Here’s an eye-opening then-and-now comparison for you. The 1981 Lincoln lineup’s sole engine choice was Ford’s corporate 5.0-liter V8. In Lincoln trim, it produced a tepid 130 horsepower, and in the Town Car, it returned a leisurely 14.9 second 0-60 time. Fast-forward 35 years, and Lincoln’s largest sedan, the MKS, scoots to 60 mph in just over five seconds when equipped with the available 365-horsepower 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6.
Not every automaker struggled with performance back in the early Eighties, however. European brands, being early adopters of fuel injection and turbocharging, found themselves among the acceleration leaders of the era. Credit, too, the lighter weight of most German and Swedish cars relative to their American counterparts.
Presented here are the 10 fastest accelerating cars of 1981, as tested by Consumer Guide. As the Consumer Guide folks didn’t spend much time testing Ferraris, Lamborghinis, and higher-end Porsches, this list is decidedly mainstream.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4aePWsaKQI]
Note that a couple of American cars muscled their way onto the list–both of them make use of low gearing, four-barrel carbs, and fairly modest curb weights.
Times presented below are 0-60 mph results. Specifics of the vehicle tested follow.
*As tested by Consumer Guide.
The Most-Powerful American Cars of 1977
Chevrolet Corvette: 8.1 Seconds
Curb Weight: 3334 pounds
Horsepower: 190
Engine: “L81” 5.7-liter V8
Fuel Delivery: 4-barrel carburetor
Transmission: 4-speed manual
Final Drive Ratio: 2.72
Note: The L81 engine was the only mill offered in the 1981 Corvette.
Chevrolet Camaro Z28: 9.0 Seconds
Curb Weight: 3600 pounds
Horsepower: 175
Engine: 5.7-liter V8
Fuel Delivery: 4-barrel carburetor
Transmission: 3-speed automatic
Final Drive Ratio: 3.42
Note: The available 4-speed manual came with a 3.08 rear axle.
Mazda RX-7: 9.2 Seconds
Curb Weight: 2345 pounds
Horsepower: 100
Engine: 1.1-liter two-rotor Wankel
Fuel Delivery: 4-barrel carburetor
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Final Drive Ratio: 3.90
Note: Despite its low curb weight and modest horsepower, the 1981 RX-7 returned just 17.8 mpg in Consumer Guide testing.
BMW 528i: 9.4 Seconds
Curb Weight: 3180 pounds
Horsepower: 169
Engine: 2.8-liter six
Fuel Delivery: Fuel injection
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Final Drive Ratio: 3.45
Note: Consumer Guide referred to the 528i as stingy, praising their observed 27 mpg test results.
Saab 900 Turbo: 9.7 Seconds
Curb Weight: 2785 pounds
Horsepower: 135
Engine: Turbocharged 2.0-liter four
Fuel Delivery: Fuel injection
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Final Drive Ratio: 3.89
Note: Test vehicle was a coupe. A 900 sedan was also available.
The Most-Powerful American Cars of 1986
Porsche 924: 9.8 Seconds
Curb Weight: 2623 pounds
Horsepower: 115
Engine: 2.0-liter four
Fuel Delivery: Fuel injection
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Final Drive Ratio: 5.00
Note: Consumer Guide described the 924’s ride as “unyielding.”
Audi 5000 Turbo: 10.2 Seconds
Curb Weight: 3042 pounds
Horsepower: 130
Engine: 2.1-liter five
Fuel Delivery: Fuel injection
Transmission: 3-speed automatic
Final Drive Ratio: 3.73
Note: Consumer Guide noted that the 5000 Turbo was “(S)low off the line, but at about 3000 rpm (the car) really takes off.”
Triumph TR8: 10.8 Seconds
Curb Weight: 2655 pounds
Horsepower: 148
Engine: 3.5-liter V8
Fuel Delivery: Fuel injection
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Final Drive Ratio: 3.08
Note: The TR8’s V8 engine was also found in the rare Rover 3500, a 4-door hatchback that was only offered in the U.S. for two model years.
Fiat X1/9: 10.9 Seconds
Curb Weight: 2140 pounds
Horsepower: 75
Engine: 1.5-liter four
Fuel Delivery: Fuel injection
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Final Drive Ratio: 4.07
Note: Quick and miserly, the X1/9 returned an even 30 mpg in Consumer Guide testing.
Buick Regal Sport Coupe: 11.0 Seconds (Tie)
Curb Weight: 3353 pounds
Horsepower: 170
Engine: Turbocharged 3.8-liter V6
Fuel Delivery: 4-barrel
Transmission: 3-speed automatic
Final Drive Ratio: 2.73
Note: Consumer Guide noted that the Regal Sport Coupe’s turbo lag was, “(N)oticable, but not objectionable.”
Volkswagen Jetta: 11.0 Seconds (Tie)
Curb Weight: 1892 pounds
Horsepower: 74
Engine: 1.7-liter four
Fuel Delivery: Fuel injection
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Final Drive Ratio: 3.89
Note: Tested Jetta was a four-door sedan. A similar Volkswagen Rabbit hatchback returned an 11.2-second 0-60 time in Consumer Guide testing.
The Most-Powerful American Cars of 1991
