10 Best Looking Cars of the Malaise Era

[Payman]

If we use the time scale of 1974 - 1989 as the "malaise era", what 10 cars stand out as the best looking (not necessarily the BEST) from this era? If you don't want to do a full top-10 list, throw up some candidates you'd nominate for a list.

[hotrodalex]

[Payman]

[Payman]

[hotrodalex]

[Payman]

[Payman]

[CALL_911]

This 1000 times over

[CALL_911]

BMW M1 anyone? Idk if the Toyota Soarer or RX7 count

[Gotta-Qik-C7]

Was the 240Z still in production in '74? Or was it the 280Z by then! But either way I nominate it for this list. Along with the C4 Vette.

[GoCougs]

1978 Z/28. Didn't have the exposed bumpers of the '74-'77 models or the excessive Trans Am-style aero/body cladding of the '79+:



1986 Mustang GT. Similar to the '78 Z/28 in that it was the last year before the mega cladded Mustang GT hit in '87 (and Taurus-like headlights):



1974 Plymouth 'Cuda. I was never a huge fan but it deserves mention for hanging on till 1974 relatively untouched in terms of styling:



1984 Z/28. Similar theme - last year before cladding (of the '85 IROC-Z):



1978 260Z. Last of the original Z car before the square'd 280ZX of '82:

[Rupert]

Tons of European and Japanese cars, dang. If the point of the thread is to find the diamonds in the rough, it should be limited to American cars.

[SVT666]

[Rupert]

I can agree with that.

[CALL_911]

Tons of European and Japanese cars, dang. If the point of the thread is to find the diamonds in the rough, it should be limited to American cars.

Yeah, I agree

[FoMoJo]

1983 Thunderbird.  It offered a new profile to domestic coupes.

[Tave]

[MX793]

Just sticking with American cars:
My favorites already listed/pictured above:
Gen 3 Camaro.
'77+ Gen 2 Firebirds (I prefer the 70-73 Camaros to the '74-'81).
'86+ Pontiac Fiero Fastbacks

Not yet mentioned:
Dodge Daytona


Chevy Monza Fastback (includes similar Buick Skyhawk, Olds Starfire, and Pontiac Sunbird variants)


AMC Matador Coupe

[hotrodalex]

My parents had a Monza and Laser (same as the Daytona)

[shp4man]

1983 Thunderbird.  It offered a new profile to domestic coupes.

+1

[hotrodalex]

My parents had a Monza and Laser (same as the Daytona)

I should also mention that my dad bumped the boost on the Laser from 7 psi to 14.

[GoCougs]

Gonna throw in the '74 Dodge Dart Sport. Again, not exactly sure it counts since it's a holdover from the heyday (and lasted till '76). I actually had one of these, a '72, which at that point was called the Dodge Demon.

[Laconian]

The Buick Reatta was pretty cool looking. And it had a futuristic CRT display blazing away in your face.

[MX793]

The Buick Reatta was pretty cool looking. And it had a futuristic CRT display blazing away in your face.

Touchscreen, even.

[shp4man]

The '74 Caddy was nice. Still looked like a Caddy, anyway.

[2o6]

[280Z Turbo]

Was the 240Z still in production in '74? Or was it the 280Z by then! But either way I nominate it for this list. Along with the C4 Vette.

260Z

[Gotta-Qik-C7]

260Z

[280Z Turbo]

The L26 motor was fairly worthless. The L28E was much better.

[SVT666]

Ferrari F40