Way-Back Wednesday: Car Ads from 1987

Three decades ago, when print media was still prevalent, there were 23 vehicles marketed in full-page or two-page advertisements inside August 1987’s Car and Driver. I thought it would be interesting to break down the list and experience a little nostalgia along the way.

Chevrolet, Ford, Nissan, and Toyota each had two ads in the magazine. Advertising brands that no longer exist today include Isuzu, Merkur, Oldsmobile, Peugeot, and Sterling. About one-third (seven out of 23) of the models that were featured still exist today. These include the 1500, 4Runner, Integra, M3, Prelude, Ranger, and Range Rover. We’ll take closer look at each of the vehicles. But first, the data nerd in me insisted on creating a grid to summarize the findings.

Acura Integra: It took a hiatus for a couple of decades, but it came back in 2023 as a five-door hatchback.

BMW M3: This lives on today in the “G80” generation, boasting available AWD and a six-speed manual.

Chevrolet 1500: Now known as the Silverado 1500, and still a best-selling full-size truck.

Chevrolet Cavalier: Not part of the U.S. lineup, as it’s been discontinued since 2005. Chevrolet now considers its TRAX crossover the entry-level model.

Dodge Daytona: A popular front-wheel-drive sport coupe in the 1980s and 1990s, it’s gone, but the name has been revived as a version of the Charger.

Ford Ranger: This popular midsized truck was a mainstay in the 1980s. It took a hiatus in the United States, but it came back to the lineup in 2019.

Ford Thunderbird: The nameplate for Ford’s personal luxury car lived on through 2005 and has been gone ever since.

Honda Prelude: Another car that left and came back; Honda reintroduced the Prelude for 2026 as a 2+2 hybrid coupe.

Hyundai Excel: Had the distinction of being Hyundai’s first car sold in the United States. It was replaced by the Accent in the mid-1990s. The Hyundai brand is still very much alive and well.

Isuzu Impulse: A sport hatchback/coupe, sometimes associated with Lotus handling. Isuzu stopped selling passenger cars in the United States after 2008.

Mazda RX7: The beloved rotary-engine sports car was replaced by the RX-8 (which itself was discontinued in 2012).

Mercedes-Benz 300E: Part of the W124 Series; production ended in 1992.

Merkur Scorpio: A European-built luxury sedan sold by Ford/Lincoln in the United States. The Merkur brand was phased out around 1990.

Nissan 200SX: A popular compact coupe (sometimes a variant of the Sentra or Silvia), it was replaced by the Sentra coupe for a time.

Nissan Maxima: The acclaimed “four-door sports car” was discontinued after the 2023 model year, but rumors have circulated about an electric replacement.

Oldsmobile Touring Sedan: Olds has been gone since 2004. This model was at one time a performance-oriented version of the Delta 88 or 98.

Peugeot 505: A robust, rear-wheel-drive sedan for its time, but short-lived. Peugeot left the United States market in 1991.

Range Rover Classic: One of the original luxury SUVs that was king of the hill between the 1970s and 1990s. Newer models in the Land Rover lineup are called Range Rovers.

Sterling 825S: A unique collaboration between Austin Rover and Honda from about 1987-91, it was discontinued after only four years on the market.

Toyota 4Runner: The body-on-frame SUV remains a powerhouse in the marketplace, and it’s currently in its sixth generation.

Toyota Celica: Gone since 2006, it was once a popular, affordable sports coupe. We talked about one recently here.

Volkswagen Scirocco: Sharing architecture with the Golf/Rabbit platform, it was sold in the United States across two generations (1975-88), but it is gone today.