The 1980s were not a good time for muscle car fans. The segment was blighted by the oil crisis of the 1970s and performance stifling, but a few good muscle cars did slip through the net.
Even better for gearheads was that many of these muscle cars also had manual transmissions, ensuring that many were still fun to drive despite the lack of oomph compared to previous generations.
This list contains the best manual muscle cars from the 1980s, which are really the best of what was, at times, a nasty bunch.
Chevrolet Camaro Z28
The 1980s were a terrible time for the Chevrolet Camaro. Despite their new lighter bodies, power was incredibly low, with some base examples of the third-generation Camaro boasting a maximum of just 95 horsepower.
Yet, thankfully, V8 power was still available, thanks to the Camaro Z28. It may only have produced 165 horsepower and 145 horsepower in manual form, but it was still better than what was initially on offer.
Ford Thunderbird Turbo Coupe
Ford was perhaps the best manufacturer in the 1980s at keeping the muscle car relevant and powerful enough for consumers. The Thunderbird Turbo Coupe might not have had a V8, but Ford got as much power out of it as possible.
The 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine produced 155 horsepower and 199 lb-ft of torque. It also had a five-speed manual transmission, which is good news for gearheads.
Ford Mustang LX 5.0/GT
Thankfully, the 1980s were not as crippling to the Ford Mustang as they were to the Chevrolet Camaro and other muscle cars. The Fox-Body of the 1980s is actually one of the best Mustangs ever, with V8 power still at its heart. The LX 5.0 and GT versions were two of the standouts.
Not only did they have a five-speed manual transmission, but the 5.0-liter V8 under the hood produced 225 horsepower and 300 lb-ft of torque. More than quite a few muscle cars of the era could ever hope to produce.
1984 Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1
By the mid-1980s, many enthusiasts were despairing at the state of the muscle car market and felt the good times were never going to return. However, Chevrolet, in partnership with Lotus, put that right in 1984 with the exceptional Corvette ZR-1.
The Corvette ZR-1 was a game changer. Not only did it look good, but the Lotus-developed 32-valve OHV V8 engine produced 375 horsepower, putting it on level with supercars. The top speed of 180 mph also helped, as did the excellent six-speed manual transmission.
1980 Ford Mustang Cobra
The Mustang LX and GT were not the only good pony cars from the Blue Oval in the 1980s. In the early part of the decade, Ford tried whatever it could to make the Mustang as powerful as possible, with one attempt at this being the Mustang Cobra of 1980.
The Mustang Cobra only produced 132 horsepower and 142 lb-ft of torque, but it did have a four-speed manual. The lower power output was thanks to the turbocharged inline-four, but it was as good as it got in the early 1980s.
1984 Dodge Daytona Turbo Z
Dodge was another manufacturer trying its utmost to save the muscle car. The 1984 Dodge Daytona Turbo Z, which was in production from 1984 to 1993, has both a manual and automatic transmission and is one of the most overlooked muscle cars of the decades.
Under the hood, a turbocharged inline-four engine produced 142 horsepower and 160 lb-ft of torque. The 2.2-liter engine was a far cry from those of the 1960s and early 1970s, but the Daytona Turbo was a solid muscle car.
1985 Oldsmobile 442
The 1985 Oldsmobile 442, available with a three-speed manual transmission, was one of the last of its kind. It was part of the fourth generation of the Oldsmobile Cutlass lineup and faced fierce competition.
Yet the 1985 442 might actually be one of the best muscle cars of the decade. Power came from a 5.0-liter V8, producing a respectable 180 horsepower and 245 lb-ft of torque. A damn sight better than base-edition Chevrolet Camaros with less than 100 horsepower.
1985 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z
Despite the issues faced by the earlier Camaros, Chevrolet did try hard to improve them. By 1985, it was on the right path with that year’s Camaro IROC-Z, arguably one of the standout muscle cars of the 1980s.
The 5.0-liter V8 engine under the hood produced 215 horsepower and 275 lb-ft of torque. Figures must have been quite dizzying for performance car enthusiasts at the time. The muscle car wasn’t going to go down without a fight.
1986 Pontiac Grand Prix 2+2
By the late 1980s, Pontiac was phasing out manual versions of the Grand Prix 2+2, but the manual still had some life left in it. In fact, in 1986, just 233 of them had the four-speed manual transmission under the hood.
Power came from a 5.0-liter V8 with 180 horsepower and 245 lb-ft of torque. It was one of the best engines of the decade, and the rarity of the manual cars in 2024 makes them some of the most desirable from the 1980s.
1987 Dodge Charger Shelby GLHS
The 1987 Dodge Charger Shelby GLHS is one of the best muscle cars of the decade, even if it is largely forgotten. It did well against the stiff competition from rivals such as the Camaro and Mustang, and it did so with a humble four-cylinder under the hood.
The small turbocharged 2.2-liter engine produced 175 horsepower and 175 lb-ft of torque. Again, that’s still enough to embarrass some Camaro versions. Plus, the five-speed manual transmission made it a thoroughly engaging drive.
1989 Ford Mustang LX 5.0
After briefly mentioning the Ford Mustang LX 5.0, we decided to focus on it more. With a five-speed manual transmission, the 1989 LX 5.0 was a joy to drive, and by this point, power figures were well and truly on the rise.
The 5.0-liter V8 produced 225 horsepower and 300 lb-ft of torque, figures that must have felt unimaginable at the start of the 1980s. The 1989 LX 5.0 was fast, stylish, punchy, and one of the best muscle cars of the decade.
Ford Taurus SHO
The first-generation Ford Taurus SHO was introduced at the end of the 1980s, so it just happens to be on this list. With a five-speed manual transmission, enthusiasts loved it, but the real star was the 3.0-liter SHO V6 engine it had under the hood.
Yamaha actually built the engine, and Mazda supplied the transmission. It was an exciting mix but one that proved quite reliable. The Yamaha V6 could scream up to 7,000 rpm. The 0-60 mph time was just 6.6 seconds, and the top speed was just over 140 mph.
Pontiac Fiero
The Pontiac Fiero certainly had its problems. It had an unusual tendency to catch fire, and early models could only produce 95 horsepower. But as time went on, Pontiac bumped power up to 140 horsepower, and the Fiero could actually be quite an enjoyable car to drive.
It was available with a four-speed manual and two five-speed manual transmissions, as well as a three-speed automatic. The Fiero was Pontiac’s answer to the Toyota MR2, although it wasn’t on the market for long, with a production run of just four years.
