sad about that, or really proud.

[@JeffDeWitt]

I took my driver's test in its ancestor, a 1967 Rambler American wagon with the 232 six.

[@Richaag]

@@JeffDeWitt I’d be proud of that one. AMC was just another U.S. auto manufacturer when I was a kid. They made a lot of garbage back then but they also made some cool cars. The Eagle was probably their best release. You could argue the Javelin was a competitive muscle car and the Pacer (temporarily) saved the company... but the Eagle was the only AMC ahead of its time. Excellent ground clearance and 4WD on the fly with the touch of a button. Unheard of then, but standard industry today.

[@steveespinola7652]

Sure the AMC EAGLE wagon was a weird cat but it was weird in a good way, I liked it.

[@drm9979]

that Fiero at 14:12 is beautiful. would have sold zillions.

[@V8AmericanMuscleCar]

I agree!

[@karlnash7105]

As a 6'5" guy, I disagreement :-) They were very cool cars.

[@joshuafrahm8778]

Imagine if they'd taken the Fiero the same route as the 89 T/A and dropped a Grand National motor into it...

[@tuck6464]

@@joshuafrahm8778 Ding ! That would be a fun,scalded cat of a car to drive.. I cannot remember who, but somebody did do a couple V-8 conversions ,but not enough to get noticed, I have'nt gotten a chance to dive one yet.

[@turlubambabou]

@@tuck6464 mine had a 3.8 SC, best time on the drag strip was 13.29. Loved that car but 3 kids later, i had to sell it....

[@danielsan3681]

Thank you for creating this list and video. You are appreciated! 🙏

[@23ofSeptember]

Eagles were basically the first crossover vehicle. I think the Subaru Forester and Outback were the first cars to try what the Eagle had done.

[@kingchakazulu7762]

Nah, The RAV4 came out before those did, Honda even had a jacked up Civic wagon 4WD in the 80s.

[@Steve-uw5bf]

@@kingchakazulu7762 Nah, remember that Subie had the BRAT which began production way back in '78. They just took the good idea that AMC had and expanded on it with BRAT, Outback, etc.

[@ukupunkrock3981]

@@kingchakazulu7762 Sorry no, the BRAT is a unibody pick up based on the DL/GL Wagon. 80s Subaru EA82 4WD Wagons are the closest relatives/competitors of the Eagle, and there was even a MPFI Turbo version.

[@2visiondigital]

Subaru's 1st 4wd wagon in the US was 1975. I had a 76 with safari rims. It was a little tank, hard to kill, but could overheat in a blizzard. The Eagle 4wd was very capable.

[@joshuagibson2520]

Love when you upload! Thank you much.

[@bcarss1970]

AMC Eagle was great but the introduction of the Cherokee in 1984 created a similar more modern vehicle.

[@judethaddaeus9742]

The Cherokee was MUCH smaller than the Eagle. 14” shorter, 7” shorter wheelbase, 5” narrower, and couldn’t be fitted with a straight-6 until the engine bay was redesigned for ‘87. Jeep didn’t make anything similar to the Eagle’s dimensions until the 1993 Grand Cherokee.

[@bcarss1970]

@@judethaddaeus9742 Yes a little smaller but it served the same purpose is all I was saying.

[@judethaddaeus9742]

@@bcarss1970 The Cherokee was two entire size classes smaller. In today’s terms, Jeep’s smallest current model, the Renegade, is almost exactly the same size as the XJ Cherokee. The current Cherokee is closest in size to the Eagle. And Jeep now has the Compass slotted between them. Roy Lunn engineered the Eagle at the outset to be halfway between a car and a truck, and purposely designed it as a step between AMC’s passenger cars and Jeep’s off-road oriented trucks. In fact, AMC checked their work and did lots of customer clinics in advance of the XJ Cherokee’s launch of both Eagle and Jeep buyers, to make sure they both had a distinct place in the market. Most Eagle buyers weren’t interested in the XJ because it was too small and truck-like, with its solid front axles, and didn’t offer the creature comforts (or the torque) of a passenger car-based vehicle like the significantly bigger Eagle. In fact, for over half of the Eagle’s 9-year life, it was sold right alongside the XJ Cherokee.

[@irishkeif7791]

I look forward to new videos from you more than Christmas.

[@susanstv667]

Nice video, thank you for sharing this.

[@BorisBidjanSaberi11]

Your narration style is very relaxing, you’re good at this buddy

[@jessecuster5877]

When I was in high school (back in 2006-2008) there was a kid who had one of those Eagle wagons. It had a giant lift kit and these giant trail/mudding tires. It looked like so much fun!

[@billycloudy9078]

Yeah I always wanted a starion... fiero and of course a GN!!! Those were some very cool cars!!

[@crw3673]

It is a real shame how GM screwed over Pontiac over the years. They were a performance, innovativing division that kept getting the rug pulled from underneath them! The Pontiac Banshee would have been a great competitor against the Chevrolet Corvette. But it never happened and the General gave Pontiac the firebird. The Fiero also could have been a great 2 seater car. But just when the car was starting to get refined and a large engine, it gets cut from the line up. The Pontiac 6000 ste, again great handling and Awd. Pontiac had no right making the Aztek or Montana mini van. And when they made the Pontiac G8 GXP the BMW M5 fighter, they shut down Pontiac all together. Go figure!

[@timothykeith1367]

GM's agreement with it's dealers made it impossible to keep selling Pontacs as a full-line make. Had legal agreements been different, Pontac could have been a niche make which didn't directly compete with other GM vehicles. Pontiac could have been required to partner with other make GM dealers so that GM could produce fewer Pontiac models that were distinct. Car dealers have exclusive territory agreements and are promised a variety of vehicles. It might have made sense to sell just one or two popular Pontiac models alongside Chevies or Buicks etc at the same dealer, as Pontiac dealers had essentially become a part time business. Pontiac dealers would have sued GM and won. GM had no choice to kill off Pontiac. GM should just have a single "GM" dealer network and stop competing with other GM makes. In that way both Pontiac and Oldsmobile could have survived as niche makes.

[@garybrinker4522]

Of all the GM makes,,Pontiac was my favorite,,,and I'm a Ford fanatic..

[@lancasterritzyescargotdine2602]

The Firebird was nothing but another "me, too" Camaro with a Bunke Knudsen front-end stapled onto it. It also preceded the Banshee by many years, which you'd know if you studied the Firebird before you broke into print.

[@crw3673]

@@lancasterritzyescargotdine2602 I'm not sure you are right! The Banshee preceded the Firebird. The Banshee was in development before the Firebird and the General shut that down. Their was a memo that their was no direct competitor from any GM divison to go up against the Corvette. So to throw Pontiac a bone, the executives let Pontiac developed there own version of the F body. Which they end up calling the firebird. The firebird was nowhere close to what the Banshee was supposed to be and that was a hard pill for John Delorean to swallow!

[@ronniejohnson317]

Uncle Chig was one of the designers of the Eagle. He was commissioned to get the engine, transmission and transfer case to work together. He was the design engineer of the 4.0 Jeep engine. He said that it was kind of a modernized 300 six cylinder Ford. They had to stop the vapor lock. I fixed mine with a piece of air compressor lines with the heat sink fins.

[@lokisgodhi]

I remember reading an article in a hot rod magazine in the late 90s/early 00s about GM putting the F body platform in the W body coupes and sedans as a test. It fit with minor modifications. Which meant they could have been offering these cars as V8 RWD powered sports coupes and sedans from 1988 through the 2000s. But didn't. Because they're GM and prefer to come in second or third place to Ford and Chrysler and make second rate products. RWD W bodies with a V8 would have destroyed Ford's Taurus SHO and Mopar LH offerings in marketplace

[@mattw8332]

AMC! I wish they still existed, they had some interesting models in their range. The GM J car was very successful in Europe as the Opel Ascona & Vauxhall Cavalier.

[@Blackinterceptor999]

The Eagle at the time is what the Subaru Legacy is today...Imagine if we still had our AMC around.

[@mattw8332]

@@Blackinterceptor999 Agreed. I'm a Brit so my knowledge of American cars isn't great. When I first learned of the AMC Eagle I did consider it to be something of a competitor to Subaru, despite the engine size differences. The AMC Hornet Sportabout reminds me of a 1972-78 Opel Rekord wagon/Vauxhall Victor/VX estate.

[@Blackinterceptor999]

@@mattw8332 Jeep had a 4.0l inline 6 with the AMC design up till 2000 they also respond well to turbocharging... I bet it would have dominated the market

[@joeottsoulbikes415]

I had a Javelin for about six months. It was awesome with tons of power. I felt the body looked a lot like the black Falcon that Mad Max drove. I was afraid that parts would get hard to get because there were enough differences between GM and Ford v8s that you could not sub most major parts like timing gears, crank, cam and such. I traded it for Datsun 240 that had a Chevy TPI 350, 5 speed and rear axle from a Camero swapped in it already.

[@syxepop]

@@Blackinterceptor999 - actually, that 4.0L I6 is what Renault (owned a huge chunk of AMC back then) replaced the 4.2L with (and stuck with it into the 21st Century), particularly on TJ Wranglers and XJ Cherokees / Wagoneers (also the Comanche pickup).

[@Dave1979z]

Those AMC Eagles were able to go ANYWHERE! I'm in Northern Michigan an old friend of mine had one and it was bulletproof and went everywhere even with 12" of snow on the road.

[@creamcitysista1970]

Wow

[@royledford5673]

I can't believe ya included the Cimarron and overlooked the Rampage/Scamp. I had 2 of these (both 1983) and they were a GAS to drive, and handled surprisingly well. No powerhouse but good economy.

[@elliottbutts153]

So in 1988 I was 15 years old. The Starion/Conquest and Fiero GT were two of the best looking cars on the road. As a young man dying to turn 16 and get his license they were great eye candy. Also liked the Grand National and Monte Carlo SS along with the Mustang of course in the mid 80’s. Heck even the Escort GT model looked sporty to me.

[@knuttsackjones3094]

We were just talking about the Eagles yesterday and how far ahead of their time they really were. I think they were the first of their kind. They built them here in Kenosha so they were everywhere back in the day. A lot of AMCs stuff was ahead of its time, it’s a shame they didn’t make it out of the 80s

[@davidkastin4240]

No Cimarron. Garbage!

[@pancudowny]

The Cimarron was built for one reason only: To increase the number of fuel-sipping models produced to counter-balance the gas guzzlers, in order to meet CAFE mandates. Once said mandates were temporarily froze by President Reagan, the need for such models--and the numbers they were built in--vanished faster than the 4-cyl from the engine compartment of a Camaro/Firebird.

[@plunkett68]

Glad you made another video. Thanks

[@enragedbutterfly]

I love these videos. Thank you!

[@MichaelandCathy1999]

The Eagle was a great vehicle way before the Subaru’s took over. I remember seeing countless 4 door sedans and wagons. They were the car of choice for the new “Yuppie” generation. As for the GN, it was getting too close for comfort to the Corvette so GM put it on the skids, just as they did to the Pontiac Firebirds. And especially with the GNX. To the Cadillac, again, too little, too late, just like the Fiero. Never did see any of those Mitsu Starion’s up here in Montreal. But again, any threat to GM’s foundation, upper level (read:Expensive) vehicles was quickly dealt with. Ex-girlfriend way back in the day had bought a brand new 84 Fiero with the useless Iron Duke 4 banger was gutless, I was impressed with the 2.8, but the headhunters were already chomping at the bit to kill it.

[@jamesgillespie6278]

GM screwed up by eliminating rear-wheel-drive cars and going to front wheel drive stuff

[@StratKruzer]

One of the most interesting episodes. Appreciation.

[@fredsottile528]

I Love the Opening of these videos. Something special is really captured with the way the play.

[@LGN_Sniper]

The GN was the best car to come out of the 80s!

[@u2fan29]

Please Cimarron off that list, what a joke, dressed up Cavalier.

[@pancudowny]

The Cimarron was built for one reason only: To increase the number of fuel-sipping models produced to counter-balance the gas guzzlers, in order to meet CAFE mandates. Once said mandates were temporarily froze by President Reagan, the need for such models--and the numbers they were built in--vanished faster than the 4-cyl from the engine compartment of a Camaro/Firebird.

[@BugbearMadness]

An 86 Fiero SE, V6, dual exhaust, with scoop front, was my first car on 94. That little car would move! And with 4 wheel disk brakes, would stop on a dime. Wish I still had it today.

[@javierrodriguez2863]

I remember riding in one, that baby was fast sleak and sexy, ive always wanted one !

[@paulmartinez8337]

Great content, and presentation.

[@david4903]

Absolutely loved the eagle

[@bstanz5266]

Maybe do a video about the evolution of the SUV? Seems like the eagle was one of the beginning cars to the trend that seems like our future

[@realestateinfonet9041]

Superb video! Thanks!

[@RobertGSolomon]

I love your videos and history about vehicles, thank you

[@matthewronson5218]

The AMC Eagle was surely ahead of its time, arguably the first uber-crossover 4WD and yes, they road very well. Absolutely Chrysler SHOULD have retained this, but I'd wager it was a political decision to NOT compete with their acquired JEEP, when it could have done so against the Subaru, a top shelf automaker at that time.

[@judethaddaeus9742]

By the late ‘80s, Subaru was in serious trouble trying to sell bland Loyales and oddball XT’s and Justys. The Eagle didn’t really compete with Jeep, but by 1988, it was based on 20 year-old engineering and was selling less than 10,000 units a year. It should have been upgraded to keep it going until the similarly sized Grand Cherokee came out. But I think Chrysler figured that doing AWD Mitsubishi-based vehicles in the Eagle line would make up for killing the original Eagle off. They were wrong.

[@matthewronson5218]

@@judethaddaeus9742 I surely recall Subaru going from great (and good luck trying to find a used one) to WTH? I agree that the Eagle did not compete with the Jeep, as AMC sold both. I was simply allowing for corporate management idiocy in decision making that most anyone here would be familiar with. The potential of the Eagle was there to upgrade. Even as it was (for that time). AMC was king of using what was on hand to make their vehicles. Back when AMC was in its death throes, I told everyone that would listen that they were the Canary in the Coal mine for U.S. automaking.

[@judethaddaeus9742]

@@matthewronson5218 Yeah, Chrysler hadn’t the foggiest idea what to do about Jeep for the first decade or so, much less Eagle. The Jeep range contracted down to just 3 models after they killed off the ‘92 Comanche and ‘91 Grand Wagoneer, all of which had initially been designed by AMC, and just stayed there despite a surge in truck/SUV sales throughout the ‘90s and into the mid-2000s. The first full clean-sheet Chrysler-engineered Jeep was the generally unloved Liberty, which debuted 14 years after they bought Jeep! They just about ruined the brand in the 4 short years between the Liberty, first Compass, Patriot, 3rd generation Grand Cherokee, and Commander. But Eagle was even more poorly managed. And Chrysler missed the massive opportunities that the Eagle wagon would have provided because they overlooked and undervalued it. It’s a shame.

[@matthewronson5218]

@@judethaddaeus9742 Well said. if Chrysler had problems understanding where to go and what to do with the perennial classic known as the Jeep, then of course the Eagle was certainly doomed.

[@joshuagibson2520]

I had an 87 2.0L Cavalier CS. Shared many parts with Cimarron.

[@angieandretti]

Pontiac Fiero was my first car love, beginning years before I was old enough to drive. I've owned two - an '88 4-cyl base model and an '87 "project" where someone had dropped in a GM 3800 V6.

[@jeronunkoffunk9437]

Excellent video, I remember every one of those cars all were legends in their own ways. But great work and great selection

[@nrken1]

Too many old men in the decision making, trying to figure out what American buyers wanted