1990 SSE up for auction in Luxembourg

[Saturn Simon]

Stumbled upon this while browsing online:

http://auction.catawiki.co.uk/kavels/21 ... ville-1990

Looks like a fine example of a 1990 Bonneville SSE. Same colour as my old '88 so it was certainly nostalgic to view the photos. Located in Luxembourg and part of a classic car auction.

[RJolly87]

I am not sure I would describe it as a fine example, but it isn't the worst I have seen. There are taillight issues which are expensive these days. Also funny little things stand out everywhere on the car, as if photos were taken in the best possible way to bring the best look to the car, but to see it in person would be disappointing. I am sure, however, being overseas, the options are limited, so it may still be a good choice.

[nos4blood70]

It looks to be in pretty good shape though, given its age and life overseas! I dig it.

[Saturn Simon]

I agree the tail lights are a real mess, and I noticed the scuffs to the bumper. But it is good for its age and appears pretty straight. It has originality on its side too.

[95naSTA]

I'll never see a 92-95, let alone a 90 in that good of shape in my neck of the woods. For 25 years old and in another country, it's definitely mint.

[ga93sle]

Very cool car, besides the 92-95 SSE/SSEi body this is easily my second favorite bodystyle, especially with the color matched wheels. So would this be a US spec car that was imported or is this from before European cars needed the repeater lights and whatnot?

[SSEiMan01]

I love it! That color looks familiar.

[Saturn Simon]

Very cool car, besides the 92-95 SSE/SSEi body this is easily my second favorite bodystyle, especially with the color matched wheels. So would this be a US spec car that was imported or is this from before European cars needed the repeater lights and whatnot?

I would say it probably is a US or Canadian spec car. I notice that it lacks towing eyes under the bumpers, which my '92 has and I think were required for Europe. It doesn't have a rear foglight built into the rear bumper, although it looks like one of the rear light units may have been modified to accept a rear foglight.

Side repeaters were a requirement for Europe but I don't know if that generation Bonneville ever had them fitted to the front fenders from the showroom. My '88 didn't need them in the fenders for the UK MOT test as the amber corner markers had been converted into turn signal repeaters. I suspect that is the case for that car too.

Talking of Euro-spec differences, my '92 doesn't have a third brake light in the rear window. I think this a Euro market quirk too. Of course on the '90 it is mounted in the rear spoiler.

I have a European sales brochure for that generation Bonneville, but the photos used are GM's standard US press photos so they don't help!

[rustyroger]

Hmm, both my '87 Olds 88 and my '89 Buick LeSabre have brake lights in the rear window that certainly look like they were factory fittings.

Roger.

[Saturn Simon]

Hmm, both my '87 Olds 88 and my '89 Buick LeSabre have brake lights in the rear window that certainly look like they were factory fittings.

Roger.

They probably are factory fittings. What market did your cars originate from, Roger? Were they US/Canadian imports? Central third brakes lights have been a requirement in the US since about '86 if I remember correctly.

[xxdabroxx]

A whopping 167 hp. wow...

[ga93sle]

Hmm, both my '87 Olds 88 and my '89 Buick LeSabre have brake lights in the rear window that certainly look like they were factory fittings.

Roger.

They probably are factory fittings. What market did your cars originate from, Roger? Were they US/Canadian imports? Central third brakes lights have been a requirement in the US since about '86 if I remember correctly.

I believe you're correct, 86 for passenger cars, 94 for light trucks.

[RJolly87]

A whopping 167 hp. wow...

Actually, stock was 165, and that's assuming some haven't escaped over the years.

[rustyroger]

I don't know where the cars were sold when new, Simon, but I think it would cost as much to specifically delete a high level brake light as part of the production process as it would to leave them in. I don't think they were illegal anywhere in the developed world.

Roger.

[Saturn Simon]

I don't know where the cars were sold when new, Simon, but I think it would cost as much to specifically delete a high level brake light as part of the production process as it would to leave them in. I don't think they were illegal anywhere in the developed world.

Roger.

I agree, which is why I've never been able to fathom why my car wasn't fitted with one. It has the housing for one.

They were indeed perfectly legal in Europe and plenty of European cars at the time were fitted with them, so why it appears the third brake light was deleted on the Euro market Bonneville is a mystery to me.

I should show you a photo of my rear window to demonstrate what I'm talking about: