For the late 1970s, a lot of changes were afoot at GM, namely surrounding the introduction of smaller cars with smaller engines to meet new emissions standards across the board. The cars would also adopt sharper-edged styling to usher in the 1980s, and the Chevrolet Cavalier would represent the first of GM’s world cars, or the J-platform. The J-platform would serve most of GM’s North American divisions, as well as subsidiaries around the world, with a common, small-car platform that would yield 16 models such as the Pontiac Sunfire, Pontiac J2000, Pontiac Sunbird, Cadillac Cimarron, Chevrolet Cavalier, Oldsmobile Firenza, Holden Camira, Isuzu Aska and more. To say the least, the J-platform was an astonishing profit leader for GM. Popular, the Cavalier would also be a profit leader and sustain three generations, ceasing production in 2005 for the Chevrolet Cobalt. For 1983, American Sunroof Corporation would turn the Cavalier coupe into a convertible, the first Chevrolet convertible offered since 1975, and for 1984, the sporty Type 10 package would be available on coupes, convertibles and hatchbacks. This would arguably be the precursor for the Z24 performance package, which would debut for the 1986 model year complete with a 2.8L V-6 engine, and in 1987 the Type 10 would become the RS and for the 1988 model year, the second generation would begin and span through 1994. This 1989 Cavalier Z24 convertible shows just over 73,000 miles on the odometer and earned the Historical Preservation of Original Chevrolet Features Award. Finished in Dark Red with the requisite Z24 appearance kit including special lower body cladding, the wraparound gray lower edge treatment, blacked- out trim, redline badging and special block-grid aluminum wheels, this Cavalier retains its original power-operated white convertible top. Powered by the 2.8L multi-port fuel-injected V-6 engine and automatic transmission, the car has been kept by three owners and presents beautifully with a gray interior with sport cloth bucket seats, a center console, an AM/FM/ Cass stereo system with graphic equalizer, power windows, power locks, a power trunk release, power rack-and-pinion steering, power brakes with front discs, cruise control and much more. Thanks to a sport-tuned suspension and healthy V-6, the Z24 offered sporty performance at a bargain price.
