When we talk about vintage European sports cars or fire-breathing muscle cars, the reaction is usually the same: it’s a an impressive specimen, and one that demands our respect. And while these cars certainly deserve the admiration they receive, it’s just as impressive when an obscure 1980s hot hatch somehow survives largely unscathed with all of its near-impossible-to-find bits still attached. This 1987 Chevrolet Sprint Turbo listed here on craigslist is practically made of fairy dust at this point, and it’s offered for sale for $10,000.
Everything you see here, from the rear bumper apron to the side skirts to the color-matched wheel covers are made of unobtanium. Seriously, if you crack one of these pieces, you had better hope there is a local 3-D printer who is willing to help you out with re-creating what you will never find. While a Ferrari 328 or Porsche 911 owner can find someone who has the missing part in their basement stash of valuable hardware, good luck finding another enthusiast who has kept spares for a turbocharged Sprint in their garage. It’s just not going to happen. This is a case where the survivor description is entirely accurate.
The Sprint Turbo featured a 1.0-liter turbocharged and intercooled inline-three engine, which sounds incredibly puny until you consider its curb weight: just 1,600 pounds. To put it bluntly, this is more than light enough for its measly 70 horsepower to feel absolutely monstrous. The interior also got some special features in the form of unique colors and bucket seats, both of which are in shockingly nice condition. Let’s face it, underneath this Chevy is a very cheap Suzuki, so nothing here was built to last outside of the drivetrain. This Sprint somehow found an owner who endeavored to restore it, which is likely the first time this model has ever been treated this well.
The listing notes the “restoration” included a respray, new upholstery, removing/restoring the dash, and adding what is apparently a rare optional accessory in the form of a power hatch (no, it doesn’t go up by itself – there’s a button that pops it open. Luxury!) While I love oddballs like these, it is truly a committed owner that sets about refreshing a car like this that was once intended to be the cheapskate’s option for a performance-oriented hot hatch. You love to see that cars like this still exist, which undoubtedly are down to a few hundred (or less) still in existence. Would you pay $10,000 for the nicest Sprint Turbo in existence? Thanks to Barn Finds reader Rocco B. for the tip.
Wow!!!! I have to say, this is probably one of, if not the nicest Sprint Turbos around. I honestly don’t remember seeing these on the road. But my memory of one is from a Car magazine my Mom bought for me when I was sick. ( She always did that for me, thanks Mom!!!) I always thought this was a great idea. And like Jeff said, on paper it may not seem like much, but these things are very light. I’d imagine a lot of fun to drive. Problem is, I’d be afraid to drive it, if something happened, you’d be hard pressed to find parts for it. Thank you for the great memories Jeff. I’d forgotten all about these.
Turbos were rare, Sprints were not. I suspect you had to really want one to find a dealer that had one, pre-internet and likely repeatedly rebuff a Herb Tarlek-jacketed salesman’s attempts to upsell you to a Cavalier RS if not a Z24.
(whistles) a turbo, oh boy. From a time when manufacturers were turbocharging everything from lawn mowers to, well, this. Not mentioned, this car morphed into the incredibly popular Geo Metro, same motor, no hair dryer though, and a by all accounts, a good motor, with Geos I’ve seen with hundreds of thousands of miles. Believe it or not, these were actually a good seller, almost 65,000 in 1987, and previous Vega drivers were happy. Not sure a turbo is really needed, not like the added performance was essential, these got incredible mileage without one, into the 40s, easy, and marketed as such, not for performance. I’d have to think the turbo would be less, having your foot in it all the time. It’s an okay find, not sure for who, however. Apparently someone thought enough of one. I think they may be underwater on this one.
Pocket rocket 🚀
These are a blast to drive!! Torque steer and all!!
As Stan said…Pocket Rocket!!
I drove one once on my friends wedding. I was the best man and the maid of honor had one. She asked me to drive as she was was in her gown and these were not like driving big block by any means, but it would get up and scoot! On the way to the reception 5 adults wedged in the little car and performance sure dropped off. All in all I suppose it was a luke warm hatch. Fun day though!
Even with the turbo it’s no more powerful than the 745cc 3-banger in my BMW motorcycle (also an ’87). So more of a warm hatch than a hot one. Still, this should be in a museum.
This is basically an export version of the kei car hot hatches that folks in the US have spent the years since they hit the 25 year mark absolutely spiking in price. 10K for this is shocking until you look at prices of similar era hot japanese hatchback imports and the condition of this one, plus the treat of having the steering wheel on the correct side. I do wonder, if this is a Suzuki under the hood, could one source at least engine parts from Japan?
At a dealership explains the higher price for this $5,000 dollar car. Add says its been fully restored leaves me wondering why anyone would spend the time and money to restore it I can understand if you find a low mileage one tucked away and bring it back to life but a full restoration leaves me questioning the mileage and what they actually did to it and called it restored.
“Fully restored”..dealer speak for “our in-house detailer gave it a bath”.
I remember test driving a “regular” Sprint some years ago. The fit and finish reminded me of the Chevette. Even closing the door sounded like a tin can hitting a sidewalk. These cars were cheaply made, but still better than the previous Chevette and Vega that GM trotted out, especially in the mechanical department. Would I want one now? Not the turbo version. To get performance out of these you had to wring the engine out to get the turbo on the boost.
It’s too bad the manufacturers quit making fun cars like this.
Love those wheels, but for ten grand no. Would make a fun third car and would make running errands fun just the same.
yeah, good luck with your 10k.
This seller is known in the rotary engine community….He finds, buys, repairs and sells all types of cars…He advertises all across the country….He finds some rare rotary vehicles….A true car flipper…..
Yahooooo! Love me some ’80’s hot hatches! This is a cutie, too, but not sure about the price tag, though. I think they were a lot less new, and not sure this is a lot of interest at that price. GLWTS though!
The Trans Am team I crewed for in the 80’s had a Turbo Sprint. It was the only thing we could find that was small enough to fit in our trailer, behind the race car. We mainly used it to run errands at the track and occasionally to pull the pit cart if we were somewhere where the pits were a distance away. It was a fun little thing to beat around in, but it was tiny.
One day the owner/driver of the team got back from our engine builder late. He decided to leave his truck loaded with the fresh engine in the shop for the night to unload in the morning, and took the Sprint home. He lived less than 10 minutes from the shop, but in that short distance he was t-boned by someone running a red light. Even though he was only hit by a Ford Maverick (car, not the current pickup) that Sprint folded up like a tin can. He was hurt pretty bad, but probably would have been killed if he’d been hit on the driver’s side. The accident caused him to give up racing. He’d hit his head in the accident which effected his vision, causing depth perception issues that took a few years to clear up.
I never cared much for those things after that, or any little car for that matter.
I remember a friend of mines mom had a standard version in red. Just watching her come driving back from the store like she was in a sports car was a sight! Well he didn’t renew the registration and he got pulled over and they towed the car. I believe his license was expired also. Boy was his mom furious. But she always forgave him.
There’s a few FB and FC RX7s photo bombing this hot hatch including a 10th anniversary car.
Good write up Jeff. No particular need to search in any basement for a 911 part except the cost. Porsche retaines the blueprints and provides any part that needs to be replaced but at a high cost. The broken wheel of my 911 (model year 2001) in 2016 cost me more than 1,000 Euros. My mechanic from the local wheel and tire shop told me that with this money he could provide 4 excellent aluminum wheels for the car. Of course the originality would have been lost and the resale value. For the same reason i also retain the original Porsche radio while i have installed an Alpine unit.
Wow 2 Sprint Turbos in two years on BF. I bought the last one on here, the red one near Dallas, guy wanted 8k ,saw the car, told him 3.5k been gathering parts to refurbish, most of it from South America and Puerto Rico, verry fun little car, this one looks like the one that sold in ’24( I think) on BAT for 10k an change, still wating for a Clot GTS to pop up( anywhere)