Good morning! Today, I couldn’t decide between two pairs of cars for the letter G, so I’m showing you all four. Think of it as a Two-fer Tuesday. We’ve got two fairly cheap and common choices, and two downright weird ones for more money.
Yesterday, I made you choose between an overpriced economy car, and a fancy Danish potential paperweight. To my delight, the little Fiat won easily. It sounds like the fact that you can still buy parts for it almost 50 years after the fact swayed a lot of you, especially since there is absolutely no chance you’ll be able to say the same for the Fisker if it gets to be that age.
And yes, I know the designer’s name is Dante Giacosa, not Giacosta. It was just a miscommunication between my brain and my fingers. Usually, my wife catches typos for me, and what she misses, Pete never lets me live down. But I doubt either one of them would have known that one was a mistake. Thanks for keeping me honest.
Choosing cars for this feature isn’t as easy as you think, especially when we’re making our way through the alphabet like this, and trying not to hit the usual suspects over and over again. I have ideas of what cars to shoot for, but some of them can’t be found for sale, and others are stupidly expensive, so often there’s a compromise to be made. But today, I honestly couldn’t choose which way to go, so I’m going to do both. We’ll keep these short; be sure to click on the headers for each car to check out the ads and see more photos.
1995 GMC Sierra 2500 – $2,450
Engine/drivetrain: 7.4-liter overhead valve V8, four-speed automatic, 4WD
Location: Oregon City, OR
Odometer reading: 221,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives well
We’re big fans of the GMT400 trucks around here, as most of you know. I have one, David has one, Thomas used to have one, and Adrian really, really wants one. This truck represents a turning point in pickup evolution: it still means business, but it doesn’t punish you for wanting to drive a truck. The ride is comfortable-ish, thanks to independent front suspension, and the interior is not a bad place to be, especially on these post-facelift models. Like all trucks, the GMT400 was available in a wide range of specifications; this one is a 3/4 ton model, with an extended cab and a full 8-foot bed, making it a very long truck indeed.
A wide range of powerplant choices was available as well, from the 4.3-liter V6 that my truck has all the way up to this one’s 454 cubic inch big-block V8. Behind that big engine is a four-speed automatic transmission, and behind that is a dual-range transfer case providing shift-on-the-fly 4WD. You’ll get about eight miles to the gallon, but it does run and drive well, and will likely continue to do so for a good many years yet, despite having put more than 200,000 miles in its rearview mirrors already. It’s a Pacific Northwest truck with no rust, and while it’s no show truck, it won’t embarrass you at the lumber yard either.
1993 Geo Metro – $2,500
Engine/drivetrain: 1.0-liter overhead cam inline 3, five-speed manual, FWD
Location: Fort Collins, CO
Odometer reading: 162,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives well
Really successful economy cars are usually built so much better than they need to be. They look cheap and flimsy, but they’re plucky, and they have a knack for surviving harsh treatment. And there’s often a very devoted group of owners who keep them going far beyond their expected lifetimes. The humble Geo Metro is such a car. There is no earthly reason for any Metro to still be operational; most of them were driven into the ground ages ago. And yet, you still see them out and about, usually scruffy as hell, and usually hauling ass. This Metro is definitely scruffy, but the seller puts 70 miles a day on it without trouble. It has a new clutch, as well as some other recent work.
It actually looks pretty nice inside. The carpet is dirty, but the seats look good. And it’s the later dashboard design, so it doesn’t have the headlight switch buttons that pop off all the time. For some reason it has a Suzuki logo on the steering wheel instead of Geo, but I imagine most of these are Ships of Theseus to some degree these days. It has some rust outside, and a weird repair to the panel behind the driver’s door. It looks like a bad or incomplete collision repair that’s starting to rust again. The next owner should probably do something about that.
1963 Glas Goggomobil TS 250 – $21,000
Engine/drivetrain: 247 cc two-stroke inline 2, four-speed manual, RWD
Location: Ruskin, FL
Odometer reading: 66,000 kilometers
Operational status: Runs and drives well
In the years after World War II, American cars got bigger and flashier, while in Europe, they stayed small and economical. Scores of little microcars and economy cars were introduced, often with tiny engines and bizarre styling – and weird names. The Goggomobil, produced by Hans Glas, was one such car. It was available as a two-door sedan, a small van, and this sporty little coupe. Mind you, “sporty” is doing a lot of heavy lifting there. This car has a 250 cc two-cylinder, two-stroke engine that puts out 13.6 horsepower. It can’t even manage 50 miles an hour.
What it lacks in performance, however, it makes up for in style, with its cream-and-red interior and adorable shape. This 1963 model is the final year that the Goggomobil TS coupe had suicide doors, and there’s a warning sticker on the inside not to open the doors over 5 miles an hour. I’m not sure why anyone would, but better safe than sorry, I guess. It’s in wonderful condition, and the seller says it runs and drives well. Cars like this aren’t exactly useable as transportation on modern highways, though, and if you’re taking it to a Cars & Coffee or something, it had better be close by, and on surface streets.
1964 Gilbern GT – £10,750
Engine/drivetrain: 1.8-liter overhead valve inline 4, four-speed manual, RWD
Location: Carmarthen, UK
Odometer reading: 72,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives well
Quick: Name a Welsh auto manufacturer. If you’re coming up dry, I’m not surprised; I only know of one, and it’s Gilbern. One of seemingly hundreds of low-production sports cars sold in the UK in the 1950s and 60s, Gilbern offered its cars in kit form, using BMC A- or B-series engines, tube-frame chassis, and fiberglass bodies. The GT was its first offering, sold from 1959 to 1967. This car is one of only 280 made. It’s a later GT1800, so named for its 1800 cc B-series engine. This one has an even newer engine, from a post-1972 MGB. it was restored 25 years ago, and is now showing its age again, but the seller says it runs and drives well.
The interior is really nice, if a little dirty. Small manufacturers rarely give much thought to interior styling, and Gilbern is clearly no exception. It’s stark and utilitarian, but the seats look comfortable. Everything works inside except the tachometer; the car has been upgraded to electronic ignition, and the old induction-loop tach isn’t compatible. The seller says the tube frame had some rust repair done, and it’s solid now. The fiberglass body is in good condition, but the paint is not great. But it’s got real wire wheels, real leather straps holding the bonnet closed, and real Lucas driving lights.
So there you have it: Two tiny economy cars, one rare sports coupe, and a big ol’ truck. What do they have in common? Practically nothing, except for the first letter of their names. But for our purposes, today, that’s enough. How do you go about choosing one of them? Beats me. But have fun.
My head says the truck (though it almost seems TOO cheap to be any good, but maybe trucks are a lot cheaper up there), but my heart says GIMME THAT GILBERN!!
So a Welsh rare bit for me!
I was not sure whether to vote for the Sierra or the Geo,but I eventually decided on the Sierra because it’s a gmt400 and a long bed one at that. The Geo would be nice to,but it obviously had some shitty repairs done. The Gromblin or whatever is a crappy kit-car from the UK and the Goggomobile is neat but useless to me.
I’d buy the truck, but it would take almost another thousand dollars in gasoline just to drive it home from the West Coast. Those 454s are thirsty.
Geo for me! It would complete the Suzuki–>Geo collection nicely alongside my Tracker, as well as offer great fuel economy, quality Japanese engineering, and a stick shift, at a low price
I have no need for an economy car, and the Goggo is just a >bit < too small & slow even for me. I’d go for the honest truck, but, at 8mpg I’d rather bid on my old 4wd work van.
So I voted Gilbern
TBH while the Glas is more interesting looking, it’s barely a car. The Gilbern is interesting, a real car and has that mid-century British style that is both weird and austere. Looks like fun, until you need to replace the glass.. easy vote for me
We need proportional representation here, and a Coalition of the Interesting to keep the Big Stupid Truck from winning by default, even if it is very cheap. Solidarity, people! We can do this! There are dozens of us! Dozens!
I did my part: Gilbern
same
In my current predicament a cheap to own and operate hatchback would be a godsend. Plus, it will be lots of fun in the twisties.
I’ve no use for a huge truck, a tiny cute classic or a Lucas-cursed British classic.
I don’t like truck, but I’m buying the truck and putting the Geo in the bed. I can probably make some ‘beer money +’ with the truck and break even on running it easily. It’s got no rust and can probably go another 200k miles with little more than routine replacement of filters, fluids.
The Geo is in the worst shape of the remaining three, but also likely the easiest to work on and get parts for. I was in a few of these back in late 80’s and early 90’s, and they are noisy, but it would still be useful for me as a grocery getter or a car my youngest can get driving training on without all the new tech to distract them.
Ultimately though, I think the truck represents the best choice.
GMT400 for the win. Yes the interior looks like it came from 3 different trucks, but Oregon isn’t going to turn that body or frame in to swiss cheese that quickly.
And it’s a proper 8 lug wheel 3/4 ton, so that means it has better hardware (and a 4L80).
Since these are going to be the next square bodies, I’d buy it and fix what I can on a budget. Maybe finding some junkyard seats from a suburban or Escalade is first priority…
As someone from the Northeast, I’m all over that GMC. That’s a steal, they don’t exist in that condition here at even 3X the price.
It’s long, but not ridiculously long. It’s probably about the same as a crew cab F150 with a 6′ bed. I’d daily it around town.
Hah yup I am from the Midwest salt belt and that truck would be a minimum 9k around here. Anything in that price range the floor boards and rockers would be gone.