What do you get when you cross a Pontiac Sunfire with a Nissan Silvia, a Toyota Supra, a little known Toyota Cavalier, and one aspiring comedian? Basically, a case of working with what you’ve got.
Kandace Saunders, 25, of Aberdeen cruises the streets in her hot pink, two-door 2002 Pontiac Sunfire.
“I bought the Sunfire..[and] didn’t really liked the way it looked, so I started planning on how I was going to change it,” said Saunders.
That change took dramatic form when Saunders decided to ditch the Sunfire’s flush-mounted headlights and outdated façade for a chance at a unique swap: a custom “Toyota Cavalier” bumper with Toyota Supra amber side markers and Nissan Silvia headlights. Saunders came across what she wanted through networking which took her to a Pennsylvania resident who was selling a Cavalier. Toyota Racing Development produced the aftermarket Toyota bumper in Japan during the early 1990s, when GM struck a short-lived deal with Toyota to produce a limited number of cars for sale, which were known as the Toyota Cavalier.
Saunders assumed the swap would be an effortless surgery given the similar J-body specifications shared between the Stateside Cavaliers and Sunfires. Instead, she soon realized nothing fit as planned. The stock hood was replaced with a Chevy Cavalier hood, but the bumper which was supposed to slide into place, wouldn’t go on without a fight. To relieve the cramped engine compartment, Saunders recruited friends who, instead of scrapping needed parts, repositioned the radiator and fan, and re-routed some hoses allowing the bumper to sit properly in place, giving the engine room to breath.
Saunders already has plans to improve the paint job, add side skirts, and bring new life to the interior.
What do you drive?
2002 Pontiac Sunfire
And why do you drive it?
I like crazy colors and crazy designs, being able to do whatever you want. I like it. It’s mine. It’s got 183,000 miles on it and still going.
What makes this car so special?
There are three cars with the Silvia lights on Cavaliers. This is the only Sunfire I know of [that has them]. It looks good for cheap. The most expensive thing was the headlights. When I bought this, I figured it was something easier to customize, being not a lot of people did it. So it’s different than all the Hondas and Acuras out there.
What is your most memorable driving experience?
Right after I got it out of the paint shop and I was at a bus stop. I was at a light and kids were getting off a bus and they were all giving me thumbs up.
What was the first car you owned?
A 1992 Buick Skylark. Got it from my grandmother. It was silver. It had really bad paint. The “i” in Buick was missing, so around the front it said “Buck.” It smelled like syrup when you turned on the heat…I don’t know why. The best thing about that car was that it blew up at my house the day I bought this car.
What’s currently in your CD player?
The new Murs album, “Murs for President.”
And your first ticket? What was it for?
Changing lanes in the I-95 tunnel. Kids were making faces in the SUV in front of me and it was distracting. I told him [the officer] that but he still gave me a ticket.
Check Out My Stats:
Engine: 2.2L 2200 multiport fuel injection
Horsepower: 115
Wheels: KMC 18”
Exterior: TRD Toyota Cavalier front bumper w/Toyota Supra side markers, Nissan Silvia headlights, RK Sport rear bumper, Chevy Cavalier hood
Interior: custom painted/graffiti door panels, Chevy Cavalier 4-door seats
Audio: 10” Kicker L7 subwoofer, Kenwood 1250 Watt amplifier, Panasonic head unit
