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GM B-Body: 1977 and after

I have been told by members of a social group devoted to 1973-77 A-Body "colonnade"-style that the new 1977 downsized B-body (Caprice, Bonneville, 88, and Le Sabre) was no more than an A- body frame with a new body bolted onto it.

Is this true???

Reply to
thekmanrocks
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I don't think so.

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From 1976 to 1980 ? ?A-Body? cars include ? Buick: Century, Regal. Chevrolet: Malibu and Laguna, Monte Carlo. Oldsmobile: Cutlass. Pontiac: LeMans and Grand Am, Grand Prix. ?B-Body? cars include ? Buick: LeSabre, Riviera (?77-?78). Chevrolet: Impala, Caprice. Oldsmobile: Delta Eighty-Eight. Pontiac: Catalina, Bonneville, Grand Ville. ?C-Body? cars include ? Buick: Electra 225. Cadillac: Fleetwood Brougham, Deville, Calais. Oldsmobile: Ninety-Eight. ?D-Body? cars include ? Cadillac: Fleetwood 75, Fleetwood Limousine (?77-?80). ?E-Body? cars include ? Buick: Riviera. Cadillac: Eldorado. Oldsmobile: Toronado. ?F-Body? cars include ? Chevrolet: Camaro. Pontiac: Firebird. ?H-Body? cars include ? Buick: Skyhawk. Chevrolet: Vega, Monza. Oldsmobile: Starfire. Pontiac: Astre, Sunbird. ?K-Body? cars include ? Cadillac: Seville. ?T-Body? cars include ? Chevrolet: Chevette. ?X-Body? cars include ? Buick: Skylark. Chevrolet: Nova, Citation. Oldsmobile: Omega. Pontiac: Ventura, Phoenix.

Reply to
Ashton Crusher

What several members of the "Colonnade" group said was that in order to downsize the full-size Caprice, Bonnie, Delta 88 for

1977 they just built those on the existing A-body, which had a 115" wheelbase vs the 120"+ wheelbase of the outgoing B- bodies.

To downsize the A-bodies(Monte Carlo, Grand Prix, Cutlass, et al) for 1978 model year, they created a new 110" wheelbase platform.

Just looking for some validation on that first phase, because while I understand that reusing existing platforms can save money for an automotive behemoth like GM, it suggests that "all new for 19- so-&-so" may be a bit deceptive marketing to buyers.

Reply to
thekmanrocks

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