General Motors

Anyone want to Disco?

I don't get NO RESPECT.  

Drive me to The 54 tonight.  This Disco eats rice for a livin'.

1973-79 X-cars (Nova, Apollo, Ventura, Skylark, Phoenix): Not as traditional as a musclecar, and still with a Chevelle-esque lineage, while these cars are mostly smog laden, and a little heavy, due to the use of energy absorbers in the bumpers. 1975-79 cars share the same front suspension with the 1970-81 Camaro/Firebird, and the basic motor found in these cars is a Chevrolet six or small block.  1973/74 cars have been forgotten, but many of the front suspension components interchange with the 1967-69 Camaro.  Keep in mind that parts restorers do not stock replacement parts for the later X-cars, which has been a bad rep for many years now, since there is no demand or availability.

Here's a couple of links to a few X-car pages:
 
• Chevrolet Nova Internet Source
• 1975 Nova Page
• 1977 Nova Page
• 1974 (Argentina) Nova Page
• Buick Apollo Page
• 1976 Nova SS Page (the ultimate 1975-79 page)

1973-77 A-cars: Not considered by traditionalists (due to their heavier weight, and obnoxious styling as opposed to the traditional and respected 1964-72s), and often serve as low-dollar iron. Suspension components interchange with 1977-96 GM full framed RWDs.  Considered a worthless POS and non-muscle, but don't count on it.  The marques that defined the original musclecar (e.g. GTO, GSX, 442, and SS) have been desecrated when the 1973 A-car was introduced, and later became "mud" with the public (a la Corvair).

Here's a couple of 1973-77 A-car links:
 
• A-Body Rebellion Page
• Doc and Spiral's Chevelle Page
• Late Model Chevelle Enthusiasts:  The Official Site
• 1973 Chevelle SS Page
• 1976 Laguna S-3
• 1973-77 Buick Regal/Century Page
• Oldsmobile Cutlass Coupes
• Pontiac A-bodies (1973-77)
• Grand Am Registry
• Screech's 1973-77 A/G Bodies
• 1977 Pontiac CAN AM

Second (1970-81) and Third Generation (1982-92) F-cars (Camaro/Firebird): The 1974-81 versions of the F-car are still a dime-a-dozen to locate, but with heavier bracketry for the bumpers for 1974 and newer F-cars. Like other disco-era classics, the motor is choked.  Note: there are also some desirable 3rd generation (1982-92) F-cars, and the "cheapie" special with a 4-banger, V6, or 305 can be fixed up, or serve as a good starting point for a fuelie V8 swap.  Currently, the F-car, along with the Mustang, are the only remaining U.S.-built musclecars still in production.

1978-88 GM intermediates (A/G bodies):  Base models of the A/G car are still easier to locate, and 1978-88 versions are still out there. Often referred to as descendants of what used to be big cars.  Easily prone to theft and carjackings for 1978-88 models, since these cars are common with the FBI's Top 10 "Most Stolen Vehicles" List.

Here's a G-ride page:
 
• Malibu Mike's Webpage
• Malibu Muscle
• Tom's Monte Carlo and El Camino page
• Monte Carlo SS page (Warning:  what you see is graphic, in which a G-car can be stolen and stripped)
• 1986 Cutlass Salon page

I need a good home.

1964-72 A-cars:  include base models of the popular musclecar brethren (Chevelle 300 series of 1964-69 vintage, Buick Special, Olds F-85 to 1970, and Pontiac Tempest to 1970) and their upscale models (Malibu, Skylark, Cutlass, and LeMans) make good street machines.  The 2-door hardtops are worth more (an average of $1500 -- 5000), but other bodystyles (pickup, SW, and sedan) are out there.  Note: the base, stripped-down 2-door versions (Chevelle 300, series, Buick Special, Olds F85, and Pontiac Tempest) of these cars are pillared coupes, except for the 1968/69 Chevelle 300 Deluxe hardtop (as well as the other base BOP A-body 2-doors), which looks like a low-dollar Malibu hardtop, but with fewer factory options, like a rubber floormat, manual tranny, six cylinder, and manual steering.

One note: the upscale models like a Malibu, Skylark, LeMans, and Cutlass will also serve as a good alternative, but if you have a fat pocket like Don King or Donald Trump, completed street machines (those with paint jobs and nice rims) are worth the same as a used Sport-Ute, like an S-10 Blazer or used pickup truck. Not a dime-a-dozen to find, and expect a $2000+ figure.

Full size GM land yachts: These cars are common with inner city youths, and often, dirt cheap. Chevrolets are common (e.g. low riders), but a lesser degree for the other BOP divisions (e.g. deuce and a quarter).

1960-69 Corvairs: Need I say more?  These are the only classics (the Volks-Chevy) of the sixties that have a low resale value, but ignore the Ralph Nader hype.

H-cars: this include the Vega/Monza (the GMswagen), but these cars can handle a Small Block Chevrolet conversion. These cars (of 1975-80 vintage) served as the basic platform of the remaining RWD GMs being produced, which include the 1993-present (GEN 4) Camaro/Firebird.

• H-special Registry
• Cosworth Vega Owner's Association

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*Nova images courtesy of Don Seributra (a.k.a. H5O), 1999.  Feel free to use the Nova images or any of the pics on this page, but DO NOT download any other images from my other web publications.  I wouldn't take anyone to court for copyright infringement.