While still under 50,000 miles, other things like a few electronic sensors, the alternator, the starter motor, the air-conditioner compressor, and a few more things failed. While still under warranty (thankfully) both the tranny and short block had to be replaced. It was easily the worst new car I ever owned. I had a 1992 Olds Cutlass Supreme with the 3.4 DOHC V-6 engine and Getrag 5-speed. I’d be willing to bet this is the kind of project you could get for a lower price if you promise to put it back on the road. I do think the seller has priced it fairly for what it is, but it will be a passion project for sure for anyone willing to restore it back to good health. While I have seen numerous Facebook groups spring up in support of rare oddballs like these, there’s usually not much in the way of a collector market willing to invest the necessary parts and labor to keep such a car on the road. So, it’s not a museum specimen, but it’s still a very nice used edition of a near-impossible to find car. The Z34 does have some cosmetic flaws to report in the form of failing clearcoat, which you can see in the photos. The original floor mats will be included as well. The interior is in phenomenal condition and the seller notes the passenger seating areas have seen nominal use. This Lumina is no man’s land as it relates to finding an owner willing to take it on, and is likely destined for someone who owns one of the remaining five-speed Z34s still on the road to keep as a parts car given this thing is loaded with minty components you’re unlikely to find at the local u-pick yard. But I also tend to buy vehicles that will always have some useful value above a certain price point, aside from one or two dalliances I keep close to the vest. Now, I certainly am one of the suckers most likely to buy something like this, solely for the prospect of keeping a unicorn out of the recycling bin. It’s a shame because the rest of the car looks quite nice.
1992 CHEVY LUMINA MANUAL
Of course, then you’re pouring untold sums and labor into a car that while exceedingly rare (the seller estimates 2,000 Z34s were made with the manual gearbox), it’s also one that will never be worth much no matter how much fun it may be to drive.
Well, that’s because it skipped a couple of teeth on the timing chain and since the beefy six-cylinder engine is an interference design, the mill is effectively ruined and will need total rebuild or, more appropriately, replacement. So, by now, you’re likely wondering about the dirt-cheap asking price and my monologue up top. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Roger for the find. Unfortunately, it’s hiding a fairly significant shortcoming, which you can read about more below. This 1992 Chevrolet Lumina Z34 is an exceedingly hard-to-find manual transmission model and sought after by collectors of Chevy’s few performance models from the early 90s. Of course, this approach has its weak points, as many of these vehicles are total unicorns that are hard to find parts for, but the bigger issue is letting significant mechanical faults be obscured by the rareness of the car in question. Many times, I look at compelling project vehicles for their rarity or otherwise unrepeatability (yes, that’s a made-up word) and am able to forgive some pretty big sins for the opportunity to own a car that no one else does.
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