r/rarenormalcars

could never bring myself to buy one even tho they’re affordable at this point. but shit I love them.

Just discovered this subreddit, I love all the rare obscure sub-models of “normal” cars! The 70s-90s were great! Sorry to any purists out there, but yes, she is very much modified.😬

This is my daily driver around town, a 2002 Eldorado ETC Collector Series (final 1596 units out of the factory before discontinuation of the model line). 4.6 Northstar, 76,000 miles, very good+ interior and exterior condition, no mechanical or electrical issues. I can still feel every one of the 300 horses it left the factory with, the Northstar is a fun, high-revving engine.

There’s a big misconception in online car communities that Northstar engines are ticking time bombs, ready to blow once you start approaching 100k miles. The reality is that these engines just simply cannot overheat without risking extensive damage. The head stud issue with too-fine of threads was a major defect on GM’s part, so there’s plenty of blame rightly placed on them. BUT, if you religiously maintain the cooling system and monitor engine temps, the failure rate is similar to other DOHC engines of the era. Any Northstars you see on the road still today likely have had their cooling systems always perfectly maintained and functioning. If there is no overheating, then that greatly reduces the chances of head bolts backing out, and that means no gasket failure, and no engine block destruction.

One owner, guy custom ordered it from dodge new in this configuration, and I for the life of me can't find another one like this especially one this clean. He always garage kept it, I unfortunately dont have that luxury there's no room in the garages my 82 corollas in that spot. Absolutely love this thing man, put some flowmaster super 44s on it and it sounds awesome, so fun having a v8 thats stick in such a small truck. Went offroading with it last weekend, my buddys camp is in the woods and you gotta go down a muddy 4 wheeler trail to get to it and it handled it no problem at all, this things a little tank

To see one new was even a rare sight. The regular GM X body cars were everywhere The Chevy Citation, Buick Skylark, Oldsmobile Omega, and Pontiac Phoenix. The Citation and Skylark were what most everyone remembers.

I'm finishing up the final details on the Sport Omega so I can get started on the Phoenix.