There was a time when just about every day of the week you’d see one (or several) S10/S15 Jimmy/Blazer examples driving around, doing middle-class America things because the Explorer didn’t exist yet. But on account of salt, rust, neglect, and the general “use it up” that happens to trucks in this country, that time is no more.
But is our pristine Rare Ride of today worth anywhere near the sucker-punch $15,000 its owner is asking?
First, let’s get some things out of the way. This five-tone Jimmy S15 is from 1988, and has just 57,000 miles on the clock. Most examples of these sturdy vehicles had those sort of miles shortly after Ronald Reagan left office, so someone’s cared for and not driven this one.
The paint is excellent, and I can guarantee if you went into any showroom in America at any day between 1999 and 2017, there would be no new vehicles for sale with such an awesome paint scheme. I suppose the closest thing we have today would be a Gladiator conversion van with ombre paint.
Nor would there be any vehicles with such perfect, polished, salt-shaker wheels.
This Jimmy is fairly high spec as well. Tow package, power equipment, 4×4, and a sunroof. Just about all it’s missing is leather seats, and you wouldn’t want ’80s GM leather at this age anyway.
And it’ll all be reliable, because under the hood is the thirsty-but-sturdy 4.3-liter Vortec V6. But the praise for this Jimmy ends here, because I just caught sight of that asking price again, and I’m filled with rage.
You see, though this Jimmy appeared on Craigslist in the Detroit area with a price tag of $15,000 (previously no price listed), this isn’t the first time it’s had a 4SALE sign on it. Just this past Sunday, the eBay listing ended for this very vehicle. It got bid up to a high-enough-already $5,750 and did not meet the reserve. That’s probably because our listing seller wants nearly three times that amount to sell this obviously-a-flip vehicle.
I’m here to say no. No to $15,000. No to “I know what I’ve got” sellers who price something sky-high looking to make a fast buck off of a sucker. Get real, and maybe you’ll find a real buyer for your Rare Ride. Until then, get outta here.
[Images via Craigslist]
He wants Typhoon money for a mint 4×4? Ummm no sale!
Last year, when I was thinking about a new car, I found a local seller with a Typhoon and a Syclone. Both appeared to be in excellent condition. She only wanted $18K for the pair.
Maybe he thinks it’s a Wagoneer.
“thirsty-but-sturdy 4.3-liter Vortec V6”
About a decade too soon for that mill.
I’m afraid not, it was optional starting in 1988. This one *could* have it.
I looked it up on Wikipedia to be sure.
“Jeep replaced the Cherokee’s 2.8 V6 with a new, more powerful 4.0 L, 173 hp (129 kW) I6 in 1987. To keep competitive, the Blazer and Jimmy received a new 4.3 L (262 cu in) V6 option in 1988 (also used with the Astro/Safari vans, short wheelbase G-series vans, and light duty C/K (1500 series) trucks), based on the ubiquitous Chevrolet Small-Block V8 engine, producing a respectable 150 hp (110 kW). Power output was increased to 160 hp (120 kW) in 1989. The 2.8L was discontinued in 1990 for the Blazer and Jimmy where the 4.3L became the de facto base motor…”
4.3 yes, Vortec no.
They started calling it Vortec in 1985 because of its swirl-type combustion chamber, which created a vortex of fuel/air mixture.
Ford called the Tempo four cylinder engine the HSC for the same reason (High Swirl Combustion).
Edit–
again, from Wikipedia:
“The name [Vortec] first appeared in a 1984 advertisement for the 1985 model year 4.3 L V6 that used “vortex technology” to create a vortex inside the combustion chamber, creating a better air/fuel atomization. “
Ha, so they did. I was thinking of the redesigned 1996 heads.
“Swirlie” would have been catchier.
ALL truck 4.3s were called Vortec at one time or another.
ALL. Of them.
Then, whenever GM rolled out an improved version of the engine, the older model would simply be referred-to as the 4.3 V6. The NEW one was “Vortec.” Or sometimes “Enhanced Vortec.”
BUT the internals were always the same. Roller cam and, as John-95 correctly notes, swirl-port heads.
I’ve owned two ’85s, an ’86, ’89, ’95, two ’97s and a ’99. The ’97 I currently own is being sold to a neighbor as a parts-or-fixup deal, as he currently also owns a 2000.
As for the SBC Gen 1 V8s, they transitioned to roller cams between 1987-96 depending on application. The swirl-port heads came for ’96, and then the V8s were called Vortec too.
I thought the 2.8 fitted to the Cherokee and Comanche arrived in 86 with 160hp.
87 it was.
No that was vortex… the vortec actually didn’t arrive until 1991. Vortec is actually in the head design and the mutipoint injectors inside the intake manifold.
The 4.3 got Vortec in 1991 and the v8 engines got it in 1996.
So this is 3 years prior to Vortec. The 4.3 Vortec also almost always incorporated a balance shaft as well.
The engine in this truck would just be a throttle body injected unit with no balance shaft
I want to agree with you and Bumpy in that the true Vortec engine has specific heads and whatnot and wasn’t around until the 1990s, but the info I found seemed to indicate it was called Vortec back in the 1980s.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Motors_Vortec_engine
I think if you opened the hood of this Jimmy, you would not find the word Vortec anywhere. I will bow to logic and say its not what we know as the Vortec, despite evidence to the contrary.
Here’s an ad showing the “Vortec” moniker existed in ’85.
73-87.com/7387info/ads_GM/84_vortec.jpg
Someone will buy it believing that, three-to-five years from now, the vintage car bug for ’80s cars will catch up and he’ll be able to resell it again for $25k.
Hell, late-’80s IROCs are starting to creep up in value.
Agreed Corey.
I can find these out west all the time, maybe not this low mileage and top condition (I only search $2k and under), but I could buy a while fleet of them for this guy’s asking price. I also found a Blazer with a 350 installed to replace the terrible 2.8L V-6 earlier models had. Runs. Drives. 4wd works. Less than $2k.
Its absolutely idiotic to ask $15k for an old Jimmy. He should have taken the eBay bid and ran. Nearly $6k is still insane. It could be that the idiot was the sucker who paid too much for it, now he has to prove to the wifey that its not a pile of burning cash like she said it was.
I like the two door Jimmy, but I’m afraid my Oldsmobile sickness has me pining for a Bravada. I would love a 1995-1997, despite the old style dash. Why? The Rocket logo of course.
I wonder if one could make a 350 (or even a 307) Oldsmobile V-8 work with the Bravada’s SmartTrac AWD? Probably all the way to the end of the driveway, lol.
Throttle body injection would be a must, we don’t take 1990s vehicles A step backwards with carburetors, or at least I wouldn’t.
Since I don’t have permission to edit my comment, I’ll just leave this here.
S10 Blazer w/350
https://seattle.craigslist.org/kit/cto/6043009907.html
Something for gtem and other vintage Camry fans
https://seattle.craigslist.org/see/cto/6054473694.html
Wow, that Camry for a grand…a little Earl Scheib and you’d be good to go. If it were here in Denver, I’d consider it for my kids.
Its not my style, I actually hate those. Although a DX manual is probably how I’d take one with a gun to my head.
But, I know some around here appreciate them.
It would be hilarious to park that Blazer on my street and watch the complaints roll in.
Oh, I would live to F with an HOA. Can’t have a pickup in my driveway? Gotta be a car? Oh, well this lovely 1988 Corsica with more miles than paint will be just fine, then. Enjoy.
No HOA here, just a lot of nosy neighbors very concerned about preserving their windfalls from the crazy Seattle housing market. Municipal code has a 72-hour street parking limit. If a car like that sat without moving for 72 hours and 1 minute, someone would be on the phone with the city to get it impounded.
(Meanwhile, my LS460 sat on the curb, sometimes for two weeks at a time, for a couple of months before I was able to do garage surgery so it could fit in the garage. Obviously no complaints.)
Funny how that works.
The Church demands this happen.
https://allentown.craigslist.org/cto/6012642250.html
Lol at people putting words in their “key words” section that’s already located in the ad, usually the title.
“1992 Honda Accord EX Coupe 5 speed manual!
Runs good, needs cleaning.
Key words: Honda Coupe Accord EX manual”
WTF?
That Blazer is clean, but if I got a 4 door, it would have to be a Bravada.
I’ve learned through reading to just stick to a special edition later Envoy, or Jimmy Diamond or TrailBlazer model and avoid the AWD. The extra wear and tear components and complexity isn’t worth the trouble.
Plus, you get worse fuel mileage.
Point taken…
But Oldsmobile.
Lol seriously, though, I do like the GMC versions. And at least I could get a two door.
I like the 99-01 IIRC Envoys. They got much nicer trim and lots of leather on the interior. As well, there was smoother cladding, and ENVOY stitched into the doors.
And the Jimmy Diamond was near opulent.
http://images.gtcarlot.com/gtgallery/photo.php?id=14823256
That’s a legitimate factory GM luxury SUV from the early ’00s?!
Yes, that’s correct. I believe it was for 2000 only? Special cladding, color options, interior, and one-off grille guard with integrated fog lamps.
http://blazerforum.com/forum/attachments/general-chat-34/1262d1253054349-new-gmc-jimmy-diamond-edition-mvc-441s.jpg
http://images59.fotki.com/v459/photos/4/41590/841111/IM002173-vi.jpg
http://images.gtcarlot.com/pictures/38077962.jpg
I have seen those, including one in person at a GM dealer in Marysville, Wa some years back (was there looking at a 1992 Ford Explorer XLT 4 door 4wd 5 speed, which I loved, but not enough to buy).
They are really nice. But, if it wasn’t a Baravada, it’d probably a ZR2 (?) 2 door 4wd Blaze/Jim.
Not the Diamond Edition again. That’s like C3, it has… mysterious powers.
Powers of prestige and luxury, unlike any other GMT330.
I suppose, but there is no denying the esoteric and puissant nature of some models.
static.cargurus.com/images/site/2008/02/22/16/20/volvo_780-pic-42730-1600×1200.jpeg
http://roa.h-cdn.co/assets/16/42/980×490/landscape-1476733325-delorean.jpg
http://www.vaultcars.com/wp-content/uploads/63Avanti4Speed-0022.jpg
http://cdn.barrett-jackson.com/staging/carlist/items/Fullsize/Cars/138274/138274_Rear_3-4_Web.jpg
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7c/Audi_C3_Avant_front_20071012.jpg
Now that quilted leather is the latest garish-luxury trend, the Diamond Edition is ahead of its time!
Maybe the next trend will be rounded, oversized, medium gray plastic switchgear.
Ha, my Tahoe’s interior resembles that second bit.
28 you mean a GMC C3 Sierra?
My old manager at the GM dealer was telling me about those when I stopped in for a visit a while after I had quit working there. He was infatuated with it. I must admit, it was a sexy beast. I loved the burnt orange GMC had back then. I want to say the C3 had it, but I’m not 100% on that.
I’m referring to this:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Audi_100#Audi_100.2C_200_and_5000_.28C3.2C_1982.E2.80.931991.29
In the land before time, GM trucks had a C/K designation. “C” indicated RWD and “K” 4WD. Later the names such as “Sierra” came to denote trim levels of said C/K truck.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_C/K
An Audi. I’d have never guessed.
I know about C/K. You should see how people react when I call a 1985 Chevy 4×4 half ton truck a “K10”. What? That’s what it is. You know what a K5 is, dontchya? Same naming scheme.
I loved the original Olds Bravada when they came out. I don’t know how well they sold but the additions they made to it looked really sharp in that era.
I will say though, I had a few friends with various version of this Blazer/Jimmy and they were pretty awful in the reliability dept.
Buying one now would probably be a never ending project.
I agree. I always was drawn to the Olds version when they came out in 1991 (? I think).
I had a 1995 Chevy Blazer. It was a royal POS. I’m sure any of them now would be a headache to keep going, hell it was less than 10 years old at the time with around 100k miles. That does not bode well for reliability prospects, although I have seen them with well over 200k. That could just mean they dumped lots of money into it to make it that far, lol. If my Blazer was any indication, it was a lost cause.
The Bravada didn’t sell well in gen 1 guise, I think for two reasons.
-Olds customers were not SUV sort of people, as they were quite old.
-The Bravada was quite a LOT more expensive than a Jimmy.
1993:
Bravada $25349
Jimmy $18287
Blazer $17953
So worth the extra $7,062 for the same damn thing plus Olds specific seats, AWD transfer case, and a few custom dash pieces.
Found me a first gen Bravada that needs some of the old spit-n-shine routine
https://seattle.craigslist.org/est/cto/6022928170.html
I like the color, if it wouldn’t buff out, I would maybe go with a candy red. Keep it classy. Lol! I guess I would need some dubs, but I’d rather just have some off-road tires mounted in the Olds rims, with either the gold removed or painted body color.
The 4.3 is a 5.7 minus the three and six cylinders. A 350 will bolt right up to the transmission. The T-case in the SmartTrak as well as the awd Astro/Safari…Sy/Ty too actually; is a Borg Warner viscous Coupling unit with a 60/40 split. I’d prefer it to the 96+ ecu controlled unit, whic was used in the TrailblazerSS, and I think Aerostar AWD.
No, these time capsules never really go for the money the owners think they should go for. But they’ll spend the rest of their lives trying to get it.
It has to be something with a following. I could easily see a Typhoon going for that number and more, but not this.
I would always love to know the stories behind cars like this and why they were never used.
Seeing this though reminds me how much cooler even smaller SUVs were than what we have now with blob shaped CUVs.
I smell gasoline.
The GM 4.3L fuel injection “spider” is notorious for starting to malfunction and dumping hilarious amounts of fuel into the manifold, leading to that very rich smelling exhaust. Whenever I smell that in traffic, I look around and 9/10 times it’s a beat up mid 90s Blazer/Jimmy limping along. They also have fantastically noisy/squeaky suspensions as idler arms wear prematurely.
I can usually spot a C/K in traffic when I smell lots of raw gasoline. They’re extremely popular around here.
These aren’t C/K vehicles, that designation is for full sized trucks. These have S/T designation, T being 4WD.
Is this really worth getting all that nostalgic over?
Methinks not.
You forgot to take your Anticynica 330mg today.
True, I often forget about that particular med.
I’m not into trucks, but I can think of some that might be worth getting nostalgic over. This isn’t one of them.
They upped his dose to 400.
It’s a $6500-7900 car to the right person.
I had my mind set on $5700 as reasonable, before it had a Craigslist price and before it went on Ebay.
Having just completed a search for a good, decent used vehicle for my oldest son, I came away amazed (though I probably shouldn’t have been) at what people were asking for even high-mileage and well-worn cars. Add a premium for any kind of “unique” or “rare” (at least in their minds) features or editions. “Hey, it’s the Southern Hemisphere, Mason-Dixon Line Special Edition,” so it has to be worth eleventy-thousand dollars, right?
I settled for a 2003 Taurus Wagon (sorry, 3.0 Vulcan, not DOHC) with 59k verified on the odometer for $4250. I felt that was fair for a car that looked and drove as if it had just rolled off the assembly line. Not my taste in cars, but should fill the need for what the son needs. As for the Jimmy? Holy crap. No. Take off that first #1 in the price and then maybe. “Low miles” does not always equate to “high price.”
You won’t be sorry for the Vulcan when you have to change the alternator.
If I was gonna be stupid…
streetsideclassics.com/vehicles/3417-atl/1989-oldsmobile-toronado
Now that’s *personal* luxury.
*gasp*
Nope. Not when the Trofeo exists.
grautogallery.com/vehicles/4752/1991-oldsmobile-toronado-trofeo
I feel like I need the blue one *AND* the red one.
Red and white are the correct colors for Final Trofeo!
*drool*
BRUTUS: ‘Tis very like. He hath the falling sickness.
CASSIUS: No, Dal hath it not. But you and I
And honest Casca, we have the falling sickness.
Julius Caesar, Act I, Scene II
Both those cars are so old, how could you trust them? You’d bring back stranding from the sh1thole of the past.
Trust them to do what? All they need to do is make me happy.
They would just be a fun weekend Dairy Queen car to fill my second or third garage slot racking up like 3000 miles a year.
Because everything old is worthless? Only some of their comments.
We all know cars from the 1990s are never suitable for driving, only crushing to make more CUVs.
Drive old junkers and MAGA!
ajla, nobody could POSSIBLY be happy in an older car. It. Isn’t. Possible.
Nobody likes a car older than 2005. Nobody.
I have had the pleasure of driving one. It was one of the tech’s mother’s car. Evidently it was having trouble passing emissions. He told me to go drive it around for a while to get it nice and warm, and test it again. It passed.
I knew it was special and I believe I appreciated it. The dash was trippy.
I wonder who they think the market is advertising 96 month financing??!!
…this is what every Calais on planet Earth aspired to be. And then they all died. Such sadness.
I saw this post change from Achieva to Calais. What black magic is this?
You said Achieva originally, and I wondered what you were on about.
I’ll be damned if I didn’t find a mint Calais today. Evidently it isn’t running too well, but it looks so clean for its age, and who could complain about the price?
https://seattle.craigslist.org/see/cto/6037216500.html
But, I’d really rather get this FWD Olds coupe. Anybody know where I can find a shifter cable? Lol
https://phoenix.craigslist.org/cph/cto/6028308092.html
What? Too old? Fine:
https://knoxville.craigslist.org/cto/6047369625.html
Damn, I got the sickness bad.
Down with the sickness.
That SCX is a possible buy, but that Alero is $500 at best.
“With the 3.0 liter V-6, it WAS running so well for a long time”
That Calais’ motor is descended from the LORD, def buy for S&G.
The Alero has a manual, the 2.4L and its a coupe. It Isn’t a loaded example, but the basics are there. Alloys and leather seats are just a junkyard trip away.
You know how many EcoTec and 3400 models I have to go through to find one with the trifecta of 2.4L/coupe/5spd?
Might be a fun buy but not for 18 or whatever nutty number he put on it. I also noticed the 2.4 is the LD9 which is a Quad-4 evolution. Not impressing me, 60V6 > Quad 4 despite Orange Death. This example needs a swap to Our Lord of Eternal Torque.
“The LD9 Twin Cam was a 2.4 L (146 cu in) Quad 4 variant with balance shafts, and a redesigned cylinder head which debuted in 1996.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quad_4_engine#LD9
Oh I’m quite aware of its Quad 4 roots. That is why it is THE engine I want in my Oldsmoble. The last engine related to an original/independent Oldsmobile design, in the last car (line) sold by the brand.
We can find you a 3400 coupe to hack up and transplant a 3800 into. It’ll already be an automatic. They’re a dime a dozen. I often find them with (gasp) engine failure.
I wish I could transport you back in time to the 90s so you could truly experience Quad-4. Not a great way for Olds engine dev to go out.
No need, I have experience with it. I worked on a GM lot in the early 2000s, they were everywhere. Mostly in Pontiac cars as I recall.
I also drove a tan 2.4L Alero sedan (auto) around a bit while working at the Lincoln-Mercury dealer. I remember the shifter knob being loose. We also had a 1996 (IIRC) Grand Am come in on trade with the Quad 4. I drove that Pontiac back and forth to work for a while as my Toyota Camry was making me very angry (lets just leave it at that, shall we?).
Yes, it had its faults (head gasket being the most prevalent I believe), but it was very advanced and very powerful for its size at the time.
Meh. I’m happy with my 2004 GLS. Leather is crapped out, but everything works. Getting a manual in an Alero meant poverty-spec GX, so you couldn’t even get several options if you wanted them. Your example has crank windows, for instance.
Yeah, you’re right, but its the powertrain I’m most interested in. Its more of a “sporty compact” than it is a PLC, so manual windows are acceptable.
I have seen 2.4L/manual models with alloys, rear spoiler, etc.
I’m glad you like yours, but the ideal Alero to me is a 2.4/5spd/coupe.
One of the last vehicles made in my home state New Jersey. The vehicle is probably worth about $3500.
The only S15’s worth $15,000 are Typhoons, Syclones, and Silvias that came overnight from Japan
$3000 And no more, it’s in nice shape, but an old truck is still an old truck with old rubbers and plastics.
Don’t most mail trucks share frames with these old Blazers? At least that and their vintage Iron Dukes seem to hold up.
Yes on the mail truck commonality.
I have a 99 Sonoma.
Reliability on stuff like power window switches is annoying.
But the basic package is quite robust.
Availability of parts (used and new) is among the best and prices very low.
Basically the same platform was built in high volume from 82 to 03, with continuing evolution in the drivetrains and new cab sheet metal in 94.
That’s the best part of old domestic designs, cheap common parts abound. Not what I’d call a classic but a decent beater.
Don’t drive these things anywhere except around your neighborhood. Even by ’80s standards the crash safety is exceedingly poor.
Nice find, Commandant.
If it was the last of the solid front axle FS GMC Jimmy’s then it would go for big money because people actually want/desire those. No one desires or thinks an ’88 S15 Jimmy is cool. Nice shape but really who cares. Good luck getting anywhere near $15K for that. The gages they put in those things were the absolute worst – YUCK!
Speak for yourself. I think it’s a cool little truck. Not nearly $15k cool, and a death trap, but cool.
When I was shopping for a small truck (PU/SUV) to handle my summer/winter towing duties I looked at these. But once I opened the door and saw what was behind it, game over.
It checks ALL the boxes.
They’re not makin’ any more of these!
Future Classic.
I know what I have, no lowballers, don’t waste my time.
RARE COLOR RARE COLOR.
(I’d offer him $3K. $15K is only if this was a mint Syclone)
Syclone might be a “classic” buy. Maybe. This? Meh. This is just for the lulz.
I have a soft spot for large two-door SUVs (the big C/K two-door Blazers are my type of ride). While these ones are smaller they would scratch a similar itch for me. $3K would be an easy price, since I’m familiar with working on them and I’d at least put it to use. This sucker looks like it needs to see some crawling time.
The person selling this is suffering delusions of craigslist for $15K. I snorted.
I liked those big 2 door SUVs too.
https://dothan.craigslist.org/cto/6026469208.html
A Vortec 350 can be had…well you know. You can’t throw a rock with out it bouncing off of two of them.
If I got one of the S series SUVs, it’d be closer to $1500 than $15000
Case in point:
https://okaloosa.craigslist.org/cto/6011136446.html
I read all that in Mr. Regular’s voice.
Then my work here is done.
Kind of cool to find, but Jesus, look at that dashboard. My friend was going to buy his first vehicle in 1987 and he really liked the exterior look of the S10 Blazer. He came back from the dealer and told me the “hockey puck” dash was a deal killer. Not to mention the incredibly cheap plastics inside and horrific interior fit. His father, burned by late 70s early 80s Detroit offered some financial help if he went Japanese. A 1987 4Runner was his choice and it served him well. At least he gave Chevy another shot and has since bought three Silverados plus some for his company. Wonder what he would be buying today had he purchased that Blazer…
The truck in question here would be a cool time machine…for about $4K
Maybe if it was a mint Eddie Bauer edition Bronco, but not $15k for this.
Major drool factor for me. But yes the price is just in the stratosphere. If I’m spending exorbitant money on a rust-prone 80s SUV, it better have a Land Cruiser badge on it. If I had Jay Leno type space and money, I’d definitely scoop it up though. I’d have a whole fleet of 80s-90s SUVs and reenact Motorweek comparison tests on my vast acreage of offroad park. A man can dream…
youtu.be/yaR_D49V6A0
Motorweek really took a liking to their test Blazer with the 4.3 and rated it quite highly in the test.
Do you look like John Davis? I can do the voice, but I don’t have the physique.
LOL
“That’s one comparison we don’t WANT to make!”
-John Davis
The best:
youtu.be/ebb_1hM5APQ
Monterooo! SR, that’s the top trim at that time.
Their YouTube person is very active and pays attention, by the way. I was on a video once, and someone had commented “I wonder if MW actually pays attention to any of these old videos.”
An hour later, there was a reply. “MotorWeek: Hey, what’s up?”
Yeah I couldn’t resist inquiring about whether the infallible John Davis misspoke about the SR tester having a measly 3.0L SOHC. My friend just road tripped from CA to SC in his very used and abused 2nd gen LS with that base motor (they were rated at 177hp by the end of that gen). He’s got the same General Grabber All terrains as I do, and got about 15-16 mpg, knowing him driving 75mph+.
14 seconds to 60 isn’t great on that base HP. Weird seeing one without the airbag wheel, I want to say that happened for 1994. So the next video was the 89 Land Cruiser test, which Toyota made them go get from California, and drive back to the east coast!
youtube.com/watch?v=uRLCzteuqKY
Man that thing was outdated in 89. Look at that interior. And really the styling overall.
Corey the FJ62 (quad headlight luxified FJ60 body) is definitely an acquired taste and a bit of a controversial rig among LC aficionados. On the one hand it marked the official departure of the LC from a utilitarian workhorse to a luxury Wagoneer-demographic suburban cruiser. No more stick shift. But it did gain fuel injection and as I recall some upgrades in certain component stoutness (the axles maybe?). I happen to think they are handsome, but yes quite outdated by ’89. Most by now have gotten GM powerplant transplants (for massive gain in both MPG and power) and have been all around significantly reworked for better offroad performance and better usability all around. If I were building one I’d put in a Chevy Vortec 4.3 backed up with a 5spd manual, and keep the lift/tires fairly modest.
Good info! As usual, you know your 4×4 stuff. I can’t recall the last time I saw a quad headlamp LC.
Well I’m less tan and less bald, and nowhere as heavy….so no unfortunately I probably fall short in both respects. Do generally have a positive outlook on vehicles and am not hyper-critical, and get a kick out of comparing super mundane things like interior room, cargo capacities, various technical specs so I have that going. Honestly I’ll take John Davis and Motorweek over any number of modern review outlets, albeit part of that opinion is biased by retro Motorweek featuring old cars I like more than new ones. Read a try-hard review of a ’17 Forester on Jalopnik and it really triggered me lol. Many misuses of offroad / 4wd hardware terminology.
That’ll teach you about reading Jalopnik, eh?
I get desperate some days when TTAC is short on articles that I find interesting, but yeah I should know better.
Jalopnik is a car blog based in Manhattan, a place where only cabbies, contractors, and lunatics drive. It reads accordingly.
I was a poster there…until I found this place.
Honestly the only thing better was the commenting system itself. You can add pics, and links don’t have to be copy and pasted.
Other than that, meh.
Gtem you and I are a lot alike, even if you would fall out over a 1991 Camry where I would do the same on a Taurus. Doesn’t matter that the specific vehicles are different, we share a passion. Most of us here do, but you and I appreciate cars that aren’t appreciated…yet.
If I won the lottery, it would be far easier to track the money that *didn’t* go towards my massive car collection and gift cars for my friends and family.
I honestly can’t think of anything else…other than a big piece of land, which relates because it would be very remote and would most assuredly have trails where Jimmys, Broncos, XJs, Sammys, Monteros, Troopers, Land Cruisers and plenty of others can do what they are supposed to do: have fun. You’re all invited. I’ll just make a formal announcement when it happens haha.
Oh and I’d have to build a series of metal buildings to safely store the cars of my collection (the SUVs can be under a shed, except the Bronco and K5s with permanently removed tops). I guess I’d need a house, but I’d probably spend most of my not-driving time in the shop.
We could run a series on TTAC modeled after Top Gear’s cheap car challenges with the likes of Captain Slow, Hamster and Jezza who would be replaced by me, Corey and 28 I guess.
Yes, in every episode, I will have a Ford, Corey a Japanese luxury car, and 28 some GM 3800mobile. :D
I am ready for TTATV!
Wow I can star on my own show, can we run religious ads for the Church as well?
REPENT YE SINS AND BOW DOWN TO ETERNAL TORQUE.
Well, you will be driving one of the prophets, while constantly being bumped by a ratty Lexus on your 6 every time you slow down.
Corey, Rare Rides candidate:
https://seattle.craigslist.org/see/cto/6057559851.html
In case its gone, its a 1991 Mazda 626 5 door hatchback.
Nice 626, haven’t seen one in ages in salt country.
Believe it or not I have seen Series II/III dyno’d to almost 300bhp with the right mods (youtube a few years back). The increased power requires a swap to the 4T80 trans (which powers Northstar) and I believe there are only a handful of shops sick enough to build such a thing.
That sounds awesome. 300 hp in a Lumina with wheel covers. Talk about a sleeper.
What is the most obscure 3800 product you’ve driven? I once had a go in a 1980s Buick Century T-Type with a 3800, leather buckets and other neat stuff. That is what gave me the idea of dropping one in a Pontiac 6000. It was my favorite flavor of that car family.
I wonder if a 3800 would fit in something like a Calais?
That I have driven? Delta 88 Coupe, can’t remember MY. The wiki says it was LG2/LG2, which is pre-LN3 (which itself is pre-Series I). I’m not sure if it was ever available in the 6000, maybe the wagon. LN3 or Series I was available in later A-body wagons (Buick def, I think Olds too, not sure on C-P-C’s A-body wagons).
I think Calais is an early N-body, it should fit.
This is basically heaven to me:
youtu.be/NhhW5l1cTZI?t=232
Call it what you will, but that looks like a good freakin time right there. Maybe with a bit less wanton abuse of the rigs, and less drinking while wheeling.
That Comanche is hilarious, kinda want one now.
I love that Montero. I have wanted another Japanese SUV since I sold my Trooper.
Montero, Trooper or Sammy.
$5,500 on a good day.
If some sucka bid $5750 then take the money.
Old man around the corner from me has something for sale like this. A 1990 Ford F-150 single cab, 302 V8 (supposedly just rebuilt), and an automatic. Nothing special, but It does look nice and he might be the original owner. Truth be told, it looks mint. The asking price on it? $12k
I used to walk past it often and think about making an offer before the for sale sign appeared. After that, well, pffftt. It’s been sitting in his driveway wearing the sign now since October. Around late January he brought the price down to $9500. Still sittin’.
Well he is in Denver… ;)
Damn that thing is clean. My first car was an ’85 Chevy s-10 blazer (2-door) with a dent in the front passenger side quarter panel. I had the unfortunate experience of the 2.8L V6 and so it was no rocket, but I will say that the inside sure felt larger than it looked. 4 high-school students rode comfortably in that beast.
the only 2 types i could see buying it are people that had one and loved it at the time, or people that always wanted one but couldnt get one but now they can. or reliving their youth, etc…
in that case, yeah, they could get full price. theres a butt for every seat if they look hard enough
This thing is worth $3500 tops. Period.