The snowflake is the A/C! I know only because I ha do one for my first car. Mine was a 1990 and had the same snowflake. 4 speed auto and power moonroof too! Fancy!
I had a 1988 Hyundai Excel GLS 4 doors hatchback as my first car that I purchased when I was 15 years old back in 1998. The snowflake button you mentioned that is located on the right hand side of the steering wheel is the air condition function. Despite my Hyundai came with air condition, the engine would over heat when I turned on that function.
This channel is probably the most original in the YT car review sphere atm. I love the late 80s-early 2000s car content. I'm getting tired of the wow let's review this brand new car no one can afford because of dealer markups and release the video on the same exact day as everyone else. You're finding the hidden gems and forgotten relics from the golden ages of affordable fun cars and bringing them to light. Great work!
This channel is so underrated, the cars I used to make fun of as a kid for being complete junkers I now love seeing on the road and this channel showcases those cars. I feel this channel is a more straight forward version of Regular Car Reviews, minus the deep rants about life and farts
funny thing is I found this channel after watching B Channel which also review cars that newest and latest to those almost forgotten existence , UA-cam algorithm understands what I'm looking for
I bought a 1991 Hyundai Excel from a coworker for $1 since the transmission was bad. Swapped in another transmission and replaced the front lower ball joint’s. I sold it for $900. It had a very sweet Mitsubishi engine in it.
My dad bought a 1991 CXL new for 10k - bloody thing was sold to a wreckers with 377k on it - two clutch slaves and a 5spd trans (around 200k) and it wasn't even that rusted when it was scrapped in 1999. He bought it because his previous car, a 1987 Pony, was so reliable. The Excel surpassed it in mileage, but it needed more funds to get there. The Pony was a stronger car. And RWD.
Brings back memories. My dad had one of these. He kept it very well kept up and at one point took the whole motor apart and rebuilt it. Got 300k miles on it.
7:08 Proton (a join venture between Mitsubishi and the Malaysian government) had struck a deal with Malcolm Bricklin to import the Saga (a rebadged Lancer) into the US. But let's just say the higher ups at Mitsubishi weren't happy about it as Chrysler was already selling the Lancer as the Dodge/Plymouth Colt so having a 3rd Lancer based model in the US would create problems for Chrysler's existing partnership with Mitsubishi so the export deal was eventually called off
I just love what a nugget this little car is. I CRIED because of laughing about that tachometer that said Hyundai instead of doing anything. Great work!
You're reviewed the rarest 80's small car ever. I really surprised this car is still alive and runs really great. Thank you for explaining my absolute dream car. You helped studying me.
I remember when these came out in 1985. It was so popular that Mitsubishi rebadged these as the Précis and sold them also. Surprised you found a running base model hatchback. I haven’t seen one on the road for many years.
My Mom bought a brand new one in 89. Their promotion was a free Timex watch and the sales rep gave it to a 9yr old me at the time. Lasted us through 10 Canadian winters until salt won the battle. On ours their was a digital clock to replace the Hyundai badge on the dash. Still remember the orange backlight.
The Ioniq 5 is supposed to vaguely resemble the Pony, but I truly think it looks more like the Excels from the late 80s and early 90s. Learned to drive in a 93 Excel. Loved that little thing.
Most cars didn't have cupholders until well into the 90's. The closest thing to cupholders in many vehicles (Ford, for example) were small cup-sized depressions molded into the back of the glovebox door (which laid flat when opened) - these were only usable when parked (or a drive-in theater), as anything placed there would fall over.
Hey Zack, gotta say you seem to have the best videos for slightly obscure hard to find vehicles that brings back a TON of nostalgia, so much so that you just earned yourself a new subscriber. Now I don’t want to be “that guy” lol but I do want to point out one little thing. This Hyundai actually does have air conditioning. That little snowflake button on the right side pod is the A/C button. Now it more than likely isn’t operational anymore, and if so you are correct in the car not having A/C lol, but this at least at one point did have air conditioning. I’m not so sure anyone else will notice this but just wanted to let you know. I can tell you are one that really likes these 80s and 90s cars just as much (or possibly even more lol) than I do, and the more we can share and learn about these good ‘ol gems the better Take care
Should have bought a Pony. My dad had one, 350k, not many problems. I have 4 of them now, and honestly, dead easy to fix the few times they do break down.
I had an 02 Hyundai Scoupe Turbo. I swapped a 4G43 into it with the FWD gearbox out of a Plymouth Laser. The 4G63 swaps into the Hyundai Scoupe and Excel
Some vintage Korean auto industry fun facts: Before the Hyundai pony, shinjin motors was the largest car manufacturer in Korea, they made Toyota models like corona and crown. Hyundai owned a professional baseball team called the Hyundai unicorn until 2007. Kia was a bicycle and motorcycle company before it made cars (used Honda motors) and before they were bought by Hyundai. They still own a baseball team the Kia tigers. The Hyundai excel was in the lyrics of a notorious b.I.g. Song.
Hyundai also made CKD kits for Ford. Much of the Pony's (and Stellar's) running gear comes from it. I've got Cougar rims on my Pony, same bolt pattern.
@@the_kombinator the mid 90s Ford Aspire is Korean made. Partnership with Kia and ford. This was before Hyundai owned Kia and before Kia entered the US market
Oh god, that “you didn’t pay enough for a tach” gauge cluster… the Nissan hardbody could come like that too. No automaker would be bold enough to give the customer a middle finger like that, and I could never buy a car with something like that.
Believe it or not, the "Hyundai" logo blank panel where the tach would be was quite common back then on base model cars; this was true for my 1987 Nissan pickup truck and many other vehicles I've either ridden in or owned from that time period. VW's approach on the MKII Jettas and Golfs was to insert a tach-sized analog clock right next to the speedometer! It was ridiculous. Also, that "HYUNDAI" blank in the dead center of the dash was for an optional digital clock.
My supervisor in the Air Force had one and it rarely ran. But for $10,000 you could buy the new Hyundai Scope that came with keyless entry, power sunroof, power windows locks, and sporty two door. They looked pretty good but tell me the last time you saw on one the road in the United States? And many people I talk with have never heard of the Scoupe. I would like to see that car on the channel. If you can find one. They sold a lot to military troops here in the US. (Made from 1988-1995)
I will NEVER Forget!!! In the wake of the infamous Rodney King high-speed chase, l.a.p.d. spokesperson said, and I quote: "Rodney King was traveling at 115 miles per hour down (such and such) freeway." Very next day, Hyundai spokesperson said: "That's ImPossible! Our cars cannot Go That Fast!"!!!!!
Owned this for about six years and it turned out to be one of the best cars I ever owned -- not nearly as good as the 2008 Corolla i've owned for 16 years, but still good with minimal repairs. I remember I liked the turning radius -- perfect for U turns on relatively narrow streets.
My grandmother bought a brand-new Excel in 1993, which was the updated (rounded off, slightly modernized, fuel injected) version of this car; This thing was an ABSOLUTE STRIPPED-DOWN example; no a/c, no power options, no stereo, and a four speed on the floor. Everyone gave her hell for buying this thing - even her nine-year old grandson (me!). The joke was on us, though - the car lasted eight years, 80,000 miles before the transmission case cracked when my uncle slammed it into a parking lot barrier. In all, it was the most reliable car she ever owned...
I nearly bought a brand new 1987 Hyundai Pony, but there was so much demand, the wait was just too long. I ended up buying a used 1981 Corolla which ended up being a great car. I did eventually buy a brand new 1991 Excel SE which was cheap and reliable and served me until 1998. I payed $9995 for it.
Damn, my dad bought a 1987 Pony new for like 6 grand. Lasted forever. He liked it so much he bought a 1991 Excel CXL, decent in its own right. Ponys are awesome because RWD. I have one with a body kit, larger brakes, and a 4G63 motor underhood.
Nice that someone thought to keep and preserve a 1988 Hyundai Excel. I haven't seen one in years. Being in Canada, we got the antiquated Pony and Stellar. I had a 1985 Hyundai Pony "Plus" 1600 GLS. The "Plus" was in the price, lol. Compared to a Yugo, or that poverty model spec'd Excel, it was quite luxurious and also had a Mitsubishi (as well as Ford) lineage.
Hyundai still terrible, they're just able to dress it up much better these days, there's a reason Hyundai/Kia give a 10 year warranty, it's not from the goodness of their hearts, that's for sure.
I can't remember the last time I saw one of these. They used to be all over the place. I'm surprised nobody mentioned this car was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro.
I would love to have a brand new car just like this, only better quality, and A/C, because I live in Phoenix, AZ. It doesn't need anything else. I drove air cooled VW Bugs for decades, but they don't have A/C, and I have reached the age where I can no longer do without it. I absolutely love small, 2 door, very basic cars with manual transmissions. I love the fact that it's carbureted, I don't want any computers in my cars. I am currently driving a 1972 Ford Pinto woodgrain wagon, with a fairly new engine, 4 speed transmission, and mostly new steering, brake, and suspension parts, along with aftermarket A/C. Hyundai used to make cars, even if they weren't really great cars. Now they just make computers on huge ghetto wheels with no tires. You couldn't give me one, unless I could sell it and keep the money.
I had a 74 2.0 Pinto only had 15k miles. I had to get it tuned, decel valve, carb rebuild. It was due to nostalgic as a kid. My mom had a yellow 74 Squire. I sold it to buy my wife a ring. I have to say it was title slow, even as a manual. But I would love a 71-73 wagon. Add some headers, exhaust, etc. Leaving it other wise completely stock.
I wish I would have found this video when it was originally released. I reached driving age just as these cars were released. Something misspoken is when the car received a 5 speed manual. They always had that available from day one. You're driving the base model in this car, and it had zero frills. This could be had in 3 and 5 door hatchback models. The 1989 model year did finally bring the 4 door sedan into the base trim. The mid level trip was given a GL badge on the back. Bumpers became body color, the 5 speed manual was standard, and a 3 speed automatic became an option, Where that blank is on the left side of the cluster, an analog clock would occupy the slot. If the anemic AC was added, that blank button by the snowflake label is where the switch to turn it on and off would go. A rear wiper was also added to the GL trim, which would occupy a couple of the blank spots on the left side of the cluster. The seats were full cloth in front, and vinyl on the back. GL trim also allowed you to spec a 4 door sedan. If you wanted to be fancy, you would spec the GLS trim which gave you the nicest interior, a tach on the left of the cluster, a digital clock in the center of the dash, and a silver grille in front. You also received fancier hubcaps or could spec for alloy wheels. 1988 Also brought the GS model for the hatchback version like you were driving. It came in a select couple of colors, a body colored grille, decal badging, and highly bolstered front seats of their own style. There is way more detail that can be put into the four trim models and the differences between the four model years the car ran. Every year received small enhancements that gave them the ability to be identified each model year visually. 1986 had a big black egg crate grill surrounding squared sealed beams. 87 brought the two piece grill insert and the halogens like this one. The 3 speed automatic also gained a lockup torque convertor. The silver grill that year also sported the GL trim. 1987 also had a one time run of an SE trim model that evolved to the GS the following year for the hatchbacks. 1988 saw the front grille get a cosmetic change, and the cars go to all red taillights. 1989, the final year for the first gen car, saw the return of a one piece grill, that was black on the base, and body color on the GL, GLS, and GS trim cars. Interior content remained pretty consistent all four years. Mitsubishi actually rebadged these cars for a couple of years as the Precis. I'd love for one of these in the mid or top trim to show up at my house. I to this day, have a soft spot for these back in the day, terrible little cars. People viewed them as disposable transportation, and treated them accordingly. This is why they're virtually extinct in the world.
I learned to drive in this exact car. it was a GL model. my mom got it used in 1993. Automatic and it had A/C and an analog clock where the RPM gauge should be. We fit a freakin riding mower in the back of that thing one time 🤣 The original stereo was a Panasonic and it was a decent stereo with a tape deck. Even though it was a cheap ass car it was a step up from the plane jane K car we had before that. it had AC, bucket seats AND a tape deck! what luxuries lol
Oh you're going to need to come to Canada and try and find a Hyundai Pony as we got the Pony in the mid 80's then the Stellar towards the late 80's before Hyundai entered the American market in the late 80's, assuming there are any left that someone maintained. They tended to get used up and there are virtually none around anymore. Based on rarity, you're more likely to see a Countach up here in Canada than a 80's Hyundai!
I was 11 when these hit the street in America. Absolutely awesome automobile that took more of a beating than a ford eacort or dodge omni ever could . $ 3,995.00 no haggle price
Bought my 3(st) car in May of this year, the Veloster. I love the weird, chimera like character of the thing. Would totally rock a 4 door version of the Excel.
On the "Cars that make sense commercial" - the narrator is Fred Gwynne - Herman Munster/Judge on My Cousin Vinny actor. The rebadged Corolla was sold as a Chevy Nova. It was built in a NUMMI plant in California, which was jointly owned by Toyota and GM. The plant later produced the Pontiac Vibe/Toyota Matrix and eventually was sold to Tesla. This car sold because it was almost as cheap as the Yugo (an old Fiat Design imported from Yugoslavia), but a much better car - hard to believe. The next version of the Excel plummeted in sales - probably due to reputation, and Hyundai almost didn't make it here.
This brings back childhood memories. I remember riding in one with a friend to school who’s mother had one. I loved riding it and told my mom I wanted her to buy one. My friend’s mom had the 5 door hatchback version.
My uncle had a 92 with a 5 speed.. i remember the battery hold down breaking on my way home from the beach and having to jam a flipflop under the hood to keep the battery from grounding out on the hood.
My 1989 was the same color but mine had the tachometer and boot around my shifter and my tail lights were all red plus mine came with nice wheels and a sun roof, loved my little car and drove it for several years
These cars were not built to be saved. They weren't built to last much beyond the warranty period. There's really no collector value in them unless you're assembling a collection of late 80s shitboxes. And yet, this one survived. Just goes to show how much Hyundai has improved. I had no idea Proton tried to sell cars here. Reading Wikipedia, Malcolm Bricklin brought a few over but they didn't pass emissions standards and the whole deal was quickly terminated. It too was based on an old Mitsubishi.
I can tell Zach isn’t old enough to realize the tach/analog clock position and that the car is equipped with AC. I turn 33 in a few days and I remember my parents 87 Excel GL vividly.
One of my neighbors in the late 90s when I was a child had one just like it. It was crashed in the front. He kept driving it. One day it caught on fire.
Growing in the 80s and 90s I remember the Hyundai Excel X1 and X2 people forget they're basically a re-skinned Mitsubishi Mirage/Lancer from the 80s. Hyundai is an industrial power house that makes ships, locomotives/rail cars, etc so it was only a matter of time before they would be able to engineer their own cars without help from Mitsubishi. It is good to see an Excel X1 still on the road most of them got used up and thrown away in the mid 90s.
I'm so glad to see this kind of car in America. It's a car that's almost gone in Korea. Also, I can't imagine old cars moving around because Korea changes cars so fast. These days, 2000 cars are almost disappearing
This was my first car back in the 2000’s. Mine was not able to get up to 55mph. The fastest I ever got my excel was 40mph going downhill with a back wind. I remember the back passenger side tire blew out and I didn’t discover that until I got out of the car at home.
@@the_kombinator chassis suspension brakes engine. Transmission. And mitsu sold it as the mitsu precis. Yes the body bla blabla. But even the first scoupe was using a sht load of mitsu parts. Lol.
The Excel and the Yugo were sold as such in the United States. I never even heard of a Proton because it never was sold in the United States as such. Upon investigating, I found that the Proton was known as the Dodge / Plymouth Colt in the United States. It was only known as the Proton in Malaysia and the United Kingdom. Nice way to get us thinking Zach. Also, Veh-lah-stir.... not Veh-lahs-sitter
I drove a mirror image of this car, even the same color, a couple of times when I was dating a girl in 1988, whose dad bought her a new one. My car at the time was an ‘87 Mitsubishi Starion ESI-R so when we occasionally took her car, I was just blown away at what a pile of garbage it was. Fast forward 40 years and we just bought my wife an Ionic five which is hands-down one of the most amazing vehicles I’ve ever owned and I’ve owned a lot.
Hyundai had Mitsubishi to thank or to blame for the engine! Not only a back seat, but THREE LAP BELTS! I wonder how often three people sat in the back seat (and how old they were). When did cup holders begin to become a thing? I have the impression they started as a Mopar minivan feature, but I don’t whether that is accurate.
I am in Canada and owned 1986 Hyundai Pony back 30 years ago the worst P.O.S. car i ever drove nothing but bad memories so you guys in USA got lucky that you have missed it.
I think these were the first car that were new in my lifetime that completely disappeared. Like none of them were around after say.....95 or 96? These things just disintegrated.
the 1986 Hyundai Excel and the Yugo nowhere fast were the cheapest car you could buy at the time the Hyundai was retailed for $4995 I don't remeber what the Yugo sold for
No! Sorry sir for your slight misunderstanding of the first US sold Hyundai Excel in the United States! It was actually 1st sold in 1984-1985! I remember this car when it was brand new!
That car came out along with the Stellar, in high school that was my friends first car, and they were a piece of rolling garbage, cheaper than cheap. Hyundai has come a long was since, but it’s hard to give their cars any respect when remembering their output.
I retired a 1987 Stellar CXL in 2016 after 10 years of owning it (it was a free car). I think (with a replacement 4G64 engine and KM132 widebody Starion 5spd trans) that car cost me $3,000 to run. That's $300 a year. And I put 100k on it. And I wasn't particularly kind to it. Took me to Long Island from Toronto more times than I want to count. Great highway car, 0.6 OD gear was perfect for cruising at 75 at 2,600 RPM. I have a 2005 Sonata, and I find it has a lot in common with the Stellar.
The RPM gauge being blank and your laughter about it made my week.
The snowflake is the A/C! I know only because I ha do one for my first car. Mine was a 1990 and had the same snowflake. 4 speed auto and power moonroof too! Fancy!
I had a 1988 Hyundai Excel GLS 4 doors hatchback as my first car that I purchased when I was 15 years old back in 1998. The snowflake button you mentioned that is located on the right hand side of the steering wheel is the air condition function. Despite my Hyundai came with air condition, the engine would over heat when I turned on that function.
This channel is probably the most original in the YT car review sphere atm. I love the late 80s-early 2000s car content. I'm getting tired of the wow let's review this brand new car no one can afford because of dealer markups and release the video on the same exact day as everyone else. You're finding the hidden gems and forgotten relics from the golden ages of affordable fun cars and bringing them to light. Great work!
This channel is so underrated, the cars I used to make fun of as a kid for being complete junkers I now love seeing on the road and this channel showcases those cars. I feel this channel is a more straight forward version of Regular Car Reviews, minus the deep rants about life and farts
@@1spunkymonkey2 It’s like RCR if the host was actually regular
funny thing is I found this channel after watching B Channel which also review cars that newest and latest to those almost forgotten existence , UA-cam algorithm understands what I'm looking for
I bought a 1991 Hyundai Excel from a coworker for $1 since the transmission was bad. Swapped in another transmission and replaced the front lower ball joint’s. I sold it for $900. It had a very sweet Mitsubishi engine in it.
My dad bought a 1991 CXL new for 10k - bloody thing was sold to a wreckers with 377k on it - two clutch slaves and a 5spd trans (around 200k) and it wasn't even that rusted when it was scrapped in 1999. He bought it because his previous car, a 1987 Pony, was so reliable. The Excel surpassed it in mileage, but it needed more funds to get there. The Pony was a stronger car. And RWD.
@@the_kombinator
Pony? What brand of car?
@@MustangsTrainsMowers hyundai pony was released before in Canada, in the video it is mentioned near the beginning
Brings back memories. My dad had one of these. He kept it very well kept up and at one point took the whole motor apart and rebuilt it. Got 300k miles on it.
7:08 Proton (a join venture between Mitsubishi and the Malaysian government) had struck a deal with Malcolm Bricklin to import the Saga (a rebadged Lancer) into the US. But let's just say the higher ups at Mitsubishi weren't happy about it as Chrysler was already selling the Lancer as the Dodge/Plymouth Colt so having a 3rd Lancer based model in the US would create problems for Chrysler's existing partnership with Mitsubishi so the export deal was eventually called off
Good thing. I've heard bad things about the Proton's quality.
I just love what a nugget this little car is. I CRIED because of laughing about that tachometer that said Hyundai instead of doing anything. Great work!
It would have been an analog clock too. Digital clock went were the blank plate is on the dash pad.
You're reviewed the rarest 80's small car ever. I really surprised this car is still alive and runs really great.
Thank you for explaining my absolute dream car. You helped studying me.
Wow, amazing you got this one Zach! These are INCREDIBLY rare!
I remember when these came out in 1985. It was so popular that Mitsubishi rebadged these as the Précis and sold them also. Surprised you found a running base model hatchback. I haven’t seen one on the road for many years.
These weren't really running when they were current.
My uncle had one that he bought new. It was junk.
Hyundai could revive the name for hot hatch ev down the line
My Mom bought a brand new one in 89. Their promotion was a free Timex watch and the sales rep gave it to a 9yr old me at the time. Lasted us through 10 Canadian winters until salt won the battle. On ours their was a digital clock to replace the Hyundai badge on the dash. Still remember the orange backlight.
Damn it WAS orange. I remember my friend's 88. Stellar and Pony was green backlit.
Yeah the whole dash was orange backlights. was pretty cool because I grew up only seeing green
You had me laughing when you saw the missing speedometer & "Hyundai said screw your guys" 😂
The Ioniq 5 is supposed to vaguely resemble the Pony, but I truly think it looks more like the Excels from the late 80s and early 90s. Learned to drive in a 93 Excel. Loved that little thing.
Most cars didn't have cupholders until well into the 90's. The closest thing to cupholders in many vehicles (Ford, for example) were small cup-sized depressions molded into the back of the glovebox door (which laid flat when opened) - these were only usable when parked (or a drive-in theater), as anything placed there would fall over.
Hey Zack, gotta say you seem to have the best videos for slightly obscure hard to find vehicles that brings back a TON of nostalgia, so much so that you just earned yourself a new subscriber.
Now I don’t want to be “that guy” lol but I do want to point out one little thing. This Hyundai actually does have air conditioning. That little snowflake button on the right side pod is the A/C button.
Now it more than likely isn’t operational anymore, and if so you are correct in the car not having A/C lol, but this at least at one point did have air conditioning.
I’m not so sure anyone else will notice this but just wanted to let you know. I can tell you are one that really likes these 80s and 90s cars just as much (or possibly even more lol) than I do, and the more we can share and learn about these good ‘ol gems the better
Take care
My dad had an 86 and drove it for 12 years! So many memories…..so many break downs, lol
Should have bought a Pony. My dad had one, 350k, not many problems. I have 4 of them now, and honestly, dead easy to fix the few times they do break down.
I had an 02 Hyundai Scoupe Turbo. I swapped a 4G43 into it with the FWD gearbox out of a Plymouth Laser. The 4G63 swaps into the Hyundai Scoupe and Excel
Some vintage Korean auto industry fun facts:
Before the Hyundai pony, shinjin motors was the largest car manufacturer in Korea, they made Toyota models like corona and crown.
Hyundai owned a professional baseball team called the Hyundai unicorn until 2007.
Kia was a bicycle and motorcycle company before it made cars (used Honda motors) and before they were bought by Hyundai. They still own a baseball team the Kia tigers.
The Hyundai excel was in the lyrics of a notorious b.I.g. Song.
Hyundai also made CKD kits for Ford. Much of the Pony's (and Stellar's) running gear comes from it. I've got Cougar rims on my Pony, same bolt pattern.
@@the_kombinator the mid 90s Ford Aspire is Korean made. Partnership with Kia and ford. This was before Hyundai owned Kia and before Kia entered the US market
@@vaccinatedanti-vaxxer same with the festiva, that's a rebadged Kia Pride
That missing Rev counter is hilarious😂
Mitsubishi also sold their own version called the Precis
Oh god, that “you didn’t pay enough for a tach” gauge cluster… the Nissan hardbody could come like that too. No automaker would be bold enough to give the customer a middle finger like that, and I could never buy a car with something like that.
Had an auto 91 nissan with the fake tachometer. Thought it was fucking hilarious
YES!! This is why I love this channel, this I what want to see!! Regular everyday cars!
Believe it or not, the "Hyundai" logo blank panel where the tach would be was quite common back then on base model cars; this was true for my 1987 Nissan pickup truck and many other vehicles I've either ridden in or owned from that time period. VW's approach on the MKII Jettas and Golfs was to insert a tach-sized analog clock right next to the speedometer! It was ridiculous. Also, that "HYUNDAI" blank in the dead center of the dash was for an optional digital clock.
My supervisor in the Air Force had one and it rarely ran. But for $10,000 you could buy the new Hyundai Scope that came with keyless entry, power sunroof, power windows locks, and sporty two door. They looked pretty good but tell me the last time you saw on one the road in the United States? And many people I talk with have never heard of the Scoupe. I would like to see that car on the channel. If you can find one. They sold a lot to military troops here in the US. (Made from 1988-1995)
I will NEVER Forget!!! In the wake of the infamous Rodney King high-speed chase, l.a.p.d. spokesperson said, and I quote: "Rodney King was traveling at 115 miles per hour down (such and such) freeway." Very next day, Hyundai spokesperson said: "That's ImPossible! Our cars cannot Go That Fast!"!!!!!
I couldn't believe it when I read the title. Congrats. THIS is what makes your channel what it is.
Owned this for about six years and it turned out to be one of the best cars I ever owned -- not nearly as good as the 2008 Corolla i've owned for 16 years, but still good with minimal repairs.
I remember I liked the turning radius -- perfect for U turns on relatively narrow streets.
There was a gls sedan with power windows ac mirrors sunroof the works. And 14 in wheels.
I had a 1989 so loved that car
My grandmother bought a brand-new Excel in 1993, which was the updated (rounded off, slightly modernized, fuel injected) version of this car; This thing was an ABSOLUTE STRIPPED-DOWN example; no a/c, no power options, no stereo, and a four speed on the floor. Everyone gave her hell for buying this thing - even her nine-year old grandson (me!). The joke was on us, though - the car lasted eight years, 80,000 miles before the transmission case cracked when my uncle slammed it into a parking lot barrier. In all, it was the most reliable car she ever owned...
I nearly bought a brand new 1987 Hyundai Pony, but there was so much demand, the wait was just too long. I ended up buying a used 1981 Corolla which ended up being a great car. I did eventually buy a brand new 1991 Excel SE which was cheap and reliable and served me until 1998. I payed $9995 for it.
Damn, my dad bought a 1987 Pony new for like 6 grand. Lasted forever. He liked it so much he bought a 1991 Excel CXL, decent in its own right.
Ponys are awesome because RWD. I have one with a body kit, larger brakes, and a 4G63 motor underhood.
Nice that someone thought to keep and preserve a 1988 Hyundai Excel. I haven't seen one in years. Being in Canada, we got the antiquated Pony and Stellar. I had a 1985 Hyundai Pony "Plus" 1600 GLS. The "Plus" was in the price, lol. Compared to a Yugo, or that poverty model spec'd Excel, it was quite luxurious and also had a Mitsubishi (as well as Ford) lineage.
Nobody in 1988 could imagine that 30 years later this would be one of the best car companies in the world. What a bargain bin special!
Its a horrible company 😂
It’s just about average buddy
@@vwR32mja You literally have the logo of a worse company as your profile picture
I'd agree that they're top tier if it was not for that God forsaken Theta 2 engine. Completely ruins their cars.
Hyundai still terrible, they're just able to dress it up much better these days, there's a reason Hyundai/Kia give a 10 year warranty, it's not from the goodness of their hearts, that's for sure.
I haven’t seen one of these (and the Pony) for a long, long time. They were cheap and disposable. How this one has survived is miraculous.
I can't remember the last time I saw one of these. They used to be all over the place. I'm surprised nobody mentioned this car was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro.
I would love to have a brand new car just like this, only better quality, and A/C, because I live in Phoenix, AZ. It doesn't need anything else. I drove air cooled VW Bugs for decades, but they don't have A/C, and I have reached the age where I can no longer do without it. I absolutely love small, 2 door, very basic cars with manual transmissions. I love the fact that it's carbureted, I don't want any computers in my cars. I am currently driving a 1972 Ford Pinto woodgrain wagon, with a fairly new engine, 4 speed transmission, and mostly new steering, brake, and suspension parts, along with aftermarket A/C. Hyundai used to make cars, even if they weren't really great cars. Now they just make computers on huge ghetto wheels with no tires. You couldn't give me one, unless I could sell it and keep the money.
I had a 74 2.0 Pinto only had 15k miles. I had to get it tuned, decel valve, carb rebuild. It was due to nostalgic as a kid. My mom had a yellow 74 Squire. I sold it to buy my wife a ring. I have to say it was title slow, even as a manual. But I would love a 71-73 wagon. Add some headers, exhaust, etc. Leaving it other wise completely stock.
I haven’t seen one of these cars in about two years in person, and that one was the rarer twin the Mitsubishi Precis!
A guy I worked with a few years ago had one of these, he loved it.
I wish I would have found this video when it was originally released. I reached driving age just as these cars were released. Something misspoken is when the car received a 5 speed manual. They always had that available from day one. You're driving the base model in this car, and it had zero frills. This could be had in 3 and 5 door hatchback models. The 1989 model year did finally bring the 4 door sedan into the base trim. The mid level trip was given a GL badge on the back. Bumpers became body color, the 5 speed manual was standard, and a 3 speed automatic became an option, Where that blank is on the left side of the cluster, an analog clock would occupy the slot. If the anemic AC was added, that blank button by the snowflake label is where the switch to turn it on and off would go. A rear wiper was also added to the GL trim, which would occupy a couple of the blank spots on the left side of the cluster. The seats were full cloth in front, and vinyl on the back. GL trim also allowed you to spec a 4 door sedan. If you wanted to be fancy, you would spec the GLS trim which gave you the nicest interior, a tach on the left of the cluster, a digital clock in the center of the dash, and a silver grille in front. You also received fancier hubcaps or could spec for alloy wheels. 1988 Also brought the GS model for the hatchback version like you were driving. It came in a select couple of colors, a body colored grille, decal badging, and highly bolstered front seats of their own style. There is way more detail that can be put into the four trim models and the differences between the four model years the car ran. Every year received small enhancements that gave them the ability to be identified each model year visually. 1986 had a big black egg crate grill surrounding squared sealed beams. 87 brought the two piece grill insert and the halogens like this one. The 3 speed automatic also gained a lockup torque convertor. The silver grill that year also sported the GL trim. 1987 also had a one time run of an SE trim model that evolved to the GS the following year for the hatchbacks. 1988 saw the front grille get a cosmetic change, and the cars go to all red taillights. 1989, the final year for the first gen car, saw the return of a one piece grill, that was black on the base, and body color on the GL, GLS, and GS trim cars. Interior content remained pretty consistent all four years. Mitsubishi actually rebadged these cars for a couple of years as the Precis.
I'd love for one of these in the mid or top trim to show up at my house. I to this day, have a soft spot for these back in the day, terrible little cars. People viewed them as disposable transportation, and treated them accordingly. This is why they're virtually extinct in the world.
I learned to drive in this exact car. it was a GL model. my mom got it used in 1993. Automatic and it had A/C and an analog clock where the RPM gauge should be. We fit a freakin riding mower in the back of that thing one time 🤣 The original stereo was a Panasonic and it was a decent stereo with a tape deck. Even though it was a cheap ass car it was a step up from the plane jane K car we had before that. it had AC, bucket seats AND a tape deck! what luxuries lol
My dad bought one brand new in 1986, their first year in America. It was great.
Oh you're going to need to come to Canada and try and find a Hyundai Pony as we got the Pony in the mid 80's then the Stellar towards the late 80's before Hyundai entered the American market in the late 80's, assuming there are any left that someone maintained. They tended to get used up and there are virtually none around anymore. Based on rarity, you're more likely to see a Countach up here in Canada than a 80's Hyundai!
He actually came to Canada and filmed a car
@@JT8D200C I know.
The snow flake button was the AC switch
I was 11 when these hit the street in America. Absolutely awesome automobile that took more of a beating than a ford eacort or dodge omni ever could . $ 3,995.00 no haggle price
Bought my 3(st) car in May of this year, the Veloster. I love the weird, chimera like character of the thing. Would totally rock a 4 door version of the Excel.
On the "Cars that make sense commercial" - the narrator is Fred Gwynne - Herman Munster/Judge on My Cousin Vinny actor. The rebadged Corolla was sold as a Chevy Nova. It was built in a NUMMI plant in California, which was jointly owned by Toyota and GM. The plant later produced the Pontiac Vibe/Toyota Matrix and eventually was sold to Tesla. This car sold because it was almost as cheap as the Yugo (an old Fiat Design imported from Yugoslavia), but a much better car - hard to believe. The next version of the Excel plummeted in sales - probably due to reputation, and Hyundai almost didn't make it here.
This brings back childhood memories. I remember riding in one with a friend to school who’s mother had one. I loved riding it and told my mom I wanted her to buy one. My friend’s mom had the 5 door hatchback version.
My uncle had a 92 with a 5 speed.. i remember the battery hold down breaking on my way home from the beach and having to jam a flipflop under the hood to keep the battery from grounding out on the hood.
I'm loving this streak of 1980s cars! ^_^
My 1989 was the same color but mine had the tachometer and boot around my shifter and my tail lights were all red plus mine came with nice wheels and a sun roof, loved my little car and drove it for several years
the blank buttons are so funny, the 80's version of "this could be us, but you playing"
These cars were not built to be saved. They weren't built to last much beyond the warranty period. There's really no collector value in them unless you're assembling a collection of late 80s shitboxes. And yet, this one survived. Just goes to show how much Hyundai has improved.
I had no idea Proton tried to sell cars here. Reading Wikipedia, Malcolm Bricklin brought a few over but they didn't pass emissions standards and the whole deal was quickly terminated. It too was based on an old Mitsubishi.
Hyundai spun off Kia? I thought Kia was a competitor that they bought?
You're right. Hyundai did purchase Kia.
Hyundai spun off Equus.
I can tell Zach isn’t old enough to realize the tach/analog clock position and that the car is equipped with AC. I turn 33 in a few days and I remember my parents 87 Excel GL vividly.
When I think of Mitsubishi and Hyundai nowadays: well, well well, how the turn tables have turned
I like Hyundai. Drove two Elantras and a Sonata once. Even drove a Kia Optima too.
One of my neighbors in the late 90s when I was a child had one just like it. It was crashed in the front. He kept driving it. One day it caught on fire.
Isn't that what some do today?
It seems Hyundai has never changed.
That snowflake button is for the A/C compressor. So if the car has that switch and not a blank, it was a factory A/C car.
Growing in the 80s and 90s I remember the Hyundai Excel X1 and X2 people forget they're basically a re-skinned Mitsubishi Mirage/Lancer from the 80s. Hyundai is an industrial power house that makes ships, locomotives/rail cars, etc so it was only a matter of time before they would be able to engineer their own cars without help from Mitsubishi. It is good to see an Excel X1 still on the road most of them got used up and thrown away in the mid 90s.
Wow. This one is a survivor! These cars were never built to last 30+ years. The CV axle needs to be replaced on this one.
I'm so glad to see this kind of car in America. It's a car that's almost gone in Korea. Also, I can't imagine old cars moving around because Korea changes cars so fast. These days, 2000 cars are almost disappearing
I trader my excel into the dealership in 1992. I had a 91 in HS
Holy crap nice find, these are so rare now
Doesn't that snowflake button mean it has AC?
7:12 I didn’t even know they had Protons here in America! I thought they were Europe only since I saw it on Car Throttle.
Malcom Bricklin imported a few but it was quickly scrapped. It was supposed to be his next big thing after the Yugo
Ah, so this is the car Biggie was rapping about in One More Chance
Lovely
Gretings
Interesting to see how Hyundai and Mitsubishi evolved from the 80s to now lol. They basically swapped places.
This was my first car back in the 2000’s. Mine was not able to get up to 55mph. The fastest I ever got my excel was 40mph going downhill with a back wind. I remember the back passenger side tire blew out and I didn’t discover that until I got out of the car at home.
Protons weren't sold in the us.
Also the excel is literally a full mitsubishi.
It used the entire mirage platform.
LOL it is not a full mitsubishi.
@@the_kombinator chassis suspension brakes engine. Transmission. And mitsu sold it as the mitsu precis.
Yes the body bla blabla. But even the first scoupe was using a sht load of mitsu parts. Lol.
That was the 1st Hyundai I ever drove. I liked it when it first came out. Cheap transportation
The Excel and the Yugo were sold as such in the United States. I never even heard of a Proton because it never was sold in the United States as such. Upon investigating, I found that the Proton was known as the Dodge / Plymouth Colt in the United States. It was only known as the Proton in Malaysia and the United Kingdom. Nice way to get us thinking Zach.
Also, Veh-lah-stir....
not Veh-lahs-sitter
KEEP THE 80'S TRENDS GOING 😏👆🏼 love it #80sbaby
I drove a mirror image of this car, even the same color, a couple of times when I was dating a girl in 1988, whose dad bought her a new one. My car at the time was an ‘87 Mitsubishi Starion ESI-R so when we occasionally took her car, I was just blown away at what a pile of garbage it was. Fast forward 40 years and we just bought my wife an Ionic five which is hands-down one of the most amazing vehicles I’ve ever owned and I’ve owned a lot.
A coworker of mine had those and couldn't get up certain hills in it. In dry weather.
Review the Hyundai Pony. Much more robust. I have 4, my friend has like 8 of them.
One of mine is completely factory - it's for sale too :D
Hyundai had Mitsubishi to thank or to blame for the engine!
Not only a back seat, but THREE LAP BELTS! I wonder how often three people sat in the back seat (and how old they were).
When did cup holders begin to become a thing? I have the impression they started as a Mopar minivan feature, but I don’t whether that is accurate.
Cool looking car. 😎
اشكرك على المشاركة
I know this car a lot from Boyz in the hood where the car is driven by the main antagonist Ferris and his gang
What are your thoughts on the 89 Plymouth Colt?
I am in Canada and owned 1986 Hyundai Pony back 30 years ago the worst P.O.S. car i ever drove nothing but bad memories so you guys in USA got lucky that you have missed it.
If it doesn't have A/C what is the snowflake button for?
What does the snowflake do if it doesn't have air-conditioning?
Just let’s in the air from the outside as opposed to heated air. The snowflake is there for if it did have AC
@@keithdosik wow they show you where the button will be. Geo and toyota at least leave it unlabeled so you aren't staring at a feature you don't have.
I just found out this car was designed by Giorgetto Guigaro. The same guy that designed the DeLorean.
The excel and Delorian DMC12 are the two most hideous cars he ever designed.
So sad the Veloster N got sunsetted
Hyundai has come a very long way since then, the new ones are really nice, I like the Santa Cruz.
❤ I have Excel 1990 4 speed manual still running with 33 year i love it since 2012 I buy it with 54700 original milles know have 125.000
Biggie smalls made the Hyundai Excel.
Give me one more chance.
8:02 cv axle?
this car is so rad
I think these were the first car that were new in my lifetime that completely disappeared. Like none of them were around after say.....95 or 96? These things just disintegrated.
I love this car
the 1986 Hyundai Excel and the Yugo nowhere fast were the cheapest car you could buy at the time the Hyundai was retailed for $4995 I don't remeber what the Yugo sold for
Cool 😀
The official car of the pizza delivery guy
No! Sorry sir for your slight misunderstanding of the first US sold Hyundai Excel in the United States! It was actually 1st sold in 1984-1985! I remember this car when it was brand new!
That car came out along with the Stellar, in high school that was my friends first car, and they were a piece of rolling garbage, cheaper than cheap. Hyundai has come a long was since, but it’s hard to give their cars any respect when remembering their output.
I retired a 1987 Stellar CXL in 2016 after 10 years of owning it (it was a free car). I think (with a replacement 4G64 engine and KM132 widebody Starion 5spd trans) that car cost me $3,000 to run.
That's $300 a year. And I put 100k on it. And I wasn't particularly kind to it. Took me to Long Island from Toronto more times than I want to count. Great highway car, 0.6 OD gear was perfect for cruising at 75 at 2,600 RPM.
I have a 2005 Sonata, and I find it has a lot in common with the Stellar.
the side racing stripes make the car