I told you in the last instalment that there would be rarities in Part II, and I delivered. Well, more accurately, Curbsider canadiancatgreen delivered once again with his series of junkyard photos taken in Canada. When was the last time you saw a Pontiac 6000 STE? A critical darling, the STE was sold from 1983 all the way until 1989 but generally only represented a fraction of 6000 sales.
A quite compelling effort to offer a European-themed domestic sport sedan and also easily the best A-Body, the 6000 STE received numerous meaningful updates during its lengthy run, including multi-port fuel injection (1985), an optional 5-speed manual (1987), all-wheel-drive (1988) and a bigger 3.1 V6 (1988). The 6000 STE was supplanted in 1990 with the Grand Prix STE sedan, a similarly Euro-themed sport sedan boasting a turbocharged 3.1 V6. As the 1990s wore on, though, Pontiac shifted further and further away from its “budget Euro-fighter” aspirations and instead emphasized “visual” performance improvements. Quite a shame, as they had something good going on both dynamically and stylistically. The 2008 G8 would signal a return to this “cut-price Euro-fighter” ethos, but sadly Pontiac was axed just a year later.
Sedans had overtaken coupes in popularity by the time of the 6000 STE, but they weren’t always the desirable option. Long before the 6000 and Grand Prix STE models, and the Cutlass Salon and Grand Am sedans of the 1970s, there was no European performance-themed four-door intermediate sold by the General. Instead, four-door sedans were humble family and fleet transport, as exemplified by this Oldsmobile Cutlass. I always found the 1968-72 A-Body sedans to look a bit too lumpy, a victim of the coke bottle contours that made their coupe counterparts so damned sexy. Despite its close proximity to a yard of cars being picked apart, this Cutlass appears neat and driveable. Good.
Our photographer captured a couple of photos of cars definitely not destined for the slow boat to Guangzhou. $1,049 would buy you this pristine 1982 Ford LTD wagon sans woodgrain. One hopes it isn’t powered by a certain 255 cubic-inch boat anchor that Ford foisted upon its cars that year while chasing better gas mileage.
Those with an extra few hundred to spend could buy this 1976-77 GMC Sprint complete with a topper out back. These Colonnade Sprints and El Caminos sure were rakish, almost resembling coupes more so than pickups. It’s such a shame the front of these was so ugly: I’ve always maintained the Chevrolet Colonnades were the least attractive, and I’m a vocal fan of GM’s 1973-77 A-Bodies. The rarer GMC Sprint was scarcely differentiated from the El Camino, and until I spotted the GMC logo I presumed it was an Elky. Engines were the same as the Chevy, with a 250 cubic-inch inline six and V8s of 305, 350, 400 and 454 cubic inches. I’d love to see some production figures of the Sprint and the later Caballero, because I imagine the Chevy outsold it dramatically.
Another example of Dodge receiving more spoils from Chrysler corporate overlords than sister division Plymouth, the Shadow convertible was launched in 1991. These were modified by the American Sunroof Company but sold in Dodge showrooms, and were Dodge’s first mainstream convertible since the 1986 600. Sticker price was a sizeable $3-4,000 higher than a similarly-specced hatchback, and 19,528 examples were produced for their debut year, around a quarter of Shadow volume that year. But production dropped to 3,152 for 1992, before rising to a still mediocre 6,307 units in 1993. The convertible didn’t live to see 1994.
Considerably more popular more than a decade prior was the Ford Mustang II. A lot has been said about Ford’s smallest Mustang yet – much of it bad – but it hit a sweet-spot in the market with its blend of distinctive styling, fairly plush interior, low price and fuel economy. This would appear to be a Ghia model in Ford’s distinctive midnight blue and chamois color scheme, which they also employed on the Mercury Cougar of the time. Engine offerings were a 2.3 inline four, a 2.8 V6 or a 5.0 V8. Interestingly, sales trailed off quite significantly after a bumper 1974, but it still sold in superior volumes than the big Mustang of 1971-73. And, as defenders are known to say, the Mustang II kept the nameplate alive. Personally, I think they’re pretty cute. Of course that begs the question, is a Mustang supposed to be cute?
Part II started with a 1980s Pontiac that has become a rare sight, and so Part II will end with a similar vehicle. This is, of course, the front-wheel-drive X-Body Phoenix. Launched in 1980 to much fanfare, the GM X-Cars were crippled by disastrous reliability and quality control. What a shame, as if these had received more attention from GM prior to launch, they would have been quite a compelling entry. The aforementioned 6000 and its A-Body siblings were actually derived from the X-Cars and showed that the basic platform wasn’t that bad. The Phoenix was the only other GM division other than Chevy to receive the hatchback body (five-door only) but also came as a two-door notchback coupe. These were, in my opinion, the most attractive FWD X-Bodies, particularly when you selected the sporty SJ coupe or luxury LJ hatchback with Pontiac’s classic snowflake alloy wheels. The interior was cheap and plasticky, but it was nicer than the Citation’s and resembled the contemporary Grand Am’s interior.
That was quite an impressive haul of vehicles! Who is in favor of our man in Canada taking a trip back there sometime?
Yes! Junkyard trips are always fun! There are still a couple of those 6000 STE’s running around here in the Santa Clara Valley, but it’s been a mighty long time since the last time I saw a Citation or its Pontiac cousin!
What long lives some of these cars had. I bet in a few of these cases they outlasted their owners, and the heirs are at a loss on what to do with them. The Cutlass and the STE stood out to me. They didn’t look too bad for the junkyard. I wonder what their decendants drive now, and do they feel it is an upgrade?
Most cars make it to the pick and pull when the latest repair is approaching their scrap value, like an automatic transmission failure or major engine repair. A mechanic would know how to assess how much life the rest of the car has, but the average joe just sees a money pit when they get old and break.
I was at a u pull yard last week. There was a black ’74 Super Beetle sunroof there. The body was perfect, even the paint was nice and shiny. Looked totally original. The engine and trans were already gone, along with the interior. Even the floor pan was totally rust free. Seems like it should have been put on the yards used car lot instead.
Could have arrived at the yard without a title. In that case it’s going to be a hard sell as a complete car, since it’s usually somewhere between very difficult and impossible to re-title an old car without a current one.
Some yards won’t take cars without titles to avoid taking stolen goods, but others aren’t so choosy.
This yard does have a title requirement. I looked online at their terms. They offered $150.00 for my ’86 Jetta when I inquired just for fun. But it’s possible the car was stripped before being junked.
the Cutlass was actually sold before making it into the parts area
Interesting mix of iron in that yard, with some true oldies amidst the newer cars. I’m assuming this is a slow turnover yard, as the higher-volume ones generally don’t keep cars for more than a few weeks before it’s off to the crusher. Always interesting, if sad, to consider how some of those cars managed to survive 30+ years on the street yet still end up ingloriously junked.
the pictures are from more than 1 yard. Actually it is from at least 3 yards
I have to point out that Cutlass is about as fancy and desirable a midsize four-door as you could get from Detroit in those days, being a Supreme hardtop. And I really like the squared-off window line of the A-body 4 door hardtops (the post sedans had a rounded one), although imo it works best on a Chevelle without a vinyl top.
William, please have your man continue the junkyard photo journey. It’s been much appreciated, nothing get’s the mind going as to the possibilities each car encountered presents as a photo essay as this.
If that Ford wagon is Canadian market, then it may have the 302 or still a 351.
Without looking it up, I didn’t think the 255 was ever available in wagons. I thought wagons kept the 302 as a base engine all along.
From past discussions, 1) availability of the 351 may have been restricted in the U.S. in 1981 (possibly to cars ordered with the towing package), and it was gone completely from non-police package cars after that year, but 2) for some reason, the 351 continued to be available in Canada beyond that point.
From the discussion of the 1976-77 GMC Sprint in the article: “Engines were the same as the Chevy, with a 250 cubic-inch inline six and V8s of 305, 350, 400 and 454 cubic inches”.
IINM, the 454 was dropped from all midsize Chevys (Chevelle, El Camino, Monte Carlo) after 1975. It did it continue in fullsize Chevrolets through 1976.
The 6000STE looks like a 1984-1985 model based on the headlights and what’s visible of the taillights. Composite headlights appeared on the 1986 models. Also, if I recall correctly (hard to tell these days), the 1982 Ford wagon would have had a 302 as standard.
Early models had simplier body side moldings that were thinner and not ribbed, so probably this isn’t an ’83 or ’84. Pontiacs still had clean styling in ’83. It would get busier, gaudier, and tackier every year after that until buyers finally had enough of grey plastic cladding festooned with ribs and protrusions.
The first year 6000 STE from 1983 was the only year that had analog full instrumentation (except a tach), including a horizontal strip speedometer that had fallen out of favor in imports by this time but was still common in American cars. The whole panel glowed a lovely red at night. The remainder of the STE’s run had an unfortunate digital dash glowing in aquamarine and orange.
Wow ~
My Stepmother is from Vancover and we used to go visit her , if I’da realized the cars weren’t all rusty , I’da gone by .
That Elky isn’t my cuppa tea but for $1,500 it’s priced right .
-Nate
Thats only £700!. would be £2000 in the UK. Buy it Nate . If its a bit “dirty” no worries just keep it out of town as the Air Care emission test is only required in Metro Vancouver. Safety and emissions testing was cut by the provincial government due to costs.
Mark ;
I’m swimming in old vehicles as it is….
-Nate
Me too, Nate.
It sucks I bought too many, some don’t want to run right, and now they sit and take up space or storage.
Then I see another “bargain” and want to get it, but then it’s like “HELLO? You already have too many!” … I know.
You gotta get rid of a few to get a few.
What I have to do is : roll up my sleeves and get to work , I don’t want to part with any of my junkers, er , _JEWELS_ (that’s what I meant !) .
Times like this I wish I was 40 again…
No worries , I have naught else to do than tinker on oldies until I die .
-Nate
I now have 3 A2 Jettas at my house. One I’ve had for 24 years, one I got last year for free (needs a lot of work), and one I bought last month. It looks almost like new. I plugged in a spare pump relay and heard the pump run. Put the old one back in and the pump was silent. I offered $700.00 and it was accepted. Paid the man and towed it down the street. Then installed the relay and drove it home, runs as good as it looks. He had it for a few weeks and couldn’t get it going. He was the second owner, and I found all the paperwork from new (1987) in a folder under the passenger seat. But I must stop now. Must… stop… Maybe I’ll just take a quick look on Craigslist, just for fun, of course.
Aircare is now dead in BC – no more emissions testing!!!
Wow, I just went and read about that – that’s huge news for our friends up north who have older cars!
Junkyards, the only place where one can look and touch another persons dream.
The 6000STE made the top 10 list in Car and Driver partially because of their initial requirement that 5 of the 10 had to be American. Once they dropped that concept, approximately 1990, the list became almost entirely Japanese and German.
Maybe the initial requirement was there to better hide their biases.
I had an ’80 Citation, brother car to that Pontiac but I really like the rear lights on that Pontiac how they angle. If they made that x-body for another decade we might see the body rounding out some and angling much more on all sides; think ’96 Taurus.
Something tells me that Mustang looked bad ass in it’s day with its color scheme and it’s still whimpering, “I’m not dead yet.”
The cap on that Sprint must be quite rare especially in that condition.
Junkyards are like time capsules of what once was, and what could have been. The dreams of manufacturers, and buyers alike, and a reflection of their social and economic times.
Ok, enough with the psycho babble! The Ford full-size wagon is in nice shape, and I’m loving the two Pontiacs, the 6000 and the Phoenix. I always thought the Phoenix was the nicest of the X-cars, with an interior much better than the Citation.
Another walk through please!
Did the Pontiac Phoenix have that funky sideways mounted radio or was this a Chevy Citation only thing?
Different dashboards. Phoenix had a nicer one. IIRC only the Citation had the sideways radio.
The Phoenix had a standard horizontal 2 shaft radio, but the optional tape deck (cassette or 8-track) was a separate unit below the radio. The optional gauges in both the Phoenix and 6000 were individually set in the center of the dash, with two of them closer to the passenger than the driver.
2 of these were vd and I hope restored the Oldsmobile Cutlass and GMC Spirit both did not go to the junkyard rather they were sold by the yard I would like to thank the editor for doing this write up really cool to see it
” I’d love to see some production figures of the Sprint and the later Caballero, because I imagine the Chevy outsold it dramatically.”
I can’t vouch for their accuracy, but see http://www.elcaminos.com/ec/ec_total.htm.
Would love to know where that LTD wagon is! I’d scoop that up 🙂
Yes!! Another Mustang II Ghia!
An El Camino with a cap. Why not buy a Malibu wagon? Much easier to sell when the time comes.
Pull the canopy off and its a ute again with utility no wagon can match, pick o the bunch I reckon.
If you are going to use it to haul something like dirt, you might not want to put that in a wagon….
There is a sadness to viewing these junkyard photo’s.
Kind of like New Years Eve at the old folks home…
Phoenix dash
That’s from an ’83, after chrome and woodgrain were banned in the smaller Pontiacs. Each year’s Phoenix had different intrument panel trim and sometimes steering wheels. My sister had an ’82 which was the only year that had woodgrained dash, console, and steering wheel. ’80 was silver; ’81 black, ’83 had matte grey and blackout trim. Rare ’84 got 4-spoke steering wheels from the 6000 and orange night lighting.
To answer your question, about the Pontiac 6000STE…
Last time, I’ve seen one? It was back in 1997, and I actually rode and carpooled in it to work.
It was owned by the manager’s nephew of the local newspaper, I used to work for, back around 1996-97.
I wanted to save money on insurance, and took my car off the road for a few months… I owned a white 1984 Mazda 626LX sedan.
The STE drove nice and had the signature GM performance exhaust burble.
It was light blue metallic, and looked EXACTLY like the car in the pic below… Right down to the black rocker panels.
$1500.00 for that Sprint??? I’ve got that in my sock drawer….
Last time I saw a 6000-STE?
Leaving it at CarMax after selling it to them to get rid of the 130,000 mile time bomb in 2002.
Mine was an ’86 and it was a fun car, and relatively fast for the time, but it was 13 years old when I bought it, had 90,000 miles on it, and needed an engine shortly after I bought it, it proceeded to bleed me dry over the next 30 months with lots of deferred maintenece from the previous owner showing up during my 140 mile trips to college.
That was one car, that I’m glad to be rid of, but hold no strong feelings for.
That 1982 LTD Wagon is rare, plus the way it is equipped makes it even more rare! No woodgrain, yet it has cornering lamps and the pivoting front vent windows. I also see that it has the rocker panel moldings and bodyside moldings. I would love to see the interior options it has! I also don’t recall seeing many in that gold color as well. In the states the 302 V-8 was standard in the wagons. That car is truly a rare find!!
Regarding GMC Sprint/Caballero El Camino clones. I was reading a brochure for a ’79 GMC Caballero like I once owned, and in the last page with the specifications it states “this truck is also built as the Chevrolet El Camino”.