These forced-induction front-pullers had a lock on cheap ’80s speed.
The 1980s didn’t offer a lot of variety in terms of rear-drive muscle, as the Ford Mustang and the Chevrolet Camaro/Pontiac Firebird twins were joined by the more expensive Buick Grand National as the only real performers around. Sure, there were other wannabes out there—GM’s G-Body offered disappointing “looks quick” packages like the Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS , while Buick did its best to deliver turbo six-cylinder power across its T-Type lineup—but these weren’t the affordable options most budget-conscious enthusiasts were looking for.
Instead, the inexpensive speed spotlight fell on a smattering of econoboxes that took the original muscle formula of a small, cheap car with a big engine and adapted it to the ’80s standard of small, cheap car with a turbocharged engine. This was the segment where the average person could spend their dollars on something that promised full-throttle fun without having to eat ramen, and more than a few automakers dove in head first, eager to scoop up muscle-seeking shoppers by turbocharging as many front-wheel-drive compacts as they could.
Here are eight of our favorite examples of front-puller turbocharged muscle.