5 1980s Cars That Should Have Never Been Canceled!
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Күн бұрынThe 1980s saw perhaps the most significant transformation in the history of American automobiles. Throughout this decade, most cars in the U.S. became smaller, experienced significant reductions in engine size, and shifted from rear-wheel drive to front-wheel drive. Additionally, many beloved and popular car models were discontinued during this time. Here is a list of five notable 1980s cars that were canceled but deserved to continue into the 1990s and beyond.
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Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
00:30 AMC Eagle
02:42 Buick Grand National
05:27 Cadillac Cimarron
07:55 Mitsubishi Starion ESI-R
10:16 Pontiac Fiero
#1980s #pontiacfiero #buickgnx #canceledcars
©️ American Legends Production
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@kentkrueger6035 Ай бұрын
The Cadillac Cimarron should never have been built, period.
@tacodegroot6442 17 күн бұрын
Exactly!
@user-ko1nw3em8k Ай бұрын
The Cimmaron was a piece of crap rebadged cavalier that deserved its demise
@johnnymason3265 Ай бұрын
It would have done better if it had been on a different platform. A RWD Cimarron with a V6 engine would have been a better challenger to the BMW 3-series.
@Richaag 29 күн бұрын
It was so bad the first production models didn’t even have the Cadillac name anywhere on them. They were often marketed by dealerships as “The Cimmaron”. Intentionally leaving the Cadillac name out of it. It wasn’t till 1983 that GM forced marketing to advertise it as a “Cadillac Cimmaron”.
@bc5441 Ай бұрын
I miss the Pontiac brand.
@kimvette1 Ай бұрын
Regarding the Cimarron; one could say Cadillac had a pretty cavalier effort regarding the quality and performance of the Cimarron!
@thomaspierce9458 26 күн бұрын
You are clever. (The stuffed-up Russian accented AI voice is disappointing.)
@michaelmarburger1003 Ай бұрын
The Buick Grand National was the greatest car GM produced since the 60s. Doing away with it was the biggest mistake GM ever made.
@JacobPaul-ix7oc Ай бұрын
The GN or GNX has been my dream car ever since I started driving in the mid 90s, but the greatest GM car (performance wise) of the 80s was the 1989 Turbo Trans Am with a more powerful upgraded version of the GNX engine.
@chjholden Ай бұрын
Please stop using ai voice
@acjdf Ай бұрын
Especially one that emulates a chipmunk with a head cold.
@auto-Insight-yt Ай бұрын
it's not Ai, can't you tell it's someone with an indian accent talking
@American.legends Ай бұрын
it's not!
@levyoliver5363 Ай бұрын
There is nothing wrong with his voice. He is a great narrator...
@johnnymason3265 Ай бұрын
The Fiero and the Grand National were dropped because GM refused to let anything in their portfolio challenge the Corvette. GM is obsessed with keeping the Corvette at the top of the company.
@brodywankenobi66 Ай бұрын
Well the grand national was canceled mostly because the g body platform was moving to a front wheel drive platform. They didn't have a fwd transmission that could handle that kind of power. You are correct though. That's why pontiac got the firebird instead of the banshee.
@VNOltec Ай бұрын
The Fiero lost out because it was little more than a mobile forest fire. It rivaled the Corvair for the top spot on the "Unsafe at any speed" competition.
@reebokprincess1 Ай бұрын
I have a Fiero picture in my little icon
@althunder4269 Ай бұрын
Wrong engine was shown for the Buick GN. 1988 Fiero GT or Formula with V6 is the only good year with the new redesigned suspension.
@crw3673 Ай бұрын
I'm glad I'm not the only one who noticed the fwd 3800 series engine!
@davidmullineaux6157 Ай бұрын
That Starion was cool looking.
@scarbourgeoisie Ай бұрын
Just look at the sales figures of the Fiero over its five year course. Year one was fantastic, a complete surprise to GM. Year five, when the car's suspension was updated over the bits that were borrowed from other vehicles in the GM Stable, they sold a mere fraction of the first year. Even if the car was revamped, it was never going to regain its first year glory as it was a flash in the pan. It never accumulated the cult following that made the Miata so successful for three decades. Furthermore, at the time it was discontinued the market was crowded with the MR2 being available as an alternative economy two seater. The decision to can the car had nothing to do with the Corvette. They were two entirely different market segments.
@Doc1855 Ай бұрын
I would have Loved to have owned a 1988 Pontiac Fiero. That was the last year and had the completely different suspension. The 4cyl wasn’t a very good choice, but the V6 was fairly good.
@manfredmann2766 Ай бұрын
That would have been pretty badass, if the Fierro had 240 hp for it’s size had it continued well into the 90s
@American.legends Ай бұрын
💯
@jasoncarpp7742 Ай бұрын
Although I was way too young at the time to drive, I remember these cars. Among my favourites are the American Motors (AMC) Eagle, first year Cadillac Cimarron, the Buick Regal Grand National, and the Pontiac Fiero. It's a crying shame that they were discontinued when they were. Oh well, you can't please everyone.
@112Famine Ай бұрын
The Mazda RX7 could also be on your list, if you see the current price of used RX7's now shows there is still a high demand for this vehicle. ...I loved mine, still amazed I never flipped mine. But there are rumors Mazda will be releasing an Gasoline Electric Hybrid version "soon".
@kerrypierre9494 Ай бұрын
Nice vid, the only one that I would drop from this list is the Caddy.
@williamjones7163 Ай бұрын
I really, really, really wanted a Pontiac Fiero. I checked out three years of Consumer Reports and couldn't find a rating above mediocre. I got a VW 86 Jetta instead. It was rated buy/good.
@KevinMiller-lh9ur 29 күн бұрын
My wife and I looked at the 90 Jetta and 90 Mazda 626. The insurance for the Jetta was nearly double the 626. I asked why and was told they had high theft rates in Baltimore area. We bought the 626.
@timathias7605 29 күн бұрын
I remember driving southbound on 101 in my dad’s rebuilt 84 Fiero. Plastic timing gear stripped all the dummy lights on😢
@John-gq7vt Ай бұрын
Cars shouldn't have to "reach their potential" over time. A smart company can (and needs to) start off with a product worth buying. The American car companies were terrible in the 70's and 80's.
@JacobPaul-ix7oc Ай бұрын
Look up planned obsolescence. Then look up how a nation's GDP is determined, and why selling inferior cars would help raise the GDP through sales parts, service and ownership vehicle turnover rate (buying a new car ever five years instead of 20 years, for example). It's funny that you say cars were terrible in the 70s and 80s and not complain about the junk American auto manufactures make today. My two longest lasting cars (over 300k each) were a 1975 Buick Riviera and a 1979 Ford Thunderbird, the next closest was a 1979 Bonneville with around 250k miles. The longest lasting American cars I have owned from model year 2000 and up were a 2006 Pontiac G6 GT 3.5V6 (174 miles) and a 2013 Ford Fusion 2.5 I4 (180k miles). The other American cars I have owned made after 2000 have all lasted under 150k miles, and I maintain them as needed by changing plugs, oil and filter at regular intervals, etc. Everything made has the opportunity to reach a potential over time, that's how advancements in technology works. Do you think the Model T was perfect right out of the gate? Why aren't we still buying those? It was worth buying, right? But like I was inferring at the beginning of the comment, there came a point when the government and the auto manufacturers decided it would be better to sell disposable vehicles instead of long lasting reliable vehicles for the purpose of keeping the economy going. Imagine you built a car and it had zero problems until at least 200k miles. You may see a lot of sales, but that revenue would drop off once everyone who wanted one of your vehicles had bought one. Now you would have to wait 10-20 years (depending on the owners' driving habits) to make more sales, with a few sales in between that won't sustain your business for very long. Not only would your sales suffer, but if it were built to last for 200k miles with zero problems, that means no parts sales and no service fees for your dealerships or third-party mechanics. This creates economic stagnation. If every American auto manufacture held the same high standards as in this scenario, this would lead to a depression in the automotive industry.
@NapoleonDynobyte 29 күн бұрын
Buick should have continued offering the Grand National & GNX. GM refines its best models, then discontinues them. Very Sad !!
@waynepurcell6058 Ай бұрын
The Fiero had potential to be a bad ass car. They could have given it more power to compete with the 'Vette or lightened it and had a mid-engine Miata type vehicle. The latter is what I would have pushed for as it would have taken the Fiero out as a 'Vette competitor". GM may have left it alone then.
@scottlowell493 Ай бұрын
They should make one now, with the 310hp turbo max.
@waynepurcell6058 Ай бұрын
@@scottlowell493 I'd like to see a mid-engine Fiero comeback. If they could keep the weight down, throw a genuine suspension under it (double wishbone and maybe even coilovers), give it styling at least "somewhat" visually competitive with the Lotus Emira/ Porshe cayman I'd nab that WAY before the "Vette. If they made MY dream Fiero it would be 250HPish and compete with Lotus Elise/Exige type cars. 2000-2200lbs and "clench your a** cheeks" level of corner/curve taking suspension. I live in the mountains where you can just about read your own damn rear tag taking curves. For someone like me, handling and car feedback trumps "raw power" 90% of the time.
@JacobPaul-ix7oc Ай бұрын
@@waynepurcell6058 If there were a new Fiero, I'd want to keep it NA and put in the Cadillac High Feature 3.0 (270 hp, 223 lb-ft torque) or GM 3.6 (304 hp, 273 lb-ft torque).
@zillsburyy1 Ай бұрын
THATS A AWESOEM 80S COMMERCIAL!!!!
@josephmule8387 Ай бұрын
I remember replacing catalytic converters on Chrysler/Plymouth Conquests, under warranty at Chrysler/Plymouth dealer that I worked at in the early '90s. I absolutely loved to test drive those cars. They had style and character. They also performed quite well.
@thebionicbassplayer Ай бұрын
I used to work at the ad agency that did the 'We Build Excitement' campaigns for Pontiac. I asked a female ad executive why GM was canceling the Fiero, and she stated that the engine fires they were notorious for in it's esrly production run, caused the insurance rates to go up, making the Fiero too expensive to insure.😢
@colonelsanders104 Ай бұрын
Pontiac Fierro with vintage Ferrari F40 conversion
@user-fd8ds3rj8t Ай бұрын
GM could not let an upstart Pontiac to dethrone the flagship “Vette”. Quite a shame, stupid for GM to cancel the Fiero. Just think what it could be now?
@bruceheadley7191 Ай бұрын
I had an Eagle SX/4 and it sucked. The I6 engine was anemic as heck and the 4WD system was guaranteed to be inoperable when truly needed. Mountain driving was a mere crawl due to its poor altitude compensation. It had a very comfortable ride with great visibility, great sound system and easy to read instrument cluster. I should note it was CA emissions equipped.
@Kim-st3xg Ай бұрын
I remember an article in magazine, where Chevrolet put a turbo on a 1988 fiero and was faster than production corvette. That was the death of the fiero! What could have been.
@fleendarthemagnificent7372 29 күн бұрын
The AMC Eagle was an incredible car. Seemed like nothing could stop this car. We had the wagon model and could never bury it. However, remember that reliability and being well-built in today's world = less money. Planned obsoletion = money. That's why our phones and computers become obsolete so quickly. Force people to buy new ones within a few years.
@semiretired86 Ай бұрын
they should have fitted the Fiero with the 3800
@NapoleonDynobyte 29 күн бұрын
With turbo option from the GNX
@guestguest3715 Ай бұрын
GMs cardinal rule: NO ONE messes with Corvette sales. That’s why the Buick and Fiero were cancelled
@garyszewc3339 Ай бұрын
Fieros was a low power, poor handling car. A whole different class than a Vette.
@RomanJockMCO Ай бұрын
The Cadalier did more damage to Cadillac's reputation than anything else ever has. It was the butt of so many jokes. And NO ONE will say it was on par with a 325i or a 190E. It was a gussied up cheap J-car with a lot of options as standard. Also the reason it was so close to a Cavalier is because it was originally supposed to be based on the X-car but there was no excess production available and they only had time to change the grille and tail lights. Even the dash was the same. While I loved the Grand Nationals and GNXs it was an old platform. Pontiac used the turbo Buick V6 in the Trans Am GTA for 1989. The Fiero should have stuck around for a few more years as GM finally got it right, suspension wise. The DSM triplets were introduced for 89/90 model years so the Starion/Conquest got the ax. Edit: please learn how to pronounce Porsche correctly, the e is not silent.
@paullopez7561 Ай бұрын
The Cadillac Cimmaron and the Pontiac fiero shouldn't be on this list Those 2 models were dead in the water. You can't go into the market with a new product with regular parts bin parts. Once al new car is a disappointment and reputation took a big hit; it doesn't matter what you do consumers are going to tell others " That car is a piece of crap
@frankdeboer1347 Ай бұрын
When the Eagle was introduced it was already an old car that just got AWD to extend its lifetime by a few years. No way that it should have lasted as long as it did.
@coolmonkeymc8268 6 күн бұрын
The Pontiac feiro was a meant to be double for the Triumph TR6/TR7.Both cars were junk. The 4 cyl. would blow head gaskets faster than a lady of the evening giving 2 for 1 specials.
@zillsburyy1 Ай бұрын
10:22 feris's sister's car?
@claytoneaves4789 Ай бұрын
I applied for the job on Upwork. Please hire me.
@hillbillytrucking8483 29 күн бұрын
I had a 1984 fiero I thought I was super cool in the 90s lol but really it was cool and ran good for a $700 car when I got it my how times changed
@robertmarsala5438 27 күн бұрын
Cimarron??? Really??? A car that should NEVER have been.
@careystuart 28 күн бұрын
I love me a four door sea-don.
@longagoandfaraway7868 28 күн бұрын
At least Lincoln built their Versailles off a Granada. Much sturdier base car.
@alexanderspenser4960 Ай бұрын
Never selling my 87 T-Type Turbo, someday I'll sell the 88 Formula. Cimarron, questionable choice, was much quieter and handled better than Cavalier.
@JacobPaul-ix7oc Ай бұрын
Oddly enough, back in 1994 my friend's 1987 Buick Regal (5.0 V8 I believe) was stolen while he was at work and he ended up getting a 1985 Cimarron. It was a total POS and he got rid of it as soon as the police were able to find his Regal and return it to him. He had planned on swapping in a 454 at some point, but I don't know if he ever got around to doing so as I haven't seen him in many years.
@earllsimmins9373 29 күн бұрын
RWD Chevy Impala SS with police package.
@bikingD Ай бұрын
Eagle was a great car but well past its best before date as it dated back to the 1970 Hornet. As for the Grand National no says it now it was garbage. Could never tune them properly always misfired. GM only put a 1 year warranty on the motor. Even though less power the Monte Carlo SS drove so much better. As for the Caddy. The car was out of its league. That said the Cavalier should not have been cancelled as maybe the Cavalier was the best built GM ever built. Starion was great beautiful car but wasn't cancelled. It evolved to the Eclipse. Plus the 2.6 granaded so fast your head will spin. As for the Fiero agree. By 88 the car was perfect. New suspension. Design and the 2.8 was great.
@paullopez7561 Ай бұрын
You can fool some people all the time but you can't fool all of the people all the time .... General Motors forgot about while trying to get more and more and more PROFITS
@MattMartin-ql6en Ай бұрын
That's not true. What about Camaros?
@darrenporsch Ай бұрын
How about on the Grand national engine shot you show the right engine The rear wheel drive 3.8 not the front wheel drive 3800 which came later was never offered in a rear wheel drive car or a Grand national It's people keep pumping out videos for clicks and they never get their facts right
@stephenriggs8177 Ай бұрын
When I first saw the Fiero, I couldn't help feeling proud that a car like that came out of Detroit. ... On the other hand, the Cimarron was a joke. My Cavalier looked almost the same and was probably more reliable.
@garyszewc3339 Ай бұрын
The Fiero was a cheap poor copy of a Fiat.
@stephenriggs8177 Ай бұрын
@@garyszewc3339 I owned a Fiat. Nothing could be poorer. ... I will concede that it probably didn't match the MR2.
@auto-Insight-yt Ай бұрын
bro c'mon the Eagle is so ugly, it looks like the cars i used to draw when i was 5 years old 😂, on the other hand the Pontiac Fiero looks so sexy, Pontiac should've invested more in it!
@johnmccree8941 Ай бұрын
All about looks? And "sexy"... what does that mean? They're cars.
@auto-Insight-yt Ай бұрын
I don't think you're a car guy, a real car guy would understand what a sexy car means
@johnmccree8941 Ай бұрын
@@auto-Insight-yt Wasn't trying to impress anyone. And remembering back...Fiero had several issues meaning... problems.
@CadanHartleyElliott Ай бұрын
@@johnmccree8941You don't think we know that?!
@johnmccree8941 Ай бұрын
@@CadanHartleyElliott We? And the Fiero was discontinued.
@randynichols3150 28 күн бұрын
AMC are you kidding me. Anything by amc was junk.
@johnjobber2219 15 күн бұрын
The Cimmeron was a total POS. The Starian was a fantastic vehicle.
@sethmaki1333 Ай бұрын
Ya lost me at the Cimarron. That's one pile of junk that never should have seen the light of day to begin with.
@jamesziegler2763 7 күн бұрын
😮😮
@longagoandfaraway7868 28 күн бұрын
The 80s was the decade when cars became plastic junk.
@RBRShift2CivV Ай бұрын
I couldn't get past the first minute. The text to speech is awful
@American.legends Ай бұрын
it's not AI
@Templar50401 Ай бұрын
Can't tell you how annoying the mispronouncing AI is.
@American.legends Ай бұрын
it's not AI
@Templar50401 Ай бұрын
@@American.legends Lol
@lynnpoole7830 Ай бұрын
I refuse to listen to a jerky AI voice.
@justanotherdrunk Ай бұрын
What's bizarre is how young the kids are on KZfaq who weren't even alive when these cars were new 🤪🤪
@evermore9291 Ай бұрын
That Caddy desperately needed to die. The Eagle would've been surpassed by the asians more + more each year, and the Fiero was well named as it loved to spontaneously combust.
@kentkrueger6035 Ай бұрын
The Cadillac Cimarron should never have been built, period.