Dave Saunders spotted this Canada-market Chevrolet Sprint Turbo, and here’s his comment:
Probably the roughest shape Chevrolet Sprint Turbo I’ve seen. Still it is existing and these are neat cars especially in three cylinder turbocharged form. Blue door still has Firefly badges from its Pontiac donor. Not sure what the graphic on the side is supposed to be.
The US version of Suzuki’s Swift was badged as the Geo Metro, and was (sadly) not available in turbo form. But its predecessor was.
Love that spoiler. The earlier version of the turbo that did make it stateside was rated at 73 hp; not sure whether this one upped that a bit further. In any case, a perfect definition of the word “pocket rocket”; of course, that’s just one of many. Does this one run on AA batteries?
Suzuki Swift GTI was this cars moniker down here the Holden Barina version didnt get a turbo model plenty still alive and well in NZ though that rust would fail a W.O.F. here.
The province of Alberta has no safety or emissions test of any kind.
That isn’t quite true – when a vehicle passes to a new owner and it is older than 12 years old it needs to go through a safety inspection. Any out of province vehicle needs to go through a more rigorous inspection. But if it stays with the same owner than no inspection needed. This one is likely with its last owner.
Importing one and repainting it like a stock US spec Metro would make it the ultimate sleeper! If only there were decent grippy tires for 12″ wheels…
Just buy a front cut from Japan and install in US model
The turbo was sold in the US in the previous generation body. I’m pretty sure the turbo engine is the same as the earlier ones. Parts can be hard to come by for the turbo three these days. Probably the DOHC G13B four cylinder engine from a GTi is an overall better choice.
There was a time that I really wanted a Metro/Sprint of that generation. If you got a dark-colored one, tinted the windows dope smoker black, and put a nice set of aftermarket wheels on them, they didn’t look half bad. And so you’d have a slick little cheapo car that got 40 mpg or better, and I remember them being comfortable for 2 people.
The Mouse Car! I had a Metro (used by my live-in girlfriend, gave it to her when we broke up) in black, every option except automatic. Still have really neat memories on that car. In rush hours traffic, it reminded me of my Triumph Trident from the way you could cut in and out of traffic.
Had an ’89 Geo Metro bought new in Fairfield, Cal. Bought as a commuter; 3-cyl, 5 speed. 53 mpg highway from Fairfield/Suisun to Alameda/Oakland. Great little car! Ran pretty good with decent power from the Suzuki aluminum three banger, but, turn on the a/c and – wham!! – sudden drop in power like an anchor was tossed out – and – with that a/c compressor engaged – better watch that temp gauge! Drove it June, 1990 up to Oregon and in the upper reaches of California (near that summertime frying pan of a town called Red Bluff), said air conditioner on Metro was shut off as the needle was rapidly turning “east” (as in you may ruin your aluminum engine hot).
Shipped car to Guam upon transfer; all U.S. spec cars there, no “Geo” brand; same car sold in Guam new as a Chevy Sprint OR Suzuki Swift. Same dealer (Atkins-Kroll).
I do remember the U.S. 1987-88 Chevy Sprint Turbos. Liked them – a lot.