Junkyard Find: 1994 Oldsmobile Silhouette

The General's 1990-1996 U-Body "Dustbuster" minivans were available in North America wearing Chevrolet , Pontiac or Oldsmobile badging. There was a time when it was easy to find these vans in car graveyards , but they've become junkyard rarities in recent years. Here's a nicely preserved Silhouette, found in Nevada last summer.

Apr 7, 2025 - 15:02

Junkyard Find: 1994 Oldsmobile Silhouette

The General's 1990-1996 U-Body "Dustbuster" minivans were available in North America wearing Chevrolet, Pontiac or Oldsmobile badging. There was a time when it was easy to find these vans in car graveyards, but they've become junkyard rarities in recent years. Here's a nicely preserved Silhouette, found in Nevada last summer. junkyard find 1994 oldsmobile silhouette

I found so much great stuff (including a Porsche 928, a Ford Courier, a super-clean 1988 Nissan Maxima, an early BMW E28, a 1975 Chevy Chevelle and a Merkur Scorpio) when I stopped at the Carson City Pick-n-Pull that this I overlooked my photos of this Olds until now. junkyard find 1994 oldsmobile silhouette

The Silhouette remained in production when GM created a new U Platform for the 1997 model year, but it looked like any other 1990s minivan and we will speak no further of it. junkyard find 1994 oldsmobile silhouette

There were drawbacks to the design, sure, but a Dustbuster pilot got excellent visibility plus the ability to keep an entire extra-large pizza box on the dash top. Just don't drop anything small there and let it roll all the way forward! junkyard find 1994 oldsmobile silhouette

Naturally, the first 24 Hours of Lemons team to campaign a GM Dustbuster (a Trans Sport, to be specific) added the vacuum handle to it. This van won the much-anticipated F-U Showdown (GM F-Body versus GM U-Body) in 2015. junkyard find 1994 oldsmobile silhouette

Did you know that Jiangsu Nushen pirated the GM Dustbuster's shape, gave it Chrysler 2.2 power driving the rear wheels, and sold it in China as the Nushen JB6500? Bad Decisions Racing took note and converted their Trans Sport into the world's first racing JB6500. junkyard find 1994 oldsmobile silhouette

The engine here is the good old 3.8-liter Buick V6. junkyard find 1994 oldsmobile silhouette

The 3800 was an upgrade over the Silhouette's base 3.1-liter 60° V6, and it cost $800 extra ($1,746 in 2025 dollars).

junkyard find 1994 oldsmobile silhouette

The MSRP for the '94 Silhouette was $20,095, or about $43,857 after inflation. The cheapest possible Chevy Lumina APV was $16,815 that year ($36,699 today). junkyard find 1994 oldsmobile silhouette

An AM/FM stereo radio was standard 1994 Silhouette equipment, but this van has the optional $140 cassette deck ($306 now). junkyard find 1994 oldsmobile silhouette

Nobody knew it at the time, but Oldsmobile itself had just a decade to live when this van first put tire to street. junkyard find 1994 oldsmobile silhouette

1994 Olds Silhouette in Nevada wrecking yard. junkyard find 1994 oldsmobile silhouette

1994 Olds Silhouette in Nevada wrecking yard.

[Images: The Author]

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