Defunct Brands of the 1980s

The 1980s are remembered for mall culture, aggressive retail growth, and highly visible consumer brands, many of which later vanished or were absorbed.

This archive groups brands by the decade when they vanished, were discontinued, or otherwise became defunct. It provides a broader view of how industries, shopping habits, and consumer tastes changed over time.

8 brands Toys/Games: 3Aviation: 1Automotive: 1

Why the 1980s mattered

  • Mall-era chains and department stores
  • Regional retailers that peaked before consolidation
  • Consumer brands tied to 1980s shopping culture

Common categories in the 1980s

Toys/Games (3)Aviation (1)Automotive (1)Food/Breakfast cereal (1)Food/CPG (1)

Browse vanished brands from the 1980s

  • Braniff International Airways

    1928–1982 Aviation

    Braniff International Airways was an American airline founded in 1928 that grew from a regional carrier into one of the most visually…

  • Buick GNX

    1987–1987 Automotive

    Ultra-limited 1987 Buick GNX — the ultimate Grand National — is now a cult icon revived in pop culture via Kendrick Lamar’s 2024 album…

  • C-3PO's Cereal

    1984–1985 Food/Breakfast cereal

    Kellogg’s Star Wars–branded cereal sold during 1984–1985.

  • Lawn Darts (Jarts)

    1950–1988 Toys/Games

    Original lawn darts (Jarts) featured weighted metal tips that became deadly projectiles. After 6,100+ injuries and 3 child deaths, the…

  • Marathon (U.S. braided caramel bar)

    1973–1981 Food/CPG

    Mars’s U.S. **Marathon bar** (1973–1981) was a braided caramel rope covered in milk chocolate, famously sold in an extra-long 8-inch f…

  • Megatron (Transformers action figure)

    1984–? Toys/Games

    Early 1984 **Megatron** figures in the U.S. transformed into a realistic Walther P38–style handgun, imported from Takara’s Micro Chang…

  • Orko (He-Man & Masters of the Universe)

    1983–present Toys/Games

    **Orko** is the franchise’s primary magician—an earnest, floating **Trollan** from another dimension—introduced in Filmation’s 1983 ca…

  • Peanut Butter Twix

    1980s–Present (intermittent) Food/Confectionery

    Peanut Butter Twix is a U.S. Twix variation that replaces the usual caramel layer with peanut butter. Over the years it has gone in an…

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Frequently Asked Questions

How are brands assigned to the 1980s?

Brands are grouped primarily by the year they ended, disappeared, or were discontinued. Some were founded earlier, but are listed under the 1980s if that is when they became defunct.

What types of brands are included?

The 1980s archive includes retail brands, consumer products, food and drink names, technology brands, media properties, and other vanished brands from the decade.