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The '80s marked a golden era for the German car industry, and many of the decade's performance cars are revered classics today.

The '80s marked the golden era for the German automotive industry, with manufacturers building some of the best performance cars the world has ever seen. During the '80s, most German manufacturers were going for the boxy look. This, combined with cool '80s car design features, helped create some beautifully styled vehicles.

There were many highs for most vehicle manufacturers in the '80s, with some manufacturers working around the technology improvements and government-enforced restrictions. It might be hard to list all the reliable German performance cars from the '80s, but here are 10.

The 190 was Mercedes’ third model series. It was a compact Mercedes, and it immediately became a sensation because of its engine, suspension, design and lightweight materials. The 190 was introduced before the union between Mercedes and AMG.

In some cases, it was considered the baby Mercedes-Benz, but its sporty 16V motor helped Mercedes prove themselves in the market. The first powerplant in the 190E was the 2.3-liter four-cylinder 16V producing 185 hp and 174 lb-ft of torque. This helped give way to the 2.5-liter 16V engine that pushed the power up to 200 hp.

The Porsche 944 was the fourth model for the company. It was introduced in 1982 to bridge the performance gap between the 924 and 911 SC. Even though the body of the 944 was based on the 924, it got considerably more striking contours.

The 944 also got a 2.5-liter inline-four engine producing 163 hp. Later, the 944 got a catalytic converter model that decreased the power to 150 hp. By 1988, Porsche had managed to tune the engine to produce 160 hp before increasing the displacement to 2.7 liters to get more power up to 165 hp. The 80s also saw the rise of one of the most powerful 944 models, the 944 S, which produced 190 hp.

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The second version of the Scirocco was launched back in 1981. It featured an elongated wedge-shaped body, a rear spoiler and softer lines. The most powerful version of this 2+2-seater coupe was the Scirocco GTX, which had a 1.8-liter 16V engine with 137 hp.

This made the Scirocco the first model to surpass the 200 kph/124 mph mark. As for the looks, it competed with the Golf GTI with its black side sills, spoilers and wheel arch extensions. The production of this reliable model ended in 1992 after 291,497 units.

The GTI is an icon, with all its generations having a huge fanbase. With the Mk2 dominating most of the 80s and 90s, the Mk1 stuck around for the early 80s. The GTI was not costly, making it an excellent option for anyone looking for a fun hot hatch.

This was also the vehicle that helped invent the hot hatch genre. The model was also one of the best since it still had the body design with a fun and exciting 1.8-liter engine producing around 90 hp. This helped make the Mk1 a reliable vehicle that could easily fit on all occasions.

Related: These Are The Coolest German Cars From The 80s

The 560SL was a roadster based on the R107 platform. It was a replacement of the W113 SL Class, and it continued its tradition of a 2-seat convertible available as standard with a soft top and the hardtop as an option. The SL also had the 5.6-liter V8, producing 238 hp and 287 lb-ft of torque.

This was the biggest engine on the platform and was mated to their four-speed automatic transmission. During its lifetime, Mercedes produced 37,218 units with sleek looks and solid build quality.

The Porsche 924 was available in 1976 and was a collaboration between Porsche and Volkswagen. It was meant to be the successor to the 914. This model featured good aerodynamics, especially its flat hood and pop-up headlights. As of 1983, the 924 had a black rear spoiler. Porsche tried a new direction with the 924 making it their first water-cooled front engine performance car.

It had a 125 hp engine adopted from the Audi 100, but Porsche modified it to transmit the drive power using the transaxle principle. In the 1980s, Porsche continued developing the engine, moving it from 125 hp to 150 hp in the 942 S and later 160 hp in the 1988 model.

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The E30 M3 was developed directly from motorsport and was the first of its kind. It was an instant sensation when launched back in 1986. This quickly made it one of the most iconic cars in the BMW M lineup.

Being the first BMW M3, it was one of the best racing sedans on the market. It had a sophisticated 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine that helped it produce 200 hp. This enabled the M3 to achieve a 6.7-second 0 to 62 mph time before the introduction of the catalytic converter that lowered its output to 195 hp.

The first BMW M5 was produced towards the end of 1984. It was the segment founder of luxurious, high-performance limousines with a dynamic character. BMW’s high-performance limousine was capable of churning out 286 hp and 251 lb-ft of torque.

This allowed the M5 to accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in 6.5 seconds, making it one of the fastest street-legal cars in production. That’s thanks to its 3.5-liter inline-six engine that still makes enthusiasts’ hearts beat faster today.

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The technology of the Quattro can be traced back to 1976, when some engineers conducted test drives on snow. Audi’s revolutionary technology made it into the Ur Quattro that debuted at the 1980 International Geneva Motor Show.

This was a coupe with a box shape producing 200 hp. Initially, the Quattro was planned for low-volume production. However, high demand made it to be produced as a production model and receive frequent upgrades. The best upgrades were for the exclusive Sport Quattro with a 306 hp engine.

The Porsche 911 was created as a successor to the Porsche 356. Upon its launch, it won the hearts of performance car enthusiasts. The first 911 was launched in 1964 and had a top speed of 130 mph. The 1980s saw a plethora of 911s, with most of them better than their predecessors.

1982 saw the introduction of the 911 Cabriolet. This was meant for the lovers of fresh air. 1983 was one of the best years for the 911 with the launch of the naturally aspirated 911 Carrera. It superseded the SC with its 3.2-liter engine producing 231 hp. This immediately became a favorite collector’s item.

Brian is a husband, father and freelance writer. He's also a tech and automotive junkie passionate about cars and motorcycles. Brian is also an F1 fan - team Mercedes (LH). When he's not writing, Brian goes for impromptu drives and walks.