In mid-1990, the little Geo Metro convertible arrived in Chevy showrooms thanks to America's reborn love for little roadsters. The new two-seater was founded on the Geo Metro two door hatchback, but many of its aspects were holdovers from Chevy's first ultra-compact, the Sprint, including the engine, transmission, gauges, and suspension.

The convertibles began their lives far from their Canadian built brethren, being the only Metro's assembled by Suzuki in Hiroshima, Japan. It certainly would have been more at home there or in Europe, where small cars are a way of life due to narrow streets, congestion, high gas prices, and limited parking space. In fact, the little car was an immediate success overseas, though named differently as a Suzuki Swift or Cultus , or Pontiac Firefly depending on where it was sold. But this was America, birthplace of the SUV and full-sized pickup, where streets are wide and gas flows at half the price it does overseas, where bigger is better and power is preferable. Now, little roadsters had been here for years, but the Geo was different. It was small and lacked cargo room and back seats, yet it lacked something true roadsters had: power and performance. Worse, Metro convertibles were undeniably cute, looking like a full-sized toy.

 

Besides instantly achieving the status of "girlie car" that's branded upon all small convertibles in the U.S., it was judged one of two ways, people either fell in love with it at first sight and had to have one, or detested it with a passion. Still, some 20,000 were imported into the U.S. between 1990 and 1993, with the best sales occurring in 1992 after they were given updated bumpers, wheel covers, and a much-needed, simplified dashboard that looked 100% better than the old one. Geo and Suzuki would continue to use this new interior until the Metro's termination in 2001.