The second generation Chevy Cavalier did nothing to dispel the notion that this was the lowest rung on the Chevy family tree. However, many owners will tell you their car was dirt cheap to run and reliable if maintenance was kept up with. Perhaps that’s why you still see them on the roads today in fair weather states. This 1988 example is quite the anomaly, then, as it’s located in Canada and remains in mint condition. Find it here on eBay with no bids at the moment.
I always associate this and the first generation of the Cavalier with the hit NBC show Homicide: Life on the Streets, as the detectives all drove city-issued poverty-spec Chevy Cavaliers. This one looks like those cars with the exception of the red paint. Speaking of paint and body, this Cavalier’s cosmetics are incredibly nice with no evidence of parking lot-induced damage. I mention that because I’m sure all this Cavalier has been used for in the last few years is getting groceries and hair salon runs.
The interior is astoundingly clean, with lighter-colored carpets that show no sign of soiling. The dash is uncracked and the steering wheel shows no evidence of dirty, greasy fingerprints or worn covering. The automatic transmission will ensure this Cavalier lives perpetually in the slow lane, but that’s where we all should be anyways if we’re not passing someone! Sorry – I’ve been making that rant for several years and no one seems to have listened in my home state of Rhode Island. But I keep beating that drum…
Engine-wise, the Cavalier would have made just under 100 b.h.p. in this generation, unless you stepped up to the V6 with a bit more scoot. This Cavalier will likely provide many more years of cheap, reliable transportation, albeit without any of the creature comforts that await most shoppers of new economy cars. The opening bid of $3,774 seems a bit cheeky to me, as these Cavaliers remain largely undesirable even with the low mileage, preserved paint seen here. What do you think it will sell for?
O boy a cavalier 😄
No collectibility, but you can’t say these are junk. I’ll bet there are a hundred of them still transporting the underprivileged in my small town alone.
I think this is a VL. The VL was the cheapest stripped down model, but it came with that too-cool 4 spoke vintage steering wheel.
The wheel had last seen the light of day 7 years before in the 1981 Camaro. And it’s 1988-only because in 1989 Chevy went to the more generic three-spoke steering wheel for all models.
Anyway, my buddy bought a brand new 1988 VL. Only his was dark blue and a two-door. It wasn’t a bad car. I remember it feeling a lot more solid than a Ford Escort another friend had.
I remember thinking that if they would have just offered the VL with the 2.8 liter V6 from the Z24 and wagon, and some wider tires and a handling package, they would have had a cool Road Runner-style pocket muscle car, relative to 1988 anyway.
Nope, not the Value Leader.
This has an automatic transmission and from what I can see A/C.
The V/L was usually a 2 door sedan.
I don’t remember any 4 door V/L models that year.
My buddy’s Val had automatic and A/C too. You could equip your Val with most options. Or at least those two options. And I believe it was available in all the body styles too except convertible of course.
I dug out my old car reference guide and you are indeed right. The Val was only available on the coupe. My bad. I get an F in Cavalier history!
So I guess this wheel is either a replacement or it was standard on more than the Val.
Every Cavalier for 1988 had the same steering wheel
For 1989 they changed to a different style and for 1990, still a different one.
When they were new on the lot, that was an easy way to tell them apart, as they had virtually no other differences.
In the early 90s, I worked for our local utility as a meter reader. We got these in brand new, and I was surprised at how they felt and performed. They didn’t feel like small cars, they were comfortable and not under powered, and they were great in the snow. Two uncles of mine had them, and they were reliable for many years with high mileage. While not a collector’s item, this car would be a great, reliable commuter car for someone. If I needed one, I wouldn’t hesitate.
When I worked at the Chevy dealer in the 1987 and 1988 model year there wasn’t a dud on the lot.
We never had any Chevettes so the lowest car we had was the Sprint and even that was a good car.
I think the price is too high but if paid attention to the car will deliver good service.
I had a girlfriend that had one like this and it was a reliable and decent car. We traveled to the USA on many road trips.It was fuel efficient and comfortable but I must admit a little under powered for the Tennessee mountains. Remember this was 30 years ago and I think GM got it right. They sold millions of them.
Shouldn’t these all be White,
like a refrigerator?
These are cars that blend into
the background – good,reliable cars,but
still appliances.
Our middle kid had a White Corsica.
It was so bland,that many times I couldn’t
remember what model it was.
I don’t know what it may sell for, but I know that the 84 we had was a great car! Heck I used that car about every day in pasture doing things and running up and down the dirt roads in Kansas when I lived there it just wouldn’t die!
Threw a lot of newspapers out of the ’85
sedan we owned in the early ’90’s. Bought it from a customer for $300, had
the timing chain replaced, and it served
us well until we traded it for a ’94 Taurus
wagon. The only issue I had with it was
the hydraulic clutch that was used on the
4-speed models. If you didn’t bleed it
properly, the clutch pedal felt spongy and
so did the brakes. Great little cars. Would buy one for my neice if I could find
a nice one here in Florida. Most of the
ones here were run to death by their owners ’til they couldn’t be repaired anymore. Still see a few around here,
but they’re not worth saving.
Having grown up where these were assembled and owning a few myself, I wouldn’t hesitate to buy one as a commuter car if the price was low enough. I always liked the looks of the 88-94 Cavaliers, though I’m more partial to Z24s rather than the more pedestrian models. By the way, this wasn’t a second generation Cavalier, but a refreshed first gen car. The J-body platform only had 2 generations, 82-94 and 95-05, though both generations got multiple facelifts thoughout their runs.
I had a 1984 Buick Skyhawk coupe the exact same color. Did the job for the time (1987 to 90).It had the 2.0 four banger that growled like a coffee grinder, yet it was fairly peppy and economical.
I had a 91 Z24 with the 3.1 v6. Car had a lot of get up an go. For an 18 year old kid it was a blast to own. My friend had both an 87 Skyhawk that was nice looking and the 1985 Olds Firenza with the OHC 4 banger. Lots of fun in the J bodies.