As they did every year, crowds lined up early to get in to the 1987 Chicago Auto Show. Although their primary objective was to get a glimpse of the latest models, the fortunate few were able to see sports legends Walter Payton and Michael Jordan up close. Cadillac had a fresh idea in 1987, turning out the two-passenger Allante convertible as a rival to the Mercedes-Benz 560SL. Riding a shortened Eldorado chassis, it wore bodywork designed and built by Pininfarina in Italy. Among Buick's contribution that year were a series of performance cars based on the old rear-drive Regal coupe. In addition to the Grand National, the limited-edition Buick GNX went on sale in 1987, built by ASC Inc., with a $30,000 price tag. Only 500 were produced.
In this close-up shot, a man and woman are looking at the windshield sticker of an unidentified red car--only a small portion of which is visible. People and objects in background are extremely fuzzy.
Two compact Somerset coupes are in the foreground of this scene at the display space for Buick vehicles, on the upper level of McCormick Place. Several additional Buick models can be seen farther toward the rear.
In this close-up shot, a huge crowd has gathered around the late Walter Payton, of the Chicago Bears football team, at the Buick exhibit space. Payton made an appearance each year at the Buick stand, to talk with fans and sign autographs.
A white front-drive Fleetwood sedan is in the foreground of this scene at a corner of Cadillac's exhibit space. At far left is the traditional-style, rear-wheel-drive Fleetwood Brougham. Additional Cadillac models may be seen farther toward the rear.
Only one car is close to fully visible in this scene at the lower-level display stand for Italian-built Ferrari sports cars. Like its companions, that convertible is painted red. In the foreground is a large model of Ferrari's famous horse emblem.
A Delta 88 coupe is in the foreground of this long shot at Oldsmobile's exhibit space. Additional Oldsmobile models may be seen farther toward the left, including the aero-styled Aerotech concept car on a tilted platform.
Not many Lamborghinis were sold each year, but they attracted a lot of attention. No wonder, when you look at the wild shape and the assortment of vents and spoilers and doodads on the white Countach coupe in the foreground of this lower-level scene. A tamer-looking red Jalpa coupe also can be seen, along with Lamborghini's distinctive (to say the least) LM002 sport-utility vehicle at the rear.
After several shakeups of management during the 1980s, the Avanti was back at the Chicago Auto Show. Now produced by The New Avanti Motor Corporation, the modernized Avanti retained much of the flavor of the 1963-64 Studebaker original. In addition to the expected coupe, seen in the foreground, a convertible (rear) was now part of the Avanti picture.
A special edition of the XR4Ti hatchback, labeled "K2K2K2," occupies the foreground of this scene at the Merkur exhibit space. Skis are mounted on the white car's roof rack. Examples of the Merkur Scorpio sedan can be seen farther toward the rear. Merkur cars were marketed by Lincoln-Mercury dealers.
All the cars are tiny in this wide shot of the Acura display space on the lower level. A Legend sedan sits on a raised platform at near left. At right is a red Integra hatchback coupe. Acura was Honda's luxury division. A coupe joined the original Legend sedan this year.
Two complete Esprit coupes and an exposed chassis can be seen in this scene at the lower-level exhibit for British-built Lotus sports cars. A red Esprit is in the foreground; a white one toward the rear. The Lotus display stand is surrounded by a fence, which serves to discourage curiosity-seekers from entering. But all are allowed to ogle the cars from outside.
A gray 200SX coupe occupies the right foreground of this scene at Nissan's upper-level display space. At far left is a Nissan racing car, wearing number 83. In the center is a white 300ZX sport coupe. Only portions of other Nissan models can be seen toward the rear. Nissan's 200SX rear-drive sport coupe gained a 160-horsepower, 3.0-liter V-6 engine this season, installed in the SE edition as an alternative to the four-cylinder engine.
Only one automobile is fully visible in this scene at the lower-level display space for Peugeots, which were produced in France. It's a red 505 sedan, sitting on a raised platform. At far left, a 505 STX (which gained standard Teves anti-lock braking this year) is facing away from the camera. A Peugeot station wagon can be seen at left rear. Much of the scene, shot from across the aisle, is dominated by Peugeot signage and a decorative pillar.
Porsche models are separated from each other in the German automaker's circular lower-level display layout. Each silver-colored car is sitting behind ropes on a slightly raised platform, between pillars with "Porsche" lettering above. At near left is a 928S coupe. At right, partly blocked by a pillar, is a rear-engine 911 coupe. Porsche debuted a new limited-production, slant-nose body option for the 911 Turbo at the Chicago Auto Show.
As the floor sign points out, a mere $168,100 could drive home the Corniche II convertible that sits in the foreground of this scene at the lower-level display for Rolls-Royce motorcars. Rolls-Royce sedans may be seen toward the rear.
Only a corner of a 1987 Rolls-Royce Corniche II convertible can be seen in this scene from the display for the British-built motorcars. Photographed is Chicago Auto Show manager Ross E. Kelsey (wearing striped necktie) at near right. Two Rolls-Royce representatives were ready to answer the typical questions about the astronomical prices; the'Flying Ectasy' hood ornament, craftsmanship and the awe-inspiring luxury features that can be ordered to personalize each model.
Two people are in the front seat of a mid-engined blue MR2 sport coupe in this scene at the display space for Toyota products, on the upper level of McCormick Place. Note the raised engine cover behind the two-seater's cockpit. This T-top version of the MR2 was new for 1987, featuring removable glass roof panels. A portion of a Toyota station wagon can be seen at upper right.
Only one car is fully visible in this scene at the main-floor display space for Swedish-built Volvos. It's a 760 Turbo sedan. Note the sedan's unabashedly upright styling, accompanied by a surprisingly assertive front air dam with integral foglights. Portions of other Volvos may be seen toward the rear.
Blocked partially by a sign, a cream-colored GV hatchback is in the foreground of this scene at the small, square display for the Yugoslavian-built Yugo. As the sign indicates, the Yugo--now in its second season on the U.S. market--stickered for a mere $3,990. That made it the lowest-priced automobile available in the U.S. Three other Yugos can be seen, including a planned convertible behind a pillar.
Anyone interested in a posh Range Rover could inspect a complete vehicle (left), or examine its chassis (tilted at right), complete with engine and all running gear. Another Range Rover, largely obscured, may be seen toward the rear. Range Rover was the most luxurious vehicle offered by the British Land Rover organization.
Lynch Porsche, billing itself as Chicago's exclusive Porsche dealer, maintained a separate exhibit space on the lower level. A strikingly matched trio of yellow Porsches can be seen in this scene, including a 911 cabriolet in the foreground.
Chevrolet featured the new 1988 editions of its truck lineup in McCormick Place during the 1987 Chicago Auto Show. In the foreground sits the full-size pickup 4x4 that “thrives on the challenge of rough country.” Posed on an incline at the rear of the Chevy exhibit is the S-10 Blazer 4x4 with Insta-Trac and built for high adventure for up to four with optional seating added.
Renault from France alliance with American Motors Corp. (AMC) during the 1980s explains the sign in this scene from the 1987 Chicago Auto Show. All of the vehicles in view are Jeep products, including the blue Cherokee sport-utility vehicle on the left. During 1987, Chrysler Corp. purchased AMC and became the custodian for the Jeep brand.
Popular decades earlier, Vespa motor scooters made a resurgence in the 1980s and exhibited at the Chicago Auto Show. More than a dozen examples may be seen in this scene on the lower level. Vespa of Chicago was located at 6540 N. Clark Street. Signs off the "famous" Vespa calendar, " complete with "personal autograph by calendar models."
A Dodge Sportsman van has been repainted colorfully up front, but left in rough shape at the rear, to illustrate the value of Maaco certified unibody repair. Maaco billed itself as the "world's #1 auto painter."
At Nissan's exhibit space on the main floor, a male gymnast is lying on his back on a stage, twirling a pair of hoops with his feet. An attentive crowd has gathered around the stage. The exhibit area for Renault/Jeep may be seen in the background.
A 1951 Ford police car is featured at the display space for the Illinois State Police, on the lower level of the auto show. A sign advises that the superintendent of State Police is Col. Laimutis Nargelenas.
Painted bright red with dark smoked headlight lenses and black accents, the American Motors Jeep Comanche Thunderchief pickup truck had the heart of a fuel-injected Power Tech six-cylinder. Custom body featured three louvers at front of hood, a shorten truck bed, lower front air dam, grille brush guard with driving lights, roll bar with top-mounted off-road driving lights and flared running boards with recessed step plates.
At the Plymouth exhibit space, a yellow Sundance convertible sits on a raised platform, with a turbocharged engine beneath its hood. It's a concept vehicle only, never destined to see production--though a comparable Dodge Shadow convertible did emerge several years later. The soft yellow Sundance prototype came fitted with a convertible fabric top that stowed out of sight beneath a body-color fiberglass tonneau cover. Aerodynamic features included flush headlights, air dams and spoilers.
Pontiac's Pursuit four passenger coupe concept was Pontiac’s look at future transportation in the late 1980s. Pictured on display at the 1987 Chicago Auto Show, Pursuit featured four-wheel steering-by wire, all wheel drive, adjustable road height and a 200 horsepower intercooled, turbocharged two-liter four cylinder linked to a five-speed manual. Those full fender skirts were able to move with the wheels.
Pontiac's Pursuit four passenger coupe concept was Pontiac’s look at future transportation in the late 1980s. Pictured on display at the 1987 Chicago Auto Show, Pursuit featured four-wheel steering-by wire, all wheel drive, adjustable road height and a 200 horsepower intercooled, turbocharged two-liter four cylinder linked to a five-speed manual. Those full fender skirts were able to move with the wheels.