The Chevy Cavalier nameplate was in production for nearly a quarter century between 1981 and 2005, with General Motors reintroducing the the Cavalier for the Chinese market in 2016. A total of three generations came and went in the U.S., and now, this surprisingly well-kept example from the 1991 model year is up for sale.
This particular example hails from the second generation, which was produced between 1987 and 1994 for the 1988 through 1994 model years. During that time period, the Chevy Cavalier was offered as a two-door coupe, two-door convertible, four-door sedan, and five-door station wagon, with this example rocking the wagon layout.
The Chevy Cavalier certainly has the look of an early-‘90s-era automobile, with straight, square proportions and boxy lines front to back. The headlamps are rectangular and separated by a rectangular grille insert, while the bumpers offset the white paint with a black finish, complemented by black trim in the doors and window surrounds. A set of roof rails are found up top.
Inside, this Chevy Cavalier wagon is equipped with dark blue interior upholstery, as well as an AM/FM radio tuner in the dash. The door-mounted seatbelts are also classic ‘90s through and through.
Under the skin, the Chevy Cavalier is based on the J-body platform, with a front-engine, front-wheel drive powertrain layout. Motivation is sourced from a naturally aspirated 2.2L four-cylinder engine, the base-level engine option, rated at 95 horsepower. The engine is mated to a three-speed automatic transmission.
All told, this 1991 Chevy Cavalier wagon looks surprisingly clean for a car that’s three decades old. Mileage is set at 27,027 miles, with one owner in its history.
Now, this Chevy Cavalier is listed for sale by Garage Kept Motors at $17,900. The listing also includes a video of the wagon starting and idling, plus a brief look at the interior, exterior, and under the hood.
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Source: Garage Kept Motors
Comments
I’ve always liked those little wagons. What a versatile little car that could really do a lot without high costs associated with larger vehicles and bigger engines. The visibility out on these things were fantastic. Not a blind spot to be found. I feel that the 1984 and 1985 years looked the best and I liked the front end better. I’d love to have one of these, but not at nearly $18,000. That car brand new would have been what…….about $13,000?
I had this cavalier wagon as a company car for its first 75000 miles. Just changed oil, filters, tires and kept it alligned. Great economy and all around vehicle! Loved it.
The Cavalier got a bad rap from many who “knew better”. But, given even some maintenance, they were a good, durable little car that did what it was designed to do, and it didn’t pretend to be anything but what it was.
I miss the days of cars that resembled cars, and not the jelly-bean cars we have today. There is not a lot the manufacturers can do because they are chasing every last tiny bit of fuel mileage they can, thanks to Our Betters in Washington being involved in something that is none of their business.
Back when minorities were willing to do an honest days work for an honest days pay.
Are you on the correct site? This is an auto blog, not hate site, Melania.
Another piece of automotive history best wiped from your memory bank.
What makes you say that? Many of us remember the Cavalier.
Cars of that era were a crappy design,this one actually lived on as the cobalt and similar names until 2010.R.I.P
I believe until 2016 or 2017 under the Chevy Cruze.
Cruze was a total redesign about time from the 80s
Unions made em, not the executives.
Unions protect workers yet GM and VW reap fantastic margins.
Facts matter and not anti worker propaganda. European automakers build amazing products all union made and heavily taxed.
Many folks not just forgot but never knew there was a Cavalier wagon. By this gen they sold so poorly they were rare even back in the day.
Now we had a news paper that supplied wagons to their route managers with the gen before this one.
What was special was they all came with a F41 suspension and they ordered 2.8 V6 engines in them. They looks like fleet cars but we’re mechanically a Z24 wagon. They were al, high mile cars when they were removed so I expect they are all gone now.
Ain’t ArmorAll great?
I remember seeing cavaliers everywhere, along with tons of other GM fwd cars into the early 2000s even. My girlfriend in high school had an 88 z34 cavalier, it was about 10 years old then. I agree that even these look better than the silver blob crossovers that are take up space now
My grandfather had one just like it, same color inside and out. That’s the only reason I clicked on this article.
I would think something like this is a hard sell as I would expect a pretty limited market, but maybe not. It seems priced far too high, but again, I don’t know. It is really clean and if you really wanted one, for nostalgia or whatever may motivate, then with patience they may find someone to pay that. They probably didn’t pay much for it, so they can probably afford to sit on it for a while.
I miss the blue interiors of the day, along with maroon and even beige. While I like gray interior, it is getting seriously old now. My last 4 truck over the last 20 years have had gray interior. My 93 Sierra was the last maroon interior I had when I sold it 20 years ago.
I loved the simplicity of the cavaliers. Inexpensive cars that seemed to go forever.
Gotta love the blue interior as well. Sure beats the choices of grey or black today.
The price seems high, but what can you get for that price today that’s in such great shape? Someone will snap it up.
Her car was an 88 Z24…not Z34. Had a functional, factry cold air intake. That cowl hood was not just for looks. I remember the first time I opened the hood and saw the open intake and rubber boot that sealed it to an opening in the hood. Pretty cool
$17,900 !!! who ever buys this better should get a psych exam first !!
if you hate America, why do you stay?
first car 2.2 4cyl 95 horsepower 1990 chevy cavalier..loved it. no problems, the car had no radio, rack and pinion steering, roll up windows, etc…base model car….love it! ran great! 34 mpg on highway!
Got a 500 mile tank on 12 gallons with a 2.2L Cavalier.
A prius can do that too. For $30k.
You’re describing the Cavalier VL (value leader). I also had a 1990 model, bought in Nov 1992. 2.2L, 5spd manual, roll up windows, manual locks, etc. Great car, wish I would have had it longer than the 4 years I owned it. Totaled with only 85K miles on it.
I’d laugh at anyone who pays over a few grand for this thing. You’re paying so much for such old technology, parts for this thing are getting rare and you honestly have no idea how old the parts are or how long this thing has been sitting without being ran.
If this was your grandmother, you’d say the same thing.
Joe. I was going to correct you as I also had a 1988 Z24 Cavalier, but you corrected yourself. Chevy did use the Z34 designation in the Lumina though.
Yeah I saw that Dirk, bugged me. Was a fun car to speed around in. Simpler times back in 98 jr year high school. All I thought about was partying with my friends, make a few bucks, back seat of that black and gray cavalier…Good memories. As far as the quality went for those cars they were fine. I worked on a lot of them at Pep Boys about that time. In NewEngland the problem was and still is rust and corrosion. I can’t remember thE last time I saw one on the road, by now they’ve rotted out, but not failed mechanically.
I’d take it. that’s pretty nice.
Groovy set of wheels
I had a 1990 Cavalier wagon, purchased new. It was white with a blue interior. I liked the dash design and body colored bumpers of the ’90 much better than the later years. I reringed the pistons and replaced valve seals at 212,000 miles, and ran the car to over 300,000 miles before I gave it to my son. It was a good, simple, reliable car, quite different that Chevys of today. Now I drive a 2011 Ford Ranger.
The reason I clicked on the article is because the Cavalier wagon is what I took my date to senior prom in, back in ’93 lol the car was a fun car to drive, even though it wasn’t meant to do what I made it do that night. I treated it like a sports car lol hard acceleration, hard breaking, taking turns slightly faster than I should have lol overall, Chevy had a great little car on there hands.
My aunt had an 83 celebrity. That had the iron duke 4. As far as the toughness of the engines/trans goes, it survived my cousins repeated neutral drops from 5000rpm. And that iron duke delivers the mail every day. The USPS has been using that little Chevy 4cyl since 84-85 to power their vans
Just crush it and put it out of its misery!!
In all seriousness, it had good, simple style and space efficiency.
It has more style than all of the cookie cutter crossovers sold today. Basically and appliance on wheels.
Had a ’90 RS wagon w/22k miles on it. Bought it used to commute in. 55 miles each way and it never let me down. Handled well, and had enough juice to move on the turnpike with ease. Loved that car for over 100k miles. Gave it to my daughter for college. Never a problem. It got more love from her sorority for 4 years. The tranny gave up the ghost at about 200k. She cried when the salvage wrecker picked it up. A great, practical, good lookin’ wagon.
VW makes a similar wagon to this day!! Classic styling can endure trends. Thus wagon, as well as the larger Celebrity, always had a European look. Wonder if Opel played any role?