I have an 1983 GSL with a number of mods.
I am looking at buying a 1985 GSL that is stock.

Both cars are in about the same shape, miles, etc.

What I wanted to know is what is everyone's opinions on the differences between the cars?

I plan on taking both cars and making one better car. So which one would be a better car to start with?

I will either take the 85 rear end and front suspension and put it on the 83 for a RE Speed big brake kit. Or take my mods off the 83 and put it on the 85. ETC.

 

83 has shorter ratios in the gearbox, I believe...

 

it does have shorter ratios but not by much. it just depends on what you want to do. i personally like the 85's interior over the 83's. some may not prefer the 85 interior. i would make the one that i liked the most the better car. for me it would depend on condition, color, and interior.

 

I agree, would really depend on a lot of things, personally I like the 83 interior much better, but thats a personal preference. The 85 body will have the revised lower control arms mounts in the rear (20mm lower, for less snap oversteer) as well as the provisions for a SE's oil cooler mounts in front of the rad. Beyond those slight body differences everything is more or less interchangeable, so it comes down to which one is in better shape really....

 

83 has the better dash.

 

i like both dashes.
i want a gsl-se just because of the rim bolt pattern.
i believe the suspension is the same for the 83 and the 85 unless the 85 is a gsl se then the hubs are 4x114.3

 

Not fully the same, 83 rear has Small or Large Axles, and the pinion flange can change.

IIRC the SE has larger Disk Calipers. <- could be wrong on that.

 

I love the 83 dash.

 

They are both good but the last ones have higher speed limit. That dumb rule they had back then for 85-90 max or something like that.

 

My 83 feels lighter and more agile, and I believe I once figured that it's 200 lbs. lighter.If I could have only one 7 it would be the 83, in spite of the greater horsepower of the SE and the cleaner interior of the 85GSL.