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Watch Out Taurus!
It all kickstarted when Ford decided to stuff a full fat V6 into an affordable and compact chassis of the standard Taurus. Resultant, Ford Taurus SHO or Super High Output. Soon Dodge followed suite with the Stinger R/T completing the holy grail of moderately fast yet fun Yankee cars.
GM in turn was looking to replace the aging Chevy Celebrity anyway, so they decided to mount a Pincer attack on Ford and Dodge by introducing Lumina as well as a Z34 Performance package.
V8s Are Overrated ?
The Lumina Z34 set itself apart from the standard Lumina with its awe-inspiring Z34 engine performance. Nestled beneath its hood was a 3.4L twin dual-cam V6 engine, boasting an impressive 210 horsepower at 5,200 rpm and 215 lb-ft of torque at 4,400 rpm.
This 24-valve LQ1 engine featured a robust cast-iron block with lightweight aluminum head and was mated to a 5-Speed Getrag tranny.
Back in the day, Motorweek managed to do an 8.1 second 60 mph sprint, with the quarter mile coming at 16.1 second @ 89 mph. As standard, it came with Goodyear Eagles and could pull 0.79Gs on skip pad despite weighing 3400 lb.
Performance by numbers was slower than Taurus SHO but considering it costed nearly 5 grand less back in the day, it ain’t no slouch.
Boy Racer Styling Meets Grandpa Interior
While the Lumina Z34 prioritized performance, it didn’t skimp on interior comfort and convenience. The cabin exuded simplicity and practicality, with generous headroom as one of its standout features.
While a Bose stereo system was an optional upgrade to the factory Delco setup, the Lumina featured essential amenities such as adjustable seats and cruise control.
The interior was pretty basic but got the job done. GM received its fair share of hate mail as Lumina neither had airbags nor an ABS. The buttons were clearly laid out and were both big and plasticky.
The interior was full of sharp edges and straight cut designs but could seat 4 with plenty of room to spare.
It even took part in NASCAR
The Lumina Z34’s NASCAR-inspired roots added an extra layer of excitement to its Z34 history and legacy. However, it’s important to note that the race-spec versions were in a league of their own.
The iconic 1994 Chevy Lumina Z34 driven by the legendary Dale Earnhardt roared on the track with a jaw-dropping 750-horsepower pushrod OHV 358, making it an absolute racing powerhouse.
How Much Is A Lumina Z34 Worth Today ?
Back in 1991, the Lumina Z34 could be yours for $17,275. By 1994, the MSRP had crept up to $19,310.
Its not easy to get a used Lumina Z34 in decent condition. You may find one or two listings for around $5,000 or so. Less than 40,000 were made as per Wikipedia and are attained a cult status since then.
The Chevy Lumina Z34 was soon replaced by the Lumina LTZ and Monte Carlo Z34.
The immaculate NASCAR version that once graced the tracks alongside Dale Earnhardt commanded a staggering estimate of $200,000 to $300,000 when it hit the Mecum Auctions stage in 2019.
Before buying a Gen 1 Chevy Lumina Z34 or any Lumina be aware of problems related to engine and electronics like broken intake manifold gaskets, fuel pumps and window switches.
Image Source- Brochure
