Here's how the Chevy Cavalier was the king of badge engineering

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  • čas přidán 16. 02. 2021
  • Get a 15% discount on your next car cover at carcover.com! Use this link to get your discount: www.carcover.com/?via=MyOldCar
    In this episode I provide the history of the Chevrolet Cavalier, how it differed so much from today's cars by having so many body styles, but also how it shared almost the exact same look with four other cars in the GM lineup across the Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Buick, and Cadillac brands.
    Contact me at pomeara1234@gmail.com if you used to own a car from the 80s to early 2000s that you rarely see on the road today and would like me to devote a future episode to that car.
  • Auta a dopravní prostředky

Komentáře • 966

  • @loutruckmd
    @loutruckmd Před 3 lety +154

    I remember, I was a mechanic for chevrolet in 1985. We received a truck load of cavaliers, that were Buick in the back and chevrolet in the front. That was a complete mess. There were six of them. I don't know what happened to them. One by one they all disappeared. I am not sure if they were sold, I never saw one come in for service. Believe me, I looked, every time.

    • @mikegabler5124
      @mikegabler5124 Před 3 lety +19

      Not quite as bad, but when I purchased a new S-10 in 1990 it literally had 2 different style side mirrors. One bigger truck mirror and one smaller car-style mirror. I told the dealership I wanted it replaced under warranty after purchase, then they didn't want to do it. I had to force them. Little did I know that the brand new 1990 Cavalier we purchased new and that new S-10 were so full of problems I have never purchased a GM vehicle since.

    • @hotrodmercury3941
      @hotrodmercury3941 Před 3 lety +6

      Rare cars now!

    • @mtndew78ss
      @mtndew78ss Před 3 lety +4

      My dad is retired from a state run power plant. He once told me one of the fleet vans, a Chevy Astro had a grill that was meant for a GMC Safari. That's the way it got delivered. It was a work van so nobody cared.

    • @szilardtoth8814
      @szilardtoth8814 Před 2 lety +3

      😁 When I purchased my 1997 Chevrolet Trans Sport in 2010, It had a Pontiac badged steering wheel inside. Basicly this minivan is a mixture of Chevy Venture and Pontiac Trans Sport... By the way Oldsmobile Alero of Europe is/was Chevrolet Alero. Some of them wore Chevy badges on the outside but on the steering wheel the Olds badge appeared. Any combination was/is possible... Whatever kinda parts available They [GM] had on their shelves, they had installed it into... By the way I also saw a 1978 Caprice 4 door sedan equiped with an Electra front. It looked well!

    • @moyo6606
      @moyo6606 Před 2 lety

      I definitely saw one of these about 15 years ago!! I was like wtf is this?

  • @blank7652
    @blank7652 Před 3 lety +50

    The year is 2021.
    I still drive a Chevy Cavalier from 2001.
    Damn thing won't die.

    • @dantebrytant5285
      @dantebrytant5285 Před 3 lety

      My cavalier couldn't stand up to my feet with baby 4 cycinder engine

    • @raytiger3707
      @raytiger3707 Před 3 lety

      i love my 2005 cavalier coupe....it is a perfect car for me.

    • @hzreviews9910
      @hzreviews9910 Před 3 lety +1

      @Snake Plissken must not be kept up on. My dads was at 280k until totaled and mines at 189k and runs strongs

    • @rexjolles
      @rexjolles Před 3 lety +3

      @Snake Plissken these things are all over my city lmao they go like champs. all rusted out and peeling clear coat

    • @rexjolles
      @rexjolles Před 3 lety +1

      @Snake Plissken they're literally everywhere here. and pontiac gran prix's as well. lots of the late 90's ones and the 80's wagons.

  • @patrickracer43
    @patrickracer43 Před 3 lety +93

    No one:
    GM: "screw it, put ALL our badges on this car"

    • @andysaunders3708
      @andysaunders3708 Před 2 lety +1

      Also sold as the Holden Camira, the Isuzu Aska and only God knows what else around the globe.
      I had a JJ Camira, and it was great, but it died of terminal corrosion.
      Have only ever seen one for sale in NZ over the last 5 years.

  • @LowSpecActionSquad
    @LowSpecActionSquad Před 3 lety +48

    I just pulled an 87 sunbird from a junkyard with only 62,000 miles, I got it back on the road and now it's my daily driver

    • @McVaio
      @McVaio Před 3 lety +7

      That's awesome! Props for saving that car.

    • @littlejohnny47
      @littlejohnny47 Před 3 lety +4

      You should have left it where it was! I hope after you drive it a while you learn why most of them belong in a junkyard!

    • @LowSpecActionSquad
      @LowSpecActionSquad Před 3 lety +5

      @@littlejohnny47 so far it's been amazing lol, great gas mileage too! I'm averaging about 36 mpg, but to be fair most of my driving is on the highway

    • @jedahn
      @jedahn Před 5 měsíci

      Wow

  • @m1k3l1f3
    @m1k3l1f3 Před 3 lety +107

    In my small prairie town, Sunfires are still on the road today. In fact, my friend just recently in 2020 bought one and daily's it.

    • @mattiemadison1234
      @mattiemadison1234 Před 3 lety +3

      Kansas has a lot of sunfires still on the road

    • @RidinDirtyRollinBurnouts
      @RidinDirtyRollinBurnouts Před 3 lety +8

      I'm not surprised. Small towns aren't flooded with dealerships and "I need a new car every year" kind of people so you'll find all sorts of older used cars for sale

    • @WavveBoi
      @WavveBoi Před 3 lety +4

      There's a z24 cavalier just down the road from me. I checked it out pretty hard lol

    • @electricpunch9530
      @electricpunch9530 Před 3 lety +4

      In New Mexico the sunbirds are common, there’s a guy I went to high school with that drove it for dominos delivery 🤪

    • @12pawsinn
      @12pawsinn Před 3 lety +4

      I miss my 90 sunbird gt turbo... surprised alot of people back in 98

  • @stevenramrodd1226
    @stevenramrodd1226 Před 3 lety +152

    The only compact that made you feel like you're dragging a boat anchor right off the lot!

    • @trillamannwinters6963
      @trillamannwinters6963 Před 3 lety +3

      😆😆😆

    • @askadad7355
      @askadad7355 Před 3 lety +6

      At least they looked good

    • @pgtmr2713
      @pgtmr2713 Před 3 lety +3

      If you use the throttle pedal to control the transmission shift points, it will be faster and you'll easily destroy the car. 84 Buick Skyhawk.

    • @hilaireb795
      @hilaireb795 Před 3 lety +1

      😭😂😂

    • @negativeindustrial
      @negativeindustrial Před 3 lety +3

      @@askadad7355
      What? 🤣

  • @rickiehathaway8649
    @rickiehathaway8649 Před 3 lety +166

    I'm shocked you didn't mention the Toyota Cavalier, it was a literal badge swap

    • @EternalLatias
      @EternalLatias Před 3 lety +15

      I was waiting for him to mention that. I was disappointed.

    • @bricegraham8256
      @bricegraham8256 Před 3 lety +11

      @@EternalLatias Oh yeah weren't those sold in Japan only?

    • @Lando-kx6so
      @Lando-kx6so Před 3 lety +15

      @@bricegraham8256 yup but ended up all over the world with 2nd hand imports of jdm vehicles. You can find a few of them in New Zealand, Kenya, Jamaica & other big markets for used Japanese imports (but their really rare now)

    • @kxngearner698
      @kxngearner698 Před 3 lety +3

      toyota is GARBAGE

    • @RickyGuterson
      @RickyGuterson Před 3 lety +30

      @@kxngearner698 My 1985 Toyota 4runner that will probably outlive you, disagrees with you. Lol

  • @wesleydeng71
    @wesleydeng71 Před 3 lety +10

    I've owned a '99 Pontiac Sunfire for 22 years. It still runs very well! They say US cars don't last long but...

    • @carolleking4047
      @carolleking4047 Před 3 lety

      Where do you find replacement parts? Looking for window weather stripping for a 1999 Chevy cavalier convertible.

  • @smashingstuff09
    @smashingstuff09 Před 3 lety +26

    I've had 23 Cavaliers, mostly derby cars and parts. But I still drive an old 98 5speed once and awhile.
    Sure takes you back when things were simple. Love the old Cavaliers

    • @tomaszproblem2684
      @tomaszproblem2684 Před 2 lety +2

      Wait a minute...

    • @cardtrix1970
      @cardtrix1970 Před 2 lety

      They were pathetically built cars!

    • @calsand6
      @calsand6 Před 2 lety +2

      @@cardtrix1970 actually you are wrong, the cavalier was so simple yet so unique

  • @gimmefuel7268
    @gimmefuel7268 Před 3 lety +19

    I just recently sold my 2004 cavalier. I am telling you, that car was bulletproof. It had almost 400,000 miles on it when I sold it. It had to be probably the most dependable car I have ever owned.

    • @sdmurphy20
      @sdmurphy20 Před 2 lety +3

      My friend had a 98. That thing lasted longer than what it should. She had to junk it because it was completely rusted away around the muffler area.

  • @aviatorsdream4686
    @aviatorsdream4686 Před 3 lety +22

    My mom had a Sunfire. The final body style in red. She loved that car. She's in an Acura now but I still reminisce about the many roadtrips that jbody gave my sister and I.

  • @manthony225
    @manthony225 Před 3 lety +45

    GM's late 80's Bonneville, Delta 88 and Lesabre too. At a distance, it was almost impossible to tell them apart in profile.

    • @rigorousrangel6394
      @rigorousrangel6394 Před 3 lety +2

      And Cutlass Ciera or something like that by Oldsmobile

    • @erikbunty2016
      @erikbunty2016 Před 2 lety

      I think the 88, 98, LeSabre, Bonneville, Park Avenue, Electra, and Seville all had the same underpinnings.

    • @JCtechwizard
      @JCtechwizard Před 2 lety +1

      @@erikbunty2016 yes, body by Fisher

    • @christopheryanoski6899
      @christopheryanoski6899 Před 2 lety +1

      @@rigorousrangel6394 the A body cars....Chevrolet Celebrity Pontiac 6000 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera(and Cutlass Cruiser) and Buick Century.

    • @zackc.8015
      @zackc.8015 Před rokem

      @@erikbunty2016 Actually the 98 was on the DeVille platform.

  • @l.m652
    @l.m652 Před 3 lety +16

    First car was a 89 Chevy Cavalier RS coup. Man I drove it everywhere. Loved that car

  • @tasmith1969
    @tasmith1969 Před 3 lety +21

    No other car screams the '80s like the Pontiac Fiero! Bought a new one in 1985 and later in the 1990's acquired many more for cheap or free. One got a V8 swap and three others got a 3800 swap.

    • @Bartonovich52
      @Bartonovich52 Před 3 lety

      And what’s amazing about that car is how absolutely creative Pontiac was with making a car with a completely different configuration to anything GM made after the Corvair with off the shelf parts.
      The drivetrain was straight off GM front wheel drive X bodies but with the tie rods fixed in place, and the front suspension was borrowed from the Chevette.
      Unfortunately the 2.5L Iron Duke didn’t have enough ground clearance... so they made the oil pan shallower which resulted in several fires.

  • @richardnottelmann58
    @richardnottelmann58 Před 3 lety +2

    My grandmother had a 94 Cavalier RS 2.2L. My mom had a 94 Sunbird 2.2L convertible LE. Both great cars.

    • @DavidLLambertmobile
      @DavidLLambertmobile Před rokem

      My mother bought a new GM 1997 sedan, Cavalier. She passed in 2005 & the car only had around 10500mi on it. She rarely drove it.

  • @jacobharnish4241
    @jacobharnish4241 Před 3 lety +28

    GM also had 6 almost identical vehicles on the trailblazer platform, envoy, ranier, bravada, 9-7, Ascender
    7 if you include the chevy SS-R which shared the same platform

    • @sdrape4964
      @sdrape4964 Před 2 lety +1

      Yes, I remember that. I thought at the time that there was no way in hell GM was sustainable if badges were their only differentiation between such economically different brands.
      The only thing is that I don't think all 7 were concurrently in production together. (I.E. the Bravada was gone in 2004, the Ascender started in 2005, and possibly the Rainier, and the 9-7 didn't come out until 06 or 07, as I remember). And I didn't know the SS-R was part of that casserole of nonsense. ☺

  • @brianandrews7099
    @brianandrews7099 Před 3 lety +18

    My family owned one of each of the three generations (technically, since one was the Oldsmobile version). All were unexciting cars although the styling of the ‘89 Cavalier RS Coupe has held up really well and still looks good today IMHO. All of them gave very little trouble and represented good used car values back in the day. Only good Cavalier memories here.

  • @thereedbreed
    @thereedbreed Před 3 lety +3

    I own 94' Cavalier 2-door Z24, my mom bought it brand new in 1994. Amazingly fun car to drive, you can have a lot of fun without worrying about tickets.

  • @sburns015
    @sburns015 Před 2 lety +2

    My first car was a 2 door 97 cavalier with the 2.2l, I loved that car, great on gas mileage, reliable and one of the easiest cars to work on

  • @969thewhip
    @969thewhip Před 3 lety +8

    I had a 94 Sunbird LE with 5 speed and 3.1v6. It was fairly reliable, cheap to own and fun to drive. Had 230,000 miles when it got totaled and I daily drove it for over 10 years. One of the best cars I ever owned.

    • @jaysmith179
      @jaysmith179 Před 3 lety +1

      I bought a new 1994 Cavalier RS 3.1L V6 5 speed new. Wish I had it today. Never seen another one like it.

    • @brt987train
      @brt987train Před 2 lety

      I own a 1994 Pontiac Sunbird convertible with a 3.1 V6 engine and a 5-speed stick. It has everything power windows power door locks powertop bucket seats that match my 89 Chevrolet Beretta an analog Dash looks like my 88 Beretta. I guess I'm a sucker for GM I've been a GM Advocate since the sixties my father and mother owned I found them be fun reliable unfixable by somebody that doesn't have to be a rocket scientist. My 94 is probably one of my favorites but then I love convertibles and this is my first. If they came out with a new one and Pontiac came back I'd buy another in a heartbeat brand new. It's plenty quick good on gas. Great fun to drive when the weather is good and it's fine in the rain but I don't take it out too often in bad weather. For just plain fun it's a great car

  • @michaelvachon1334
    @michaelvachon1334 Před 3 lety +28

    I worked for a company that provided urethane bumpers to Ford and Chevrolet. We also supplied instrument panels we called dashboards for a number of different vehicles. Car designs eventually switched to the flexible fascias, and I remember when we landed the Cavalier front end. Thanks for the trip down memory lane!

  • @mikegabler5124
    @mikegabler5124 Před 3 lety +37

    Between the new 1990 Chevy S-10 and the new 1990 Chevy Cavalier we had, the Chevy service department knew me on a first name basis. "hey Mike, long time no see, what's it been, 2 weeks?", ME; "Well, technically, 10 days, we almost made it 2 weeks!"

  • @petera5221
    @petera5221 Před 3 lety +21

    Had alot of fun in those z24s. Fun peppy little car back in the day. Enjoyed the video. Had a 92 lumina z34 5spd..loved it..wished I'd kept it. Rare car.

    • @paxhumana2015
      @paxhumana2015 Před 3 lety +1

      In South Africa, that particular division of GM had its own separate vehicle of the Chevrolet Lumina that had an SS badge, but I think that it was just a badge swapped Holden of some sort, but then again, the USA has had badge swapped Holden vehicles in the last generation of the Pontiac Grand Prix, the Pontiac G8, the last generation of the Pontiac GTO, and the Chevrolet SS.

    • @UniqueBreakfastTaco
      @UniqueBreakfastTaco Před 3 lety +2

      Had the 86 Z24 hatchback, 4 speed. Loved that car.

    • @bponthemove-photography3012
      @bponthemove-photography3012 Před 2 lety +1

      My first car was an 87 Z24. 5spd what a fun first car

    • @petera5221
      @petera5221 Před 2 lety

      @@paxhumana2015 the grand prix wasn't part of holden division..at least not in NA...but the rest named certainly were awesome cars...too little too late to save pontiac. It's a shame.

    • @MJorgy5
      @MJorgy5 Před 2 lety

      Was that a 3800 V6 car?

  • @BewareofDarkness44
    @BewareofDarkness44 Před 3 lety +5

    I had an '89 Cavalier sedan when I was in high school. I remember how cool I thought the thing looked at the time, I don't know what was wrong with me. I had the 4 cylinder, which wasn't as fuel efficient as you'd expect for something with such low horsepower. It was fairly reliable though, I only replaced an alternator, egr valve, and sway bar links aside from the normal tires/brakes.

  • @jebjeep1088
    @jebjeep1088 Před 3 lety +3

    I had a 91 Cavalier. I puchased it new and drove it 20 years and put 180,000 miles on it. It still drove and ran like new when I sold it.

    • @DavidLLambertmobile
      @DavidLLambertmobile Před rokem

      A few of my family bought, drove Cavs 4drs in the 1980s 1990s. My mom bought a new 1997 GM Cavalier, a wierd orange-red color.

  • @gerardskowronski3774
    @gerardskowronski3774 Před 3 lety +4

    Great video - I've owned two Cavaliers, A 1987 Z-24 Hatchback and more recently a 1986 Z24 Convertible. The 1986 Z24 Convertible is not listed on any manufacturers production sheets. It was a pilot program for American Sunroof Company (ASC) Fewer than 300 fully optioned Z24's were made into convertibles, these cars were given to the top selling dealers in California. These were known internally in GM as "California Specials" I found mine in Arizona, almost flawless condition with over 100K on the odometer. Fun, rare car for the summer!

  • @haydenkallemeyn8035
    @haydenkallemeyn8035 Před 3 lety +2

    my first car was a 1993 honda accord. I had so much fun in that thing. you could just whip it around tight corners and that little 4 cylinder made just the right amount of power for 16 year old me.

  • @mattiemadison1234
    @mattiemadison1234 Před 3 lety +3

    I always envy the kids at my school that had the 86 z24 cavalier. I wanted one so bad. Never got it.

  • @atomsmash100
    @atomsmash100 Před 3 lety +5

    I'm old enough to remember when the J bodies launched. There seemed no end to the number of body styles and badge engineering at work, but they were definitely popular throughout the 80s and into the 90s. Great video with tons of detail!

  • @starmc26
    @starmc26 Před 3 lety +9

    I had a '91 2-door Cavalier in 1999 with 212,000 miles on it.... It was an amazing car.

  • @paulfromcleveland5871
    @paulfromcleveland5871 Před 3 lety +14

    I loved my Cavalier. Here’s one for you - Chevy Malibu. I had the 77 Malibu Classic.

    • @thomasofone
      @thomasofone Před 3 lety

      Malibu was once a badass classic, the Cavalier, nothing more than a small car for big girls.

    • @paulfromcleveland5871
      @paulfromcleveland5871 Před 3 lety +1

      @@thomasofone Is that the best you can come up with?

    • @thomasofone
      @thomasofone Před 3 lety

      @@paulfromcleveland5871 Here's one for you- I never in my life as a man drove a Cavalier. BOOM!

    • @paulfromcleveland5871
      @paulfromcleveland5871 Před 3 lety +1

      @@thomasofone That’s because never once in your life were you ever a man. Double Boom

    • @thomasofone
      @thomasofone Před 3 lety

      @@paulfromcleveland5871 dont be jealous. Stay in the closet, youll be fine.

  • @MyerShift7
    @MyerShift7 Před 3 lety

    I was gifted by my Grandmother her 1987 Buick Skyhawk Custom Coupe. My first car. It had the 2.0L OHV TBI I4, 4-speed manual, manual steering, the covered headlights, no a/c equip, no rear defrost, AM/FM Stereo radio with blue-green display and 4-speakers (two options above the standard according to owner's manual). Rosewood paint. I couldn't believe Grandma drove manual steering for so many years. I love and miss her, and that "good little car". And it was.

  • @robertvance1873
    @robertvance1873 Před 3 lety +4

    I loved my 90 Pontiac Sunbird 4 cylinder, at the time I was to busy with work and I didn't know it had a timing belt and that ended up being it's demise. It was so cool. Loved the interior I would buy another one if I find one.

  • @jpinney4
    @jpinney4 Před 3 lety +21

    Would love to see the Chevrolet Lumina, Chevrolet Celebrity, Pontiac Bonneville, and Pontiac 6000 covered!

    • @cardtrix1970
      @cardtrix1970 Před 3 lety +1

      What? Another batch of badly made cars???

    • @christopheryanoski6899
      @christopheryanoski6899 Před 2 lety

      @@cardtrix1970 they're not badly made cars. Idiots that don't know how to take care of them usually are what kills them off.

    • @cardtrix1970
      @cardtrix1970 Před 2 lety

      @@christopheryanoski6899 Hmmm...Yes-to a certain degree-ir's in the care-but these cars weren't just bad, they were...horribly built prices of crap! Every person tthat bought one new should have received a "rebate" for the crap that they were. Inexcusable!

    • @DavidLLambertmobile
      @DavidLLambertmobile Před rokem

      We, US Army MPs had 6000 sedans in early 1990s. 🇵🇦 Fort Clayton. The sedans were decent for the era. The USAF SPs rolled around in top end police GM Caprice Classics.

  • @TheGramophoneGirl
    @TheGramophoneGirl Před 3 lety +3

    I had the UK version, a 1986 Vauxhall Cavalier. It looked so similar to the 80s US version but with different front and rear ends. Even the base steel wheels looked the same. Vauxhall was a GM owned UK subsidiary.

  • @padroooo
    @padroooo Před 3 lety +7

    Great video Pat. I can't imagine the work that goes into putting this together. Very informative.

  • @nineislandshuffle6599
    @nineislandshuffle6599 Před 3 lety +3

    Cavs were all over the place in late 80s and early 90s. I owned a new 98 Cav 5 speed manual in red. Loved that car. It was surprisingly roomy for hauling stuff when you kicked the back seat down.

  • @325xitgrocgetter
    @325xitgrocgetter Před 3 lety +15

    You should do the first gen Dodge Dakota. You had some interesting variants with the 1989 Convertible and the Shelby editions and updates in the 90s as it completed a 9 year model run.

  • @VanquishMediaDE
    @VanquishMediaDE Před 2 lety +1

    I had the Opel model of this car as my first car that my parents bought me for Christmas. It was a blue sedan, I drove all around West Germany in that car!

  • @warrenny
    @warrenny Před 3 lety +7

    Decent video. The Cavalier really comes from GM's European Opel and Vauxhall. The Cavalier was probably seen as GM's way to sell in the Euro-look space of the early 80s. It worked. They were everywhere.
    Even though I wasn't fond of American brands at the time, I actually thought the Cavalier design was at least modern, clean and attractive.

    • @e28forever30
      @e28forever30 Před 3 lety +1

      There’s a lot of Opel/Vauxhall DNA in these cars.
      You see it clearly in the side profile.

    • @megaangelic
      @megaangelic Před 2 lety +1

      But the J car Cavalier only lasted 1981-1988 in Europe, being replaced with the Cavalier Mk3 and Vectra A in 1988. The Americans kept the J cars until 2005.

    • @warrenny
      @warrenny Před 2 lety

      @@megaangelic yes. In America, the compact size era was waning going into the late 80s/early 90s. So building a new platform wasn't as attractive to the US market. Also, the compact car duties at GM were taken over by Saturn. Chevy was looking to expand more into the mid and full size where profit could be made

    • @megaangelic
      @megaangelic Před 2 lety +1

      @@warrenny The US did eventually use the new vectra platforms. But they skipped the 1988-1995 platform. Starting in 2000 they used the 1995 platform while Europe moved on to Epsilion at the same time, but Epsilion didn't make it to the US until 2004/5. So it's not like they stopped making them, they just skipped a generation then kept 5 years behind for some reason.

    • @warrenny
      @warrenny Před 2 lety

      @@megaangelic good point! I had forgotten about that. I am no expert on GM, so it's good to make that point about the vectra platform. I had been thinking that gm just borrowed an existing American platform from maybe Pontiac or Olds

  • @FiregemGaming
    @FiregemGaming Před 3 lety +31

    I love how GM calls it “badge engineering.” I call it cheap

    • @MrInternFTL
      @MrInternFTL Před 3 lety +2

      It’s literally what it’s called

    • @6484373
      @6484373 Před 3 lety +9

      Every single manufacturer does the exact same thing. It'd be a ridiculously stupid decision to not do it. The same thing is done with literally any product you can think of, not just cars. People seem to struggle with the fact that what is cheaper for a manufacturer is also cheaper for the customer, that's the whole point. Would you really spend an extra 10k on a car just because it didn't share parts with another car from a sister company?

    • @kennethsouthard6042
      @kennethsouthard6042 Před 2 lety +3

      @@6484373 True, but back when GM was carrying 5 car divisions, badge engineering across all of them made them lose their differentiation and made their purpose questionable.

    • @upeedinalamb5297
      @upeedinalamb5297 Před rokem

      This lamb concurs.

    • @adaamdavis5434
      @adaamdavis5434 Před rokem

      Maybe stick to gaming genius

  • @chrisfortin4251
    @chrisfortin4251 Před 3 lety +4

    Another excellent video! I had an 88 Cavalier 4door in dark blue. Was pretty fast actually. Really loved it. Thanks for the memories! 😀👍🏻

  • @ScrawnyRonnie89
    @ScrawnyRonnie89 Před 2 lety

    I love this channel. Thank you for all the hard work and info. True car guys/ladies love this.

  • @buddy8225
    @buddy8225 Před 3 lety +2

    Owned an 84 Skyhawk wagon, a 93 Sunbird convertible and an 01 Cavalier. ❤️

  • @rbikidportland
    @rbikidportland Před 3 lety +3

    I love the old GMs. My first car was a 2000 Buick LeSabre and my grandma and dad had a few LeSabres over the years. I’d love to see one about the LeSabre

  • @patdthomas
    @patdthomas Před 3 lety +3

    Back in 1983, I ordered a brand new Cavalier Type 10 hatchback as a surprise wedding gift for my soon to be bride. She had no idea I was doing this. After years of abuse, her old 1975 Camaro was on it's last leg. As fate would have it, the day I brought home the Cavalier, Valentine's Day 1983 (perfect, right?), she was stranded at the store because the Camaro had once again shit the bed. Our neighbor had already gone to pick her up and I thought she would be thrilled to death to come home to a brand new car after dealing with that old clunker for so long. I was wrong. Not only did she bitch about it being only a 4 cylinder engine, she wouldn't even drive it for the first week. Once she did, she beat the shit out of it and used it as her own personal trash receptacle as she would just fling empty fast-food containers over her shoulder into the wayback. I don't know how, but that car lasted through 17 years of this shit! Sure it had it's share of mechanical issues throughout it's lifetime, but somehow it survived the entire length of the marriage.

    • @geoben1810
      @geoben1810 Před 3 lety +1

      @ patchthomas
      Dude, I honestly don't know how you stayed with the b***h all that time. I'd have gotten rid of her and kept the car with all of it's issues. They couldn't be any worse than the issues that b***h had. 🤤🤣

  • @whynotagain3639
    @whynotagain3639 Před 3 lety +2

    Don't forget it was sold as the Vauxhall Cavalier in the UK too. Just different head lights

    • @trentryan27
      @trentryan27 Před 3 lety

      They were also sold as the Toyota cavalier in Japan for a short while, those cars can now be found in NZ

    • @whynotagain3639
      @whynotagain3639 Před 3 lety

      @@trentryan27 and probably the UK, there's a huge 2ndhand Japanese car import industry in the UK, I've not seen a Toyota Cavalier yet though.

  • @raymondperry52
    @raymondperry52 Před 3 lety

    My brother bought a new one of these in 1984. It was totally indestructible and was a blast to drive in the snow.

  • @the66volks
    @the66volks Před 3 lety +4

    Awesome video! My wife an I own two cavalier wagons an 1985 an 1992 we also own 4 Chevy celebrity wagons as well

  • @jlang8213
    @jlang8213 Před 3 lety +3

    Ok, you hooked me. Consider me subscribed!
    I had a 1984 Ford Tempo as my first car (given to me in about 1998-99) then the first car I bought was a 1988 Lincoln Towncar a year or 2 so later. I'd like to see you do videos on those, especially the Lincoln.

  • @RichieRouge206
    @RichieRouge206 Před 3 lety +1

    The J body was one of the sales chart toppers here in the UK in the 1980s as the (almost identical to the Chevy) Vauxhall Cavalier (known as the Opel Ascona) in the rest of Europe. We had 1.3, 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0 engines which were a little more powerful than the US counterparts - we never had the Iron Duke here, instead a range of advanced OHC alloy engines. There was also a rare convertible model too and we got the wagon later on which was pretty much a Pontiac 6000, also sold in Australia with a Holden badge. So GM definitely was the badge engineering king back then.
    Great video too

  • @jasonwhite6936
    @jasonwhite6936 Před 3 lety +1

    I had 2 Cavaliers. One was an '87 and the other was a '93. Both were RS coupes. The most reliable cars I owned ans easiest to work on. I loved the '93 because it had that "Italian" '90's car look. Plus, I was able to upgrade it with factory options that it didn't come with. Wish I could find a convertible '93 or '94.

    • @starmc26
      @starmc26 Před 3 lety +1

      Those cars were bulletproof workhorses.

  • @earthdog7900
    @earthdog7900 Před 3 lety +17

    I remember the Z24 being sneaky fast.

    • @cardtrix1970
      @cardtrix1970 Před 3 lety

      Well, it was an empty pop-can with no weight; what did people exoect?

  • @jeromebarry1741
    @jeromebarry1741 Před 3 lety +9

    Dad bought a red 83 Cavalier the day one of my children was born. It was the red car Mom always wanted, but she died a few months later. He retired and kept it. Many years later he gave it to my daughter. He had been a professional mechanic, but that old Cavalier was the most unreliable car I've ever owned. I and all the king's horses and men never figured out how to make that car run again.

    • @starmc26
      @starmc26 Před 3 lety

      Dumb made up story... The cavalier was one of the most reliable cars ever produced... The car was a workhorse.

    • @generalzod7959
      @generalzod7959 Před 3 lety

      @@starmc26 talk about a made up story... one of the most reliable cars ever produced? definitely no. i had one and it was the biggest p.o.s. ever! at just over 60k, it was on it's 3rd timing belt, was leaking every fluid it had. had wiper blades that didn't go to the bottom of the windshield when turned off but would stop in the middle of the windshield unless you turned it off at the right moment. it also needed a new water pump and was hanging by a thread. and this car hadn't even been driven hard. i got it from my grandmother when it had about 32k on it.

    • @RyanFordFJB
      @RyanFordFJB Před 3 lety +1

      @@generalzod7959 got a 94 cavalier rs 2.2L with 223k miles on it. Same motor and trans. Was very well taken car of before I got it (mechanic papers from the original owner in 94) owned it for a year and I've not had any major mechanical issues besides regular maintenance. Love my car and is my daily. Has never once let me down

    • @starmc26
      @starmc26 Před 3 lety

      @@generalzod7959 Numbers don't lie dude. It's not an opinion. Do some research. Just because YOU had an issue with one doesn't reflect on the entire model of the course of its years. Are you really that ignorant?

    • @generalzod7959
      @generalzod7959 Před 3 lety

      @@starmc26 well, i'll tell ya what... you claim the cavalier was one of the most reliable cars ever produced. i call b.s. on that. the real test of a vehicle's reliability is in it's resale value. and the cavalier had a terrible resale value .just because YOU got one that bucked the trend just means YOU got lucky. most of us though, didn't get so lucky. for a person who buys a lottery ticket and wins, the lottery was a great value. for the rest though... not so much.

  • @Drknow1984
    @Drknow1984 Před 3 lety

    Just found this channel last night and you have yourself a new sub. Informative, easy to follow, entertaining, and you have a good voice for this. Keep up the good work!
    Edit- Had a 93 Cavalier at one point with the weak 2.2L. Decent little putt around car but that was it

  • @Oddman1980
    @Oddman1980 Před 3 lety +2

    When I was a kid, my dad had a coworker who had a Cavalier Type-10. Later on in life I had a four door Sunfire with the 2.4 liter twin cam engine.

  • @keithnewton8981
    @keithnewton8981 Před 3 lety +3

    This was the vauxhall cavalier in the uk and the opel Ascona in Europe.
    In the uk the inline 4 2.0 made 130hp
    We had 4 door saloon 5door hatch 2door saloon 2dr convertible 5 door estate

    • @1dollarHat
      @1dollarHat Před 3 lety

      That's interesting probably helped sales there since it had a little more oomph

    • @e28forever30
      @e28forever30 Před 3 lety

      I remember that 2.0 litre 8 valve engine as quite nippy.

  • @elizabethcherry920
    @elizabethcherry920 Před 3 lety +3

    My 3d car was a high mileage 85 type 10 cavalier coupe , just like the blue one shown at the beginning of this video

  • @mcarlkv53
    @mcarlkv53 Před 17 dny

    My first car 1990 chevy cavalier 2.2 liter 99 hp… rack and pinion steering, no radio, no air conditioner, package 8600$ brand new…loved it no problems ever

  • @jeremys5513
    @jeremys5513 Před 3 lety +1

    Made me remember my childhood, Dad had 2 Cavaliers a blue 92 sedan and a green 99 sedan. The 2.2L 4 bangers in those ran forever it seemed like but everything around was not built to last

  • @bradleybprentice1497
    @bradleybprentice1497 Před 3 lety +4

    Great channel you have. An interesting history on the Cavalier. I came close to buying a Z24 once.

    • @timmythompson2186
      @timmythompson2186 Před 3 lety

      Be glad that you didn't. While quad 4s were powerful and efficient for what they were and the era 2.4s were one of the worst engines around

    • @andrewdonohue1853
      @andrewdonohue1853 Před 3 lety +1

      @@timmythompson2186 NOT all Z24s had that crappy 2.4, perhaps he was talking about the 94 and older which would have had the 2.8 or 3.1 V6s, which were much more reliable.
      the 2.4 was junk

    • @timmythompson2186
      @timmythompson2186 Před 3 lety

      @@andrewdonohue1853 I thought those would have been beretta or lumina and a z28 or z 31. I could easily be wrong. That was just my memory of it

    • @Bartonovich52
      @Bartonovich52 Před 3 lety

      @ Timmy Thompson
      The Quad 4 and later Twin Cam engines were only on the 1995 to 2002 Z24s.
      The 2.8L V6 was used from 1986 until 1989 and the 3.1L V6 from 1990 to 1994 on the Cavalier Z24.

    • @BMMEC2009
      @BMMEC2009 Před 3 lety

      My 1993 Z24 has a 3.1 with 201k and it still runs great. Granted it only gets driven 150 miles a year. It's a Convertible and sits in the garage.

  • @joshjlmgproductions3313
    @joshjlmgproductions3313 Před 3 lety +3

    The Geo Metro also had a ton of nameplates. It didn't sell as well as the Cavalier, but it had probably twice as many badges (if not more).

    • @Zaprozhan
      @Zaprozhan Před 3 lety

      Firefly, Sprint, just off the top of my head. I always wanted to give one a spin. Looked like fun.

    • @fosterfuchs
      @fosterfuchs Před 9 měsíci

      Geo Metro itself was a clone of the Suzuki Swift.

    • @joshjlmgproductions3313
      @joshjlmgproductions3313 Před 9 měsíci

      @@fosterfuchs The Swift was a rebranded Suzuki Cultus.

  • @OGK_Show
    @OGK_Show Před rokem

    The 1986 model year put me in two Sunbirds. First was my wife's 2 dr coupe which replaced her 81 Chevette 4-dr. The car impressed me. Considering that I was driving a 1984 2-dr Chevette just about anything was an upgrade. I came home with a flashier two toned red and silver hatchback. You already know about that engine, but I drove it fast anyway. It looked sporty and I loved the way it looked. It got me through 6 years of pizza delivery and might have gotten more if I hadn't allowed a mechanic swindle me out of it on the pretense that the front axel boots couldn't be fixed. Still one of my favorite cars.

  • @FXFBS540
    @FXFBS540 Před 2 lety

    Used to work for a salvage yard as an inventory/parts puller/delivery driver. I spent many a day disassembling. Grading, and listing parts for the vehicles you feature on your channel. Good content man.

  • @mikloskedves1444
    @mikloskedves1444 Před 3 lety +3

    Buick Skyhawk
    Cadillac Cimarron
    Oldsmobile Firenza
    Pontiac Sunbird
    Opel Ascona
    Vauxhall Cavalier
    Isuzu Aska
    Holden Camira

  • @punchy207
    @punchy207 Před 3 lety +3

    could you perhaps do a review on maybe like the chevy s10 blazer or k5 blazer?

  • @jameswarner5878
    @jameswarner5878 Před 3 lety

    Just found this channel. It's great! When you hit a million I can say that I was here before 20k lol. Keep it up!

  • @anthonyintawiwat3215
    @anthonyintawiwat3215 Před 3 lety +1

    my 98' Z24 automatic had 250k before I let it go, best car I've ever had. Wish is could buy another one.

  • @christheimprezive2866
    @christheimprezive2866 Před 3 lety +3

    There was also the fairly unknown (and righteously so) Toyota Cavalier, which was a RHD version of the second generation of Cavalier that was sold in Japan. I guess the Corolla, Corona, Chaser, and Carina weren't enough sedans starting with C to satisfy Toyota.

  • @TheMaboubeh
    @TheMaboubeh Před 3 lety +3

    I remember as a kid, we had a car similar to the Cavalier called the Celebrity. It was a nice little car!

    • @scherzva
      @scherzva Před 3 lety

      My parents had two. My dad had an ‘85, my mom had an ‘86. I remember most of my friends’ parents had a variation of that car.

    • @969thewhip
      @969thewhip Před 3 lety +1

      Three of my four grandparents had them. 84 Celebrity, 87 Cutlass and 93 Century.

  • @brianporter4352
    @brianporter4352 Před rokem +1

    I have watched a bunch of your GM cars videos, and I'm surprised that GM survived that era. Anyway, I live in NC and see a lot of old GM cars still on the road. I see a lot of old Pontiac's, Cavalier's, and other models from GM. I guess it is the simple engineering that keeps them going. My sister had an 88' Cavalier coupe, she loved that car. Keep em coming.

  • @JohnSmith-kg3im
    @JohnSmith-kg3im Před 2 lety

    Your videos are amazing. How do you find so much old photos & ads, research facts & data, etc. My compliments, sir! Love or hate the cars, gotta admire the history.

  • @MrRipper
    @MrRipper Před 3 lety +14

    Big car USA :) i iike!

    • @orangecayman520
      @orangecayman520 Před 3 lety +4

      these things are super tiny, think slightly larger than a new mini or roughly the size of a VW Golf

  • @therealsnoop7497
    @therealsnoop7497 Před 3 lety +3

    Forgot to mention that they sold cavaliers as Toyotas in japan

    • @dantebrytant5285
      @dantebrytant5285 Před 3 lety +1

      Geo metro that what they were called

    • @therealsnoop7497
      @therealsnoop7497 Před 3 lety +1

      @@dantebrytant5285 geo metros were Suzuki’s sold as geos in the U.S. the geo metro was not a Toyota, I will say the geo metro headlights look like the cavalier headlights

  • @jeffarmusik9115
    @jeffarmusik9115 Před 2 lety

    Thank you for making this video. I'm a big j body fan. My family had quite a few growing up in the 80's. I owned an 87 Cavalier CS Sedan, 87 Z-24, and a 94 Z-24. My parents owned an 85 Cavalier Wagon, 95 Cavalier coupe, 2000 Cavalier coupe and my sister owned an 87 Cavalier Sedan and a 2000 Z-24. Love all these cars and miss mine all the time!

  • @chadlawson4405
    @chadlawson4405 Před 2 lety

    Your channel is so addictive! Pushing 50. and living in Flint Mi Me and my friends have had most of all the GM cars from the 80s-90s….great memories of changing alternators and starters in the middle of the winter..that’s always when things went out

  • @pushmyredbutton
    @pushmyredbutton Před 3 lety +5

    There was also the Toyota Cavalier which was a rebadged version that sold poorly in the Japanese market

  • @geoben1810
    @geoben1810 Před 3 lety +4

    Wow, GM's entire lineup of garbage for the 80s. PATHETIC American engineering. No pride, no business ethics, No wonder GM went begging for a government handout in 2008/09. They had been going in the hole for years.

    • @Wheresthepepsibismol
      @Wheresthepepsibismol Před 3 lety

      People Praise the 88 to 98 Chevrolet trucks they look good but are piece of shits that are always rusting. I'd take a a squarebody anyday over an 88 to 98. 80's and 90's America was making pathetic cars and trucks except the squarebody. The 4th gen Corvette is pathetic no wonder they are dirt cheap and beginners can afford them.

  • @chrismunro3624
    @chrismunro3624 Před 3 lety +2

    The first Cavaliers had an engine and that sounded like a sewing machine. My first new car was a 1984 Pontiac Sunbird that I special ordered and paid cash for in my senior year of high school. I picked it up at the Pontiac dealership in Pontiac, Michigan.

  • @Foxonian
    @Foxonian Před 3 lety

    My dad had an '84 Olds Firenza wagon that he bought new. Had it well into the 90's and racked up 150,000 miles on it before he got rid of it due to the body rusting out. Only did regular servicing on it the whole time he owned it. Never had any problems with it, which always amazed me.

  • @BethanyB86
    @BethanyB86 Před 3 lety +1

    I just found your channel and I’m definitely subscribing. I had a 94 Sunbird as my first car back in 2005. My parents had a 2004 Sunfire. They were good cars, well my Sunbird was falling apart but it was a fun ride.

  • @PatrickDunn13078
    @PatrickDunn13078 Před 2 lety

    My 97 that was my first new car lasted 176,000+ miles 5 speed stick, abs and no radio or AC. Great car and I saw it driving around town for another couple of years as someone bought it used. Good car, solid engine.

  • @deadfishparty
    @deadfishparty Před 3 lety

    If one thing comes of the current CUV craze, it’s that it makes you nostalgic for a car that has no business being nostalgic. Great doc!

  • @DanaBlack
    @DanaBlack Před 3 lety

    Very cool channel, great to hear some history on "older" cars that aren't your typical muscle car that is still desirable.

  • @80fordmustang6
    @80fordmustang6 Před 3 lety +1

    Buddy back in high school had a 1991 Pontiac sunbird convertible had some good times in that car

  • @davidsherrick2804
    @davidsherrick2804 Před 2 lety

    My dad bought a 1986 Cavalier RS 2 door new. He special ordered one with the pop-up glass sunroof, it was red with red interior, cruise control, 5 speed manual, he babied it. It was only in the rain and snow 1 time in its life. I wish I had it today. It was sharp looking. This brings back memories. Unfortunately it was totalled.

  • @1dollarHat
    @1dollarHat Před 3 lety

    This is a neat channel, I'm excited to follow ya along as ya grow

  • @willdogg01
    @willdogg01 Před 2 lety

    I had a 2000 Cavalier Z24; manual transmission, 2.4L. I wish I still had that car! The most fun vehicle I've had.

  • @dhomer495
    @dhomer495 Před 3 lety

    The car at 2:31 time in the video is EXACTLY what my first car looked like down to the color . It was a 1985 Cavalier type 10 with 2.0 fuel injection. Hey keep up the good work on your videos . When I saw this video it brought so many memories back. Before I got this car I was driving my grandparents 1982 Chevy chevette . I love that video too

  • @bobyoung1698
    @bobyoung1698 Před 3 lety +2

    The Cimarron was a gift to stand-up comedians across the nation.

    • @Lincolntowncoupe
      @Lincolntowncoupe Před 3 lety +1

      Yep. Easily the worst car Cadillac ever made.

    • @johnnymason2460
      @johnnymason2460 Před 5 měsíci

      ​@@Lincolntowncoupe It was the worst Cadillac made. However, I still want one. Only with the V6 and automatic.

    • @Lincolntowncoupe
      @Lincolntowncoupe Před 5 měsíci

      @@johnnymason2460 Yeah there can be something said for the updated version but the first version definitely sealed its reputation. The second generation was definitely a little too much Cavalier too but would make a cool little quirky car. I myself would love to have a Cadillac XLR, another Cadillac hailed as among the worst.

  • @redman3583
    @redman3583 Před 3 lety +1

    I bought a 1994 Cavalier RS Convertible in 2004 for $2500. I was broke and just out of college. That car was fast! I smoked every fast and furious car out there, and I wasn't a racer. Just for the record, my 94 had a glass rear window with "factory" rear defrost.

  • @pasta-eo5mt
    @pasta-eo5mt Před 3 lety

    I had a 1983 cavalier for my first car. The floorboards rusted all the way through so that the only thing between my feet and the road was carpet. My feet would get went when it rained. Still loved the car. Gave it back to the original owner for his 16 year old daughter with 160,000 miles on it. Later bought a 1994 Z24 convertible. Loved that one too.

  • @xekret
    @xekret Před 2 lety

    I learned how to properly drive stick shift with an 85 Cavalier Type10 just like the one in the pictures you showed and owned. Thank you for the memories.

  • @anibalbabilonia1867
    @anibalbabilonia1867 Před 3 lety

    In 1989 that was my first brand new car! A burgundy 1989 z24, boy was that car a lot of fun! I was 26 years old at the time. Drove it until it didn't run no more! In 1994 the engine seized. I ended up giving it to my nephew, he fixed it! Drove it for a while then sold it.

  • @troybarnes502
    @troybarnes502 Před 3 lety

    My 1987 Z24 was pretty fast. It was so light it would scoot off the line super quick. Fell flat after that but, boy was it fun! I sold it after 225,000 miles and still miss it. Was still running really good. If you get a V6 today in a GM vehicle it is most likely the same one based on the Z24 engine. Originally a 2.8 liter in the Z24, it consistently received upgrades and an upgrade in displacement. After the 2.8 liter there was the 3.1, the 3.4, and currently the 3.6 liter. Great engines.

  • @jayf6806
    @jayf6806 Před 3 lety

    This is great....my wife and I had a 1995 Z24 in red. It was our first new car together. But, as we grew as a family, had to move on....we did have fun with that car! Thanks for the video!

  • @optimaprime8970
    @optimaprime8970 Před 3 lety

    I want so many of these. Good memories. Great vid

  • @OddTimeMan
    @OddTimeMan Před 2 lety

    My very first new car purchase was a 1999 Pontiac Sunfire SE. I had it for 14 years and it was a great car. No issues at all.

  • @dennisud
    @dennisud Před 2 lety

    I almost bought one at a Chevy dealership, where they did the "Song and dance" pressure tactics! Thank god My friend was there with me to point out what they were doing, and as they gathered at the front door thinking I was coming to sign the deal My friend and I walked out smiling and waving. The car was ok but used. I bought a new car a Honda Civic later on and drove by both of us waving at them! they were not amused! ;-)

  • @georgenewman9025
    @georgenewman9025 Před 3 lety

    Loving your videos!