A Guide to 1982 Cars

From the Lincoln Continental to the Chevrolet Blazer, here are some of the best cars of 1982.
Written by Joshua Levy
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
The Lamborghini Jalpa 3500 is definitely the best car of 1982, but it’s nowhere near as accessible as beauties like the Lincoln Continental or Ford Escort.
The 1980s were a fun time for cars, featuring memorable cars like the Delorean and strange new styles like the bustleback. While the 80s marked a new peak in the growth of vehicle performance and manufacturing, many older models don’t hold up well against modern standards. 
Whether you’re on the market for a vintage car or you’re just hoping to learn more about the history of auto-manufacturing, the
car insurance
comparison
super app
,
Jerry
, is here with everything you need to know. Here, we’ll cover everything from the price to the specs of some of the best cars from 1982.

The best cars of 1982

The following list contains our picks of the top 1982 cars from seven different popular vehicle categories. Here, we’ll cover the best cars in every major category from luxury and sports to SUVs and family cars.

The best car of 1982: Lamborghini Jalpa 3500

Market price: $58,000 
Powertrain: 3.5 L V8 engine 5-speed synchromesh manual transmission
What makes it special: 
Other than its pop culture value as Rocky Balboa’s car in Rocky IV, the Jalpa was a huge step forward in Lamborghini’s car production. Building on innovation with the earlier Sillhouette, Lamborghini developed the Jalpa as an affordable entry point to the luxury lifestyle. Believe it or not, it took off. The Jalpa’s high performance, ridiculous speed, and marked-down price made it a huge success among upper-middle class consumers. 
Unfortunately, Jalpa production ended in1988 thanks to falling sales over the previous year. While ending the Jalpa may have saved Lamborghini some money in the short run, many people view it as a mistake since the Jalpa was Lamborghini’s second most successful V8 model.

The best luxury car of 1982: Lincoln Continental

Market price: $2,812 to $4,125
Powertrain: 4.9 L V8 engine 4-speed automatic transmission
What makes it special: 
Frankly, the most special aspect of the 1982
Lincoln Continental
is how it perfectly embodies luxury in the 1980s. The cabin features big leather or cloth seats, plenty of legroom, and wood-patterned details that give the interior a light, spacious feeling. Lincoln only sold four-door models, and they all came with a bustleback trunk design—a popular design of the early 80s.
All-in-all, the continental may look a little strange today, but it perfectly captures the idea of style and luxury in 1982.

The best SUV of 1982: Toyota Land Cruiser

Market price: $560 to $4,670
Powertrain: 4.0 L inline V6 engine 4-speed manual transmission
What makes it special: 
The
Toyota Land Cruiser
was a staple in off-road SUVs for nearly 60 years, and the 1982 model lives up to the reputation. In a push to make the cruiser more accessible to general audiences, Toyota incorporated new features like air conditioning, rear heaters, and ergonomic seats in the 1982 model. The result is an SUV that’s more comfortable, fun, and enjoyable than almost any other offroader of the time.

The best luxury SUV of 1982: Chevrolet Blazer

Market price: $945 to $4,118
Powertrain: 5.7L V8 engine 4-speed manual transmission
What makes it special:
The 1982
Chevrolet Blazer
had all the off-road handling capabilities of a typical SUV of the time, along with luxury features like a removable hard-top roof and elevated suspension system. The short wheelbase lends to fast speeds and better maneuverability than most other SUVs, and the sleek exterior lends to a quality, professional look. While it doesn’t have any particularly innovative features, the Blazer stands out as an ideal SUV for anyone looking to take the road less traveled in style.

The best family car of 1982: Ford Escort

Market price: $475 to $1,225
Powertrain: 1.6L V4 engine 4-speed manual transmission 
What makes it special: 
The 1982
Ford Escort
is the car world’s equivalent of sliced bread, it isn’t anything special but just about everyone has it in the house. The 82 Escort isn’t flashy or especially fast, but its affordability, reliability, and consistent safety ratings, made it the best-selling car of 1982. Since it was released and sold as a family vehicle for a relatively low rate, the Escort hasn’t retained its value very well. That said, it was the staple American vehicle of its time.

The best sports car of 1982: Ford Mustang GT

Market price: $1,750 to $12,450
Powertrain:  2.3L V4 engine 4-speed manual transmission
What makes it special: 
The 1970s were a hard time for Ford. Mustangs weren’t selling as well as they had in the 1960s and Ford’s reputation was quickly centering on commuter-style vehicles. What really turned it around was the release of the 1982
Ford Mustang GT
. The GT’s trendy styling, powerful engine, and relative affordability helped Ford make its name as a major competitor in the American sports car industry.
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The best truck of 1982: Ford F-150

Market price: $3,900 to $16,600
Powertrain: 3.8L V6 engine 3-speed manual transmission
What makes it special: 
The 1980s were a peak time for Ford trucks. Their power and reliability quickly led to the Ford F-Series becoming the premier name in trucks. Even now, Ford trucks are known far and wide as workhorses that can last for upwards of 300,000 miles. The 1982 Ford
F-150
perfectly embodies Ford’s classic mix of strength and utility. Unfortunately, early Ford trucks are less and less common, meaning parts are harder to come by and repairs are more expensive. 

What cars came out in 1982? 

The 1980s were an interesting time for cars in terms of aesthetics and performance. While cars were getting more functional every year, manufacturers started experimenting with their designs to start standing apart from the competition. The result was a range of fun and interesting cars.
Here’s a quick breakdown of some of the best cars of 1982:
Model
Vehicle type
Engine
Market price
Sedan
1.6–2.0 L M10 I4
$6,400 – $9,900
Chevrolet Celebrity
Coupe
3.6-L V8
$1,700 – $1,700
SUV
2.8 L LR2 60° V6
$8,323
Dodge 600
Coupe
2.2 L K I4
$5,729
Dodge Rampage
Truck
2.2 L K I4
$7,006 – $7,512
Truck
2.4L V4
$6,204
Sports car
2.3L M102 8V I4
$3,900 – $6,380
Mitsubishi Starion
Hatchback sports car
2.0 L G63B turbo I4
$14,260
Oldsmobile Firenza
Coupe
1.8 L OHV L46 I4
$500 – $1,975
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How to save money on used car insurance

If you’re looking to buy one of the cars on this list, you’re in luck!
Insuring a used car
typically costs significantly less than insuring a new one. The reason is related to the car's value. Older cars cost less, so your provider wouldn’t need to pay out as much in the case of an accident.
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FAQs

The Ford Escort was the best-selling car of 1982, but there were plenty of other big sellers like the 1982
Toyota Corolla
.
The fastest car in 1982 was the Lamborghini Countach LP500 S, which maxed out at a top speed of 182 miles per hour.
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