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A royal-blue 1989 Porsche 911 Turbo SE Cabriolet parked in front of an ornate white building

The Porsche 911 Dominates This List of the Best ’80s Cars You Can Buy

Though great modern Porsche vehicles abound, some older Porsche models are iconic. In fact, the Porsche 911 was so good three decades ago that it dominates a list of the best '80s cars that you can buy today. Here's a look at these four Porsche 911 models.

Porsche has been a world-renowned automaker for decades, and though great modern Porsche vehicles abound, some older Porsche models are iconic. In fact, the Porsche 911 was so good three decades ago that it dominates a list of the best ’80s cars that you can buy today. Here’s a look at these four Porsche 911 models.

The best ’80s cars you can buy today, per the duPont Registry

A royal-blue 1989 Porsche 911 Turbo SE Cabriolet parked in front of an ornate white building
1989 Porsche 911 Turbo SE Cabriolet | National Motor Museum/Heritage Images/Getty Images

When it comes to cars, the ’80s were a unique decade. Some of the most famous cars from that era include the 1981 DeLorean DMC-12. The Back to the Future movies popularized the car. That being said, like the great cars from the ’60s and ’70s, many of the great cars from the ’80s are no longer purchasable. But some still are.

In fact, according to the duPont Registry, you can still buy that famous DeLorean model today. But that’s not the only amazing car from the ’80s that you can get your hands on.

In fact, the car that dominates the duPont Registry’s list is the Porsche 911. Four of the 11 vehicles on the list are 911s, and it’s easy to see why they’re so great.

The 1980 Porsche 911 Carrera Targa is the oldest and rarest of the bunch

The oldest of the four Porsches on the list, this 1980 911 is ultra-rare, the duPont Registry reports. This is because its option code “never existed officially.” The automaker designed it for speed, more so than its other models at the time. Despite that, it was still the ’80s, so its engine isn’t that impressive compared to modern Porches. 

It has a 3.1-liter inline-six making 210 hp and 206 lb-ft of torque. This allows it to go from 0 to 60 mph in about 6.5 seconds, and it can also hit a top speed of about 143 mph. Of course, though speed is a desirable trait in a high-performance car, many people simply like how this Porsche looks.

It has leather seating, but otherwise, the interior is sparse compared to the gadgets and gizmos of modern cars. 

That said, pricing varies widely for a 1980 Porsche 911 Carrera Targa. The duPont Registry says this model is listed for about $135,000. Similar Porsches with a different trim could be a bit cheaper. 

1989 was a great year for the Porsche 911, with Carrera, Turbo Cabriolet, and Speedster models

The other three ’80s Porsche 911 models that appear on the duPont Registry’s list are all 1989 models. These three models are similar in many ways but different in others. For example, the automaker reintroduced the 911 Speedster that model year, and it’s unique.

On the other end of the spectrum, the Carrera was probably the most common version. It packs a 3.2-liter inline-six engine and totally ’80s amenities such as a cassette tape player. But it also has more useful modern equipment, such as an A/C and heated mirrors. It also has leather upholstery and a convertible top. The best part, though, is the price. It costs about $79,000, which isn’t too bad compared to its siblings.

By comparison, the 1989 Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet has a 3.3-liter flat-six. But in many other ways, it’s similar to the Carrera. The Turbo Cabriolet is rarer, though, so the duPont Registry says it costs about $187,000.

The Speedster is a bit pricier. Car and Driver says Speedsters are going for over $200,000 at auction. In terms of specs, the Speedster isn’t very different from the Carrera. But the former is rarer and more unique and retro-looking.

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