1980 Chevrolet Citation

When the 1980s arrived, GM was setting their sights on taking some of the Honda Accord’s sales margin. They were working at redefining the compact American car in an all-new front-wheel-drive package. The Citation was the final hurrah of GM’s overly-ambitious downsizing of cars in three attempts, which had begun three years earlier. The 1980 Citation, the Monza, and the Chevette comprised the biggest corporate industrial re-investment ever to that time. GM was betting its entire future in the small car market, and we all know how it turned out. Unfortunately, the eighties were the years that GM’s would surely like to forget, as it was the worst decade ever in terms of market share loss.

Although 1975 was the year that the Chevrolet Monza was introduced, 1980 marked the end of the model. For the final year of production, the model lineup consisted only of a base 2+2 hatchback and notchback and 2+2 Sport hatchback. The 151ci four-cylinder engine remained standard, and although a V8 engine was no longer available, the 3.8-liter Buick V6 engine was an option. Chevrolet was retiring the design in order to let the base model Camaro and the new Citation X-11 fill the gap within the sporty coupe market.

The Nova was gone, and the small Citation was the car that Chevrolet was banking on to help the company. The Citation was Chevrolet’s first front-wheel-drive car. Unfortunately, the introduction of Chrysler’s K-car in 1981, and GM’s other small cars (Cavalier, Skyhawk, Sunfire, etc.), cut into Citation sales. There was also an unfortunate situation when the X-body cars (Citation was one model) were the target of an unsuccessful lawsuit by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The organization cited a tendency of drivers losing control during heavy braking, and power steering problems.

In 1980, the Camaro was just about to receive a redesign. The old 250ci six cylinder engine was replaced with a 229ci V6 engine, unless you lived in California, where a 231ci V6 engine was used. The 120hp 267ci V8 engine became an option on the base, RS, and Berlinetta models this year. A federally mandated 85 mph speedometer also made its debut this year. The 350ci V8 was only available on the Z28 this year.

The 1980 Monte Carlo got a minor restyle, which added quad. A new Chevrolet-built 229ci V6 engine with a two-barrel carburetor replaced the 200ci V6 from the previous year. A new option for 1980 was Buick’s turbocharged version of the 231ci V6 that was rated at 170hp. Other optional engines included the 267ci V8 and 305ci V8 with up to 155hp.

The 80s are a decade that gave us big hair, neon colors, and the Valley Girl. Yep, it’s a decade that many would like to forget.