When you have a car that traditionally doesn’t carry a high sale price but is likely one of the best examples left, it can be difficult to establish a baseline price. However, it my uneducated opinion, if you own the best, you have to price it as such, especially if it’s an obscure model. I believe a minty 1992 Pontiac Sunbird SE convertible counts as suitably obscure, and this example listed here on Facebook Marketplace for $8,000 certainly seems like one of the best ones left, with 11,000 miles on the clock from new.
Thanks to Barn Finds reader Dennis House for the find. The Sunbird and its corporate twin, the Cavalier, were obviously cheap runabouts when new. They were not intended for long-term preservation, and more likely to be used and abused than their imported counterparts (don’t ask me why, other than a deep-seated cultural belief that GM economy cars of a certain age deserve to be trashed.) But when you offered the same car in convertible form, the sentiment seemed to change.
Now it’s a car worth saving for the weekend, and certainly only for use in sunny weather. This is seemingly consistent across all of the various domestic convertible lineups, from the Mustang to the Geo Metro. You take an otherwise beater of a car and give it a soft top, and suddenly, the sentiment changes. Someone clearly reserved this Sunbird for limited excursions when the weather and all other conditions were right to end up with only 11,000 miles. The interior speaks for itself, as it was clearly never left with the top down in the hot sun for hours at a time.
This is somewhat humorous to me, as taking a model already not known for decent handling characteristics and lopping the roof off makes it even more of a wet noodle along the back roads. So, it’s even less of a driver’s car than it ever was, which really shines a light on why cars like this get put away: Americans love convertibles. I do think it’s a uniquely American sentiment that captures perfectly the spirit of the open road and the feeling of seeing the sky open up above you, and it’s nice to know that whether it’s an entry level Sunbird or a six-figure Ferrari, the experience remains accessible to all.
This is a nice find. Drive it as it was meant, a nice week end outing car for relaxed cruising
Wow! This is nice. I sure wish it wasn’t all the way across the country.
The first front wheel drive car I ever drove in the snow was an ’89 Chevy Cavalier, the same as this car. I was very impressed. These were reliable, durable, and didn’t feel like small cars. An uncle of mine had one for a commuter car, he never believed in preventative maintenance, and it just kept going and going. This is a really nice find, and I love the color. I wish I could buy it. Change the fluids and rubber, and enjoy it. Another car I can see myself waxing, that beautiful blue paint, on a sunny, late summer afternoon.
I have a buddy that collects Cavaliers. He prefers the wagon. I never understood until he loaned me one while my truck was in the shop for paint. It was so light and the suspention configuration was perfect for snowy roads. It was ergonomic, comfortable and for as clean as it was I was shocked that it had 300 k on the odometer.
He collects Cavaliers? What the what now?
I think it was so cool how GM built some many sister cars. I actually forgot this particular Pontiac. They were good cars as most of the older GM cars were.
More proof that the old folks were cooler than their kids. Cars were always more fun.
Look up Opel Ascona from the same time period. It will explain all and reveal that these GM “J” cars were designed by GM’s European affiliate Adam Opel GmbH.
First car I ever bought new was a 1984 Buick Skyhawk. Same car as this (basically) drove it from Chicago to the Canadian Rockies. Nice car. Not fast, but comfortable & easy to drive as well as good on gas.
I had a hard top, hands down, worst car I ever owned.
Have a 93 Caviler RS same colour with the white rag and a grey interiour in the same shape.
I have a 94 two door. 2.0 with the 5 speed. 30 plus mpg but you have to shut off the ac to pass someone or go up a hill. Bought it in 95. It was a repo. Newly married couple bought it new. The honeymoon was over in a year. 165,000 on it now. Same blue color. I only drive it in the summer so it is not rusted out. I’m in Minnesota you see. The aluminum rims got ugly so I sand blasted them and painted them red like the trim. Put a set of taller rubber on the rear with air shocks to raise it up. Young guys are drooling over it. Go figure.
Last year of the Sunbird was 1994. In 95 they became Sunfires.
Last year of the Sunbird was 1994. In 95 they became Sunfires.