Is the Geo Tracker a Collectible Yet?
When it comes to modern classic cars, the Geo Tracker SUV is often forgotten. Perhaps it’s because the tracker is on the younger side of classic. However, despite the often omission from car talk, the Geo Tracker has a fairly robust community of people who travel long distances to own the classic off-roading SUV. In many ways, the Geo Tracker is a collectible vehicle despite not having the most prominent reputation.
History of the Geo Tracker
The now iconic Geo Tracker made its American debut in 1989. Based on the Suzuki Sidekick, the vehicle was a relatively low-priced 4×4. The 1989 Geo Tracker came standard with a Suzuki 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine. The vehicle’s maximum output is 80 hp, and it has a torque of 94 lb-ft. It, and the first few Geo Trackers, has a five or three speed manual transmission.
The Geo Tracker is an old car with a complicated history as the automaker went defunct after the 97 model year. This makes the 1997 Geo Tracker the last model under the automaker’s name. According to Edmunds, the vehicle contains a 94 hp 1.6-liter inline-four engine. It’s four-wheel drive and includes options for automatic and manual transmissions. Of course, the manual transmission is still the most sought-after for Geo Trackers.
In addition to being more powerful and having more transmission options, the Geo Tracker also gained a four-door option. Unfortunately, the final years of the proper Geo Tracker didn’t experience high sales. Low sales for Geo vehicles, such as the Metro, were the reason for the company going out of business.
Geo turned Chevy
Despite relatively low sales General Motors, which also owned Geo, felt that the small SUV needed to continue. As a result, all future model years fell under the Chevrolet name. Of course, the first was the 1998 Chevrolet Tracker. For the most part, this model year continued everything people loved about the previous Geo Trackers.
The 1999 Chevrolet Tracker brought about some profound changes for the vehicle. The most significant change is the addition of a 2.0-liter engine option. This one has a maximum output of 127 horsepower. There were also a few exterior changes, which made the mini SUV look more mainstream.
The Tracker today
The Chevy Tracker, also called the Chevy Geo Tracker, lasted in production until the 2004 model year. One of the biggest reasons for the discontinuation of the Tracker was due to safety concerns. It doesn’t offer great protection in crash situations, and there are risks of head injuries. Still, as far as old cars go, this is a gem. It should also be noted that Chevrolet has revived the Tracker name in certain parts of the world.
So, is the Tracker a collection-worthy vehicle yet? Some would say no because only the first few model years are truly classics. In addition, the Chevrolet years aren’t widely talked about. However, the passion some people have for finding Geo Trackers makes it at least somewhat of a collector’s item. Geo Trackers are a significant part of automotive history and will more than likely become even more valuable as they become more rare as the years go on.
