GM G platform (1969)

Main article: GM G platform
General Motors G Platform
Overview
Manufacturer General Motors
Production 1978–1988
Body and chassis
Class Mid-size
Body style(s) 4-door sedan
2-door coupe
4-door station wagon
2-door coupé utility pickup
Chronology
Predecessor GM A platform (RWD)
Successor GM A platform (FWD)
GM W platform
GM H platform (FWD)


The General Motors G platform (also called G-body) was an automobile platform designation used for mid-sized rear wheel drive cars first from 1969-1972 and again from 1982 to 1988. The G-body models began production designated as A-body cars in 1978, but were redesignated as G when the new front wheel drive A-body was introduced in 1982

The G-body designation was originally used for 1969–1972 Pontiac Grand Prix and 1970–1972 Chevrolet Monte Carlo personal luxury coupes.

Between 1973 and 1981 the A-body coupes with formal rooflines were designated as A-Special and after 1982 dubbed as the G-Special. These special coupes included Monte Carlo, Grand Prix, Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme and Buick Regal two door models. The 1978 model year being the changeover year between the larger 73-77 body style and the reborn A/G platform. The Cutlass Supreme chassis being named an A body until GM changed the name into the official G body platform even though they were near identical, in 1981.

At some point in the platform's lifetime, the term "G-Body Shuffle" became popular in the drag racing community (where the cars were often modified for racing) for the vehicle's side-to-side motion of the rear end after taking off from the starting line. This was due to the car's triangulated four-link rear end suspension, which caused uneven torque to the rear wheels under strenuous driving.

In 1982, the Chevy Malibu/Pontiac LeMans coupes were dropped along with the Buick/Olds fastbacks. 1983 was the last year for wagons and Chevy Malibu sedans, leaving the G-Special coupes, B-O-P formal-roof sedans and the Chevy El Camino/GMC Caballero. In 1988, most remaining G-body models were moved to the new front wheel drive GM W platform, although the Pontiac Bonneville moved to the H-body, the El Camino was dropped without replacement and there would be a one-year gap before the W-body Chevy Lumina coupe truly replaced the Monte Carlo. GM later used the GM G platform (FWD) designation for unrelated full-sized cars.

G-bodies were some of the last cars to follow the classic muscle car formula, remaining popular while most mid-sized cars moved to front wheel drive. They were also raced in NASCAR.

Vehicles

1982-1986 Pontiac Bonneville

This family consisted of:

Performance vehicles

Performance applications include:

There is also speculation that 3 Hurst/Olds editions were made using 1988 Cutlass Supreme Classic bodies. These were not marketed through GM though. There was also a Hurst/Olds body kit available in 1988.
The 1986.5 Grand Prix 2+2 cosmetic features which included a NASCAR qualifying nose-cone was also available through GM for installation on any 1981–1987 Grand Prix. There were 17 Grand Prix GTs offered by Myrtle Motors in New York which offered a slightly different look and had some performance tuning in 1986.
The 1987 GNX was made in conjunction with ASC/McLaren and 547 were made and included a unique suspension system, featured fender flares, had Stewart-Warner gauges,Bigger Garret Turbo and intercooler, and a net power of 276 hp (206 kW), above the 245 hp (183 kW) of the regular Grand National. There are many more features that set the GNX apart and are too many to list.

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 10/12/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.