“Brace Yourself.” Those two words dominate the Sales Brochure cover for the 1992 GMC Typhoon. They also aren’t an idle boast, because the Typhoon was considered a pretty muscular SUV when it hit the market. This classic presents fairly well for an unrestored vehicle with a six-figure odometer reading. Still, there is scope for its new owner to improve its appearance without spending a fortune. The seller has listed the Typhoon here on eBay in Evans, Georgia. They set their BIN at $24,000 with the option to make an offer.
After building six pre-production examples in 1991, GMC released the Typhoon in 1992. It wasn’t a high-volume vehicle, although the company found 4,697 buyers before discontinuing the badge at the end of 1993. The company offered 1992 buyers a choice of eight paint shades, with our feature Typhoon 1-of-518 ordered in Frost White. The seller confirms that the first owner retained the vehicle for twenty-eight years, while the second was its custodian for four years. The seller purchased it two years ago and has kept it stored indoors ever since. They confirm that one of the previous owners repainted the vehicle in its original color, refreshing the lower-body plastic at the same time. They admit that close inspection reveals areas of overspray, suggesting that the person performing the work was a bit hit-and-miss with the masking tape. However, the Typhoon remains presentable, with no significant cosmetic shortcomings. The paint shines nicely, the panels are straight, and rust isn’t an issue. The glass is clear, but the wheels would benefit from some attention with a cloth and a high-quality polish.
The enhanced body and 16″ alloy wheels hint at the performance potential hiding beneath the surface, and the company ensured that the Typhoon delivered. Lifting the hood reveals a 4.3-liter turbocharged, intercooled “Vortec” V6 churning out a factory-quoted 285hp. Power is routed to the road via a four-speed automatic transmission and a Borg-Warner transfer case, providing full-time all-wheel drive. Anti-lock brakes were standard fare, as was power steering. The factory quoted a top speed of 124mph, making the Typhoon pretty rapid family transport. The seller doesn’t paint this beauty as something it isn’t, stating that it has approximately 150,000 miles on the clock. They recently replaced the shocks, fan clutch, alternator, fuel pump, the MAP sensor, and several other components. The muffler has some holes, which appears to be the only mechanical shortcoming. The seller says that this beauty performs well, and with the exhaust issue addressed, it will be a turnkey proposition.
GMC attempted to create a “total” package with the Typhoon, equipping its interior with plenty of creature comforts. Buyers received leather trim, air conditioning, power windows, keyless entry, a six-way power driver’s seat, power mirrors, a power tailgate release, cruise control, a tilt wheel, an overhead console, and a premium AM/FM radio/cassette player with a graphic equalizer. This Typhoon retains those features, and the only aftermarket additions are the dash cover and the wheel wrap. The driver’s seatcover shows wear, a developing hole, and a seam separation. However, the passenger and back seats both look pretty good. Sourcing a replacement cover should be possible, although some high-quality slipcovers would hide the problem and prevent further deterioration. It is unclear what might hide beneath the dash cover, but the rest of the interior looks quite respectable for a vehicle of this age and type. The temperature gauge is a bit quirky, but the A/C blows ice-cold since the seller replaced the compressor.
SUVs began to hit their stride in the 1990s, supplanting Station Wagons as versatile family transport. As with Wagons, manufacturers sought to inject excitement into the range, producing vehicles like this 1992 GMC Typhoon. I would describe this classic as honest, as the seller hasn’t tried to present it as something it isn’t. However, I do feel their BIN might be slightly optimistic, with recent successful sales suggesting that a lower figure might be more appropriate. It is unclear how flexible the seller will be in their negotiations, but asking the question could be worthwhile. After all, what’s the worst they can say?
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