The 1980s was an exciting decade for car enthusiasts, with manufacturers producing some of the most memorable and stylish convertibles of all time.
These days, many nostalgia-fueled gearheads want to spend their hard-earned cash on the cars they grew up with, and some of the 1980s convertibles have reached what can only be described as iconic status.
We’ve gathered 13 of our favorite drop-tops from the ‘80s that offer timeless appeal and unforgettable driving experiences.
Mazda Miata
We’ll start with the most obvious entry, the Mazda Miata. Introduced in 1989, it entered the market at the very end of the decade, and became so popular that it’s now the world’s best-selling two-seater sports car.
The Miata combined everything that made classic British roadsters so good with impeccable Japanese reliability. Thanks to its low price, excellent 1.6-liter engine, and rear-wheel drive, the Miata easily outsold the Lotus Elan.
BMW Z1
BMW introduced the Z1 in 1987 as a stylish roadster with a low-slung body. It also had some groundbreaking features, such as plastic body panels and drop-down doors. The plastic panels were designed to be swapped quickly so owners could change their car’s color in less than an hour.
The Z1 was only available with the 2.5-liter engine and manual transmission from the E30 3-Series, and with 170 hp, it was decently quick for the era.
Mazda RX-7
In 1988, Mazda finally introduced a convertible version of its popular RX-7 sports car. It was the first convertible fitted with an integral windblocker mounted behind the passenger seats.
In the US market, Mazda only offered the RX-7 convertible with the 146-hp, naturally aspirated two-rotor engine mated to a five-speed manual transmission. Other markets received the turbocharged model with 200 hp and a top speed of 140 mph.
Lotus Elan M100
Lotus is known for its lightweight sports cars; the Elan from 1989 is no exception. It was the carmaker’s first front-wheel-drive sports car, and although it was the best-handling FWD car of its time, sports car purists wanted power to be sent to the rear.
With 167 hp, the Lotus Elan isn’t monstrously powerful, but thanks to its low weight, it’s a proper driver’s car and a blast on twisty roads. Apparently, Lotus somehow lost money on every Elan it sold.
Mercedes-Benz SL (R107)
Mercedes-Benz may have introduced the R107 SL in 1971, but since it remained on the market until 1989, it’s still an ‘80s icon, appearing in numerous movies and TV shows.
Few, if any, cars are built as solidly as the R107 SL, as this thing was engineered to last. Even the engineers who created it called it Der Panzerwagen — the Tank. Thanks to a variety of powerplants, ranging from a 2.8-liter inline-six to a 5.6-liter V8, it was much more versatile than its better-looking predecessor.
Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet
In the mid-1980s, Porsche offered the 3.2-liter 911 Carrera with two open-top options — the Targa and the Cabriolet. Initially, the cars sold in North America had 207 hp, but later got 217 horses. In other markets, the Carrera had 234 hp.
The Porsche 911 is one of the most iconic cars ever made, easily recognized even by those who don’t care about cars. These days, prices are a bit ridiculous, so be prepared to open your wallet wide open if you want one.
Porsche 944 Cabriolet
Even the Porsche 944 prices have gone through the roof, but it’s still much more affordable than the 911. Porsche unveiled the 944 Cabriolet prototype at the 1985 Frankfurt Auto show, but the first production cars only began rolling off the production line in January 1989.
The Porsche 944 Cabriolet was based on the S2 version of the 944, so it had the new, updated styling. Early drop-top 944s had the 3.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 211 hp, and the later ones received the turbo unit generating 250 hp. Only 625 Turbo Cabriolets were made.
E30 BMW M3 Convertible
BMW introduced the M3 as a high-performance version of the BMW 3 Series in 1986. It was developed by BMW’s M division, the carmaker’s in-house motorsport/tuning division.
They released the coupe body style first, but the convertible came along shortly after, although production was very limited, making it much rarer than the coupe. Its 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine produced 192 hp, giving it a top speed of 146 mph.
Fox Body Ford Mustang
The fox-body Mustang is an excellent choice if you want a 1980s convertible. It has a huge following and an equally massive selection of aftermarket parts, so keeping it running won’t be a problem.
You can even turn it into a proper beast that’ll leave modern sports cars in the dust once the lights turn green.
VW Rabbit / Golf
The Mk1 Golf/Rabbit isn’t as masculine as the Mustang, but it can still be turned into a little monster as it also enjoys a vast selection of aftermarket parts.
Many owners have swapped the standard engine with the Mk2’s supercharged 1.8-liter G60 engine or the 1.8-liter turbo unit found in the Mk4 Golf to create a proper pocket rocket.
YJ Jeep Wrangler
Jeep introduced the YJ Wrangler in 1986. It may not be a traditional convertible, as it’s an off-road SUV with a removable roof and doors, but it’s absolutely an ‘80s icon and has appeared in countless movies and TV shows.
If you have a desire to venture off the beaten path in an old ‘80s classic, we can’t think of a better vehicle for the job.
C4 Chevrolet Corvette
In 1984, Chevrolet introduced the C4 Corvette as the replacement for the C3 was discontinued in 1982. The C4 ‘Vette was extremely popular throughout the 1980s and 1990s, but these days, buyers prefer to spend their money on the later C5 and C6 models.
With a big V8 engine and plenty of 80s style, the C4 Corvette is a proper retro bargain these days. While it definitely looks dated now, we think it’s possible to make it look really cool with some carefully selected modifications.
Alfa Romeo Spider
The Alfa Romeo Spider first emerged in 1966, and its third generation arrived in 1982. In order to keep it relevant, Alfa Romeo gave the Spider a number of updates.
Under the hood, the Spider had a 2.0-liter engine with Bosch fuel injection, generating a respectable 130 hp. Exterior-wise, it received large rubber bumpers and a rear rubber spoiler, making it look like a true ‘80s car.