The Lumina joined the Chevy line-up in 1990 as a competitor to the Ford Taurus (domestic) and the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry (imports). It was built on the same platform as the Olds Cutlass Supreme and other GM intermediates (I had one of those and it was quite roomy). Like the seller’s car, the Euro was the sporty version of the automobile, with a tighter suspension package. This one-owner example has just 48,000 miles and appears to be in good, survivor condition. Located in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, this Chevy is available here on craigslist for $7,500. Thanks for the heads up on this one, Barn Finder jonny!
From 1990-94, Chevy sold more than one million copies of the first-generation Lumina, so it was quite popular. That success may have been helped by the fact that Chevrolet would use the Lumina as its vehicle of choice to race in NASCAR, in which Dale Earnhardt won four of his seven championships in the model. Standard fare in the early Luminas was the “Iron Duke” I-4, but the 3.1-liter, fuel-injected V6 was a popular option and is the motor in the seller’s car.
This listing for this ’90 Lumina reads like it’s being sold by a dealer, so limited history is presented. The original owner held on to items like the window sticker and build sheet, so the buyer gets to see what $16,795 bought brand new 33 years ago. The Euro package was a $475 option and you got cruise control, tilt steering, and a collection of gauges in addition to visual cues like a rear spoiler. The car is currently titled as an “antique” which in Pennsylvania must be a category for vehicles of more than a certain age.
The Chevy presents well, and the body and paint are fine, though perhaps a coat of wax would help it shine up more. There is a ding in the passenger side door that’s large enough to be visible in the photos. No mention is made as to how well it runs, but a test drive before committing to the purchase is never a bad idea. The asking price was recently lowered by $495, suggesting it’s not gotten the kind of traffic the seller was hoping to see. With so many of these built back in the day, you seldom see one on the road anymore.
Some might boo these cars but i had a slightly rusty version of this car in the same colors and really loved it! The seats were comfy and it never gave me any problems! The stock exaust even sounded nascar-ish to me. I will forever miss that car!
The 60-degree V6 had its own exhaust note. The FI versions got a tuned muffler and a snarky sound that was appealing for a 6-cylinder.
Speaking of NASCAR, the first time I saw a Beretta was in the parking lot of NHIS during a Cup race. They had yet to be released to the public, so our first reaction was that it was an attractive car.
I remember the door handles being hidden in the B pillar looked really cool, first time I had seen that.
The local sheriffs office detective division had one identical to this in their fleet assigned to a crusty old curmudgeon with a black cloud forever hanging over his head. He complained about anything and everything that didn’t met his standards, bemoaning his old Polaris he had to give up-until he took his lumina in for service and was given the motor pool car, a very tired ex-patrol Plymouth Volare with a slant six to drive for a week.
Nary a whine about how Lumina crossed his lips thereafter..other things of course but never again about his G-Ride.
Getting old is weird. Between these and Berettas, you couldn’t swing a dead cat around without hitting one. Then, just like that, gone. I bet it has been almost 20 years since I’ve seen one in the wild…..but I do live in salt country.
My aunt had the Beretta and traded it on the Lumina after the Beretta engine seized due to a failed oil pump. They looked cool for the time, but it was definitely a plastic fantastic interior.
“Between these and Berettas, you couldn’t swing a dead cat around without hitting one” So does this mean that Berettas and Luminas were attracted to swinging dead cats? Or was it that the dead cats were attracted to the cars? And what if the cats were not dead? How would that affect the outcome? And why would you swing any animal domestic or otherwise, around by it’s tail, for any reason? Just asking.
Dead cat swinging can be akin to cow tipping in some parts. Don’t knock till you’ve tried it 🤣
Really I agree swing grandma instead.
My grandmother bought a 91 when my grandfather was in the hospital. She always bought big ticket items whenever he was sick — incentive for him to get better to stop her from spending.
I always loved the growl from the V6. Sounded more mean than it actually was.
I bet that rear full trunk spoiler really kept this Lumina planted as it raced down th PA turnpike doing its likely top speed of 98mph. Might even be able to hit 100 if you were able to lean over and roll up the passenger side window using that window crank but probably best to keep both hands on that Euro style steering wheel.
I bought one of these new for my wife back in 91 or 92. A blue 4 door. It was not as lame as you think. It was nimble, quick, fast, and very comfy. Paint fell off in sheets though.
I bought a 91 model in black of course (Earnhardt fan) when I got back from the storm in 91. I got stationed in New Mexico in 93. I can assure you that mine would surpass 100 MPH. The 89 miles between El Paso, TX and Alamogordo, NM were usually gobbled up in a little under 45 minutes.
Thank you for your service.
I drove one for work……definitely surpasses 100, not by much!! 😂😅🤣 If I recall correctly, it got to the 115 range and seemed to be limited. Zero to sixty was like in the 9-10 second range. The car was not a performer, however, honestly…..a pleasure as a daily driver with good looks for the time! I honestly wish I could find one this clean nearby! I’d buy it and let my 86 ttop 5spd 300zx, Patriot headed 40th Mustang GT and my Hellraisin Dodge Challenger stay protected in the garage more often….
Ah, memories! Cruisin’ the mall parking lot, with the Motley Crue cassette blaring out the window of mom’s V-6 Lumina. Those feelings can be yours again, for less than $8 grand.
It actually pulled a 17 sec quarter mile and top speed of 125 mph. Not bad for a large 6 cyl equipped vehicle!
I had an ’85 Celebrity Eurosport with the 2.8 liter version of this motor during this era. It was a sleepy ride that belied its performance aspirations. Reliable transport, yes, but little else. I imagine this would provide a similar feel. It’s neat to see one still around and it’d surely be popular with the Radwood crowd. But personally, I’d hold out for a Z34 for a little more excitement.
I had a similar celebrity with the 2.8 MPFI. Auto OD. No rocket but maybe the most comfortable car ever for my 6’6″ frame. The 3.1 was a nice upgrade but the 3.4 twin dual cam gives me the heebee jeebees when thinking of what could go wrong.
I live in the Midwest and I see MkI Luminas all the time. Always the sedans though, rarely a two door. In fact two MkI sedans were parked next to each other at my small county (entire county is a little over 5,000 people)hospital not long ago. I suspect I would see even more if they weren’t a favorite among the midsize demolition derby drivers.
In Minnesota, these W-bodies had the rear brakes I really hated working on. The rest of the car was generally pretty reliable though, and they DID sound nice. I later had a Regal with a 3.1L, and drove it to 200,000 before the tranny let go.
The 3.1 V6 was damn quick in my Cavalier Z24, in my 91 Lumina coupe not so much. The car felt big, fat and heavy. It sounded nice, I’ll give it that, but the column shift and bench seat really dulled things down even further. The Euro package was worth every cent of the $495 price tag if you ask me, I though most of the 90’s Chevy’s looked pretty good with the Euro duds on.
It’s interesting. The 2.8/3.1 felt quick in the Fiero and in the Z24 as you said. In the midsized cars like the Celebrity, Lumina, and Beretta/Corsica? Not so much.
The only good item on these were the steering wheels, use to pluck them off at the bone yard and sell them
Drove one as a service loaner for about two months it was a decent car
I don’t know why, but I have always had a soft spot for these cars. I’ve owned tons of muscle cars over the years, as well as just daily driver cars, such as these Lumina’s. However, this particular body style always caught my eye. Like the TBird of the same generation……. This just should’ve been a rear wheel drive with an optional v8. Chevy would’ve sold twice as many.