Have you ever heard of the Suzuki Cultus? If not, how about the Chevrolet Sprint? They were the same little car built in Japan, with the Sprint making its way to the U.S. in the mid-1980s. They were simple econoboxes that rarely turn up today. Located in South San Francisco, California, this survivor from 1985 has low mileage and may have lived in a garage for a good portion of the past 40 years. Available here on craigslist, the asking price is just $3,300. The source of this minicar tip is Rocco B.!
If you were looking for cheap transportation in 1985, one of these little whizzbangs would set you back about $5,000. With a 1.0-liter inline-3, it would take a quarter of a minute to wind it up to 60 mph. And you could squeeze 50 miles for every gallon of gasoline, so take that, today’s hybrids. We don’t know if the options list was any longer than a note, but the seller’s Sprint (which he or she refers to as a Sprite) has a 5-speed tranny to keep you busy.
Most Japanese cars like this have long since found their way to the automotive graveyard. How this one has managed to survive is a testament to why imported cars became popular in the first place. For example, when was the last time you saw a Chevy Chevette from this era still out and about? It’s not perfect, but with 50k miles on the odometer, this micro-machine should have plenty of life left.
The seller has this Chevy’s original title as well as California blue/yellow license plates. We’re told it runs fine and has recently passed the state’s emissions test. If you’re looking for some cheap wheels as a second or third means of getting around, would you be up for giving this little runner a shot (the Chevy badging is bound to draw some curiosity)?
Buddy had one… backseats down, took the 2 of us and our gear to many hockey 🏒 games 👍 🚨
I learned to drive stick on one.
This looks like something that Scotty G. would fold himself into!!!
I had a 4 door version some years ago. Got it for $200 with a bad automatic. Found a 5 speed in a junkyard, and grabbed all the parts to swap it out. Had about 120k on it when I got it. Had 220k when I sold it for $500. That thing was great! And it would get 50 mpg reliably. If I was in the market for something like that I wouldn’t hesitate. It is gutless as heck, but 50mpg is hard to beat.
I find this far more interesting than the umpteenth 1964-72 Chevelle out there. So few left, i can’t even remember the last time I saw one. It would definitely be a hit at Radwood or any cars and coffee!
Bought one brand new, surprised my fisnce with it. Loved that car.
Slightly more crash protection than a motorcycle.
These are great little cars for towing behind your RV they are under 2000lbs so you don’t need the brake buddy attachment in most states. This should make someone a nice little car for years to come
Have owned 2, one 5-speed, one auto. The 5-speed hardly needed 5th gear, but auto could have easily used one more gear…..or two. Big difference in their freeway demeanors. Great little cars, though!
every time the gas price climbs round here the pickmeup
drivers look for one of these or the geo metro (same I believe
just more common round here in NE). Soon as it drops… back
to the pollutin gas hogs…
My brother had one badged as a Suzuki Forsa in Canada. He had over 330,000km on it and only got rid of it because it needed new shocks, brakes and tires when the alternator went. He hauled more in that car than most people do in their pickups
You are completely wrong about the 0 to 60 time. They were actually very quick for what it was. 0 to 60 times were closer to 12 to 14 sec.
I had a couple of these for parts delivery cars. Later I had a couple of Metros. GM decided they could build the Sprint cheaper in Canada, hence the Metro.
It was cheaper and not nearly as good.
A qtr minute is 16 seconds. So not much different from 12- 14 seconds really.