The 1980s cars that you've (probably) forgotten about
The feature revisits lesser-remembered cars from the 1980s, including models launched earlier that became known during the decade, while tying their obscurity to changing markets and industry events. It highlights the Subaru BRAT, produced from 1977 to 1994, noting that about 100,000 examples were sold and that later versions used a turbocharged 1.8-liter engine, reinforcing Subaru’s reputation for reliability in the U.S. The article also covers the Plymouth Sapporo (1978), describing advertised fuel economy around 40 mpg and listing features such as bucket seats with lumbar support; it says demand shifted after Mitsubishi’s relationship with Chrysler changed and sales moved toward the Conquest. Other cars profiled include the Midas Bronze (1978), the first glassfibre monocoque to pass contemporary crash tests, and an Alfa Romeo Alfa 6 (1979) whose carbureted 2.5-liter V6 later received revisions such as Bosch fuel injection and an available turbodiesel in 1983. The article continues beyond these examples but the provided text is truncated.






