In the 1980s, car design took a hard turn, literally. Forget curves and flowing lines; this was the decade when straight edges ruled the road.
It didn’t matter what kind of car you had; chances are your ride looked like it was designed with a ruler and a stack of cardboard boxes. The flamboyance of the ‘70s took a backseat to practicality, and the result was a glorious parade of squares; wagons, vans, and even sports cars that looked more like appliances than automobiles.
These weren’t built to be sleek, they were built to get the job done. And somehow, in all their rigid glory, they still managed to charm us.
1
Volvo 240
The undisputed king of the box.
2
1985-1989 Dodge Aries
Not exciting, but practical.
3
Bentley Turbo R
Very posh and very brick-shaped.
4
Honda Civic Wagon
Your regular Civic with more corners.
5
1980 Mercedes Benz (W123) Wagon
Elegant, yes but still a rectangle.
6
1985 Dodge Caravan
The minivan that launched a movement.
7
1980 Volkswagen Vanagon
Perfect for camping even if it looks like a shoebox.
8
1986 Chevrolet Astro
Could pass for a lego if you squint hard enough.
9
1985 Oldsmobile Cutlass Cruiser
Boxy but reliable.
10
1985 Ford LTD Crown Victoria
Pure Americana.
11
Jeep Cherokee XJ
Classic SUV. Still iconic today
12
Plymouth Reliant
An unstoppable 80's classic piece.
13
Chevrolet Caprice
You could probably land a helicopter on that hood.
14
Plymouth Voyager
A rectangular kid carrier.
15
1986 AMC Eagle
Ahead of its time, yet still shaped like a cabinet.
16
1986 Nissan Stanza
A toaster oven on wheels.
17
Toyota Tercel
Compact and boxy.