Cars from the ’70s and ’80s that Don’t Exist Anymore

Last Updated on March 13, 2023

Our love for the past is obvious when we say things like “blast from the past,” or “Throwback Thursday”. There’s no denying too, that older cars bring these feelings of bliss and nostalgia. What are your favorite cars from the ‘70s and ‘80s that don’t exist anymore? Perhaps you’ve driven something on this list.

1970

Buick Estate, 1970-1990

The Buick Estate was a luxury full-size station wagon whose production years were from 1940 to 1964, and 1970 to 1996). This car was General Motors’s flagship station wagon entry, and was available as either a Roadmaster Estate or a Century Estate. At the time, the Estate was the largest Buick vehicle and was produced using the GM B platform. The vehicle combined luxury features with cargo-carrying capabilities. After 1996, Buick didn’t offer another station wagon in the US until 2018—the Buick Regal TourX.

1971

Dodge Colt, 1971-1994

The Dodge Colt was a subcompact car available as a two-door pillared coupe, a two-door hardtop coupe, a four-door sedan, and a five-door wagon. It featured a traditional unibody layout with rear-wheel drive and a front engine (97.5 cubic inches and four cylinders). In 1973, sedans and coupes received a rounder body, while wagons continued with the old body. Early cars have small rectangular headlights in black inserts, while later models received more aerodynamic, flush-fitting units.

1972

Lincoln Continental Mark IV, 1972-1976

The Lincoln Continental Mark IV was a personal luxury car. The vehicle shared its chassis, roofline, doors, and inner body panels with the Ford Thunderbird. All Mark IVs have a vinyl roof, hidden headlights, a radiator-style grille, and a Continental spare tire trunk lid. The Mark IV also introduced the opera window. For the 1974 model, the company added a five mph bumper, which pushed the rear lights into the rear bodywork.

1973

Pontiac Grand Am, 1973-1975, 1978-1980, 1985-2005

The Pontiac Grand Am was originally a mid-size car but Pontiac later made it into a compact car. The ride was marketed as “the mid-sized Pontiac with Foreign Intrigue…American Ingenuity”. The car included both luxury and sport features, which was unusual in North America at the time. In 1980, Pontiac canceled the intermediate size Grand Am and it was succeeded by the Pontiac 6000. The compact version was reintroduced in 1985, replacing the Pontiac Phoenix, but was eventually replaced by the G6. 

1974

Ford Elite, 1974-1976

The Ford Elite is a personal luxury car that went by the name Gran Torino Elite for its first model year before dropping “Gran Torino”. The mid-size two-door coupe is based on the Ford Torino, and was intended to be a junior model to the Ford Thunderbird. Ford achieved good sales during the car’s three-year run—placing third in its category. For model year 1977, Ford applied the Thunderbird nameplate to a restyled Elite and discontinued the larger Thunderbird. 

1975

Mercury Grand Marquis, 1975-2011

The Mercury Grand Marquis was first introduced as the premium model of the Mercury Marquis line of full-size sedans, but it eventually became a standalone model line in 1983. Beginning with model year 1979, the Grand Marquis shared the rear-wheel drive Panther platform as the Lincoln Town Car and the Ford (LTD) Crown Victoria. On January 4, 2011, Ford produced the last Grand Marquis and the last Mercury-branded vehicle.

1976

Pontiac Sunbird, 1976-1994

The Pontiac Sunbird was introduced as the eventual replacement for the Pontiac Astre. It was offered as a two-door notchback coupe, a three-door hatchback, and a station wagon. The first generation of the Sunbird used the subcompact GM H platform, but following generations used the compact GM J platform. Pontiac didn’t release a model in 1981, and renamed the 1982 model—J2000. The Sunbird name returned for model year 1984. The following year, it was redesigned and renamed the Pontiac Sunfire.

1977

Chrysler LeBaron, 1977-1995

The Chrysler LeBaron was a luxury vehicle built on the Dodge Aspen platform (F-body), but with an M-body shell. The first-year models were available as coupes and sedans. Chrysler introduced a Town & Country station wagon in 1978. In 1981, it was offered in a police package. And in 1982, the LeBaron model name was moved to the new front-wheel drive K-platform and the M-body LeBaron sedan became the Chrysler New Yorker.

1978

Dodge Omni, 1978-1990

The Dodge Omni is the first Chrysler model line produced with front-wheel drive. This subcompact car is also Chrysler’s only world car designed by Chrysler. Chrysler Europe developed the five-door hatchback Chrysler Horizon. That vehicle became available in North America as either a Dodge Omni or Plymouth Horizon. In 1978, Chrysler sold Chrysler Europe to PSA Peugeot Citroën, but retained the rights to the Chrysler Horizon/Dodge Omni. 

1979 

Ford Durango, 1979-1990

Don’t blame yourself if you’ve never heard of the Ford Durango—not Dodge Durango. This two-passenger coupe utility is the result of a joint venture between Ford and travel service National Coach Works. The latter used the body of the Ford Fairmont Futura two-door coupe to design the Ford Durango. It was designed to compete against a newly downsized Chevrolet El Camino.

1980

Ford LTD Crown Victoria, 1980-1991

The Ford LTD Crown Victoria was a line of full-size cars. It was offered as a two-door and a four-door sedan, and a five-door station wagon. In 1983, Ford changed all of its full-size cars to mid-size cars except for the LTD Crown Victoria—keeping its rear-wheel drive Ford Panther platform. The LTD Crown Victoria, and its successor—the Ford Crown Victoria—were popular among law enforcement agencies. 

1981

Ford Escort, 1981-2003

The Ford Escort succeeds the Ford Pinto, and is the first world car developed by Ford. It was introduced as a subcompact before being modified into a compact for the last two of three generations. It became the best-selling car in the United States for most of the 1980s. After 2000, the four-door Escort was sold primarily as fleet vehicles. 

1982

Oldsmobile Cutlass Cierra, 1982-1996 

The Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera is a mid-size car that came available as a two-door coupe, four-door sedan, and four-door Cutlass (Ciera) Cruiser station wagon. It featured a MacPherson strut front suspension, body-color urethane bumpers, flush-mounted glass, front-wheel drive, and fuel injection. By 1988, Oldsmobile began reducing the number of vehicle options and configurations until only two trim levels and two body styles—the sedan and wagon—remained.

1983

Dodge Charger, 1983-1987

The Dodge Charger is a subcompact, three-door hatchback/fastback. It’s a sporty version of the Dodge Omni but rebranded as a Charger, which was the name of a performance package on the Omni 024. Automotive designer and race car driver Carroll Shelby developed a sporty version of the Charger and badged it the Shelby—not Dodge—Charger Turbo. Rather than focusing on speed, Shelby modified the suspension and styling.

1984

Dodge Daytona, 1984-1993

The Dodge Daytona was a front-wheel drive hatchback. Its name was derived from the Daytona 500 in Daytona Beach, Florida. Daytona was originally available in three trim lines: standard, Turbo, and Turbo Z. In 1986, Dodge discontinued the Turbo trim. Then in 1987, the Daytona was restyled and a new trim level was introduced—the Shelby Z . For 1990, all Daytonas received a more modern interior. The 1995 Dodge Avenger eventually took the Daytona’s place.

1985

Not a single one of these car manufacturers introduced a new car to the US market in 1985.

1986

Mercury Sable, 1986-2009

The Mercury Sable was a front-wheel drive mid-size car. It replaced the Mercury Marquis, which was rear-wheel drive. It was developed alongside the Ford Taurus as part of a $3.5 billion project—the most costly development Ford had ever undertaken at the time. The Sable survived five generations, but was discontinued in 2009 due to declining sales.

1987

Oldsmobile Touring Sedan, 1987-1993

The Oldsmobile Touring Sedan is a full-size car. It was sold exclusively as a four-door sedan and built using the front-wheel drive GM C-platform. The Touring Sedan targeted buyers of import luxury sports sedans. In 1991, the Touring Sedan was reintroduced as the Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight Touring—a performance-oriented trim level. The exterior changed into something monochromatic instead of two-tone, and all chrome was deleted.

1988

Dodge Dynasty, 1988-1993

The Dodge Dynasty is a mid-size four-door sedan. The Dynasty used the front-wheel drive Chrysler C/AC platform and was one of the largest Chrysler K-car variants. Trim levels included base, Premium (1988 only), and LE. Dodge introduced a Brougham package (1992-93 LE models) that included a padded “landau” vinyl roof. Its appearance was boxy and conservative compared to its competitors. And although the Dynasty was fairly popular, it only lasted two generations.

1989 

Plymouth Acclaim, 1989-1995

The Plymouth Acclaim is a mid-size sedan. Its four-door sedan AA-body is based on Chrysler’s extended K-car platform and it was one of the last K-car derivatives produced by Chrysler. The Acclaim was initially available in three trims: base, LE (mid-range), and LX (high-end). However, the base model accounted for more than 80 percent of Acclaim sales. The Acclaim was replaced by the Plymouth Breeze in 1996.

Cars from the ‘70s

Buick Centurion 1970-1973

Buick GSX 1970-1972

Ford Maverick 1970-1979

Mercury Capri 1970-1994

Plymouth Duster 1970-1976

Plymouth Superbird 1970-1970

Dodge Demon (1971–1972)

Ford Pinto 1971-1980

Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser Wagon 1971-1992

Plymouth Cricket 1971-1973

Pontiac Grand Safari 1971-1978

Pontiac Grand Ville 1971-1975

Pontiac Ventura II 1971-1972

Buick Apollo 1973-1975

Oldsmobile Omega 1973-1984

Pontiac Astire 1973-1979

Buick Skyhawk 1974-1989 

Dodge Lancer Celeste, 1975–1981)

Mercury Bobcat 1974-1980

Plymouth Colt 1974-1994

Plymouth Trail Duster 1974-1981

Plymouth Voyager / Grand Voyager 1974-2000

Chrysler Cordoba 1975-1983

Ford Granada 1975-1982

Plymouth Fran Fury 1975-1989

Dodge Aspen (1976–1980)

Plymouth Volare/ 1976-1980

Pontiac Sunbird 1976-1994

Chrysler Sunbeam 1977-1979

Lincoln Continental Mark V (1977–1979)

Pontiac Phoenix 1977-1984

Dodge Colt Challenger, 1978–1983)

Dodge Magnum (1978–1979, 2005–2008)

Ford Fairmount 1978-1983

Mercury Zephyr 1978-1983

Plymouth Arrow 1978-1980

Plymouth Horizon 1978-1990 

Plymouth Sapporo 1978-1983

Dodge St. Regis (1979–1981)

Dodge Omni 024 (1979–1982)

Plymouth Champ 1979-1982

Plymouth TC3 1979-1982

Car’s from the ‘80s

Dodge Mirada (1980–1983)

Lincoln Continental Mark VI (1980–1983)

Dodge Aries (1981–1989)

Mercury Lynx 1981-1987

Plymouth Reliant 1981-1989

Pontiac T100 1981-1987

Dodge 400 (1982–1983)

Ford EXP 1982-1988

Mercury LN7 1982-1983

Oldsmobile Firenze 1982-1988

Pontiac 6000 1982-1991

Pontiac Sunbird J2000 / 2000, 1982-1984

Chrysler E-Class 1983-1984

Chrysler Executive 1983-1986

Chrysler New Yorker Fifth Avenue 1983-1983

Dodge 600 (1983–1988)

Dodge Colt Vista, 1983–1991)

Plymouth Caravelle 1983-1988

Plymouth Scamp 1983-1983

Plymouth Turismo 1983-1987

Buick Somerset 1984-1987

Chrysler Fifth Avenue 1984-1989 

Dodge Conquest (1984–1986 as rebadged Mitsubishi Starion)

Lincoln Continental Mark VII (1984–1985)

Mercury Topaz 1984-1994

Oldsmobile Cutlas Calais 1984-1991

Plymouth Colt Vista 1984-1994

Plymouth Conquest 1984-1986

Pontiac Fiero 1984-1988

Lincoln Mark VII (1986–1992)

Buick Reatta 1987-1991

Chrysler Conquest 1987-1989

Dodge Shadow (1987–1994)

Plymouth Sundance 1987-1994

Chrysler Shadow 1988-1994

Chrysler Grand Voyager 1988-2007

Dodge Dynasty (1988–1993)

Mercury Tracer 1988-1999

Dodge Spirit (1989–1995)

Ford Probe 1989-1997

Now that you know a bit more about past cars that no longer exist, you may be interested in getting one of your own, or something else all together. Why don’t you take a look at what vehicles Municibid has to offer, and see what suits your fancy? One thing’s for certain, there is plenty to choose from.