The best supercars of the 1980s

Depending on who you speak to, the 1980s, with its big hair, big shoulder pads and even bigger personalities, was either a decade that should be fondly remembered or forgotten altogether. The supercars from this era were equally ‘bold and brash’, with their large rear-wings and over-sized vents – and we love them for it.

If you’ve wound up reading this article, we’re inclined to think that you do, too. Correct? Perhaps you had a poster of a Ferrari F40 or a Lamborghini Countach on your bedroom wall (if you were a teenager during the decade), or fell in love with the Lancia Delta S4 Stradale during the World Rally Championship just as we did?

The list of great supercars from the 1980s is endless. But we’ve tried to cherry-pick the best ones. As a classic car insurance intermediary , we’re now quoting for many of these supercars as teenage dreams become reality. At Lancaster, we can promise to search for a competitive quote and some unique benefits. More on some of those benefits at the end of the article, but let’s get into the business of documenting some choice picks from this bonkers era!

Lamborghini Countach

The Countach is technically a supercar of the 1970s – debuting at the Geneva Motor Show an incredible 50 years ago – but the 80s was the time it really came into its own.

Lamborghini tweaked the formula, upping the V12’s size and power to a 4.7-litre, to create the LP500 S, before upping it again in 1985 in the shape of the Countach 5000 Quattrovalvole, which came with a 5.2-litre V12 capable of producing up to 455bhp.

Around this time, Car and Driver ran a review of the Countach calling it a “bad boy's car”. “When you surface from the depths of its cockpit and put two feet on the earth's crust, folks with any sense back off a couple paces,” read the humorous piece.

It also called the car “wretched excess”, suggesting it was designed by the Devil because “God would never commit such an affront”. As we say, it wasn’t meant to be a serious review, but did a good job of summing up the impact the Countach had on onlookers.

Lamborghini revved things up even further in 1988 with the 25th anniversary edition. The exterior was reshaped by “automotive artist” Horacio Pagani (who went on to make the Zonda) and the chassis improved with the help of World Rally Driving Champion Sandro Munari.

It was the last and most aggressive Countach, while being more reliable and offering better handling than its predecessors.

Ferrari F40

Ask someone on the street to name a Ferrari and the likelihood is they will say the F40. In a poll to find out the best 10 supercars of all time, carried out by The Fast Car Festival, the F40 claimed the top spot, taking 18% of the total vote. The McLaren F1, which some deem to be “a legend of the car industry and a design/engineering masterpiece”, was down in fourth.

So, what makes the F40 so memorable? Supercars.net does a decent job of trying to sum it up: “Mid-engine, 2.9-litre V8, rear wheel drive, and with both regular AND pop-up headlamps, the F40 absolutely defined the notion of the supercar.”

But, perhaps this from motoring journalist Peter Tomalin explains why the F40 occupies a special place for supercar fans: "They will never be allowed to make another F40 in today's world of red tape and health and safety. That is what makes it so special and so desirable."

The last model to be commissioned by company founder Enzo Ferrari before his death in 1988, the F40 was the fastest car in the world at that time, and was said to be about as close as you could get to an F1 car for the road.

Capable of going from 0-60 in just 4.2 seconds, with a top speed of 201mph – 6mph more than Porsche’s then-record holder, the 959 – the F40 was also blessed with go-kart-like handling characteristics.

Ferrari weren’t too sure how successful the F40 would prove to be, conservatively committing to building just 400 cars. But, by the time that its five-year production run ended in 1992, more than 1,300 had been built. They were also racing versions of the F40 created for sports car racing championships.

Porsche 959

If you’re not a fan of the F40 (some people aren’t), you might prefer the Porsche 959. Where the F40 was all about appearance, the 959 made technology its USP. In particular, the Porsche-Steuer Kupplung (PSK) system which allowed torque to be distributed between the front and rear axles depending on grip levels and driving conditions. It also boasted a suspension system which made driver errors “impossible”.

But, even though the Porsche 959 was something of an all-rounder, that isn’t to say it was a slouch in comparison to its rivals. As we’ve already mentioned, for a time the 959 was the fastest street-legal production car with a top speed of 195mph – until it was later displaced by the F40.

That record top speed was the product of a twin-turbo flat-six mounted in the rear of the car, which put 444bhp through all four wheels. Perhaps more impressive than the record-breaking top speed was the 959’s 0 to 60 time, an astounding 3.6 seconds. We’d argue that acceleration is always more important than top speed when it comes to a road car anyway.

In terms of looks, the 959 has been called “functional”, but we’d argue those traditional Porsche lines can never be interpreted as such. Sure, it might not have the wow factor of the F40 or the Countach but its appearance isn’t out of step with today’s supercars. The 959 is called the “Grandfather of the Modern Supercar” for good reason!

Aston Martin V8 Vantage Zagato

If you like your supercars super rare, then the Aston Martin V8 Vantage Zagato is probably more your thing. As the name suggests, the car was a joint venture between Aston Martin and Italian design house Zagato. Between 1986 and 1990, they produced just 52 coupe and 37 convertible coach built V8 Vantage Zagatos.

But this was by no means just a design study or art project – the Aston’s 5.3-litre V8 made sure of that. Occupied in an aluminium body to keep weight down, the Zag could reach 60mph in just 4.9 seconds, and hit a top speed of 186mph.

In terms of looks, the Zag could be described as avant-garde at best and downright ugly at worst. We happen to think the former, but not everyone appreciated Aston breaking away from its traditionally flowing lines in favour of a more angular look.

One of the most debated aspects of the design was the ‘power bulge’, which – while being unintended, with the marques initially wanting a flat bonnet – was necessary to accommodate the airbox. A fuel injection system, which was part of the original design, probably wouldn’t have allowed the Zag to be as impressive across the tarmac as it was.

One Zag owner who found out the hard way just how hot to handle the car can be was Rowan Atkinson. During an enthusiasts’ track day at the Croft Circuit in 2001, he managed to crash his Zag – with the rebuild costing him a whopping £220,000. He subsequently sold it at auction for £122,500, which, even with the worst maths in the world, is a big loss.

The famed comedian has something of a reputation for crashing supercars. He managed to crash his McLaren F1 twice – on the second occasion, the damage left his insurance company with a staggering £900,000 to fix it – the biggest repair bill in British history.

You might say it was money spent (although the insurer might not agree). Atkinson managed to make a huge profit on the car, selling it for £8 million in 2015, having bought it for £650,000.

But, perhaps it’s not a bad thing he’s sold off a number of his supercars. Plus, his classic car insurance premiums must now be through the roof!

Lancia Delta S4 Stradale

Created around the S4 Group B car used in the 1985 World Rally Championships – a time that was dubbed ‘the golden age of rallying’ – the 140-mph road going or Stradale version was no slouch with a 0-60 time of six seconds.

It might not have the looks of the F40 or the Coutach but this twin-charged, four-wheeled drive boxy beauty definitely meets the criteria of a 1980’s supercar in our eyes.

There is some confusion over how many Stradale’s were actually built – some say 65, others believe closer to 200 – and with many used by racing enthusiasts, finding one in good condition today will truly be like finding a needle in a haystack – and you’ll need very deep pockets if you do, with prices at auction now nearing £1million.

Driving one of these incredible machines today calls not only for specialist classic car insurance, it also requires nerves of steel. As a reviewer for Classic Driver reminded us recently: “This is the car in which Henri Toivonen and Sergio Cresto perished.”

The Alcantara trim and air con make the interior a relatively comfortable, modern place to be while the quirky way the front and rear shell flips up reminds you that this road version is not too far removed from its rallying sibling.

It might be a contentious choice, but the Lancia Delta S4 Stradale is certainly on our list of the best supercars of the 80s. Would you agree?

Lotus Esprit Turbo

The Esprit was another 70s baby, but by the time the 80s came around, it was a different beast entirely, with Lotus giving it a turbo to boost the 2.2-litre engine to 215bhp and 220 lb-ft of torque. Crucially, weight didn’t exceed 1200kg, meaning the Giugiaro-designed Lotus had an edge on its rivals when it came to handling. It could compete when it came to acceleration, too, with a 0-60 time of just over five seconds.

In 1987, the man behind the McLaren F1, Peter Stevens, was brought on board to make subtle improvements to the car’s aerodynamics, which helped to establish the Esprit as a bona fide supercar.

“The new Esprit Turbo is in Porsche 911 and Ferrari 328 territory. Be in no doubt, the new Lotus is blisteringly quick,” Autocar said at the time.

“With a rare blend of ride and handling plus exceptional stability at all speeds it devours miles on winding backroads or sweeping autobahns alike.”

Before the 1980s were out, Lotus introduced an even faster version in the form of the SE, with power up to 264bhp, top speed to 160mph and 0-60 in just 4.7 seconds.

The Esprit is one of our favourite classics from the 70s and 80s, not least because of its starring roles in Bond films The Spy Who Loved Me and For Your Eyes Only.

Protect your investment with classic car insurance

If you manage to get your hands on a supercar – or any classic car for that matter – you’ll need the right classic car insurance to protect it. Vintage supercars like the ones we’ve talked about above are increasing in value all the time, so having the right classic car insurance in place is essential to help protect your investment.

Certain classic car club members will be able to enjoy up to 25% discount on their premium as well as cover for static shows and historic rallies, so you can show off your classic around the country.

Policies can also include salvage retention and up to 90 days EU cover if you’re planning on travelling abroad. Limited mileage discounts are also available if your pride and joy only comes out on special occasions.

With a 24-hour claims helpline based in the UK, we’re here when you need us most.

Get a quote for classic car insurance today.

Policy benefits, features and discounts offered may very between insurance schemes or cover selected and are subject to underwriting criteria. Information contained within this article is accurate at the time of publishing but may be subject to change.