While finding a Cavalier convertible isn’t too challenging (but getting harder), its corporate sibling the Sunbird is far more obscure and near impossible to find in Turbo form. This is a bit of a unicorn, if you fancy GM products from the heydays of malaise, as it’s a Turbo Sunbird convertible with the manual transmission. There aren’t many of these left, but you’ll find this example here on craigslist in Cleveland for $2,900. Be sure to go here if the ad disappears.
The Sunbird sports decent paint, though some bumps and bruises are visible, which is to be expected for an economy car of this vintage. The Sunbird always stood out to my teenage eyes with its blacked-out taillight panel and slicer-style alloy wheels; those components remain in good shape here. The seller notes the heater core has been bypassed, and why not? You’d only drive this drop-top Turbo in good weather, surely.
The interior presents nicely, and we’re surprised to see the uncracked dash for a car that’s designed to live in the sun. The manual transmission and turbo mill is an ideal combination, though you still won’t be going fast. Check out the VW Bus in the background – if you’ve got one of those, the seller is willing to barter this Sunbird for another one, or a Porsche 914 if there’s one of those in your backyard taking up space.
The turbo is said to pull strongly, and even the power top still works. The seller notes that it’s never been driven in winter, possibly another reason why the heater core was never fixed. The obscurity of this Sunbird likely means you’ll have the only turbocharged convertible on the block, and you could do worst for $2,900 (I’m betting there’s some wiggle room on that price, too). Thanks to Barn Finds reader Edward VonCorcoran for the find.
$2K at the most and I would lie to everyone about paying that much.
Oh come on. People pay 5 times this much for a Mopar data and VIN plate. Live a little!
If this wasn’t a rag top I might even be seriously considering this one myself. Unfortunately I have an aversion to convertibles, particularly American unibodies that shake like Beyonce. But regardless, it is rare to see one this nice, or even at all. Most of these were destroyed by the middle of the 1990s.
Had a hatchback with the same drivetrain. Fun to drive…. until… FOOMP… the intake tube blew off the turbo. Happened all the time. No matter how tight the clamps, the tube wouldn’t stay put under prolonged boost. I still have some of the burn scars from the roadside repairs. Unfortunately, the head gasket didn’t want to stay put, either. The welded exhaust manifold was another trouble spot. These cars had steering racks mounted to the firewall, which led to cracks, something that might be a bigger problem without a roof.
I guess I’m trying to say “buyer beware.” There’s a reason there aren’t many turbo Sunbirds left.
It’s hard to find a decent running car for $2,900, much less something this cool and with only 57,000 miles.
My daughter had an 80s’ Sunbird turbo automatic,still fun to drive. She hadn’t changed her oil all year(10K mi.)When I checked the dipstick,hadn’t lost a drop and looked like it was just changed.I’ve never had a car go 2K and have oil that clean.Really impressed me.AFA this convert.,shows undercoat inside(see the red plugs?) and out,that’s a good thing.I’m not buying the heater core bypass/sunny weather car business.If it’s leaking,I believe the dash has to come out,(on later cars for sure)so if you can’t do the work,add $800.00 to the price.(that’s what my 99′ F150 cost me)Nice little car though.
these are fun cars, better with the 2.0 Turbo & 5-speed added a couple years later, but still a hoot to drive.
we had a sweet gold convertible briefly as a GM fleet company car when they were new & it was my first experience with torque steer.
when the 3-speed auto bit second gear at full throttle the steering wheel would nearly jump out of my hands as the front end shot across its lane toward the curb/ditch.
would love to have a manual GT convertible
My 87 Sunbird GT convertible was a ton of fun….until the head cracked in 4 places and billowed an ungodly amount of white smoke that could be seen for miles.
Surprisingly powerful car but GMs turbo efforts of that period were poor.
I also had an ’87 Sunbird but mine was the SE 2 door stick.
It was the first new car I ever bought.
I think I got like 4,000 miles out of it before it had a problem GM didn’t want to fix and blamed me.
If a fuel injected car doesn’t accelerate when the engine is cold, that is not a driver problem but rather a computer problem.
The dealer told GM it was a driver problem and the car never got fixed.
Wow 😲 Like you said, there aren’t many of these around anymore, especially one as clean as this. The pictures don’t show where the amateur rust fixes are on the doors? My Dad & I test drove one of these when new, and it was a quick little car! I’d certainly run a CarFax and see what this has been through. I know it doesn’t go as far back as 84, but hopefully it could give some information about repairs over the years, definitely checking for work on the turbo, timing chain/belt, and gaskets. But for $2900 bucks, you can’t go too wrong with this here on the West Coast!!
1981 + newer VIN is good for modern vehicle history reports. Actually have benifitted in the past by learning previous history. Not advocating any vehicle history reporting agency…Research is always a part of my decision.
Being the doting uncle that I am, I would
buy this for my neice–if the heater core
wasn’t toast. Sad to think that I won’t be
teaching her to drive a 4-speed stick in
this car. Very nice, but I prefer to put
her into something that isn’t going to
cost an arm and a leg to fix before she
could even learn to drive it.
Are you sure this can be called a 1st gen? I had a 79 sunbird when I was 16, I don’t remember it looking too much like this. It was more like a Chevy Monza than a cavalier
First generation of the J Body J2000/2000/Sunbird. Pontiac used three names in successive years.
Your 79 Sunbird was an H Body based on the Vega platform
This would be perfect for someone new to the hobby with a limited budget. Buy it, detail it, fix what’s broke & go cruising. I’m sure it would be the only one there plus it will certainly get plenty of attention being a convertible with a turbo, stick & A/C. Seen a couple of them online both automatics, high mileage & wire wheel covers. One was $3300 & the other was $3500. I think his price is a fair asking price & I bet he’d take $2500. Buy it, take care of it & keep it for ten years & it will only go up in value. Plus it has documentation.
Bought my first Turbo hardtop in 84 when I was 25 and owned an 85 after for a year. Both sticks and loved them. I couldn’t afford a convertible then.A few years ago I hunted down another 84 and daily drove it as I restored it. My turbo now resides with my 84 3800SC Fiero as a stablemate. They are driven and loved. They both average 21 and 26 mpg.
Pic of the Fiero.
And I just replaced my heater core 2 months ago when it started to smell inside out the vents. This car is actually very easy to do. Just involves dropping a lower panel on the heat and A/C box in the center under the dash. The harder part is getting to the hoses outside the firewall behind the engine. Much easier on a lift. The tricky part is getting the right core. Parts stores will give you the wrong one. Found the right number on the J-Body forum and sourced one on Ebay for 40.00. The with A/C core is very different.
Had one of these, same engine, same colour, same interior. Bought in Sun Valley ID, driven over all of the western states, taken to Victoria BC and then to good old europe! A quite good car never let me down for 130k miles. Sold it with 165k on the clock to Munic and only saw it again on the road. Still have the convertible amendment booklet somewhere in my collection ;-). Body shake is not bad at all or you get accustomed to it? It would do incredible speeds, hat it all the way around the clock into the end of the fuel gauge, but would not do it for a long time as the engine would get bloody hot.
Only things that needed replacement was the turbo and the exhaust manifold.
All the best from Tyrol, still great snow for skiing here folks!
Indeed a rare ‘bird. For those who dismiss or “rip” on these, the context of time back then needs to be understood. This was one of a few examples that were pulling us out of the malaise era. Very few first year turbo Sunbird convertibles were made and keep in mind that this car was rated at 150 hp when the standard Trans Am V8 was also rated at 150 hp.
I was able to drive them when new and at that time what a cool car. Still is. First one I drove was white on white, light gray interior w/automatic and leather wrap wheel. Not many new convertibles from any brand were on the road in ’84. These turbo Sunbirds were an absolute hot rod compared to the standard versions. Anyone remember how painfully slow the first ’82 J2000 was?
These also had the handling suspension and didn’t keel over in the corners. These were also typically high content cars when ordered. look at the equipment and trim in this one compared to the standard Sunbird.
Here’s hoping the right person buys this and carefully restores it. Admittedly, some parts will not be easy to find!
AFA my previous post about the PITA heater core fix,I wasn’t sure about the years in which the whole dash has to come out,but if what pmandrews1 says is true(easy fix),for the money,this car is well worth looking at.