Geo Prizm GSi (AE92 GT-S unicorn) NMNA Atlanta redtop 4AGE

While perusing the list of Craigs for a rallycross beater I came across this rare 1991 Geo Prizm GSi:

https://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/cto/6038907206.html

This is an uncommon car, a Toyota Sprinter Cielo, with redtop 4AGE (assembled at NUMMI plant). It has the same configuration as the AE92 Corolla GT-S of the same era (4 wheel discs, rear swaybar), but with more doors (Toyota never offered the 4AGE in any 4 or 5 door with a Toyota emblem on it).

SWMBO says it can't live in my driveway. Somebody here might like it. I take for granted living in the South that used cars will be southern ones; this one recently came from PA. I didn't see structural rust, but the sunroof panel was rusty and leaky. The interior was well preserved. The shifter was floaty (needs shifter bushings/cable? I don't know much about FWD). I offered $300 anyways which was declined.

In reply to DocV:

Wow, I've never heard of these.

You went in person to see it? Looks like a dealer or auction. Where in Atlanta was it?

I remember these! They rank pretty high on the list of toyota fwd unicorns

Looks like the guy who owns it has no clue what it is either.

When I was starting out in my career, I helped someone else do a clutch in one. I remember it was red and I was thinking "huh, two cam Prizm".

Oh Dear, someone needs this for the purpose of rallycross. OP, you need to find a friend who will allow you to keep it on their property away from the eyes of swmbo.

Just buy it and tell her it's a totally different one. She just said that one couldn't inhabit the driveway rigjt?

I did go look at it, there are two guys buying cars from auction and selling them out of their backyard on Craigslist. It's in south Atlanta. They did have a "dealer" plate to display. From the glovebox archaeology expedition, I learned that it was likely traded in at Toyota of McDonough and then sold at auction, because from the exterior it's a total nugget (it presents better in pictures than it was in real life). The sunroof panel is bubbling up with rust and somebody tried to seal it with silicone.

Several years ago they had one of these in the showroom of the Carmax. They were asking almost $8000.

was looking for a decent one for a LOOOOONG time....

tough to find "decent" anymore

In reply to DocV:

Sounds ready for rallycross, remove sunroof assembly and weld a sign panel in place.

They also put the same mechanicals in the 4-door sedan (no hatch) of that era. It was classed in ITB for SCCA racing. 130 hp gave it the best power to weight ratio in the class.

My very first car was the sedan version, sadly an auto, with the 16 valve motor. It had some scoot! Geo never had any negative connotations for me thanks to that car.