Car lovers always enjoy ogling the latest and greatest from different brands each year, but true automobile enthusiasts also have a big soft spot for classic cars. Throughout the 20th century, each decade produced a plethora of unique vehicles that defined the time. As part of our Parade Rewind series, we recently outlined the hottest cars of the 1970s. This month, we're exploring the 25 popular cars everyone wanted in the 1980s.Reminiscing on cool old cars can certainly make you feel nostalgic, but it also helps you realize that cars play an important role in pop culture. For instance, many of the hottest wheels from the '80s ended up skyrocketing in popularity once they were featured in some of the most iconic TV shows and movies of the decade.The 1980s cars that still take up space in collectors' heads all these years later include a mix of sleek sports cars and everyday drivers. There are several '80s vehicles that were considered to be iconic, and many of them can still be found in collectors' garages today. Whether you grew up in this decade or you're simply a car buff, you'll likely recognize at least a few of the picks below.Which '80s Cars Are the Most Iconic?"In addition to the desire for increased horsepower, consumers demanded more style, technology, status and reliability," he says. "As such, models such as the Fox Body Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z, BMW 3 series and Mercedes-Benz W126 became cultural icons of their respective eras."The '80s were characterized by a "period of innovation," per Knoll, who shares that cars "developed new designs (sharper lines), engines (turbocharging), interior features (digital dashboard) and combined performance and luxury elements.""Automobiles produced during this time were a reflection of the identity and ambitions of the era. They did not simply serve as means of transportation," he states.Robert M. Kennedy, a car collector, auto expert and author of Mustang Unbridled: The High-Octane History of Ford’s Legendary Pony Car, notes that other iconic '80s cars include the Ferrari F40, Porsche 959, DeLorean DMC-12, Ferrari Testarossa, Buick Grand National/GNX and Audi Quattro.What Cars Did Most People Drive in the 1980s?Oftentimes, the cars people drive the most are daily drivers and not expensive sports cars. In the '80s, Knoll says, everyday people were searching for "a practical and reasonably priced model.""Following the fuel shortages experienced in the 1970s, issues related to fuel economy, dependability and comfort became increasingly important considerations for automobile owners," he tells Parade. "Additionally, the introduction of Japanese automobile manufacturers dramatically altered consumer perceptions concerning quality and lifespan. The 1980s also provided a split between cars that served as daily practical transportation vehicles and performance vehicles in which consumers desired to aspire towards owning."Kennedy adds that some other popular cars of the '80s included the Ford F-Series, Escort and Taurus, Chrysler K-cars and minivans and Chevrolet C/K Series trucks.25 Popular Cars Everyone Wanted in the 1980s1. Mercedes-Benz W126 S-Class Knoll describes the Mercedes-Benz W126 S-Class as "the pinnacle of executive luxury in the 1980s." "The W126 was designed to an unprecedented standard and became the status symbol of professionals and celebrities," he says of the 1980s Mercedes. 2. BMW M3 (E30) Knoll says the BMW M3 (E30) "defined the modern sports sedan" and was a popular '80s BMW."It offered a combination of luxury, performance and comfort unmatched by its competitors," he says.Per Kennedy, the popular car was introduced at the Frankfurt Motor Show."BMW’s 1986 M3 was built to satisfy homologation requirements for the famed marque to compete in Germany’s popular DTM race series," he explains. "Though not as competitive as Audi’s Quattro in rally racing, the original M3s excelled at endurance races at Spa and the Nürburgring, developing a devoted fanbase along the way."3. Ford Mustang GT 5.0 If you owned a 1980s Mustang, there's a good chance that it was a 5.0 model."5.0 Mustangs (and their Mercury Capri cousins) were the perfect antagonists to GM’s Camaro and Firebird duo," Kennedy shares. "Ford also offered an SVO Mustang with a turbo four cylinder similar to that of the Thunderbird Turbo Coupe, but 5.0 LX and GT sales remained decisively dominant."4. Ferrari F40 Released in 1987, the Ferrari F40 had a 471-hp twin-turbo V-8 paired to a five-speed transaxle, Kennedy tells Parade."Though not as technologically advanced as the Porsche, its 201 mph top speed ensured its place in history as the single most coveted car of the ’80s," Kennedy says. 5. Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z "Aggressive styling and substantial V8 power meant the IROC-Z had presence on the streets and became one of the iconic muscle cars of the MTV era," Knoll states.6. Lamborghini Countach "Wedge-shaped with scissor doors and futuristic styling, the Countach became one of the most sought-after bedroom posters of all time," Knoll shares. Kennedy says the car, which debuted in the '70s, soared in popularity in the '80s.7. DeLorean DMC-12 "Though it came and went from the marketplace in the blink of an eye, it was Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd’s time-traveling adventures in this gull-winged sports coupe that forever etched its stainless steel silhouette into history as one of the most iconic ’80s cars," Kennedy says.8. Porsche 959 "At a glance, the uninformed may have thought it was a 911 Turbo with a wide-body kit," Kennedy says. "However, the 959 was a groundbreaking supercar with a 444-hp twin-turbo flat-six engine, six-speed transaxle and all-wheel drive. When it was released in 1986, its top speed of 197 mph briefly qualified it as the fastest street-legal production car on the planet."9. Chevrolet Corvette C4 "Futuristic in appearance and technological capabilities, the C4 Corvette was the true evolution of America's sports car into the modern age," Knoll tells Parade.Per Kennedy, the 1984 Corvette "saw its sales more than double" as its popularity skyrocketed.10. Ford Mustang (Fox Body) "Lightweight, inexpensive and infinitely customizable, the Fox Body Mustang was the performance bargain of the decade and played a huge role in reviving American muscle," Knoll states.11. Ford Bronco II "They say, 'bigger is better,' but that's not always the case in the auto industry. Ford nearly tripled Mustang sales when it released the smaller, lighter and more economical Mustang II in 1974," Kennedy states. "Likewise, the smaller, lighter and more economical Bronco II sold twice as many units from 1984-1990 as its larger, heavier namesake."12. Buick Grand National GNX "While Camaro, Firebird, Mustang and Capri duked it out on dragstrips with their small-block V-8s, Buick presented a compelling argument that a turbocharged V-6 could be every bit as authoritative," Kennedy explains. "Grand Nationals quickly built a cult following, but when ASC/McLaren worked its magic to produce an ultimate version, dubbed 'GNX,' they created one of the most desirable and collectible muscle cars of the ’80s."13. Ferrari Testarossa "Stylish looks and frequent appearances in movies made the Testarossa one of the most recognizable supercars, perfectly embodying the excess of the 1980s era," Knoll shares."Exploding into pop culture with a set of 12 cylinders, pop-up headlights and huge side strakes, the Testarossa was everything an ’80s Ferrari should be," he says. 14. Dodge Daytona "Turbocharged and tuned by Shelby, the Dodge Daytona showed Chrysler's ability to offer affordable performance with truly advanced engineering," Knoll says.15. Toyota MR2 Kennedy describes the 1985 Toyota MR2 as a "sporty two-seater." "Its 1.6-liter dual-overhead cam engine produced 112 horses, providing it with significantly quicker acceleration than the Honda CRX. And its mid-engine design yielded particularly agile handling, to boot," he says.16. Honda CRX "The Honda CRX arrived from Japan as a supremely economical, yet sporty, front-wheel-drive (FWD) subcompact," Kennedy points out. "The 1.3- and 1.5-liter four-cylinder engines in these tiny two-seaters may have only produced 60-76 hp but, thanks to their five-speed transmissions, could also achieve north of 50 mpg." 17. Audi Quattro "In 1965, Ford considered producing a high-performance Mustang with all-wheel drive to improve traction, handling and acceleration. But with their new pony car selling so well so quickly, they chose not to invest in the advanced driveline technology," Kennedy explains. "Audi took up that challenge. Its quattro all-wheel-drive (AWD) system dominated rally racing and proved such an enormous success for the German manufacturer that all their AWD vehicles to this day wear the Quattro badge."18. Acura Legend "The Acura Legend represented one of the first serious attempts by a Japanese brand to compete in the luxury market, helping pave the way for Lexus and Infiniti," Knoll says.19. Pontiac Fiero Kennedy says the Pontiac Fiero debuted at roughly the same time as the Honda CRX and Toyota MR2."It lit a fire among enthusiasts and commuters alike (even pacing the Indy 500 in 1984)," he shares. "Unfortunately, that fire would occasionally prove literal. Over the Fiero’s life, GM implemented improvements to its original four-cylinder engine, shoehorned a V-6 into Pontiac’s sporty two-seat 'commuter' car and even introduced a genuinely attractive fastback body for its GT models. Alas, the Fiero’s initial popularity still flamed out."20. Toyota Celica "Toyota’s third, fourth and fifth generation Celica sports cars debuted in 1981, ’85 and ’89. Each generation exemplified the virtues (small, sporty, economical) that had made the nameplate popular since its 1970 introduction," Kennedy shares. "Through the progressive application of ever more powerful powertrains, more advanced FWD and AWD drivetrains, and even all-wheel steering, Celica’s popularity on public roads and race courses continued to grow."21. Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme "Comfort, affordability and distinctive styling made the Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme one of the top-selling cars of the decade," Knoll says.22. Mazda RX-7 "Lightweight and featuring the unusual rotary engine, the RX-7 offered a unique driving experience different from its piston-powered rivals," Knoll shares.Kennedy says the rotary-powered RX-7 "carved a unique path to popularity, with a very devoted fan base, against its Japanese competitors from Nissan and Toyota."23. Lotus Esprit "Having first made a splash (literally) in 1977’s The Spy Who Loved Me, Lotus’ Esprit proved so popular that Roger Moore’s 007 slipped behind the wheel of a new Turbo Esprit in 1981’s For Your Eyes Only," Kennedy shares. "Lotus would gradually evolve the Esprit’s styling and increase its output, maintaining its popularity through the ’80s, into the ’90s and even the early 2000s."24. Toyota Supra "Introduced in 1981 and 1986, Toyota’s second and third generation Supras brought inline-six-cylinder power for those not content with the Celica’s four-cylinder engines," Kennedy shares. "Increased power meant increased performance and increased popularity."25. Volkswagen Golf GTI "Sporty handling paired with practicality and a price tag young buyers could afford helped the Golf GTI pioneer the hot hatchback market," Knoll states.Up Next:Sources:Robert M. Kennedy is a car collector, auto expert and author of Mustang Unbridled: The High-Octane History of Ford’s Legendary Pony Car.Paul Knoll is the Marketing Director of AmericanMuscle.