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• The Chevrolet Lumina used to be on sale in South Africa.
• The Lumina was available in both sedan and Ute (bakkie) guises.
• Before discontinuation, the 6.0-litre V8 engine produced 270kW.
• For more motoring stories, go to www.Wheels24.co.za
Local Chevrolet fans will recall the Lumina SS and SS Ute - two V8-powered vehicles from Australia that also made South Africa their home. While not the most refined cars on the market, buyers who preferred big capacity engines often looked at the Lumina twins first before considering anything else.
The 6.0-litre engine, at its height, produced 270kW and 530Nm, with all of the power sent to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual or an automatic transmission. And because there is little weight over the rear axle, especially on the Ute, the Lumina SS is an extremely tail-happy car. It's enormous fun when you can handle such mannerisms, but a complete nightmare when you don't know what to expect.
Either way, the Chevrolet Lumina SS is an insanely fun car and one that will scare the living daylight out of you.
Do you own - or have you owned - a Lumina or Lumina Ute? What are some of the vehicle's best features? Email us or use the comment section below.
Get in on the fun
Around April 2013, Chevrolet South Africa announced that they would not be importing the Lumina from Australia anymore, and that the current stock would last till about the end of that year. It was both a shock and expected, because the Lumina felt out of place in a sea of modern cars. A dinosaur past its prime, still walking the Earth.
Several examples of this unique Down Under-sourced vehicle popped up, scrolling through the AutoTrader website, ranging from R73 900 for a 2005 model to R699 950 for a 2010 model. Like that 2005 unit, early models were powered by a 5.7-litre V8 engine, but a comprehensive facelift around 2008 saw engine capacity increase to 6.0-litres.
The mileage on the Lumina models can be a concern to some, but you could find yourself at the receiving end of one that's barely done any running. The 2005 model mentioned earlier covered 8400km in its 11-year history, while a 2010 Ute has done a monstrous 212 000km.
To see the Chevrolet Lumina SS listings on AutoTrader, click here.
