Driving in Austin,Texas -Mid 1980's

Old beta stuff.

[@NEPats79]

Cruising in Austin while blasting KLBJ-FM on the radio in the 80s was basically my entire adolescence.

[@clutchcitycoale]

Gregory Hunt I live on KLBJ-FM man - wish I lived in these much earlier times - unlike now

[@renadobons812]

Man our state was so great.... the last 30 years everything changed.

[@SignalCorps1]

Same. When I was 16 in 1984, I bought a 1966 mustang coupe, put in Clarion radio/cassette deck and couple speakers and cruised all over with KLBJ blaring. I felt like I was on top of the world. Great days. I wis the younger generations could have experienced Austin back then. All the best

[@missym5196]

Cruising around North Cross Mall... memories!

[@christianbrother4724]

I took Austin for granted back then. How nice it used to be.

[@kayden_mellow7745]

How is it Different now? Wasn’t around back then to know

[@thatsheez9557]

@@kayden_mellow7745 Much dirtier now and much more corporate now. The true Austin has been gone for 2 decades. Now it’s just a generic gentrified cityscape.

[@4G63Tx]

Yep. We all did.

[@perrysaunders777]

I was born in Austin in 1985 and I'm still here. The only thing I recognized was Capital Plaza.

[@_PrimetimePranks]

Montgomery Ward, Toys R Us and a theater is what I remember of Capital Plaza.

[@SG-wy3tb]

@@_PrimetimePranks I remember that theater, what I don't remember is the name of it, do you remember it? I don't know if you can remember this, but right across the street for a little while they had an arcade place there, sort of like behind where ToysRUs used to be

[@sirpsychosexy]

I can’t believe they still have the same sign

[@thecoldcallerguy]

I was born in Austin in 1988 and still here too. I recognize the capital plaza too. There used to be the Toys R Us there and Montgomery Wards, Amaya’s Taco Village and Weiners clothing store.

[@MissCertifiedKicks]

​@@SG-wy3tbare you talking about Lincoln Village Theatre or the 1 caddy corner from it across from sugars?

[@okthisisepic1055]

Man I want to go back in time and go see all those fieros on the dealer lot.

[@4G63Tx]

Pretty awesome that you did this. Not too many people had the foresight to record anything back then since it was kinda a pain in the ass to carry around a big ass video camcorder lol One of my aunts did the same thing in the late 80s and early 90s, and captured so much footage of family events and such, I’m so grateful she did that now, in hindsight

[@_PrimetimePranks]

God I miss Highland and Northcross Mall.

[@clutchcitycoale]

Beautiful 944s, 928, and 911 SC Targa

[@texantraveladventures150]

The music and the cars! Love it!

[@Holadude96]

The last 'scene' before the video ends is South Lamar just south/west of Oltorf. My god, what a blast from the past! There was a Safeway grocery store at the southwest corner of that intersection, Martinez Taxidermy at the southeast intersection, The Horseshoe Lounge was at more or less the northeast corner, and a Phillips 66 station (visible in the video) at the more or less northwest corner. I grew up in Oak Hill and took that route almost daily. That strip is utterly unrecognizable now (as is most of Austin compared to the 70's and 80's). My folks still live out in what used to be Oak Hill (remember when that was separate and distinct from Austin??) and I cringe every time I go back to Austin at what it's become....basically a little Dallas. We were so lucky to have grown up then and there. It was a very, very special place.

[@dunique26]

I thought it was only I and my bestie that cringed every time we have to go to this city. I say it's not my city all the time. Even tho I had so many of my first anything's there... O how I miss it.. Plus it's a open homeless camp now, as well just ridiculous..

[@Anitguegaming]

The song "Beats so lonely" playing on the radio was from an Austin resident. Charlie Sexton. I went to jr high with him. How ironic.

[@ronsalargo7650]

His brother Will had a band too

[@rutter1ify]

Cool footage, wish I was alive in that era 💯

[@whaaaa869]

dude, it was amazing! it was exactly like being in this era, except in that era, where you would be pining for an era that preceded that era!

[@robertloerwald3]

Nah, don’t waste a wish on being old. Enjoy your youth now

[@sweatnautomotive]

Austin back when it was fun

[@kettle2345]

Dude!! Martin post more Austin 80’s vids that shit brings me back I used to live by the old Robert Muller Airport back those days 🤘🏼

[@lazysmurf7168]

I remember parents and I going to capital plaza and planes flying above i35 to land at the airport

[@UTClassof]

wasnt that on Airport Boulevard? I was at UT from 1987-91 and i remember the airport being close to the UT campus. I hopped on i 35 and went just a few miles.

[@dunique26]

East side...

[@terricurtis5104]

I miss my old Austin. For a short time in the mid 80's we lived in Pflugerville. I didn't want to change baby sitters so I drove from Pflugerville to William Cannon and South First to drop off daughter and then drove out to 183 near where the Austin Animal Center is now. Now... that route would take hours! And... that .87 cent gas!

[@dunique26]

Pflugerville was the last and finally spot before I said goodbye Austin forever. Well forever for now, I guess I'm not psychic. I go now and it doesn't feel the same at all, and I barely left at the end of '15. Totally a different place..

[@beafychicken1169]

I saw the capital plaza sign and almost lost my shit! I'm 28 now and holy shit! Didn't realize the sign was that old

[@RainbowlemurAJ]

Austin looked so much better back in the day. It's a shame what it has become

[@CAPTIVEPULSEMAKER]

Thanks for putting up this video. Good times, a great place.

[@patrickadams6762]

Nice. I lived around that time. Nice then. A cesspool now

[@wjhmh]

Doesn't look like much has changed, I miss Austin in the 80's.

[@dunique26]

How austin looked while i was growing up. I miss that place, thanks for the memories...

[@Idontwanttopickahandletoday]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@meindopen007]

0:51 Jim's restaurant!! YEAH BABY! Can't tell which one, though... the one on Hwy 183 near Burnet Rd?... Moved away in '96. Miss Jim's 😢

[@Idontwanttopickahandletoday]

It's the one that was on Ben White near Dyer Electronics (back then).

[@lukusamongus4079]

We rented a video camera a few times around that same time. Our videos were almost exactly as pointless. KLBJ on the radio and a lot of "Ooooh, look at that car!"

[@southernlightning775]

📻 Killer Video Man 😎🤟 Lovin The 70's and 80s Cars👍🏼

[@nate678]

3:39 "Is that a Grand national?" "Oh my😲😲😲" My brother and I did that too 😂

[@chrisp755]

i remember when there was zero traffic

[@1977seabiscuit]

@Faigornx You are in Amsterdam and I am in Austin, Tx. When I looked outside during the height of the pandemic last year I felt a peace, almost like I was a kid again. No traffic, no noise, just the sound of the wind blowing through the trees. Though we are far from each other, I am certain it is something that we will both remember forever.

[@_PrimetimePranks]

3:34 Montgomery Wards

[@broadcastblast544]

Capital Plaza @ 3:34 !! Nice to see the Montgomery Ward building and off to the side was the Toys R Us. Just behind was the move theater.

[@Idontwanttopickahandletoday]

Not sure it was really quick.

[@imojado7294]

Holy shit, downtown Austin looked desolate than what it is today... And there was practically no traffic there, the fuck?

[@abdonmorales7361]

Who remembers the rolling skating park at pleasant valley road

[@jamesrobert782]

Driving that Pontiac around in the 80s would be like driving around today in a new camaro, muscle car for there time.

[@MegaBlazed]

I learned how to drive there same year .moms old yellow fairmont.damn good memories

[@attunedofficial]

This guy is like Hey look FIREBIRD! I remember Knight Rider too hehe

[@UTClassof]

i went to UT from 1987-1991. i went to the second SXSW. Sixth street was really fun back then. we would run out of money at the bars and walk back from 6th street to our dorms. LOL

[@Tat2Dragons]

Cool footage, thanks for sharing. 👍

[@JuanPablo-md3zr]

What a vibe

[@paulwangdong773]

You can tell that Charlie Sexton was huge back then.

[@angrybirdsskachat]

good old days

[@CentralTexasRailJetProductions]

Some great music and some cool cars! The firebirds and Charlie Sexton on the radio definifely got this 26 year olds attention! Sweet home video bossman! Greetings from Dallas. 🤠

[@Edgar.Valdez.Villareal]

Мм.. сколько старья стоит... Сейчас бы всё сюда!Какие красавцы!!

[@RadialSkid]

The new Firebirds and Fieros on the dealer lot were 1986s, so I suppose this was late 1985?

[@HellhammerSS]

Montgomery ward cap plaza!

[@kimrok1]

Wished there was more!

[@rodneysammons5544]

@ 1:05 Is that the Side pocket or Coner pocket ?

[@SirWatkinsProductions]

1:45. Lots of Pontiac Fieros!

[@MsTaurine]

Ah yes, the glory days when gas was 87 cents a gallon and people drove nicely.

[@ricknessmonster]

I JUST SAW MONTGOMERY WAAARD!!!!!!!!

[@waskerbasket9601]

When the sun was yellow.

[@mlongoria124]

So many Fierros!

[@jlh4jc]

The Villa Capri!!!

[@rodneysammons5544]

Is that by The Crazy Lady and Star Seeds ?

[@JourneyWithDavaoJack]

Awesome, thanks

[@Deucenvette]

Y&T on the Radio.

[@tylercox1875]

I’d like to see a video like this of jackson Mississippi in the 1980s

[@kettle2345]

Oh those gas prices back then.... putting $5 actually meant something lol ⛽️

[@mnmz2]

Adjusted for inflation, $0.87 in 1980 is equal to $2.91 in 2020.

[@Shyzah]

that fiero though

[@dubdeezzyy]

Wowser

[@aureliolimas7919]

And the best decade was to como 90s

[@Lanz-z5t]

What year was this?

[@Idontwanttopickahandletoday]

Mid 80's not sure exact year.

[@lesliehorwinkle]

@@Idontwanttopickahandletoday pretty sure '85 as I saw no '86 cars.

[@Doobie1975]

@@lesliehorwinkle i saw a 1986 Mazda pickup so I'm assuming late 1985 to 1986

[@ir10031981]

when Reagan was president, and 55 was the law of the land. ;)

[@johnfoltz8183]

I can't drive 55

[@NelsonClick]

The "Villa Capri". Haven't seen that sign in a long time 😢