If you find a vehicle that works well, why not double-up?
The first-generation Geo/Chevy Tracker was introduced in 1989 in the USA and marketed by GM as the Geo Tracker. Suzuki (the builder) also sold its version, the Sidekick, alongside its smaller sibling Suzuki Samurai. Late in the first generation’s run (1998) the Geo name was merged back into Chevrolet, and in 1999 the second-generation Tracker was introduced, again (still?) as a Chevrolet.
The second generation continued into 2005 in North America, and for most of their run both the first- and second-generation were produced at the CAMI joint-venture plant in Ingersoll, Ontario, Canada although most of the first two years of production were imported from Japan. Both generations were marketed both inside and outside of North America under a confusing array of brands and model names: Suzuki Sidekick (US), Chevy Tracker (US), Geo Tracker (US), GMC Tracker (Canada), Asüna/Pontiac Sunrunner (Canada), the list goes on. Frankly it’s a bit overwhelming and hard to keep straight; and that’s just the North American ones, there are more for other markets!
This nice first-generation example looks to be fully outfitted for summer 4×4 fun with a removable hardtop. According to the CA smog-check database, this is a 1991, from near the beginning of the production run.
It even has a winch!
I don’t know why more Vans and SUVs don’t have their spare tire on the back – seems like it would make more room back there for the kiddies and the groceries.
A sensible option in my mind. I think the fear that someone will steal your tire is way overblown. These are swing-out tailgates if I understand it, so it’s not like they are in the way. But they are inconvenient when loading curbside, and they can be heavy when not on a completely flat surface. On a vehicle as small as the first-generation I would think the extra interior space is worth the trouble.
These are nice little SUVs, very practical in the city, though I would assume the extra 4×4 utility doesn’t get used much. A lot of them were used as tow-behinds for the RV crowd as well, easy enough to flat tow it if you put the transfer case in neutral. The first one worked well enough for this owner that he got him or herself another one.
Though the second one is definitely an upgrade – not only does it have an extra set of doors – it has an automatic!
And a rather fetching nose, in a utilitarian kind of way, I think. This one’s a 2002, near the middle of the run for the second-generation in North America.
All in all, I think these are pretty well taken care of. The owner must be a Mello-Yellow fellow. Or maybe he or she just has a two-track mind.
Related Reading In Different Colors:
William Stopford shows us a dark red Asüna Sunrunner version
I very much like the styling of the first gen Sidekick etc. especially in the longer wheelbase version, I think it’s one of the best looking SUV’s of all time, both detailing and proportion. I even test drove a new one in 1993 but we settled on a Corolla wagon instead. The second gen, not so much, though by the time the third gen rolled around and the Vitara name was used here, I think it regained some style, but more as just another SUV/CUV; though better than some (CRV, are you listening?) it lacked any distinction. The problem with the side hinged rear door, of course, is that what works for curbside loading in Japan, or Down Under, or Thailand or much of southern Africa, is a major hassle in most of the rest of the world.
Fun and youthful turns into boring adult. At least the second gen is refreshingly yellow, it amazes me just as rapidly as these sprouted extra doors, solid roofs and slushbox transmissions the wide rainbow color pallet of the first gens disappeared with them.
The little Suzuki Escudo must be one of the most rebadged cars ever made even within its its own brand different markets got different names, good little wagons though diesel models got their engines from Peugeot just to add to the confusion.
I had the Geo Tracker version of these for a short time in 1991 and the thing was like a little mountain goat off road. Due to it’s size, narrowness and light weight, with healthy articulation and departure/breakover angles it would get to remote places that other, larger off roaders could not, or just be able to take a more direct route.
I remember my two Tracker being laughed at as a “Barbie Jeep” by the guys and girls with “proper” Jeeps, Chevy Blazers and Ford Broncos before embarrassing them by getting to the top of the mountain much faster than they could. After I let them try mine out they had completely revised their opinions of my “jeeplet”.
These things are serious pieces of kit!
Excellent picture!
I have a ’04 Tracker best car ever. I have about 150,000 miles on it. People ask why dont I get a new car..why when this works just fine and is a beast in the snow.
I have a yellow 2 door ZR2 2002 Geo Tracker 4X4, what everyone is failing to mention is…. They are still on the road! These were exceptional reliable with many having 300,000+ miles. They are fairly simple, utilitarian, and dirty cheap to own with many mechanical parts still available. Would be nice to find bumper skins and fender flares as time does take it’s toll on plastic.
I love my 1st gen and I enjoy having the 2nd gen. Both trackers run great. Living in the rust belt I avoid driving in the salt with the 1st gen because I want it to last. They really are a fun mini suv to drive, and it’s a bit of a bug. Once you have one you want more. I’m up to 3 1st gens and 2 2nd gens.
Nice find. I do really like these especially in the first generation trim. The survivors here have held their value quite well.
Twice as nice, or double trouble, depending on your opinion.😁
Nice…I suffer a similar affliction, but in hatchback form…(’86 GTi, 2000 Golf)…so also skipped a generation A2 then A4. Both of them silver though…my A1 ’78 Scirocco Champagne edition was similar to this color though.
My 2 youngest sisters have the Nissan form of the illness.. both of them had 2 each 240SXs (well, cheating a bit, the youngest one had a 200SX as her first car)..total of 4 of them between them. Before I got the VW bug, I had ’74 Datsun 710, so I guess I lost it when I got infected by VW in 1981. Most of them were white though, and all of them were notchbacks (guess they didn’t inherit my hatchback gene).