A true time capsule, this 1993 Pontiac Sunbird SE has just 35,500 miles on it and has never been driven in the winter. It looks basically like a brand-new car from what we see in the photos. It may not be the car of your dreams, but the seller mentions that it may be one way to relive your high school days, that is if a person went to high school in the early 1990s.
A classic 1990s color, I remember seeing all sorts of cars and pickups in a similar teal color back in the early 1990s, along with purple and other colors that would make most vehicle owners today cringe, those who may consider trade-in value more than personal preference. I like bright colors on vehicles, even though I do own a silver and a black car. The rest are colors.
The Sunbird was made in two generations, the first flock was based on the rear-drive H-body Chevy Vega, which morphed into the Monza. The second generation was made from 1981 for the 1982 model year until 1987 and was based on the front-drive J-body. If they had come in a pickup version, there would have been six body styles, but there was still a two-door sedan, a two-door coupe as with this example, a two-door convertible, a four-door sedan, and a four-door wagon.
The only drawback that I can see to this car is what you see above: the cigarette lighter. No, it’s the Turbo-Hydramatic three-speed automatic transmission. It would still be a fun car to own and drive but a manual would be much more fun to drive. The seller doesn’t show any other photos of the front interior other than one showing a closeup of the odometer, but they do show one with the passenger seat folded forward so we can see the perfect back seat.
The engine compartment looks like it was detailed, but maybe that’s the way it always looks, like a jewel. This is a GM-family 2.0-liter SOHC inline-four with 110 horsepower and 123 lb-ft of torque when new. It’s hard to believe that your new F-150 may get better MPG than this small car did on average. The seller says it drives like new, has new tires (they still have the original tires from the original owner), it’s posted here on craigslist in the Wausau, Wisconsin area, and they’re asking $9,800. Here is the original listing. For the record, this car would have been around $11,000 new. Any thoughts on this low-mile gem?
RADwood class winner right here.
No matter how nice it is, how many people want it enough to spend nearly $10k on one? There are a lot of other cars for significantly less money that will garner attention at cars and coffee. Cars without a strong following are reliant on price to sell, 18 days and counting suggests this car falls into that category.
Steve R
What? Why? Some things time should not encapsulate. And as I recall from the good old days. 35K miles is kinda half way there to the donation to kids category. Just sayn. BUT with all that said, I do appreciate the find. brought back memories. Not really good ones. But memories….. Just memories..
Call it what you want..it’s a Cavalier..
If cars of this type aren’t preserved, future generations will think that all anyone drove in the 90s were Mustangs and Camaros. This is very cool and well worth the asking price. Not a speck of rust on it!
The funny thing is, if this was a 1963 ford falcon with the 200CI six with the ford-o-matic people would be drooling over it, even though that was basic transportation back then. I’m in my 40s, never owned one of these, road in many, but would geek out over this at a car show. 10k on a in good shape car, almost no matter the age, is now a bargain.
Not everyone would be drooling over the Falcon you described.
Steve R
Correct Steve, I’m in my late 60’s and have owned over 100 cars in the last 50 plus years
An early 60’s Falcon still rates as the worse one…
The allure of an early sixties’ Falcon is that, like a Model T, it would be possible to keep it running with just a basic set of hand tools. That’s why it’s so popular with hipsters, the same type of urban people (i.e., Portlanders) who adore ‘fixie’ bicycles.
A ’93 Sunbrid? Not so much.
“Road in many”??????
I think you mean “rode”!!
The addition of the Chevrolet V6
3.1L really helped out this platform for the General.
Yeah, if I were to buy a slushbox ’93 J car I’d want the 3.1 under the hood and the wagon body out back.
I enjoy seeing the regular cars which were driven by regular people. And if you like it and want to spend $10k on it, go for it.
Thank you Scotty for the good write-up.
With proper maintenance this car will last another 200k miles. I like it because it doesn’t have all This computer crap that are on newer cars
In high school back in 97-98 I had a job changing oil at Lincoln/Mercury dealer and set out to buy a better car than my 87 Dodge Shadow. These cars looked great back in the day. I tried to buy a teal 93 Sunbird GT but couldn’t get the price below $6k where I needed to be, plus I didn’t love the teal color. Ended up with a blue 91 Z24 Cavalier with the 3.1 V6 for $4800. Low miles too. The Pontiac had a nicer interior and better looking tail lights, but I never regretted my purchase. Nice find, someone will enjoy this.
I dated a girl with a 93 – white convertible version. Hers was pretty peppy, I’m thinking they must have offered it with the v6, but my memory fails me. I kind of thought it was a nice car. Would I pay 10k now for a coupe? I doubt it. But in convertible form, this or maybe a z24 Cavalier would probably attract more attention.
I was still working at the dealer on weekends back then. It seems like it took a hole, but by the early 90s, gm had the J bodies pretty well sorted out for a lower priced basic car.
What? No mention of the GT Hatchback? We had one, with its semi-hideaway lights. Not fast but stylish, IMHO. Lost it in a divorce settlement, then the ex proceeded to total it just weeks later.
I think my son’s was a 91′ with that 4 cyl. Brazilian engine,needed a new head and traded it on a 95′ Contour.I drove a 70 ‘ 454 Corvette to hs ,class of 71’ here.
10k way too much for this. especially with ohc 4cly head gasket eaters. would be better with a 2.8v6
For 5 years and $1200 Canadian dollars , my girlfriend enjoyed her first convertible and it was a 200 sunfire gt , red , black top and grey interior, she loved it but wanted a z3 so , it was sold
It was a cheap basic car that looked decent and did everything that it was built for and the top dropped for sunny days !
She says she wants another one now ..
I love it! Reminds me of the 1993 Chevy Cavalier I bought my son for $1500 when he was in high school. Was a great car and got many years of use out of it until the tranny went and it went to the junkyard. But it was the same teal color, loved the teal.
Would be more interesting if it was a convertible. A coworker traded her really nice ‘75 Corvette, burgundy with black leather and a 4-sp, for the drop top version of one of these. Never thought it was a good move but she needed something more practical. Nice example here but I’d rather spend my car budget elsewhere.