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Decades before the Scion xB or Nissan Cube were making boxy cars cool for the new millennium, the roads were packed to the guardrails with square-shouldered machines. Some cars were boxy for practical reasons. Others did it for manner—it was hip to be square in the '70s and '80s.

If there was a motorcar that defined boxy but beautiful, it would take to be the Volvo. These machines were then square that the later higher-powered versions became known as turbo bricks. These 240 turbo models were quick, striking 60 mph in less than 8 seconds—not bad for 1985. Only all 240s are known for exemplary reliability, safety, and roominess. The trunks are incredibly large for such a atomic car, a fact that's specially true for the wagons, which could swallow 71 cubic feet of stuff with the rear seat downwardly. Hey, correct angles are perfect for fitting lots of gear. And don't forget: Volvo 240s were rated to tow 3300 pounds. A modern Jeep Wrangler needs a "tow bundle" to handle every bit much.

The E30 BMW, otherwise known as the generation of iii-Series that ran from 1984 to 1991, was an icon for the '80s and a blueprint blueprint for other manufacturers. The E30's crisply cut lines became all the more attracting when BMW flared its fenders wide for use on the first M3. The E30 generation M3 was the company's beginning mod and (relatively) affordable ultra-performance machine.

The M3 produced most 200 hp from a nonturbocharged iv-cylinder engine. That's impressive fifty-fifty today, only we're talking about the late 1980s, when Chevy's mighty five.7-liter 5-8-powered Corvette fabricated simply 240 hp. Beyond slaying more exotic machinery on public roads, the chiseled Bavarian's main purpose was to crush rival German sports sedans on the racetrack. (After all, the M is for Motorsport). BMW made just fewer than 5000 of these M3s, but they cemented the brand's identity as "the Ultimate Driving Auto."

3 Mercedes-Benz 500E (1991–1994)

The W124 series Mercedes-Benz E-Grade (1984–1995) was the almost angular, square-jawed, and bonny of the 1980s Bruno Sacco–designed Benzes. It was arguably one of the best built and most durable motorcar platforms the visitor had ever produced, likewise. The most potent W124 came at the end of the run, in the early 1990s.

Today Mercedes has AMG every bit its in-business firm tuning shop edifice high-performance Benzes. But back in the early on 1990s, AMG was just a rogue tuning shop. When Mercedes decided to build its first high-performance sedan to compete with BMW's M5, it chose Porsche. The 500E (known as the E500 for 1994) was largely hand-assembled and shuttled back and forth betwixt the 2 automakers' factories in Germany. It packed a 322-hp V-viii pulled from the 500 SL and could crush 60 mph in just 5.v seconds, making information technology one of the quickest sedans of the twenty-four hour period.

4 Jeep Cherokee (1984–2001)

In the early 1980s, manufacturers realized they needed smaller and more fuel-efficient trucks to sell to young families. Jeep designed its new XJ Cherokee with lightweight unit-body construction (in which frame and body are one unit of measurement, like well-nigh cars), but retained its solid axle suspension for tremendous off-route adequacy. Better still, the Cherokee didn't wear smooth, rounded sheet metal like some minor SUVs. This was a Jeep, after all, So XJs looked angular and tough.

The popular XJ was just equally capable in the clay as it was on a twisty slab of blacktop—the perfect blend of both sport and utility. The Cherokee was innovative, too, because while most competitors offered only 2-door models, the XJ came with two or 4 doors. It was so honey that Jeep kept the rig in production for 17 years.

v Chevy Blazer (1973–1991)

The original Chevy K5 Blazer of 1969–1972 had the curves of a muscle machine. But the truck that replaced it in 1973 was merely most as curvaceous equally a cinder block. On late 1980s models, the front grille appears to be perfectly perpendicular to the ground. This truck is a cube with a corner clamper taken away for the windshield. In the case of the Blazer'south fifty-fifty larger and more practical blood brother, the Suburban, the design is like a rectangle.

With the case of the Cherokee and the Blazer, it seems like the boxier a design is, the more timeless it becomes. The 2nd-generation Blazer was a tough off-roader and proved and so popular that it remained in production for a full eighteen years. It even spawned a military M1009 version equipped with a diesel V-8. The boxy Blazers made an touch on on three decades of truck pattern.

vi Dodge Spirit R/T (1991–1992)

In the mid-'80s and early 1990s, just nearly the entire Chrysler lineup was forepart bulldoze and based on Chrysler's decade-erstwhile One thousand-Platform. The Viper was about the only rear-drive functioning car it created in this era. Yet the company managed to make some actually fun turbocharged front drivers.

The high point came with this potent little box which lasted only two years. The Spirit R/T came packing the well-nigh muscular version of Chrysler's ii.2-liter turbocharged engines, which included 224 hp cheers in part to the Lotus-designed DOHC, 16-valve cylinder head. This sedan looked boring, simply it was quick—close to Corvette-quick in its day. In a 1991 Auto and Commuter comparison test, the R/T laid down a blistering 0 to 60 time of v.viii seconds; a 1991 Corvette LT1 automatic did it in 5.2.

The Spirit's trouble was that information technology didn't handle similar a 'Vette; it was a picayune soft in the corners. But the Chrysler Corporation would not produce a quicker small sedan until the 2003 Dodge SRT-4, which used a larger version of that same engine.

7 Ford Mustang LX 5.0 Notchback (1985–1993)

Unlike today'due south Mustang, which comes in merely two body styles, the Mustangs built on Ford's onetime Fox platform ('79 to '93) were available as a hatchback, a convertible, or a notchback. The difference? Notchback models, like convertibles, had a proper torso. This fabricated them look a little dorky, compared with the swept-back lines of the Mustang GT. Simply the blueprint created a sleeper. Notchback buyers could put the muscular 5.0-liter V-eight that came standard on the sportier GT under the hood of their stodgy-looking and squared-off 60 five.0 notchback, letting them sneak upwardly on that unsuspecting Camaro Z28 or Pontiac Trans Am driver waiting at the stoplight. Considering it was a piffling lighter, it was quicker also. And cops were less likely to pull you over in a notchback. Although that might have been less considering the car was a operation sleeper and more considering they themselves might have been driving a Mustang Special Service Package, which was basically an LX 5.0 notchback

8 Country Rover Defender (1993–1997)

The classic boxy Land Rover model dates back to 1947 in its primeval forms. The updated State Rover Defender was the i imported to the U.S. in 1993. To test the waters for the slab-sided Defender, the company brought over just 500 iv-door Defender 110s. Each one was painted white and looked equally though it was fix for UN peacekeeping duty. These U.S. Defenders came with an aluminum 5-8 whose origin dates to the Buick 215 cubic-inch V-eight of 1960.

Today the 110s are collector's vehicles and merchandise for much more than money than they cost when new. The more common Defender 90 models are easier to find only no less boxy. All Defenders were thinly disguised armed forces vehicles, built for work around the globe and reportedly sold in more than 150 countries. The apartment hood, sides, and forepart and rear ends maximize the infinite inside with a minimal footprint. In other words, it was designed to be practical first. That information technology looks exceptionally tough is only a bonus.

9 Bentley Turbo R (1985–1987)

Bentley introduced the Mulsanne in 1980; it was a virtual clone of the Rolls Royce Argent. Then, in 1985, the Turbo R came around, and this became one very hot box.

The Mulsanne Turbo model that preceded the Turbo R was already packing a turbocharged version of the half-dozen.75-liter Five-viii, just the Turbo R added a much stiffer intermission, allowing this blocky 5000-plus-pound fauna to handle the curves too. The Turbo R was like a luxurious British muscle automobile. It delivered shut to 500 lb-ft of torque and was 1 of the quickest sedans of the late 1980s. Two-door versions culminated in the Continental T model, which packed close to 600 lb-ft of torque. Bentley would proceed to produce these turbocharged beasts until the 4-door squared-off body style was replaced in 1999, and the ii-door version departed in 2003.

ten Lexus LS 400 (1990–1994)

The original LS 400 was a showcase of only how brilliant Toyota's engineers, designers, and marketers were in the 1980s. Mercedes-Benz and BMW had the lockdown on luxury sedans. But somehow Toyota was able to pattern a total-size, rear drive, V-8 luxury machine that competed with Benz and BMW but was priced below them—in some cases by more than $10,000.

The LS was boxy, but then then was the Mercedes S-Grade at that fourth dimension, the LS 400's principal rival. Today the design appears unfussy and eternal. Its understatement is even more than impressive considering how much thought and effort went into its launch, and the launch of the Lexus brand itself.

A testament to the Lexus' reliability: You lot yet run into original Lexus LS 400s on the road and many appear to be in very good condition.

11 Volvo 850 Carriage (1993-1997)

In the early 1990s, as Volvo phased out the legendary rear-drive 240-series sedans and wagons, the company introduced a radical new car line. Well, it was radical for Volvo at least. The 850 was the commencement front-drive Volvo sold in the The states. It was very modern at the time, simply looking back the design, it'southward clear this auto was nearly as boxy as every other Volvo—peculiarly the railroad vehicle. The virtually interesting and coveted of these 850s was the hot-rodded T5R. This rare model was available as a wagon or sedan and appeared but for 1995. The ride packed a 240-hp turbocharged v-cylinder and could cipher to 60 mph in less than 7 seconds. Not likewise shabby for a family unit wagon.

12 Cadillac Sedan de Ville (1977-1984)

This belatedly 70s classic Caddy is but enormous, stretching nearly as long equally today's gargantuan nine-passenger Escalade ESV. Only back so, in the land yacht era, that was considered "downsized" —after all, this De Ville was shorter, narrower, and hundreds of pounds lighter than the previous 1. They were also much more squared off. The nose of these Caddys had corners so sharp they looked like they could cut yous.

These machines weren't known for power under the hood. The all-time of the V-8s, a 7.0-liter monster, made just 180 hp. Instead, the Caddys were known for the power they projected—they were popular choices for certain crime families of the era. In fact, in the 1997 classic mobster moving-picture show Donnie Brasco, Johnny Depp's grapheme Joe Pistone drives a Coupe de Ville of this era.

xiii VW Vanagon (1980-1991)

The classic Blazon One and Ii VW Microbus vans were delicate, rounded machines that were almost Art Deco by design. Just by the late 1970s, they needed modernizing, and the squared-off Vanagon was the upshot. The boxy style of these vehicles allowed engineers to package an incredible corporeality of interior infinite into a relatively small vehicle. At 179.9 inches, this van was only two inches longer than today's Honda Civic sedan, yet information technology could deport people and stuff as efficiently equally larger vans.

Early Vanagons still used the air-cooled flat 4-cylinder engines of the old VW bus. Simply in 1983, the vans got a more than mod water-cooled and fuel-injected motor. The well-nigh desireable ones today are the later 4WD Syncro models (1986-1991), and of those, the Westfalia campers, which are surprisingly capable off-road machines. Values for these vans have climbed dramatically, though, so be prepared for sticker shock if you lot store of one.

14 Dodge Ramcharger (1974-1993)

The Dodge Ramcharger and its twin, the Plymouth Trailduster, were Chrysler's answer to the successful Ford Bronco and Chevy Blazer SUVs. The Ramcharger was based on the bones and the sheetmetal of the Dodge Ram pickup, and so naturally it had a husky, squared-off nose, upright windshield, and nearly flat sides, as well. Early Ramchargers had removable roofs and packed some gusto nether the hood. If y'all opted for the torquey big-block 440-cid Five-eight and four-speed manual with ultra-low beginning gear, the Ramcharger was a beast. After models became more than civilized and fuel efficient but 'chargers were always rare on the street compared to those Broncos and Blazers.

The crisp, square styling of BMW's amazingly successful 2002 sedan inspired the brand's design direction for the next three decades. Information technology as well became the blueprint for the modern sport sedan.

The 2002 is not only a hip footling box—it collection like a dream, also. The highest-performing model (sold in North America) was the 1972-1974 2002 tii, which came with a mechanical fuel injection organization that boosted ability to 140 hp. That may not sound like much today, but with just 2300 pounds to haul around, it was plenty. In 1972, our comrades at Car and Driver clocked it to 60 mph in ix.0 seconds. Not bad for that era.

sixteen Toyota FJ60/62 (1980-1990)

When nigh Americans think of the Toyota Land Cruiser, they probably imagine the FJ40, the Jeep CJ competitor that was sold hither in the 1960s and 70s. The FJ60 was the larger boxy carriage that was roomy plenty to haul people and gear through the worst terrain. These days, the 60 and the later 62 have aged well and are beginning to get very collectible.

The 60 used a robust four.2-liter inline six-cylinder that was fuel-injected and shrunk to four.0-liters in the 62 models. These trucks are just as robust equally their blocky sheetmetal suggests and helped forge Toyota's legendary reputation for vehicle quality and reliability. It'south not uncommon for them to have accumulated more than than 300,000 miles without major mechanical piece of work.

17 Buick G National (1984-1987)

The square-torso coupes from Full general Motors weren't known equally performance machines. Only that inverse in 1984, when Buick turbocharged its 3.eight-liter Five-6 and created the Chiliad National, an all-black loftier-performance version of the Majestic. The GN was insanely quick: Past 1986 it had 245 hp and could hitting 60 mph in around 6 seconds, fast plenty to crush musculus cars of the day. The all-time and final version, the GNX, was a limited production auto of which only 547 were fabricated. It was rated at 276 hp, simply Buick insiders say information technology could exercise well over 300.

For a brief moment in the tardily 1980s, Buick had 1 of the quickest cars on the road. So legendary was this boxy animal that it is rumored Buick volition launch a new GNX in 2016 or 2017. Bring it on.

xviii Maserati Biturbo (1982-1991)

Maserati Biturbos leaked oil, and they had a bad habit of catching burn. Yet like all Italian cars, they tin be quite a lot of fun when maintained properly, fifty-fifty if in that location was nothing yous could really practice virtually the oil.

The squared styling was a departure from the curvaceous Maseratis of the 1970, and information technology looked modern back in the 1980s. The interior was trimmed in the softest leather and looked plush. While twin-turbocharged engines live under the hood of many cars today, dorsum and so it was exotic stuff. With 192 horsepower and far less than 3000 pounds to haul around, these were quick machines that could handle.

If at that place e'er were a vehicle composed of perfect correct angles, information technology would exist the H1. The civilian version of the armed services Humvee was perhaps i of the wildest vehicles y'all could legally purchase in the early 1990s. Promoted past the Terminator himself, Arnold Schwarzenegger, the four-ton H1 made anyone who endemic 1 an instant glory.

Every bit a four-wheeling machine, H1 was capable, simply it needed a very wide trail. And when used hard, the drivetrain wasn't quite as potent as the armed forces full-blooded would have you lot believe. Today, these hyper-priced, leather-lined beasts aren't quite as fashionable as they once were. No-frills decommissioned military Humvees go for less than $8,000 and are far more than appealing.

twenty Datsun 510 (1968-1973)

The Datsun 510 was a boxy underdog that took the automotive world by storm. In the late 60s and early '70s, the 510 drove like a bargain BMW and, thanks to its brilliant 4-wheel independent pause, took downwards some legendary nameplates in motorsport. Information technology won 2 SCCA Trans-Am championships here in the US, squashing rival Alfa Romeo. Globally, the 510 won numerous victories including the grueling East African Safari Rally.

The 510 was one quick little brick and drew a following to the Datsun make. Today these cars are rare classics that accept a strong cult following.The best function well-nigh owning i today (also the driving fun, of form) is the large online support customs. Experts in these forums have seen and solved just most whatsoever problem one could take with a 510.

21 Ford Explorer (1990-1994)

When the first generation of the Ford Explorer arrived in 1990 most of the SUVs in its class notwithstanding had two doors. The boxy Explorer, with its four existent doors, was a revelation. Consumers went wild for them, buying 300,000 or more each year.

The 4.0-liter V-six was torquey enough for most jobs. Engineers fixed the roly-poly treatment of the Explorer'due south predecessor, the Bronco 2, and then Explorers mostly drove well and were capable off road. These early trucks had some of the best interiors of any domestic SUV at the time, too.

Are they beloved and collectible? Non so much. But at one time the same was true of the Jeep Wagoneer, a truck that when restored tin bring $30,000 or more. Perhaps the rugged-looking Explorer will someday find an enthusiastic audience.

Okay, boxy and sporty don't ordinarily go together, and that's specially truthful when it comes to coupes. Simply in 1984, Honda launched what became a legendary sports coupe with some serious angularity. The CRX was based on the apprehensive bones of the Borough and was one of the very get-go front end-drive sport compact cars. Despite the pedestrian underpinnings, the tiny ane,900-pound two-seater was cheap, fun to drive, and delivered solid fuel economy. The squared-off nose and tail meant the CRX had tidy dimensions and dandy visibility.

The ane to accept is the Si, which received a more than powerful fuel-injected ane.5-liter 4-cylinder with 91 horsepower. Machine and Commuter recorded a 0-60 mph fourth dimension of 9.1 seconds, which, while deadening today, was on par with some much sleeker and more powerful sports cars at that fourth dimension. Best of all, an Si cost simply $7,999 back in 1987. A comparable Camaro or Mustang cost around twice that.

The space and fuel-efficient Mini was England's version of the VW Beetle—inexpensive and smartly engineered. It's boxy style allowed a roomy interior in a package that was only x feet long and weighed ane,300 pounds. Information technology certainly wasn't a quick car, but it had splendid handling dynamics. They were so adept, in fact, that modified Minis were used in rally racing and even won three Monte Carlo Rally championships.

The model left the U.Due south. in the late 1960s, only continued to be updated and produced right up to 2000, just one year before the all-new BMW-endemic Mini launched. Over 5 one thousand thousand original Mini variants were produced over its 41-twelvemonth lifespan.

24 Audi Quattro (1983-1984)

The Quattro is i of the most influential cars on this list. It non but helped all-wheel drive migrate from trucks to passenger cars, only also charted a articulate grade for the Audi make (Quattro is at present its own performance brand within Audi).

The AWD Quattro sports coupe was groundbreaking in the early 1980s. It had a turbocharged 5-cylinder engine paired to a five-speed transmission manual and an all-wheel drive system with differential locks for the heart and rear. It had masterful traction that helped it to dominate in FIA World Rally racing. The Quattro won two manufacturer championships ('82 and '84) and won the commuter's championship in 1983.

U.Southward. production models used a lower turbo heave pressure, then power was small-scale at 160 hp. Only they were quick and looked just every bit mean with those flared "box" fender. These foursquare trunk Quattros were very expensive when new, retailing northward of $xxx,000. That was serious Porsche coin in the early 1980s.

25 Willys CJ-2A (1945-1949)

The CJ-2A was the civilian version of the military's MB "Jeep" that was so instrumental in World State of war Ii. The CJ didn't devious too far from its military roots, and that meant it had a very boxy body. The the Willys silhouette was and so angular and squared-off that it was later chosen a apartment-fender Jeep.

Early on CJs are cool, simply don't expect luxury touches or much ability. There were no seatbelts on these early CJs, and so perhaps it's a practiced thing they fabricated just threescore hp.

Ben Stewart Ben is a lifelong enthusiast of annihilation with wheels.

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Source: https://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/g891/the-box-rocks-10-cars-hip-to-be-square/

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