I would love to go back three decades, I don’t know about any of you? It seemed like a nicer, more-innocent, kinder and gentler time with fewer problems than today’s world has. One problem that we’ve always had was trying to keep your vehicle in like-new condition, that hasn’t been trouble for the owner of this beautiful 1990 Chevrolet Cavalier Z24. This time capsule can be found here on eBay with a buy it now price of lucky $7,777 or you can make an offer. It’s located in Las Cruces, New Mexico and it could most definitely be driven home.
There have always been problems in the world since Krog threw a stick at Gronk and they ended up fighting and then being eaten by saber-toothed tigers. What Gronk wouldn’t have given for a chance to own this beauty though, eh? Of course, oil was still in solid form walking around as dinosaurs back then but that’s beside the point… (I know, humans and dinosaurs didn’t both inhabit the globe at the same time) This car appears to be in incredible condition, doesn’t it? This isn’t a car that most manly-man gearheads would aspire to own but I love that it exists in this condition today, 29 years after it was sold.
The seller has this Cavalier listed as a 1969 Chevrolet Camaro and I don’t know if that’s wishful thinking, a mistake, or a way to get people to click on the listing. They say that it “is not an immaculate, never driven barn find, its just a clean car that wasn’t driven much.” It looks brand new to me but maybe that’s because a lot of them were beaten to death by teenage boys as their first car and the rest of them are showing more corrosion around the rear end than a Kardashian.
This is a second-generation Cavalier and an ultra low mile one at that. For the naysayers, the six-digit odometer reads 036868, not 136868. That’s an average of only 1,271 miles a year over the last 29 years. Thankfully this is a 5-speed car, too. The interior looks about as close to being new as I imagine any 29-year old vehicle could ever look and the back seat looks perfect, too. The trunk isn’t exactly a Hoboken-approved six-body storage compartment but it looks perfect.
The zing in this Z24 is GM’s famous 3100 V6 which would have had 140 hp and 185 ft-lb of torque. For a 2,600-pound car it isn’t horrible and frankly, I would have loved to have this car in 1990. Or, maybe a couple of years after 1990 when I sold my business and my Mercedes 300E and bought a Dodge Spirit and went back to college after taking 12 years off after high school – which I highly recommend, by the way. Get some life experience for cryin’ out loud! If your kids take a break after high school it’s not the end of the world, look at me! Ok, bad example, make them go directly to college. A Cavalier Z24 exactly like this one, color and everything, was owned by a college classmate of mine who, of course, got it from his parents as a gift. That’s sort of where I see this car headed, back to someone who either had one just like it in high school or college or to a current high school or college student. Have any of you owned a Cavalier Z24? And a better question: what did you do after high school?
Man this brings me back. And yes, I’d really like to go back in time 30 years. Things really were much simpler.
I had this exact car only a 91 with the refreshed nose, taillights, and interior. I paid $4800 for it in 1998 with 40k on it. I was 18, It was my first “nice” car and my first car loan. Believe it or not this car really got up and went. I couldn’t believe the acceleration it had with the 3.1. Torque steer was a little rough, but hey it was a really fun car and the exhaust had a nice growl to it. If I were to pick one of these up and put it away, I’d look for a convertible. I have a feeling they could be a minor collectible. Nice find!
Things were not all that much different then. Oh tech was by far more primitive and maybe people actually spoke to each other more often, but over all, about the same in my opinion. The big difference then was that most Americans still had mostly family supporting jobs with good benefits and fairly okay job security, but that also was starting to change then too. The American Dream gave people security and hope for the future, and less over all anxiety. Also a man could more afford a new car every few years then, how often do we see that today? Just think of all the good paying jobs we lost when that fact alone no longer was true. I think what I miss most of all from 1992 is my hair, and maybe my small prostate.
The commenter was very young then, so that’s why things probably seemed much simpler to him.
I think he’s partly right. By 1990, the effects of globalization we’re already being seen. We didn’t have NAFTA yet but we were already losing jobs to Mexico, China, and other low-wage countries. Factories had been shutting down since the 1970s, as Michael Moore’s Roger & Me, which was released in 1989, showed in painful detail. So there were still a lot of worries about the economy. If anything, I would say our economy is stronger today than it was then.
I think where it’s very different is the political polarization and identity politics we have now. Yes, there was a big difference between liberals and Republicans then, but the discourse wasn’t as nasty and close-minded as it is today. We also had a somewhat unbiased media then it seemed.
So overall, the country felt more unified, if that makes sense. That’s about the biggest change I’ve noticed, and it’s a pretty big one!
This 30 years ago, not 60. How about Aids, Crack, Gang Wars in LA, War brewing in the Middle East, Shuttle blowing up….and on it goes.
Humans tend to remember only the good and forget the bad and have been longing for the good old days for hundreds of years
I had a 1988 hard top coupe red with tan interior. Totaled in a head on collision four years later. I just bought the same car this weekend but a convertible. No rust at all. 59,000 original miles. Love it. Trying to restore to fully original.
Other than that Mrs. Kennedy, How did you like Dallas?
I too owned one of these, same color everything; it was one of the best, most reliable car I’ve ever owned.
I knew a girl who ordered a brand new convert like this, and guess what, she asked me out on a date, not the usual other way around when I usually was turned down. Blonde, blue eyed, a little short, but over all a nice package. So get this, I turned her down! I was in my early thirtys and unattatched, and she was mid twenties, so why? She had just finished up a rough divorce and I told her she needed at least six months before dating, but to call me then. I walked away doubting myself, but also telling myself I was on the moral high ground. What happened? Oh, she met this cop a few weeks later, she broke his heart and ended up marrying an Indian chemist on the beach in Bermuda in a white bikini. The car you ask? She totaled it a few months later and ended up with a Honda I believe, but by then I didn’t keep much track of her because I had found a much better girl anyway, one I still have and has made my life compete.
I had a 1987 Z24 with the 2.8 V6 and GM manufactured those engines with an out of spec main bearing and most of the engines exploded after the main bearing went the day mine exploded I got home and there was a letter in the mail stating that my car was recalled I got a free Engine with no charge it was a great car besides the engine failure it was very quick
Interesting, how many miles did your car have when she blew? A new engine after 30 or 40K miles of hard use might have been a blessing, esp since the new one was an improved design. Good for you. Always thought those were very good looking cars.
To get off my political soapbox this is a great find! They sold a lot of these and it seems like they were everywhere, until they weren’t.
One thing that sticks out in my mind is that they almost cost as much in 1988-89 as a Mustang LX 5.0. That didn’t seem to hurt sales though.
I see a few survivors every now and again but they are usually convertibles, and usually pretty jankety. Very, very few left this nice, and probably just a handful of 5-speed coupes left like this.
I had about 39,000 miles on the vehicle. I was driving down 696 when I heard my engine go rat-tat-tat. I got her to my in-laws house in East Detroit, Merollis Chevrolet on Gratiot fixed it and replaced my engine then I put 85000 miles on top of that before getting T-boned at the corner of Schaefer and Outer Drive in Detroit
I do think that the days of 2,400-2,800 lb performance cars with 140-200hp was just about right. Light and responsive with decent power made for more fun, tossable, useable, sane performance than 3,600+lbs and 400hp. Too bad they didn’t turn the technology towards better mileage rather than a greedy quest for ridiculous levels of unusable power and speed but I guess you can’t put that “Hellcat” of a genie back in the bottle. Imagine a modern Porsche 912 that weighed 2,400lbs, had 180-200hp and got 40+mpg? I’d sell my house for that!
Thank you for buying a red Honda, that is one less in gray black or silver.
Agreed, but it’s not even having the funds, it’s access to credit or a cheap lease.
Image is everything, even if it’s on time payments
Admired these in high school when I had a pale yellow 85 gutless Cutlass with a 6. This is a nice example, BF Goodriches and all. Find another one for the price, I guess.
Nice car. I appreciate any car which is this old but is in very clean, original condition, even if not perfect. Previous owner(s) must have loved it.
Good writing Scotty.
Yes SuperD I was a child 30 years ago so of course things were much simpler to me. That is the same thought I had shortly after posting. As I think about it though, the advent of social media has given everyone an opinion on everything and they believe it to be of the utmost importance that everyone hears it. I wish we could put that cat back in the bag. I also remember Nana’s Sunday dinner every week..I don’t know if people still do that, but the whole family got together and as I remember it, political opinions weren’t shared very often and at election time I was told who you voted for was supposed to remain a secret. We would all get along much better I think if political opinions could be kept quiet again.
As far as Porsche owners…Sandy makes a good point, but as an exception I had a friend in high school who fixed up a VW rabbit and sold it for a profit, so he parlayed that into a Porsche 924. It can be argued that a 924 Is a glorified VW, but this kid put a ton of elbow grease into that 924 and turned a junker into a respectable car again. That was a fun little car and I never once thought he gave a crap about what people thought of his it. I’m rambling now. Good night all
Baky, another good comment. A 924 was kind of looked down upon by upper end snobby Porsche owners, after all, it originally was supposed to be an Audi, did you know that? Yes, developmental costs got so bad, the company boys decided to affix a fancier logo on it and see if they could charge more. Good for your friend putting some work into making a car he could be proud of, nothing wrong about that at all. You know, many of my generation say mean things about yours, but my experience is that people are people, and your generation has been handed a tough set of troubles to handle. I see good people like you and he everyday from your age group, my children belong to your generation and I am super proud of everything they have done. I also agree, familys do not spend enough time together anymore, but I think that is an economic reality more then anything else. When I was young, fathers worked 40 hours a week, came home to a home cooked meal from a loving and welcoming wife who also cared for their children and gave them a sense of belonging. They were not raised by a daycare or the TV. Talk about less stress. No matter how hard work was, we had a “home” that was loving and accepting to come back to and re energize our souls. Today times are so tough, both parents have little choice to work full time, and they come home to more work to be done because no one has been there all day preparing a comfortable evening, and that is if they are even allowed to work the same shifts. My dad used to come home and Mom would give him a big kiss at the door and then she would lead him into the bathroom where he took a bath. There they could be heard gabbing away, usually laughing as she washed his back. Then he would put on the clean clothes she would have hanging on a hanger for him already in the bathroom. Dad would come out all refreshed after his dirty long day and then spend time with us kids, then we would all have supper together. How often does that happen today? Faith was also stronger, but that is another discussion. What I want to say about all of this is that we need to watch politics very carefully. Do not let slippery politicians from either side sway you with silly pointless things, look at the big picture, and above all, follow the money. The love of money is the root of all evil as it says in the good book. Do not let talking heads on TV or the radio sway you, investigate for yourself and look at all sides of an issue, and be open minded. I know it is not as interesting as something on TV (or this site!), or a good ball game, but if even a few more people started to think more clearly, it could go a long way to improving the lives of so many regular people here in even in the whole world.
Well put Sandy, and yes people are people and every generation had its strengths and weaknesses and have also faced their own unique trials and tribulations. The Country could use more understanding and less polarization. It can be a tough world and people would do well to look after one another.
Also, I think I heard that the 924 was Intended to be an Audi, for some reason I thought it was meant to be a VW.
Baky, I am fairly sure it was destine to be an Audi, but you might be right. After so many decades breathing in car exhaust (much of it leaded) my brain doesn’t recall quite as well as it once did. That is why we have young fresher brains to take over, brains like yours.
Well Sandy, according to the internet (which means it must be true) we are both a little right and a little wrong. The original design of the 924 was penned for VW. they ended up going with the famous Scirocco and scrapped the 924. Porsche needed a replacement for the 912 and bought back the 924 design from VW and put an Audi engine and transmission. In the original car. So that’s that. Thanks for the compliment. Rest your brain and enjoy your night.
Mr Claws, you sound like you come from my time. Those were some good times, wish it was that way again. Plus, more people were excited about cars, most people really don’t care about them anymore. When I am gone (sooner versus later, I am afraid) I doubt there will hardly anyone left in the old car hobby. I also agree with your apparent politics, wish there were more places to express yourself politically on the web. TV stations used to let you comment on news stories but now that is gone, and the only places left are usually filled with one side or the other and there is no debates going on. It says here you are not supposed to discuss politics, but you do now and then and I am glad to read yours, even if I don’t always agree with all you say. Wish more people held that interest, as you said, we could make a better world for our children and for children years to come.
I’m a sucker for these cars. I have a 1992 Chevy Silverado, short box stepside that has been in my family since I was 18. It’s in the same colour. My sister had a burgandy 1990 that I wanted to buy back then. Problem was that there was a computer chip recall on them. It was fixed once and still went again and the second time it wasn’t covered. It wasn’t cheap then and probably more now. I had to pass.
A terrific if vain attempt to keep the glory days on a roll-though one of the better offerings from GM, the Chevy Cavalier was known in the crash investigation corridors as the Chevy Cadaver..
Well I would love to own this and always been a huge fan of the Z/24. I own a Z/24 but 10 years newer. A 2000 Z/24 with a GM performance parts M45 Supercharger and a 5 speed. Was my first new car. Still super clean and near showroom new with 126k original miles! Hasn’t seen rain or snow since 2008 when I took her off the road as a daily driver and only a weekend cruiser because I did not want to get ruined. Now i take her to car shows and my son loves it. Basically it’s still a daily driver and also daily drive a restomod 82 DeLorean that is just as dependable as my Cavalier.
That is an awesome car, so glad you are preserving it for future generations. Maybe there is hope for the old car hobby after all.
I sure do hope so! They really were good cars!
Beautiful car, Christian.
My first brand new car was a 99 Cavalier two door, white. Destroyed in a rear end accident. I’d still have it today.
Never got tired of looking at it. Even the horrendous facelift of 03 couldn’t hide what a great basic design it was.
Sorry to hear that happened to you. I agree with you on the 03 facelift. Still a great car underneith
Back in 1988 I bought a 1986 Cavalier Z24 notch, had the 2.8 with manual trans. Digital dash, bright red with silver lower ground effects. Never had any issues with it for 3 years. Great car. Surprised many off the line but when dumping clutch you better hold that wheel tight with its torque steer.
My digital instrument panel on my 87 died at about 45,000 miles I just kind of had an idea how fast I was going by the RPMs in 5th gear then my Tac died. Not knowing how much gas I had in my car since the gas gauge was also digital I kept a gas can or two in the back of my car I ran out of gas frequently
Like it.
I love these little cars. I had a 1990 Z24 like this but silver.Drove it everywhere til a large buck took it out for me one day. I repaired it,drove some more then my my wife had a minor accident in the snow with it. Fixed that then my son killed it finally…lost control on wet roads and sideswiped 6 pine trees….pretty much obliterated passenger side of the car. On his way to prom …thank God neither him or his date were injured other than minor cuts from glass..they still went to prom. Police were going to tow it by the time we arrived on the scene but i talked them out of it. Even with half the car ripped off i drove it down the road a ways to a driveway till i could get back with trailer to get her. A friend of mine who owns local salvage yard got one in and called and asked if i wanted it. This one was a red 94 model. Had a blown intake gasket and mocha frapp. engine oil so I transplanted my engine and trans. Just recently pulled back out because of rod starting to knock but it has 300k on it do i guess its due. With proper care and maintenance this car can be enjoyed for years to come. I definitely enjoy mine.
These were very underrated cars. I had a ’94 Z24, black with charcoal interior. It had the 3.1 and a 5 speed also. Bought as a second car in high school as my truck I had was averaging 10-12 mpg. Purchased with a hard life on it already at 126,000. Had a warped crank as the flywheel was making marks in the block but still ran good. Milked that to 132,000 and replaced with gm crate 3.1. Wouldnt run worth a crap after install and couldnt figure it out. Took to a dealer I was working at at the time, after quite a few days of diag and deliberation with gm the figured it had bad cam bearings. That was their conclusion anyway and I got another new crate motor under the warranty and was glad to not have to install that one. Second motor ran great, the torque steer is no joke that everyone is mentioning but it was a lot of fun. Ran hard, handled well, governed at 112 mph. Drove it to well over 200,000 miles but the rust monster overpowered me, it was still getting 26 mpg too! If I could find another one like it I would buy it again. I thought these had great styling.
I have a burgundy 1989 Z24. Was my son’s first car and I bought it back from him when he wanted something different. Two more of my kids have used it but it still looks and runs great. I have fun with it when I can but it is hard to find the time. I hope to keep it if my son ever wants it back. He has expressed interest in it. I also bought my other son’s first car back and he has it now. It is a 1983 t- top trans am. We have been keeping it on good condition. It has no rust. Typically some of those you can see right thru them fro the rust holes.
Sandy C
I’d be totally with you on the Civic. It’s got everything I’d want except I need a long roof (wagon) and I crave RWD. Yes, I am one of “them”, a RWD, manual, wagon guy. However, about that whole “way things used to be” thing. It’s nostalgic to think that everything was all “Leave it to Beaver” but the fact is, for every “LITB” household there was another with an abusive drunk lording over a traumatized family, and that’s just the tip o’ the iceberg! Just like the old cars, there was plenty to like and dislike “back in the day”.
PDX, true. I was blessed, and where I grew up, so were all my friends. I would like to think that 50+ years ago, most homes were like that, but maybe I am being naive. RWD wagon? Hmmm, that is a tough one today, and the outlook doesn’t look good. Honda and Toyota (Plus Mazda and others) used to make small wagons, but that was way over a decade ago. Have you tried a modern small hatchback? I can get lots in there, heck, rarely even use my truck anymore. Of course, it is front wheel drive, but ever since the late 70s when I bought my first Omni, I have grown used to that. When I drive a Miata, it actually feels “odd”. FWD is also good in the snow.
Christian
That 2000 is a great looking little car! The wheels look like an interpretation of Porsche Fuchs. And Supercharged? Very cool
Its not a 2004. Its a 2000. The Z/24 name died after 2002 when Oldsmobile quit making the 16v Quad 4. In 2 months it will be 19 years ago I bought this new. The supercharger was only offered in the GM Performance Parts catalog and is quite rare. Stock was 150hp/155tq. Now is 205hp/200tq! She is still very fun to drive like my DeLorean
In 2 months it will be 19 years ago I bought this new. The supercharger was only offered in the GM Performance Parts catalog and is quite rare. Stock was 150hp/155tq. Now is 205hp/200tq! She is still very fun to drive like my DeLorean
Great comment HeyDay. That torque steer was real! You say your 94 was governed at 112. I’ll have to look up wether my 91 with the 3.1 was also governed at 112. I have this memory of traveling up rt. 95 into New Hampshire for the Fourth of July with the speedo pinned at 120 for an extended length of time with three people in the car who’s heads were turning white. Those Cavs really didn’t want to go that fast and mine shook like hell. Anyway, I swear I had it pinned at 120 (to be that young and careless again) maybe I’ve just been telling myself that all this time. Lol
Christian tell us more about this Delorean. And yes the last generation Z24’s were nice cars. I remember being dissappointed I could t afford a new one.
Still have my ’89, same color, black interior. Haven’t driven it in 10 years. Stored in the barn Bought it new in October ’88 for $13, 909 out the door at Smith Chevrolet in Hammond, Indiana. This has inspired me to get her out and running. Has only 56,000 miles, and was never driven in the winter
I owned an 88 Z24 convertible for a long time and loved it. Only reason why I sold it was I had 5 cars at the time and was purchasing a new home and had to make some decisions. By the time we sold it was heavily modified. Virtually nothing but the interior was untouched but done right. Had a 3400 V6 from a 2000 in it and it was an exceptional driver.
This car is exactly what the auto industry Chevrolet in particular) is missing right now. A small, good handling, sporty looking car with a torquey V6 and an available manual transmission. Oh, and at an AFFORDABLE price. Something FUN to drive and doesn’t look like everything else in the line up.
The Z24 was very popular in my family. ’86, two ’87s, a ’91 and later a ’00. Everyone of them served us well and each came close to, or eclipsed, 200,000 with no major issues. And, in my small Western PA town, it seemed like every 10th car on the road was a Z24.
They were fun to drive and had just enough styling cues to differentiate it from a regular Cavalier. They may not have been as quick as the turbo competition, but it would sure give its older brother Monte Carlo SS a run for its money! Very underrated car.
Well she is a January built 82 that I bought 15 years ago. I found it abandoned out in Malibu CA. I had her shipped to Maryland and now I live in West Virginia. I restored her from the groind up and everything is updated and upgraded and a reliable daily driver that I commute to work in at least 3 days a week at 182 miles a day and across 3 states to get the D.C. She has everything from a custom 2 tone interior, heated seats with custom lighting, wireless blutooth, hands free calling, Pandora and XM. The engine has got some performance goodies like heaters and intake amd such, custom QA1 adjustable coil overs with 16 position dampeners to Wilwood brakes!
Had a 89 5spd. The sun roof leaked. Otherwise a good car. Drove it for 10 yrs.
I wonder what kind of work Christain does?
Very sharp DeLorean!
I was with GM from 1996 till 2013. Bought the DeLorean in 2004. Now i’m a heavy equipment mechanic for the D.C. Metro transit. On nice days i drive this or the Cavy. I have a Civic for bad weather.
Awesome car Christian. A busker list car for me and I’m sure many others. I do t really care that it’s said to be slow and cumbersome. It’s one of a kind! Beautiful also. Those updates must make it much easier to live with. Dam shame what happened to Zachary Delorean. He was onto something.
They are far from slow. They were a second and a half slower than a 81 Corvette. They are not combersome either as they are a very great GT car for long trips with plenty of leg room! I drive this car EVERYWHERE! These cars are better than what most people know and John was all set up by the FBI. Check out Framing John DeLorean on youtube! These are super easy to fix and get parts for! Mine is quicker than stock and easily gets out of its own way! Also been to 120mph before and she is very stable!
I think it’s fantastic that you commute in this car! Imagine a collectible car getting some use and not caged up allnits life. I didn’t intend to insult you with the slow comment, I have no first hand knowledge as I’ve never had the privelage to take a DMC for a ride. I’m only going off of what I read. Perhaps people expected them to drive like a super car back in the day? Enjoy!
Cool. Very Cool! how much are flux capacitors?(LOL)
I love this car . I haven’t seen a nice one in years . I wish it was closer. My first new car was a red 93 cavalier z24. That car was faster then it looks. I had it for 7 years till my wife said we need more room and traded it in on a dodge caravan .
They really were fast huh Novaman?! I traded mine on a 98 Malibu that had the same 3.1 motor but the transmission gearing must have been different because that car was not nearly as quick even though it had ten or fifteen more horsepower. I imagine it was a little heavier of a car also. Go figure
A perfect example of a terrible period of GM’s history. Poor build quality, poor materials, and poor engineering proliferated a period when General Malaise thought they could cram anything down our throat and the public would beg for more.
nicest bunch of comments and replies i have ever read in a looooong time on barn find. it really sent me back to the olden days of sunday dinners and real metal cars…. i have a ’91 z/24 3.1, 5 spd , blue , coupe, identical to the feature car in the article ‘x’cept mine is total blue to the ground effects and has flat “hubcaps” with 5 spoke wheels. bought brand new in kansas city from “rusty somebody or other” dealership… heard that he went to prison very soon after that for not paying g.m. or taxes or somethin’….you gotta forgive me,, that was a heck of long time ago ! ! ! still have that great little car… thanks to rock auto having fuel injectors last summer……….bought 69 corvette roadster blk over red,, both tops when i got home from ‘nam.. still have it also…. come to think of it, still have alot of old stuff and memories………lol….have a beautiful wkend…
@Red Rocket yours was a fine post as well. I had the same exact Z24 as yours except it was an automatic. That Didn’t bother me though. That’s great you still have yours and that Vette! I wish I had kept mine. Actually I wish I had kept all my former vehicles. I mean when I think about it they weren’t sold or traded on for all that much money..something about that Z made it a lot of fun to drive, and in my opinion the looks still hold up today. Working on that 3.1 in that tight engine bay could be tricky sometimes. Enjoy!
I really liked these when I worked at the Chevy dealer. I Didn’t see any down side to them.
I am, however, surprised it still has its paint on it.
These were everywhere when I was in high school (class of 2k). Lots of kids I knew had them or wanted them. I put a lot of stereos in these, and the sunbird which had a very odd shaped radio for some reason. Every dummy bought 6.5″ speakers for the front not realizing it took a 3.5″ in the dash.
I almost ended up with a maroon 89 for $200 as my first car, but the door and rockers were completely disintegrated behind that plastic ground effect so I passed for a $300 88 grand am coupe, also maroon, instead. I really wanted the Z24 as it was more boy racer, and I thought the 2.8 V6 would be much faster than the 4 banger in the grand am, but this wasn’t the case as the grand am had the 16v dohc quad 4. I would love to have one now as a daily, but I haven’t seen one come up for sale locally that wasn’t a vert in at least a decade.
The only way that car would get my blood pumping, is for it to be in my name and be $20,000 up side down. You misspelled the vehicle’s name, it’s Chevrolet Cadavlier.
Very cool find. I had two J-Bodies with the 3.1. A 1991 Sunbird LE and a 1990 Z24. I bought the 1991 new when I was 20. I did a couple of small mods to it and it was fun blowing away 5-liter F-bodies. I abused the snot out of it and it was sold with 150k on it….everything worked properly. I abused that car but I always maintained it. That’s probably why it was still on the street in 2008 when I saw it in a Walmart parking lot. The Z24 was bought from the original owner with low miles on it back in 2004. That car was a turd. I had nothing but problems with it.
I have a white mint 88’ Z24 convertible all original 70k one owner survivor with a 5 speed going up for sale soon.
Thank you Scotty and thank you Barn Finds….this Z24 post has spawned the best comments I’ve ever read here. Nostalgia and a sense of unity that is seldom seen today, all at the hands of a Chevy Cavalier. Impressive.
I owned a 1989 Cavalier that wasn’t a Z-24- but, it was my first new car, and when I purchased it, it was only 7 months old. It was white with blue interior, and I had my name pinstriped on the door. I loved driving that car! My first car was a 1969 Chevy Nova coupe. I bought it back in 1985 for $100, and that car was in really nice shape. Wish I had those cars today!