1980.(50th Anniversary countdown)

Buddy Baker wins the Daytona 500 after 18 years of trying. In fourth is a 27-year-old second-year racer named Dale Earnhardt. This young fellow engages in a season-long battle with three-time champ Cale Yarborough, whose three untimely DNFs late in the year open the door to Earnhardt's first Winston Cup championship.

Cars tested by AutoWeek include Pontiac Trans Am Turbo Automatic, Oldsmobile Cutlass 442, Datsun 280ZX, BMW 320Si and 745i, Volkswagen pickup, Ford Mustang Turbo and McLaren Mustang, Subaru DL 4x4 hatchback, Fiat X1/9, Alfa Romeo Spider (variable valve timing in 1980!), Plymouth TC3 Horizon, Dodge Omni 024, Volvo Bertone Coupe and diesel wagon, Chevrolet Monte Carlo, Cadillac Eldorado V8-6-4, Mazda GLC, Aston Martin Volante, Mercedes-Benz 300SD turbodiesel, Porsche 924 Carrera and 911 SC, Lotus Esprit S2 Turbo, Maserati Quattroporte.

Porsche unveils a car for the Indy 500. Meanwhile, Drake Engineering ceases production of the mighty Offenhauser race engine that has dominated Indianapolis.

Toyota introduces its first front-wheel-drive car, the Tercel subcompact. The Datsun Z celebrates its 10th anniversary.

A sharp-eyed reader snaps a spy pic of "the new Ford Erika,'' a front-drive hatchback to replace the Pinto. In the fall, it is introduced as the Ford Escort.

Chrysler says its coming K-cars will be called the Dodge Aries and the Plymouth Orion. The announcement is premature-rights to the Orion name lie elsewhere-so when AW drives the new Plymouth, it's a Reliant.

More attention goes to the name of the new top-of-the-line Chrysler. The $19,000, rear-drive, 318-cid-V8 personal luxury coupe revives the Imperial moniker. Chairman Lee Iacocca rolls it out with promotional assistance from Frank Sinatra. Hidden headlamps and opera windows, baby, it's just the thing for your 65-year-old Rat Packer.