Two weeks ago, I wrote this piece on a 1992 Chevrolet Cavalier. While not the usual BF fare, the review received some interseting comments – no surprise, but a lot of people owned and drove Cavaliers, and many had fond memories. With that being the case, I thought today I’d cover the Cavalier’s cousin, the Pontiac Sunbird, a 1991 convertible example, to be exact. This 39K mile drop top is located in Warwick, Rhode Island and is listed here on craigslist for $6,950. Zen wins the Kewpie doll for this tip!
“Power, Performance, and Excitement for 1991,” proclaims the Pontiac sales brochure from 35 years ago. I’m not sure I’d define the Sunbird by any of those descriptors, but I understand the message – it was an approach to highlight Pontiac from the rest of the more staid GM herd, and that excitement included the basic compact “J” car. Three body styles- two-door convertible and coupe, and a four-door sedan- spread across three trim levels, LE, SE, and GT, comprised the Sunbird’s ’91 lineup. Being a convertible means our subject car is in LE trim and is one of 119K Sunbirds assembled at Lordstown, Ohio, or Ramos Arizpe, Mexico that year. The Sunbird name had been in use since 1976, but it wasn’t until 1982 that it appeared as a front-wheel-driver, known initially as the J2000, then the 2000, followed by the 2000 Sunbird, and then finally the Sunbird in 1985. The Sunbird J-platform architecture covered two generations, ’82 to ’87, and ’88 to ’94.
This example shows well; its red finish gives no indication of sun fade, and the body appears to be straight and free of any obvious crash damage. The seller states, “Only flaw is the convertible top has a couple of tiny holes that have been fixed; original paint is perfect.” The top repair job is not obvious, and I’d like to know a bit more about it. I once owned a ’66 Impala convertible, and the previous owner used iron-on patches to repair two holes – not an approach I recommend.
Under the hood, this Sunbird employs a 96 net HP, 2.0-liter, inline, four-cylinder engine which drives the front wheels via a three-speed automatic transaxle. The seller suggests, “runs like a dream.” For ’92, the Sunbird’s 2.0-liter engine would get a power bump, but it remained the standard powerplant and not a 2.2 as employed by the Cavalier. I would have thought both divisions would have shared the same engine.
This Sunbird’s interior appears to be super clean – no mean feat with oyster-hued fabric upholstery. The material is not exactly high-grade stuff, one ding that GM cars earned in this era, but the entire environment, at least what can be seen in a single image, looks fine, with no evidence of wear, discoloration, or too much fun-in-the-sun time.
This is a nice find! The low mileage and wind-through-the-hair features make this one stand out a bit from other entry-level compacts, though admittedly, a J-car isn’t exactly a common find these days, 30+ years after the fact. Let’s talk price, with an ask of $6,950, would you say this Sunbird is priced right, or not quite?
Chic car
Owned a 92 with 3.1l V6 auto – same color and interior with only 30K documented original miles – sold it 6 months ago – nice car – just me getting up in Octarian age – shame!
I worked as a Pontiac tech in 82 when these came out. That first 1.8L was garbage, reminded me of driving a Chevette. In 83 they replaced the original 1.8 with an overhead cam and throttle body injection. These cars had their faults still though. Almost all cammers came off the trailers with loose timing belts. The adjustment was rotating the water pump with a special tool and had to be set hot. It took to long to get to that point and have it still be hot, so we learned the cold setting. I also had about 50 of them come through with experimental plexi front windshields. Most of them had vacuum fittings for the Ac under the carpet not connected so that was fun. They lasted a while in the marketplace though, much longer than I lasted at Pontiac.
Hard to believe the DOT would allow plexiglass or lexan windshields, but maybe it was a fuel economy effort.
I had an older Cousin.
the 85 Olds Firenza.
4 speed fastback
fun little car
I had a 91 hard top with a 5 speed. Put 2 or 3 head gaskets on it in the time I owned it. Got it to just over 300k miles. Still ran like a top but the rust was taking over underneath. The Brazilian 2.0 OHC was a great engine. Topped 40mpg on one trip to Virginia from PA one time. Gave it to a neighbor of mine who continued to drive it for a time after I owned it.
The head receptionist/GM of our shop bought the sedan version. She put about 80K miles on it then sold it to a co-worker, who replaced a head gasket and continued to drive it.
400K miles and it was still going although dealing with another head gasket. About this time people in his neighborhood (who thought Honda and Toyota invented the car) started noticing the longevity. The Tokyo Trash Can dealers got on the bandwagon and were determined to beat that “cheap old Poncho” and they joined up.
The Honda made it to 480K when there was a loud squeal under the hood and everything came to a halt. The Toyota got just over 500K when the crankshaft broke in two.
661K, the Pontiac got before it simply could NOT hold a head gasket. The water passages were now completely transparent. Strangely enough it still wasn’t that bad on oil consumption. The local Pontiac dealer made my co-worker a great deal on a new car and put the old Sunbird on display, along with a big sign, announcing the car’s life.
Another co-worker had a ’91 Sunbird, very similar to the first one. He had to overhaul the engine because a screw fell out of the throttle body and found its way into a cylinder. He fixed it and continued. His car was approaching 300K miles when his daughter was driving it and a BEEMER T-boned it, thus bringing its days to an end.
nice convert. price is fair considering the miles and condition. unfortunately, it has the “O” no code OHC 4cly in it. these were oil leakers and just not a good motor. be great if were packing a v6. those really had some go to them.
When I married my wife in 96 she had a 94 sunbird I hated that car. It was too small for me. I’m a big guy when she told it out at 97 we bought our first shift two Pontiac grand am’s and there were a lot roomier and a better made car. Our 96 grand am had the quad four and our 97 had a V6. We got over 300,000 miles with both of those cars. I wish Pontiac was still in business.
2750 miles away not bad for the money might be able to sell for a profit next spring/ summer and just enjoy it otherwise
That 2.0 was actually a great engine. I had an ‘85 Cavalier with the 2.0. I sold it at 100k miles to a kid in the neighborhood. He drove the wheels off it and gave it to a cousin when it hit 300k. The only issue I had with the car was the rack and pinion took a dump on me and needed replacing. That was really the only significant problem. I was meticulous in maintaining it. So was the kid I sold it to.