You may have better luck finding a Lamborghini Countach for sale than discovering a minty Chevrolet Lumina sedan. The reason is simple: most people ditched the Lumina when it got too costly to maintain, whereas someone who owns a Countach will gladly suffer with its maintenance bills for years to come. However, as this beautiful 1994 Chevrolet Lumina reminds us, any car can be a survivor if it’s cherished from Day 1 like a car worth more than it is. This Lumina is in excellent condition, especially for a car that was driven.
This is a first-generation Lumina as well, and it takes me back almost instantly to my high school days. There were always a few Luminas littering the parking lot, both amongst students and faculty: students who received the family hand-me-down car and faculty who saw no reason to trade in a reliable workhorse of a sedan. Based on the GM10 platform, the Lumina was a short-lived model but one that was instantly recognizable, both due to its popularity with the general public and due to its use in what I consider one of the greatest eras of NASCAR: the early 90s.
This Lumina reminds us of how basic (and bad) domestic interiors were at one point in time. This is pure lack of imagination as it relates to user ergonomics, and it makes you wonder if GM did anything more than just look for a way to jam a bench seat in there. To me, this is one of the clearest signs that GM wasn’t serious (yet) at competing with the Japanese and Germans makes, as those brands had been churning out economy cars with decent interiors for some time. The seller is correct that this interior is in very good condition, but the steering wheel looks like it could benefit from some time with a Magic Eraser.
The seller is asking a very reasonable $3,500 for this survivor-gras the de Lumina, which also has what appears to be an unused backseat. Disappointingly, it’s not a Z34 or “Euro” edition model that came with additional body cladding and other cosmetic upgrades to make it look far sportier than it was necessarily capable of being. Survivor economy cars like this (it even has crank windows!) are always a treat to find, as the attrition rate is likely quite high for any Luminas left on the road today. Check out the grandma-owned special listed here on craigslist in Palm Coast, FL.
Jeff, how to remove old lady/grandma smell from the Lumina?
I’d imagine grotesque perfume, AquaNet, and perhaps traces of either Virginia Slims or Kents add to the ambiance. Add big band compilation and Billy Graham cassettes and you’re in the clear. Regardless, it is nice to see a ho-hum sedan of any make look this nice after 30 years.
Hey, be nice. I love big band music!
The W bodies were good cars. Affordable, reliable, and economical. I recall them being ‘futuristic’ looking for the late 80’s.The only real issues that I can remember were early 4T60e failures and the rear brake calipers seizing every year.
I bought my wife a new Lumina Euro in 91 with the 3.1 motor. Super plush and quick/sporty to drive. I liked everything about it except for the self-stripping paint which was so popular with GM at the time.
BAD memories! My parents had a Corsica & a Grand Prix simultaneously that both had paint that seemed to just wash off of them. It seemed especially prevalent among GM cars painted blue. GM paid to have our Grand Prix repainted but refused to cover the Corsica, which was only about two years old.
Steering wheel looks as if Granny worked at her local Jiffy Lube.
The GM-10 program was one of the most expensive automotive development projects ever – $7 billion. Multiple plants were tooled up, though each plant only built one model. The idea was that with only one model coming down the line, quality would be improved. The reality was that it left GM with no means for shifting production around to meet demand, and each plant wound up producing under capacity. Looking at this frumpy Lumina, it’s hard to imagine that GM delayed the GM-10 sedans so they could be reworked in the wake of Ford’s hugely successful Taurus and Sable, but it’s true. I shudder to think what the original designs looked like.
These were actually pretty decent car, but a Nascar Lumina? Maybe the roof skin, but other than that is was a fabricated, no Lumina parts at all.
Had these as company cars at a place I worked at back in the day. If I recall correctly, one guy opened his door and it fell on his foot. Another guy needed a new transmission before the first oil change. But comfortable and decent power.
These cars were throw away cars, basic transportation like the celebrities, cavaliers, and citations.
Sounds like a Taurus – great rental cars,but you wouldn’t
want to own one for the long haul.