The other day, I was clearing out my storage when I found a poster I had almost forgotten. It was one of my 80s poster cars, a piece that once decorated my teenage bedroom in the 1980s. The 80s poster cars were a big deal. Most boys’ rooms in the 80s had sports cars, rock stars, and glamorous women covering the walls—symbols of escapism, ambition, freedom, and a slight taste of performance and luxury.
The 80s poster cars – A golden era for dreamers and car enthusiasts
For those of us born in the 70s, the 80s was an incredible decade. It gave us iconic TV shows, awesome blockbuster movies, exciting new tech, and some of the most stunning, fast, and exotic sports cars ever made. These dream machines weren’t just in magazines—they roared across our screens, driven by cool characters in shows like Miami Vice, Magnum, Automan, and The Dukes of Hazzard, as well as in films like Cannonball Run, Smokey and the Bandit, The Junkman, and No Man’s Land.
From Practical Family Cars to Dream Machines
In reality, teenagers in the 1980s often ignored their parents’ practical, budget-friendly cars, no matter how sensible they were. Instead, they dreamed of much cooler rides, the kind that covered our bedroom walls.
The Hunt for the Perfect Car Poster
Here in Sweden, finding posters of sports cars wasn’t easy. Since options were limited, most boys ended up with the same iconic posters. This, my friends, was long before the internet, Etsy, Poster Store, Ebay, or other online retailers. Still, if you looked hard enough, you could find a few.
The 80s Poster Cars made cars look superhuman
The posters themselves were larger than life—shot from dramatic angles with cinematic lighting that made the cars look almost superhuman. Whether bought from car magazines, fairs, or mail-order catalogs, they became a rite of passage for young gearheads.
The hall of fame of the 80s Poster Cars
Some cars became poster legends, not just for their performance but for their bold design and cultural impact. Let’s take a trip down memory lane and revisit some of the most poster friendly cars:
Lamborghini Countach 5000 QV
With its scissor doors and sharp, wedge-shaped design, the Countach defined 80s excess. Its futuristic look captured the imagination of millions. It was and still is a dreamcar in every imaginable way. And that roaring V12 sound…
Ferrari Testarossa
Sleek, powerful, and unmistakable with its signature side strakes, the Testarossa was the essence of Italian luxury and performance. Thanks to Miami Vice, it became an undisputed symbol of cool. Dont miss my article The Miami Vice Ferrari – A tribute to the Ferrari Testarossa.
Porsche 911 Turbo (930)
With its whale-tail spoiler and blistering performance, the classic 911 Turbo was the perfect sportscar. Few cars balanced speed, style, and handling (well it´s also called The Widowmaker, but that is another story) like this german icon. The picture to the right is exactly the same I had in my room. When new, I thought it looked sensational, but in hindsight it´s not the best looking Porsche poster.
Vector W8 Twin Turbo
The American supercar project that almost no one had seen, yet everyone admired. Featuring twin turbos, a roaring V8, and an outrageously futuristic design, the Vector W8 presented in 1989 looked like it had driven straight out of a sci-fi movie. I had the poster to the right in my room, however I cant remember how I got hold on it, but I still like it. It´s a spectacular, quirky and very impressive car. They produced on 22 cars and It´s a shame that Jerry Weigert and his company went bust…
From posters to reality
Today, a fraction of those once-teenagers might actually own the cars they once taped to their walls. For others, the nostalgia is enough—a reminder of simpler times, when the only thing standing between them and their dream car was a few rolls of Scotch tape.
The timeless appeal of the poster cars
The poster car phenomenon still lives on in the hearts of enthusiasts, proving that dreams—like the cars themselves—are timeless. And yes, I still would like to own a real Testarossa or Countach that proudly hung over my desk. Not to mention the still very futuristic looking Vector W8 Twin Turbo… Do you want an original 80s poster car poster (weird sentence I know)? Then visit Ebay! Some of the photos above are borrowed from there.
Best Regards Johan Åhlund – Thank you for visiting LegandsAndNostalgia.com
