Poor-Man's Syclone: 1992 GMC Sonoma GT


























As cars become more and more valuable, the more well-known vehicles typically become more and more expensive. Muscle cars are no exception, and as cars like the Mustang and Camaro become more and more expensive by the generation, an automotive enthusiast must turn to alternative vehicles to build. Hot Rod magazine writer David Freiburger once wrote an article on building up a pickup truck to handle and perform exactly like a muscle car for a fraction of the price. That truck, a 1974 Chevrolet C10 Step Side appropriately named "Muscle Truck", has since gained notoriety on Freiburger's YouTube show "Roadkill". A bit more factory-built is this 1992 GMC Sonoma GT, which is a limited production, budget-friendly version of the Syclone built for only one year in 1992. Find it here on David's Classic Cars in Phoenix, Arizona, with an asking price of $10,995.


























Based off of a regular-cab Sonoma pickup with a six-foot bed, GMC sent 806 Sonoma pickup trucks to PAS for conversion to the Sonoma GT. Considered one of the lowest production GMC vehicles ever built, the GT, dubbed the "poor-man's Syclone", shared the Syclone's body kit, but used its own unique wheels. This Sonoma GT is number 663 out of 806, and overall looks to be in good, driving condition. The front bumper is a bit misaligned and has a few scratches and scuffs, and the paint could use some compound, but otherwise the truck looks pretty solid and complete. Seventeen-inch SLP wheels are a nice addition, and I like the "Sonoma GT" windshield sticker. I would touch up the paint on the bumper, polish the wheels, get some sticky, high-performance tires, and compound and polish the paint to bring back its luster (or, if necessary, repaint the whole truck).
























Unfortunately, this is the best view of the interior a person can get in regards to this Sonoma GT. From what can be seen, the interior appears to be fairly solid, complete and in decent shape (here's a full-view look at a 1992 Sonoma GT interior). I wish the seller would post better pictures of the interior so a potential buyer could assess the overall condition. Also unfortunate is the fact that the seller did not post pictures of the drivetrain (here's what the drivetrain of a 1992 Sonoma GT looks like), but it is powered by a high-output 4.3L V6.  Rated at 195 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque, the lack of the turbocharger and the all-wheel drive that the Syclone had makes the Sonoma GT a tad bit slower, but performance is still decent, with a 0-60 time of 7.8 seconds and a quarter-mile time of 16.0 seconds at 85 mph. Having said that, I would swap the drivetrain for a small-block Chevrolet V8 and automatic transmission, with possibilities leaning towards a LT-1 and 4L60 automatic out of a 1994-96 Caprice 9C1 or any LS-based drivetrain. Though in need of a bit of work, this Sonoma GT would be a cool truck to build up, and given the rarity, would be an uncommon-yet-welcome sight at any car show or cruise night. What are your thoughts on this rare, one-year only Sonoma GT?
Location: Phoenix, AZ, USA

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Ghost in the Machine: 1996 Callaway Supernatural 450 C9 Impala SS

Image
After my brother briefly drove my dad's 455-equipped 1975 Trans Am and found out how terrible it was on gas, he switched to a 1995 Chevrolet Caprice 9C1 decked out to look like an Impala SS. Furthermore, my dad worked at a junkyard where the owner has a 1995 Callaway C9 sitting in his yard, albeit rotting away. To summarize, I've been a huge fan of 1994-1996 Impala SSs for a long time now, especially ones modified by Callaway. This 1996 Impala SS is not only a Callaway C9, it's also been upgraded to a Supernatural 450 model. Find it here on Hemmings in Leesburg, Virginia, with an asking price of $50,000 obo. After getting his start as a driving instructor for Bob Bondurant's driving school in 1973, Reeves Callaway got his start in modifying cars by making turbocharger kits for BMW through Car and Driver's Don Sherman. After Sherman told Callaway that he had neither the manpower nor the equipment to build the turbos, Callaway founded C
Read more

Mint Baja: 1991 Chevrolet S10 4X4

Image
There are certain vehicles that one rarely sees in nice, unmolested condition out on the road. Finding one for sale, however, is like trying to find the proverbial needle-in-the-haystack. One of those vehicles is the Chevrolet S10, especially 1982 to 1993 versions. An even harder version of the S10 to find is the Baja appearance package, which is a rare sight in any condition, let alone one as clean as this truck is. Find it here on Craigslist in Dallas, PA, for $13,750. Introduced in 1988, the Baja was an appearance option that was available on any S10 that had four-wheel drive. Available in Midnight Black, Apple Red and Frost White, the Baja option included  a roll bar with off-road lights, a front tubular grille guard with fog lights, a tubular rear bumper, an under-body shield package (transfer case shield, front differential shield, fuel tank shield, oil pan/steering linkage shields), a suspension package, a Chevrolet windshield bann
Read more

T-Topped G-Body: 1981 Pontiac Grand Prix

Image
One of the coolest options that I hope will return to production one day are T-tops. Last used in the early 2000s, T-tops were the practical and economic way to enjoy the great outdoors while driving without the fuss and worries of the convertible. It would be really cool to see a new six-gen Camaro or Mustang (heck, even the Challenger would look cool) to feature T-tops from the factory, but until then, take the wildcard route and buy this needy 1981 Pontiac Grand Prix. Find it here on Craigslist in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, with an asking price of $1,595. After a full redesign in 1978, Pontiac's G-body Grand Prix was given a major facelift in 1981. The sheetmetal was given a more aerodynamic design, the tail section was revised, and a new grille was fitted. This 1981 Grand Prix is a LJ model, and is one of 46,842 cars built for the year. Painted a two-tone blue, the grille is cracked, the landau roof needs replacing, the bumper
Read more