Chevrolet Nova Chevy’s X-body for ’73 was different due to new 5mph impact rules. The bumpers were big and heavy on a car that was a compact. While they were at it, the doors got additional reinforcing and the cars interiors were packed with more sound deadening. The car now weighed 3300lbs, 100 more than […]
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Chevrolet Concours Chevy saw a threat in the Ford Granada and Mercury Monarch which were considered near-luxury compacts with Euro style. When GM’s divisions were truly independent of each other, maybe Chevy’s leadership recalled that the Cadillac Seville was using a stretched Nova platform— Maybe they got an idea. Originally, the call was answered with […]
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Chevrolet Citation It replaced the Nova for the 1980 model year. Citation’s platform shared the Nova’s X-body designation, but now it was front wheel drive. This redesigned platform was shared with the Oldsmobile Omega, Pontiac Phoenix, and Buick Skylark. While the outside dimensions were smaller, the interior and trunk boasted more room than the outgoing […]
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Buick Apollo In the heart of the ‘bumper strength era’— 1973, 1974, 1975. the Buick Apollo reigned in dealerships. An obvious cousin of the Chevrolet Nova, they were different enough to be recognizable as a Buick. Simulated engine portholes, a Buick-unique grille, headlamp bezels, hub caps, and taillamps completed the exterior. Body styles duplicated other […]
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Oldsmobile Omega Cousin to the Chevy Nova on the X-body platform, the Olds Omega was introduced for 1973. Body styles included a coupe, a sedan, and a hatchback coupe. For power, a 250 Chevy I-6, a 350 Olds 2bbl V8 or a 350 4bbl V8 were available. Shifting was left up to a 4-speed manual […]
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Cadillac Seville The first generation of the Seville was right in the middle of the smog-era— 1975-1979. This car was based on the K-body architecture which itself was based on the X-body (Nova, Omega, etc.) but was on a longer wheelbase and built for a softer ride. It weighed about 600 lbs. more than a […]
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Phoenix The Phoenix was introduced for model year 1977. It overlapped the final year of the Ventura, but was a step up in luxury. Like the Ventura, it too shared the X-body platform with the Chevy Nova, Olds Omega, and Buick Skylark. A two door coupe or a four door sedan were both available. It […]
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