AMERICA!
I found myself upstate recently when this glorious vision of Patriotism washed over me. Behold Z34!
This is a 1990-1994 Chevrolet Lumina Z34 in Red. Remember the Lumina? Maybe not, but if you do did you have any idea that there was a high performance version?
This is firmly in the category of rare cars that aren't worth seeking out or repairing. However if one falls into your lap it might be a fun ride to stink up a local car show with.
This is firmly in the category of rare cars that aren't worth seeking out or repairing. However if one falls into your lap it might be a fun ride to stink up a local car show with.
The Lumina was the replacement for the Celebrity which is like trading one big yawn for another. To be fair the automotive landscape from the early '80s through the early 2000s was bleak. Think Chevy Beretta, Corsica, Dodge Spirt, Plymouth Acclaim, and the like. Lumina showed up just in time to provide utterly forgettable transportation for the '80s hot shots that lost everything in the crash of '89.
Styling was "meh"; kinda slippery in the wind tunnel but about as exciting as a blank sheet of paper. The Z34 was gussied up with ground effects, a wing, a solid panel covering the grill area, and tough looking vents in the hood. There were only 6 colors available and I think the Red does a fine job of conveying a sporty vibe.
The main competitors for the Z34 were the turbocharged Dodge Spirit RT and Ford Taurus SHO. Out of the three I think this one looks the toughest but it was actually the slowest.
Top speed for this bad boy when new? A mere 113mph. Zero-to-sixty took a little over 7 seconds which isn't bad for a standard sedan, but this is the sport edition! Both the aforementioned Spirit RT and Taurus SHO would eventually make their way up to 140mph.
Beneath this gleaming red hood lies a 3.4 liter V6 good for a modest 210 horsepower. A manual transmission was available if you really wanted to squeeze every bit of action out of your Lumina.
Back in the Gulf War era this was The Heartbeat of America! These days it's just a forgotten outfielder on Old Timer's Day. The asking price was $2,500 OBO which is about a grand higher than most value guides suggest. My memories of driving and riding around in early '90s American cars makes me feel like I never need to get into one again. I'm always amused to see a sport version of a family car or any special edition from this forlorn era so here it is.
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