It’s time. At roughly 100 pictures and thousands of words, the finish line looms.
Preface
Sourced from a 1985 TR, stats are as follows: 390 PS | 1600 kg | 244 PS/t
Chances are, you may know the above car as the Ferrari Testarossa. Iconic to many, the defining horse of the decade is absent from our final ten. Why? Truthfully, 1984 was a transition year; the ageing BB 512i took the place of the car, with the Testarossa only debuting at the year end. Pictured is a prototype.
Now, onward to the final ten cars!
10. Maserati Biturbo 2000 S
205 PS | 1086 kg | 189 PS/t
If the subtle four-door Biturbo was fast, the version you see here is lightning. Proportionally, it may falter Modenese standards; but those who overlooked the jam jar colour-scheme were rewarded. One such reward was the interior, brimming with leather and briar wood, still a mechanic was best kept handy.
9. Nissan Fairlady Z 300
230 PS | 1215 kg | 189 PS/t
Regular readers may note the Fairlady Z appeared here before, though in 2+2 form. Unfortunately, the extra back seats undermined the diet of the car. With the leash removed, all 1.75 rear passengers were now forced to play board games at home, a lucky duo could instead beleft to enjoy an unrestricted turbo cruise.
8. De Tomaso Pantera
270 PS | 1420 kg | 190 PS/t
Several De Tomaso models in, at long last, their one moderately well-known car has reared its pop-up headlights. Admittedly, born of the prior decade; Elvis himself owned one (and fired a gun at it). In evolution, the Tjaarda styling grew flared and winged, accompanying the roar of the Ford V8 which powered it.
7. BMW M635 CSi
286 PS | 1500 kg | 191 PS/t
Few vehicles gained as much recognition as those from the BMW M division. This shark-nosed wonder, albeit not responsible for the origins of the fabled M car, proved integral to the expansion of the Bavarian performance legacy. Unmatched in touring cars, only BMW could best its success with the later M3.
6. Porsche 928 S
310 PS | 1450 kg | 214 PS/t
On introduction, this silver fishbowl raised the pitchforks of Porsche fans across the globe. In truth, the reaction was not a critique of the design itself. Instead, it was a battle-cry; merely since the 928 broke rear-engined tradition. Eventually, the engineering on display healed wounds, history now honours the V8 Porsche.
5. Aston Martin V8 Vantage
380 PS | 1765 kg | 215 PS/t
Following the 1969 debut of Aston Martin V8, with ‘all the time in the world’, the car would ultimately come to define the heart of the company for the coming two decades. In Vantage guise; the engine of Polish engineer, Tadek Marek, wore four brawnier carburettors. The result: Britain’s first supercar.
4. Audi Quattro Sport
300 PS | 1300 kg | 231 PS/t
One word and a letter is enough to set the heart of any car enthusiast racing, jumping and narrowly avoiding spectators: Group B. Such terminology refers to the rally racing scene of the mid-1980s, best described as ‘lacking rules’. Amid rivalry from Lancia, Audi hacked a Quattro in half and multiplied the power.
3. Porsche 911 Turbo
300 PS | 1300 kg | 231 PS/t
Winning a tiebreaker with the Audi above, Stuttgart’s slice of horsepower attested to be just as maniacal as the Ingolstadt alternative. In the field of forced induction, Porsche took the initiative, applying stop-start turbo lag to a car with the handling characteristics of a pendulum. For the skilled, it was unstoppable.
2. Lamborghini Countach LP 500
375 PS | 1480 kg | 253 PS/t
Attributed to the gentleman who designed the Citroën BX, along with a vehicle widely described as the first supercar, the Countach cut through societal preconceptions with its scissor doors. In etymology, an Italian exclamation earned its name. In legacy, impact on automotive art earned it immortality.
1. Ferrari GTO
400 PS | 1160 kg | 345 PS/t
From the start, only one car could make it this far: Gran Turismo Omologata. Developed for Group B circuit racing, based on the mass-market 308 GTB, cancellation of the series left Ferrari with unfinished business. By utilising twin turbos and carbon fibre components; the birth of the hypercar was imminent.
Thus, our journey comes to a close. I thank everyone for reading, sharing and commenting. Each of you have been the best audience I could ever hope to have. Perhaps, you may come across a similar series of posts in the future. Thank you!
All photos are sourced from WheelsAge.org, easily the best website for car photography.