We've got three main reasons why the GMC Typhoon is one of the coolest 1990s cars to own. For starters, it's the first of its kind, a turbocharged performance SUV producing 280 hp from a V6 engine. Second, it's rare, with just 4,697 units having been produced across three model years. Finally, there's the name, Typhoon. Say it out loud and tell us you don't want to see one parked in your driveway.Essentially an SUV version of the GMC Syclone (another rare vehicle with an awesome name), the Typhoon was ahead of its time back in the early 1990s, clearing 60 mph in just over five seconds and proving just as adept on the street or on the trail. With prices currently ranging as low as $20,000 for low-mileage models in good condition, there's never been a better time to grab one of these classics for yourself. The Typhoon Is Affordable For Such A Rare Car Bring A Trailer We're highlighting the GMC Typhoon today not just because we just dig the vehicle, but also because we dig the price. However, you'd have a hard time finding these SUVs for sale on your usual second-hand marketplace sites. After checking various used-car resources and auction sites, we found the following listings. A 148,000-mile 1992 Typhoon is listed on eBay at $20,000 or best offer. Hemmings has a 36,353-mile 1993 Typhoon listed for $46,900. A 10,000-mile 1993 Typhoon sold for $72,500 in late 2024 on Bring a Trailer. A 39,000-mile 1992 Typhoon sold for $35,500 in 2022 on Bring a Trailer. A 57,000-mile 1992 Typhoon earned a top bid of $19,000 in March, but failed to meet its reserve price on Bring a Trailer. There was an auction listing for $226,000 for a rare all-red model. Check the comments on that one, though, and you'll see that the sale didn't actually go through. This is a cool car, but it's not worth a quarter million at any mileage.Unfortunately, because these SUVs are so rare, there's not quite enough data to give a meaningful average price. Based on the fact that the last seller was unable to get more than $19,000 for their low-mileage SUV, though, it suggests to us that it's something of a buyer's market simply because, as rare as the SUV may be, few buyers even know it exists.Our advice: with a budget of around $35,000, you should have no trouble finding something with under 75,000 miles on the odometer. But don't let the seller know you're willing to go that high.If you don't mind buying something with six figures on the odometer, $20,000 "or best offer" seems more than fair for something with nearly 150,000 miles. The Typhoon's Sole Trim Was Pretty Slick For The Early 1990s Bring A Trailer The GMC Typhoon was only offered in a single trim across all three model years, but check the features list. While these features might be merely "adequate" by modern standards, they weren't bad for 1991-1993. Leather seats Leather steering wheel Cruise control Remote trunk release Keyless entry All that, and a tape player, too. This is not to say that all Typhoons were the same, though, as they were offered in a range of colors with varying scarcity. The 1991 model year consisted of just six pre-production models, while the 1992 model year offered nine color options: Midnight Black - 1,262 Units Midnight Black and Gray - 130 Units Frost White and Gray - 518 Units Apple Red and Gray - 345 Units Bright Teal and Gray - 132 Units Forest Green Metallic and Gray - 28 Units Aspen Blue and Gray - 28 Units Raspberry Metallic - 3 Units Radar Blue - 1 Unit 1993 saw the addition of some cool-looking all-white and all-red models. Midnight Black - 1,008 Units Midnight Black and Gray - 98 Units Frost White - 532 Units Frost White and Gray - 115 Units Apple Red - 77 Units Apple Red and Gray - 101 Units Forest Green Metallic and Gray - 210 Units Garnet Red and Gray - 24 Units Royal Blue Metallic and Gray - 35 Units Radar Blue - 1 Unit Radar Blue was the rarest color sold to the public, with just two units in total. Raspberry Metallic would be the second-rarest color, at just three units. The all-black models are the most common Typhoons, totaling 2,270 units, and usually the most affordable. The GMC Typhoon Can Still Smoke Most Cars On The Road Today Bring A Trailer The GMC Typhoon looks cool, the name rules, and it's priced to move, but we wouldn't be talking about it if it didn't walk the walk. Check these performance specs and see what you think.To put these numbers into perspective, until recently, a Dodge Durango was available with 295 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque from its base V6, clearing 60 mph in around 7.0 seconds. A 710-horsepower Durango SRT Hellcat would get there in under four seconds, but at that point you're spending six figures to shave less than two full seconds off the Typhoon's takeoff time.The engine is an LB4, part of the General Motors 90-degree V6 engine family, dating back to the late 1970s. The LB4 was a first-gen powerplant, using a Mitsubishi turbocharger and a Garrett water/air intercooler. The Typhoon shared this all-cast iron engine with the GMC Syclone. The GMC Typhoon Is An Easy SUV To Recommend Bring A Trailer The only reason we can think of to recommend buying something else is the fact that the Typhoon can be hard to find. You could wind up spending months or years trying to find one in good condition at a fair price. If you've got your heart set on a specific color, you might as well be hunting for Bigfoot.That being said, no car, pickup, or SUV is without its maintenance concerns. In a Typhoon, the big one is rust, especially if you're buying in a state with harsh winters. If you check the undercarriage and suspension and don't see any signs of serious corrosion, the next thing to look at is the transmission.The Typhoon delivers power to all four wheels via a GMC 4L60-E transmission. With new transmission fluid every 40,000 miles, it's pretty much bulletproof, but 35 years of neglect will make any gearbox feel wonky. Take it for a test drive and note any delayed or harsh shifts.Beyond these concerns, RepairPal lists the following as the most expensive common fixes for the Typhoon. Brake booster replacement $634 - $696 Oil pump replacement $625 - $963 Axle shaft replacement $594 - $680 Wheel alignment $207 - $304 Distributor cap replacement $124 - $184 As long as you get it in good condition and don't skip routine maintenance, the Typhoon shouldn't be a headache to keep running. Just Don't Drive It Every Day Bring A Trailer To go over the Typhoon's mpg specs, assuming 15,000 miles driven a year, split 45/55, highway/city.With gas prices being what they are, a GMC Typhoon makes a lousy daily driver. The ideal owner for a GMC Typhoon would be someone who wants to embarrass all those muscle cars at the track, or someone who wants an off-roader that's just as fun to drive on the street. If you're after an everyday SUV for the family or the morning commute, this thing would cost you a small fortune to keep the tank topped off.
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