The

General Motors General Motors Company (GM) is an American Multinational corporation, multinational Automotive industry, automotive manufacturing company headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, United States. The company is most known for owning and manufacturing f ...

G platform (also called G-body) was an

automobile platform A car platform is a shared set of common design, engineering, and production efforts, as well as major components, over a number of outwardly distinct models and even types of cars, often from different, but somewhat related, marques. It is prac ...

designation used for mid-sized

rear-wheel drive Rear-wheel drive (RWD) is a form of engine and transmission layout used in motor vehicles, in which the engine drives the rear wheels only. Until the late 20th century, rear-wheel drive was the most common configuration for cars. Most rear-whee ...

cars. It made its first appearance from the 1969 to 1972 model years, adapted from GM's A-body, and reappeared from 1982 to 1988. The second series of G-bodies began production designated as A-body cars in 1978, but were redesignated as G-body when the new

front-wheel drive Front-wheel drive (FWD) is a form of internal combustion engine, engine and transmission (mechanics), transmission layout used in motor vehicles, in which the engine drives the front wheels only. Most modern front-wheel-drive vehicles feature ...

A-body platform was introduced in 1982.

Use

The G-body designation was originally used for the 1969–1972

Pontiac Grand Prix The Grand Prix is a line of automobiles produced by the Pontiac (automobile), Pontiac Division of General Motors from 1962 until 2002 as coupes and from 1989 through 2008 model years as four-door sedans. First introduced as a full-size car, full ...

and 1970–1972

Chevrolet Monte Carlo The Chevrolet Monte Carlo is a two-door coupe that was manufactured and marketed by the Chevrolet division of General Motors. Deriving its name from the Monte Carlo, city in Monaco, the Monte Carlo was marketed as the first personal luxury car ...

personal luxury cars Personal luxury car is a North American car classification describing somewhat sporty, sophisticated mass-market coupés that emphasized comfort over performance. The North American manufacturers most often combined engineering, design, and mark ...

, which rode on longer wheelbases than A-body coupes. For 1973, the Grand Prix and Monte Carlo were related to the A-body line, with all formal-roof A-body coupes designated as ''A-Special'' (and, after 1982, ''G-Special''). These special coupes included the

Monte Carlo Monte Carlo ( ; ; or colloquially ; , ; ) is an official administrative area of Monaco, specifically the Ward (country subdivision), ward of Monte Carlo/Spélugues, where the Monte Carlo Casino is located. Informally, the name also refers to ...

Grand Prix ( , meaning ''Grand Prize''; plural ''Grands Prix'') most commonly refers to: * Grand Prix motor racing, a form of motorsport competition ** List of Formula One Grands Prix, an auto-racing championship *** Monaco Grand Prix, the most prestigious ...

Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme The Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme is a mid-size car produced by Oldsmobile between 1966 and 1997. It was positioned as a premium offering at the top of the Oldsmobile Cutlass, Cutlass range. It began as a trim package, developed its own roofline, ...

, and

Buick Regal The Buick Regal is a line of mid-size cars marketed by Buick since 1973. Serving as the premium mid-size/intermediate car of the Buick product range for nearly its entire production, the Regal initially served as the divisional counterpart of t ...

. For the 1982 model year, GM introduced a new front-wheel drive A platform for its mid-size car lines. The rear-wheel drive platform that had been in use since 1978 was re-designated as the G platform, and select models remained in production. The Chevrolet Malibu and Pontiac LeMans coupes were dropped; on sedans and wagons the LeMans nameplate continued only in Canada while the formerly full-size Bonneville replaced it in the U.S. 1983 was the last year for the Malibu sedan and all station wagons, leaving the G-Special coupes; Buick, Oldsmobile, and Pontiac formal-roof sedans; and the Chevrolet El Camino/GMC Caballero. For 1988, most remaining G-body models were moved to the new

W platform. The

Pontiac Bonneville The Pontiac Bonneville is a model line of full-size or mid-size FR (until 1987) or FF cars manufactured and marketed by Pontiac from 1957 until 2005. The Bonneville (marketed as the Parisienne in Canada until 1981), and its platform partne ...

had been moved to the H platform for 1987, the El Camino was dropped without a replacement, and there would be a one-year gap before the W-body Chevrolet Lumina coupe replaced the Monte Carlo. GM later used the G-body designation for unrelated

full-size Full-size car—also known as large car—is a vehicle size class which originated in the United States and is used for cars larger than mid-size cars. It is the largest size class for cars. In the United Kingdom, this class is referred to as ...

d front-wheel drive cars. The G-bodies were some of the last cars to follow the front-engine, large V8 and rear-wheel drive

muscle car A muscle car is an American-made two-door sports coupe with a powerful engine, marketed for its performance. In 1949, General Motors introduced its 88 with the company's OHV Rocket V8 engine, which was previously available only in its lux ...

formula, remaining popular while most mid-sized cars moved to front-wheel drive. They were also among the last production-based vehicles raced in

NASCAR The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, LLC (NASCAR) is an American auto racing sanctioning and operating company that is best known for stock car racing. It is considered to be one of the top ranked motorsports organizations in ...

(and competitively, with the Buick Regal in particular dominating many races in its time). NASCAR regulations continued to stipulate production body parts until 2003 (namely, the hood, roof, and deck lid), but since most of the vehicles that bodies were derived from during this period had a transverse front-wheel drive layout (many even lacking a V8 as an option), the drivetrain and all running gear were either custom-built or sourced from other (usually, older) models.

Vehicles

This family consisted of: *

(1982–1987) *

Chevrolet El Camino The Chevrolet El Camino is a coupé utility vehicle that was produced by Chevrolet between 1959–1960 and 1964–1987. Unlike a standard pickup truck, the El Camino was adapted from the standard two-door Chevrolet station wagon platform and in ...

(1982–1987) *

Chevrolet Malibu The Chevrolet Malibu is a mid-size car that was manufactured and marketed by Chevrolet from 1964 to 1983 and from 1997 to 2025. The Malibu began as a trim-level of the Chevrolet Chevelle, becoming its own model line in 1978. Originally a rear-w ...

(1982–1983) *

(1982–1988) * GMC Caballero (1982–1987) *

(1982–1987) * Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Classic (1988) *

Oldsmobile Cutlass Cruiser The Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera is a mid-size car manufactured and marketed for model years 1982–1996 by the Oldsmobile Division of General Motors — over a single generation. Body styles included a 2-door coupe, 4-door sedan, and the 4-d ...

(1982–1983) * Pontiac Grand LeMans (1982–1983) (Canada only) *

(1982–1986) *

(1982–1987)

Performance variants

Performance applications included: * 1982

''Sport Coupe'' 3.8 L (231 in³) V6 Turbo * 1982, 1984–1987

Buick Grand National The Buick Regal is a line of mid-size cars marketed by Buick since 1973. Serving as the premium mid-size/intermediate car of the Buick product range for nearly its entire production, the Regal initially served as the divisional counterpart of t ...

3.8 L (231 in³) V6 Turbo * 1983–1986

''T-Type'' 3.8 L (231 in³) V6 Turbo * 1982–1987

''SS'' 5.0 L (305 in³) * 1985–1987

Oldsmobile 442 The Oldsmobile 4-4-2 is a muscle car produced by Oldsmobile between the 1964 and 1987 model years. Introduced as an option package for US-sold Oldsmobile Cutlass, F-85 and Cutlass models, it became a model in its own right from 1968 to 1971, spa ...

5.0 L (307 in³) HO V8 * 1983–1984

Oldsmobile Hurst/Olds Following the success of Hurst Performance, Hurst components in Oldsmobile's Oldsmobile 442, 442 models, Oldsmobile, in collaboration with Hurst Performance of Warminster Township, Pennsylvania, Warminster, Pennsylvania, produced special-edition ...

5.0 L (307 in³) HO V8 * 1983–1988

''SS'' 5.0 L (305 in³) HO V8 * 1986–1987

''SS Aerocoupe'' 5.0 L (305 in³) HO V8 * 1986.5

''2+2'' 5.0 L (305 in³) V8 The 1986.5 Grand Prix 2+2 had cosmetic changes which included a NASCAR-qualifying nose cone (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. * 1987

''T Turbo'' 3.8 L (231 in³) V6 Turbo * 1987

''T'' (307 in³) * 1987

: many base and Limited models featured the 3.8 L turbocharged (231 in³) V6 * 1987 Buick GNX 3.8 L (231 in³) V6 Turbo The 1987 GNX was made in conjunction with ASC/McLaren and 547 were made, which included a unique suspension system, fender flares, Stewart-Warner gauges, larger Garrett turbocharger and intercooler, and a net power of 276 hp (206 kW), above the 245 hp (183 kW) of the regular Grand National.

References

External links

G-Body forum and informationThe Original G-Body central information hubGBodyForum.com -- '78-'88 GM A/G Body CommunityOldsGmail.com - Home of the Oldsmobile G-Body Mailing ListGBodies.com - Devoted to the GM G Bodies
{{General Motors platforms G 1