It may surprise you to learn that two of the cleaner Pontiac Sunbirds convertibles on eBay at the moment are selling for $6,000 and $9,000, respectively, at the moment. There’s also a third project-grade example with a starting bid of $250. This goes to show you that there’s still quite a range for J platform cars like the Sunbird and its corporate twin, the Chevrolet Cavalier, which were among the cheapest rides in existence when they were new and certainly when they became old, used cars. So, at some point, do the nice versions of these cheap cars become a touch more desirable? This 1992 Pontiac Sunbird SE convertible listed here on eBay is one of the examples mentioned above, listed for $9,000.

Personally, I can remember when these were littered all over my high school parking lot, and they were pretty much beaten to death at that time (middle to late 90s). They were the epitome of a car that a kid with a job at Dairy Queen could afford, and if you snagged a convertible version, it was even mildly cool. The trouble is they weren’t particularly well made when they were new and other than providing basic, utilitarian transportation, it wasn’t a standout in any particular way. The optional turbocharged powerplant made the car more interesting, but it wasn’t fast so the Sunbird continued to languish as a purely ordinary car.

Because of this, no one hoarded Sunbirds (or Cavaliers) or even tried all that hard to keep one in good condition. The difference is the convertible version, which at least seemed like a worthy summer companion, and occasionally pops up in preserved condition. This is not unlike the four-cylinder Ford Mustang convertible, which isn’t a great driver can occasionally be found in mint condition because its owners have used it solely as a summertime escape vehicle. The Sunbird shown here apparently enjoyed a similar existences, as the white leather seats are in excellent condition and the body shows barely any dings or other signs of wanton neglect. The color-coded white wheels are a nice touch as well.

Under the hood, this Sunbird came with the optional 3.1L V6, which was also the top engine choice in the model range. 140 horsepower and 185 lb.-ft. of torque was available with this engine, which was available on all models save for the base trim. The turbocharged powerplant was interesting, yes, but it wasn’t all that good; finding a Sunbird with the 3.1L V6 is the way to go. The engine bay is clean and shows no signs of modifications. I’m not sure this one will find a home at $9,000, but for the narrow market of buyers looking for car like this, pickings are likely fairly slim.