1984 Chevrolet Cavalier Type 10 Convertible/Survivor

Description

In 1984 the Cavalier RPO code Z08 Type 10 convertible production was moved from ASC to GM in 1984 in order to fill more production orders. Production though remained relatively low with only 5,486 1984 code Z08 Type 10 convertibles being produced. Prices rose on the Type 10 convertibles this year and were criticized for being rather expensive once optioned to the level most buyer desired. The convertible listed at $11,299 was a stripped model with most automatic air conditioned Type 10 convertibles priced right at $15,000. 34 years later how many do you think are still on the road, much less in the condition of this 2 lady owners Type 10? With only 41,420 miles driven since it rolled off the production line in 1984 it is certain to be one of the lowest mileage survivor examples left.
I bought it from the second owner who had owned it for nine years. A brain tumor and sensitivity to sunlight prevented her from enjoying the little convertible. She relayed the story of the original owner to me as she said the original owner wanted future owners to know about the little car. As told to me the original owner purchased the car in 1984 right after her husband passed away. She was retired at the time and wanted something fun to drive. She drove it twice to Minneapolis from Northern Wisconsin during her time of ownership to visit her daughter. She relayed how she was frustrated on one trip as the little car was caught in a rain shower, the only time during the original owners time with the car that it had been driven in the rain! She relayed that it was put in dry storage every fall as she went to stay with her son in Florida who owned a business, so it was also never driven in the Wisconsin winters. After almost 25 years of happy ownership the original owner decided to sell it due to her advanced age and inability to get out much and drive the car.
The second owner had just retired from Chicago to Northern Wisconsin and was looking for a fun convertible to drive when she came across this little Type 10. She immediately fell in love with the striking white/white/blue combination and purchased the car. During the next nine years she stated the convertible top never saw sunlight. When she wanted to drive the Type 10 she would go to her storage facility, remove the blankets she used to cover the car, put the top down, place the color matched factory convertible top boot on the car and drive it out of the storage facility. When she returned from her drive she reversed her process and put it back into storage. She also told me the car had never been rained on during her ownership and that during her nine year ownership she had only driven it 3,000 miles. She indicated the last 2 years she had not driven it at all as during her yearly oil change and inspection it was found that one of the front driveshaft boots had torn and her mechanic advised her it was dangerous to drive the car with it broken as dirt could enter the joint and ruin it. She had the mechanic fill the boot with grease and drove it back to her storage where it remained until I bought it. She was disappointed that she had to sell the car because of her inability to drive it anymore due to her medical condition, but also wanted the story of the car and its owners passed down and made me promise to do that.
I bought the convertible from her and had the driveshaft replaced with a brand new one and also had the original muffler replaced as there was a loose baffle inside it that rattled occasionally. The mechanic also advised replacing the pipe in front of the muffler as the original was welded together and once he removed the original muffler he felt there wasn't enough pipe before it bent back up to securely attach the new OE designed muffler. I have driven it less than 100 miles just to make sure everything works. The only thing I can see that was changed before it got it was plugs, wires, battery and the radio. The radio is a upgraded Pontiac unit with cassette. This is not correct to the car and the second owner told me the first owner had it put in as she liked to listen to her cassette tapes and the Cavalier didn't have a player when she bought it new. I do not have the original AM/FM radio that originally came with the car. Everything work including the air conditioning which has not been converted over to R-134a.
Items from the original owner are still in the car, such as a set of white mudflaps with the Chevrolet name in black on the bottom. They are still in the original packaging never being installed on the car. There are also some dealer sales brochures showing the new Cavaliers including the base Cavalier and the RPO code Z09 Type 10's. There are also some personal items like a blue scarf the original owner used to tie around her neck when she drove the car and some other items I believe like an old road map and such. Whatever was in the car when I bought it the new owner gets.
I am pricing this little Cavalier Type 10 reasonably so that anyone can take ownership and continue to enjoy the car. I believe that buying the lowest mileage best example of any car that is over 30 years old will protect your investment and most possibly not only allow you to park your money in an asset you can use, but also allow you some added benefit of appreciation beyond what you're currently receiving in any traditional investment.
Please take a look at this cute little convertible and see if it fits into your needs, there can't be many left in this condition or mileage anymore. I've looked for six months and all I found was one grey with black top Type 10 convertible that had east coast rust on it. The mileage stated it was around 45,000 miles but it needed a top and paint. It was for sale for $5,500! Do not confuse the Type 10 which was a special upgraded model with the base Cavalier convertible. There were many differences!
This one is a nice as they come with only minimal items showing that it is now almost 35 years old!