GMC only produced 2,497 examples of the Typhoon for the 1992 model year. That makes them a rare classic that combines impressive performance levels in an SUV with more than a touch of luxury. This one is a tidy looking vehicle that would seem to need nothing but a new owner who will appreciate its attributes. It has been listed in a No Reserve auction here on eBay. It is located in Folsom, California, and the bidding has been quite spirited up to this point. This has pushed the price along to $15,000, with the winner guaranteed to drive away in a rare and potent classic.

I will openly admit that this Typhoon has had me scratching my head a bit. My confusion revolves around the vehicle’s color. The ’92 Typhoon was offered in nine different colors, with two of these being different shades of blue. These are also two of the rarest shades, and between them, they account for a mere 30 vehicles. There were 28 finished in Aspen Blue, but this looks too dark to be that color. There were also two that wore a color called Radar Blue. Finding a photo of a Typhoon finished in that color is close to impossible. I did locate one, and the color has a hint of purple in it. That leads me to believe that the paint that this Typhoon wears is a custom mix and that the vehicle has received a repaint at some point. Looking beyond the question of color, what we find is a nicely preserved survivor. It has spent its life in California, and this has allowed it to remain rust-free. The panels are laser straight, and there are no issues with the body kit or other external plastic trim. The original wheels are in good condition, with no signs of damage, staining, or oxidization.

Life inside a Typhoon was never designed to be uncomfortable, and there are plenty of features to make any journey a pleasurable experience. Several cows have made the ultimate sacrifice to provide the upholstery for the seats and wheel, while ice-cold air conditioning banishes the summer heat. Throw in power windows, power locks, cruise, a tilt wheel, and an AM/FM radio/CD player, and the miles will roll away. The interior of this Typhoon is in good condition for a vehicle of this age. The leather on the seats is wrinkled, but it still looks soft and supple. The carpet shows a small amount of wear, but it still presents well. There are no apparent issues with the remaining trim and plastic and no appreciable wear on the wheel.

The Typhoon’s party piece is what is happening below the surface. Like its cousin, the Syclone, the Typhoon is powered by a 4.3-liter V6, which features fuel injection, a turbocharger, and an intercooler. This engine should be producing a healthy 280hp, which finds its way to the road via a 4-speed automatic transmission. With such impressive performance levels on offer, the fact that the vehicle features 4-wheel disc brakes with ABS is a blessing. It’s how the power finds its way to the road that makes the Typhoon an accomplished performer. It is an all-wheel-drive vehicle, and a sophisticated system sends 65% of the available power to the rear wheels, while the remaining 35% is fed to the front. The result of this is acceleration times that can rival some muscle cars. The Typhoon should be capable of sprinting from 0-60mph in 5.3 seconds, while the ¼ mile can be blitzed in 14.1 seconds. Those figures become even more impressive when you consider that the vehicle in question is an SUV that tips the scales at 3,823lbs. The seller has owned the Typhoon for approximately 8-years, and he says that it runs and drives perfectly. He also claims that it has 74,000 genuine miles on the clock, but he doesn’t indicate whether he has documentation to verify this.

This 1992 GMC Typhoon is a tidy survivor, and it is one that will turn heads wherever it goes. It is ready to be driven and enjoyed and would seem to need nothing but a new owner who will appreciate its combination of comfort and performance. Recent sales results suggest that the bidding has now reached about the level that might be expected for this car, and it probably won’t go much higher. With that thought in the back of your mind, is this a classic that you would consider bidding on?