Chevrolet Laguna
Encyclopedia
The Chevrolet Chevelle Laguna is a mid-sized automobile
produced by the Chevrolet
division of General Motors
for the 1973 through 1976 model year
s. Part of the GM A-Body
platform, the 1973 Laguna series included coupes, sedans and station wagons. It was the top-line Chevelle
series that year positioned above the Malibu
. For 1974 through 1976 the car was produced as a one-model Laguna S-3 Coupe, the new-for-1974 Malibu Classic series taking the top-luxury series position. All Lagunas sported urethane front-ends which easily distinguished them from other Chevelles. NASCAR driver Cale Yarborough
earned the first two of three consecutive Winston Cup Championships piloting a Chevelle Laguna.
Chevrolet honored California
beach resorts once again by naming the top 1973 Chevelle series Laguna with the Malibu taking the middle spot while the base series was called simply Deluxe. Laguna models featured specific front and rear styling including a body-colored urethane front end concealing the new 5 mph bumper system. On minor impact the urethane nose cone, backed up by shock- absorbing cylinders, deflects and rebounds; Laguna models also featured a specific diecast
chrome grille
with bowtie emblem, a body-colored (steel) rear bumper, front and rear bumper rub strips, bright roof drip moldings, bright wheel opening moldings, chrome taillight bezels, full wheel covers, and Laguna fender nameplates. Laguna interiors were more lavish than the Malibu in pattern cloth and vinyl or optional breathable all-vinyl upholstery, distinctive door trim with map pockets, deep-twist carpeting, woodgrain vinyl accents, and Laguna nameplates.
The 1973 Chevelle Laguna "Colonnade Hardtop" featured a semi-fastback
roofline with styled "B" pillars, frameless door glass and distinctive rear quarter glass on 2-door coupe
s. New side windows with styled center pillars were featured on 4-door sedan models.
The new design "B" pillars were structurally strong enough to contribute to occupent safety of a roll-over type accident. GM had anticipated Federal roll-over safety standards for January 1974 that ironically didn't materialize. The unusually thin windshield pillars contributed to the much improved visibility over the previous generation Chevelles. Two Laguna station wagons were introduced, including a Laguna Estate. The wagons, available in 6 or 9 passenger seating, featured a counterbalanced liftgate which allowed for easy entry and loading up to 85 cubic feet (2.4 m³).
dimensions were a sporty 112 inches for coupes and 116 inches for sedans and station wagons on an all-new sturdier perimeter frame with increased front and rear suspension travel, larger 8½ inch rear axle, wider 6-inch wheel rim width, refined rear control arm bushings and new shock absorber location, new body mounts and improved front suspension geometry - The left wheel was adjusted to have slightly more positive camber
than the right which resulted in a more uniform and stable steering feel on high-crown road surfaces while maintaining excellent freeway cruise stability. Clearances for spring travel were improved for a smoother ride over all types of surfaces; the coil spring
s at each wheel were computer-selected to match the individual car's weight. Front disc brakes were now standard on all '73 Chevelles.
Additional new features were an acoustical double-panel roof, tighter-fitting glass, flush style outside door handles, molded full foam front and rear seat construction, flow-through power ventilation system, inside hood release, refined Delcotron generator and sealed side-terminal battery, a larger 22 gallon fuel tank, and "flush and dry" rocker panels introduced first on the redesigned 1971 full-size Chevrolets. Another structural improvement was a stronger design for the side door guard beams. Options included swiveling Strato-bucket seats (with console) for coupes, a power moonroof, and Turbine I urethane (backed by steel) wheels, as was the instrument gauge cluster.
While lesser Chevelles (except the Malibu SS option) came standard with either a 250-cubic-inch six-cylinder or 307-cubic-inch 2-barrel V8, Lagunas came standard with a 145-horsepower 350-cubic-inch 2-barrel V8. Options included a 350 4-barrel V8 of 175 hp and a 454 4-barrel V8 rated at 245 hp. Hardened engine valve seats and hydraulic camshafts made these engines reliable for many miles, and allowed them to accept the increasingly popular unleaded regular gasoline
. 3 speed manual transmission
was standard; 4 speed manual and Turbo Hydra-Matic 3 speed automatic were optional. Crossflow radiators and coolant reservoirs that prevented air from entering the system prevented overheating.
Motor Trend
- 1973 Buyers Guide said: "Chevrolet is fielding an all-new intermediate Chevelle series at a time when competitive lines from Ford and Chrysler
are one or more years old...when you look at what the stylists have done with what we used to call the pillar coupe, you might want to rush out and buy some stock in General Motors."
Motor Trend said: "The Grand Am and the Laguna are large "small" cars. Nimble, quick and responsive."
"The cleanly styled Laguna has a lot to recommend it. The car has a very tight feeling, a by-product of the heavily ribbed underbody and double paneled roof. Strongly in the Laguna's favor is the integrated, body-colored urethane bumper-front end. It's a lot better looking out-front than the big bumper approach."
Car and Driver
said: "Directional stability
is so strong on the highway that the Laguna seems locked on some guidance-beam radiated from your destination."
"The Laguna's urethane nose cap allows the front end to be flat and free of gaps in this day of jutting bumpers; its block-cut fenders are chauvinistically masculine and no sheet metal is wasted cloaking its tires from view...so the Laguna looks like it could bowl over most of the cars on the road.
The 1975 Laguna S-3 was introduced mid-year in January 1975. This time, it wore a rakishly slanted, urethane-covered aero-style nose designed for NASCAR
and louvered opera windows. The Colonnade designation was dropped. The vinyl half-roof, swiveling Strato-bucket front seats with center console, as well as the four-spoke sport steering were no longer standard S-3 equipment, and were made optional in mid-74 to reduce the car's base price. The 454 engine option was available for the first half of the model year after which the 400 engine became the top engine. The 49-states engine line-up was - the standard 145-horsepower 350 two-barrel V8, the optional 180-horsepower 400 four-barrel V8, and the 215-horsepower 454 four-barrel V8. In California, a 155-horsepower 350 four-barrel V8 was standard and the 180-horsepower 400 four-barrel V8 was the only engine option. All 1975 models included the newly introduced catalytic converter
. The Turbo Hydra-matic 3-speed automatic was the only transmission offered as manual transmissions were discontinued. Options included an Econominder gauge package, affirming again that the age of muscle cars was long gone.
In its third and final season, the 1976 Laguna Type S-3 again featured a sloped, body-color urethane front end and quarter-window louvers, but with new rear styling and horizontal taillights shared with other Chevelles. Lagunas shared their round-gauge instrument panel with the personal-luxury Monte Carlo
; Malibu models made do with a more conventional dashboard and a linear-readout speedometer. The standard engine was a new 140-horsepower 305 2-barrel V8. Optional engines included the 145-horsepower 350 two-barrel V8 and 180-horsepower 400 four-barrel V8. Aero styling had helped make the Laguna popular with NASCAR drivers, but tough good looks weren't enough to lure muscle car prospects into showrooms after V-8 engines had lost their vigor. It was greatly outsold by the Malibu Classic coupe and the Monte Carlo. Production of the Laguna edged up to 9,100 cars as the base price went to $4,621.
Motor Trend said in 1973: "While neither Chevrolet or Pontiac
are back in racing, the new crop intermediates out of GM's styling studios are curiously aerodynamic. They are also curiously competing on the NASCAR
circuit tracks, and selling as fast as they can be hauled to the dealerships."
March 25, 1973: Southeastern 500-Cale Yarborough, back in NASCAR's fold after a two-year exile in USAC Indy Cars, drives Junior Johnson
's #11 Chevrolet Chevelle to an overwhelming victory in the Southeastern 500 at Bristol. Yarborough leads all 500 laps.
July 8, 1973: Volunteer 500-Points leader Benny Parsons
drives his unsponsored Chevelle to an impressive win in the Volunteer 500 at Bristol International Speedway. Parsons finishes seven laps ahead of runner-up L.D. Ottinger.
September 23, 1973: Wilkes 400-Bobby Allison
runs down Richard Petty
on the final lap to win the Wilkes 400 at North Wilkesboro Speedway. It is Allison's second win of the season in his #12 Chevelle.
October 21, 1973: American 500-Benny Parsons pits for repairs after an early crash. The help of several teams allow him to get back into the race and finish 28th. Parsons and his Chevelle hold on to win the NASCAR Winston Cup Grand National championship. Parsons took the points lead with a third-place finish at Talladega Speedway in early May and never gave up the lead. He held off a late rally by Cale Yarborough to win by only 67.15 points.
July 14, 1974: Volunteer 500-Cale Yarborough muscles his way around Buddy Baker
on the final lap and squeezes out a narrow win in Bristol's Volunteer 500. It is the seventh win of the season for Yarborough and his #11 Chevelle.
February 16, 1975: Daytona 500-Benny Parsons takes the lead three laps from the finish and wins the Daytona 500
when leader David Pearson spins on the backstretch
. Parsons Chevelle comes from the 32nd starting position to claim the upset win and the biggest victory of his career.
May 10, 1975: Music City USA 420-Darrell Waltrip
racks up his first career NASCAR Winston Cup Grand National victory in his #17 Laguna with a two-lap triumph in the Music City USA 420 at his hometown Nashville Speedway. Benny Parsons comes home second in his Chevelle.
August 1976: Cale Yarborough drove his #11 Junior Johnson/Holly Farms Chevelle to the 1976 NASCAR Winston Cup Grand National championship. Yarborough won nine races along the way to the first of three consecutive titles. He finished last in the Daytona 500, but assumed command of the points chase in August. Yarborough beat Richard Petty by 195 points.
February 20, 1977: Daytona 500-Cale Yarborough Chevelle pulls away from Benny Parsons Chevelle in the final laps to win in his second Daytona 500. Cale Yarborough was running at the finish in all 30 NASCAR Winston Cup races as he dominated the 1977 season to wrap up his second consecutive title. Yarborough won nine races in 30 starts in his #11 Chevelle and finished 386 points ahead of runner-up Richard Petty.
Date Track Race Winner Car Speed (73-77 seasons)
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
produced by the Chevrolet
Chevrolet
Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...
division of General Motors
General Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
for the 1973 through 1976 model year
Model year
The model year of a product is a number used worldwide, but with a high level of prominence in North America, to describe approximately when a product was produced, and indicates the coinciding base specification of that product....
s. Part of the GM A-Body
GM A platform
The General Motors A platform was a mid-size car automobile platform. The A-bodies evolved from rear wheel drive compacts, to rear wheel drive mid-size cars, to front wheel drive mid-size cars over the course of 32 years. The switch in drive layout in 1982 spawned the G-body...
platform, the 1973 Laguna series included coupes, sedans and station wagons. It was the top-line Chevelle
Chevrolet Chevelle
The Chevrolet Chevelle is a mid-sized automobile produced by the Chevrolet division of General Motors in three generations for the 1964 through 1977 model years. Part of the GM A-Body platform, the Chevelle was one of Chevrolet's most successful nameplates. Body styles include coupes, sedans,...
series that year positioned above the Malibu
Chevrolet Malibu
Malibus and all other Chevelles were completely restyled for 1968 with semi-fastback rooflines on two-door hardtops and wheelbases split to on two-door models and 118 for four-door sedans and station wagons. Engine offerings included a new V8 rated at that replaced the V8 that had served as the...
. For 1974 through 1976 the car was produced as a one-model Laguna S-3 Coupe, the new-for-1974 Malibu Classic series taking the top-luxury series position. All Lagunas sported urethane front-ends which easily distinguished them from other Chevelles. NASCAR driver Cale Yarborough
Cale Yarborough
William Caleb "Cale" Yarborough , is a farmer, businessman and former NASCAR Winston Cup Series driver and owner. He is one of only two drivers in NASCAR history to win three consecutive championships...
earned the first two of three consecutive Winston Cup Championships piloting a Chevelle Laguna.
Overview
Conceived in optimism but born late, the 1973–1976 Chevelle Lagunas accounted for 108,815 of nearly 1.7 million third generation Chevelle sales. Production included 42,941 1973 Laguna Coupes, and 38,790 1974–1976 Laguna Type S-3 Coupes, making them relatively rare cars in today's collector market.Chevrolet honored California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
beach resorts once again by naming the top 1973 Chevelle series Laguna with the Malibu taking the middle spot while the base series was called simply Deluxe. Laguna models featured specific front and rear styling including a body-colored urethane front end concealing the new 5 mph bumper system. On minor impact the urethane nose cone, backed up by shock- absorbing cylinders, deflects and rebounds; Laguna models also featured a specific diecast
Die casting
Die casting is a metal casting process that is characterized by forcing molten metal under high pressure into a mold cavity. The mold cavity is created using two hardened tool steel dies which have been machined into shape and work similarly to an injection mold during the process...
chrome grille
Grille
A grille or grill is an opening of several slits side by side in a wall or metal sheet or other barrier, usually to let air or water enter and/or leave but keep larger objects including people and animals in or out.-Spelling:In the United States, "grille" is used to differentiate the automotive...
with bowtie emblem, a body-colored (steel) rear bumper, front and rear bumper rub strips, bright roof drip moldings, bright wheel opening moldings, chrome taillight bezels, full wheel covers, and Laguna fender nameplates. Laguna interiors were more lavish than the Malibu in pattern cloth and vinyl or optional breathable all-vinyl upholstery, distinctive door trim with map pockets, deep-twist carpeting, woodgrain vinyl accents, and Laguna nameplates.
The 1973 Chevelle Laguna "Colonnade Hardtop" featured a semi-fastback
Fastback
A fastback is a car body style whose roofline slopes continuously down at the back. The word can also designate the car itself. The style is seen on two-door coupés as well as four-door sedans.-History:...
roofline with styled "B" pillars, frameless door glass and distinctive rear quarter glass on 2-door coupe
Coupé
A coupé or coupe is a closed car body style , the precise definition of which varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, and over time...
s. New side windows with styled center pillars were featured on 4-door sedan models.
The new design "B" pillars were structurally strong enough to contribute to occupent safety of a roll-over type accident. GM had anticipated Federal roll-over safety standards for January 1974 that ironically didn't materialize. The unusually thin windshield pillars contributed to the much improved visibility over the previous generation Chevelles. Two Laguna station wagons were introduced, including a Laguna Estate. The wagons, available in 6 or 9 passenger seating, featured a counterbalanced liftgate which allowed for easy entry and loading up to 85 cubic feet (2.4 m³).
New chassis
The new top of the line Laguna shared with all 1973 Chevelles the most extensive redesign in their 10-year history The chassis was as new as the bodies -WheelbaseWheelbase
In both road and rail vehicles, the wheelbase is the distance between the centers of the front and rear wheels.- Road :In automobiles, the wheelbase is the horizontal distance between the center of the front wheel and the center of the rear wheel...
dimensions were a sporty 112 inches for coupes and 116 inches for sedans and station wagons on an all-new sturdier perimeter frame with increased front and rear suspension travel, larger 8½ inch rear axle, wider 6-inch wheel rim width, refined rear control arm bushings and new shock absorber location, new body mounts and improved front suspension geometry - The left wheel was adjusted to have slightly more positive camber
Camber angle
thumb|100px|From the front of the car, a right wheel with a negative camber angleCamber angle is the angle made by the wheels of a vehicle; specifically, it is the angle between the vertical axis of the wheels used for steering and the vertical axis of the vehicle when viewed from the front or...
than the right which resulted in a more uniform and stable steering feel on high-crown road surfaces while maintaining excellent freeway cruise stability. Clearances for spring travel were improved for a smoother ride over all types of surfaces; the coil spring
Coil spring
A Coil spring, also known as a helical spring, is a mechanical device, which is typically used to store energy and subsequently release it, to absorb shock, or to maintain a force between contacting surfaces...
s at each wheel were computer-selected to match the individual car's weight. Front disc brakes were now standard on all '73 Chevelles.
Additional new features were an acoustical double-panel roof, tighter-fitting glass, flush style outside door handles, molded full foam front and rear seat construction, flow-through power ventilation system, inside hood release, refined Delcotron generator and sealed side-terminal battery, a larger 22 gallon fuel tank, and "flush and dry" rocker panels introduced first on the redesigned 1971 full-size Chevrolets. Another structural improvement was a stronger design for the side door guard beams. Options included swiveling Strato-bucket seats (with console) for coupes, a power moonroof, and Turbine I urethane (backed by steel) wheels, as was the instrument gauge cluster.
While lesser Chevelles (except the Malibu SS option) came standard with either a 250-cubic-inch six-cylinder or 307-cubic-inch 2-barrel V8, Lagunas came standard with a 145-horsepower 350-cubic-inch 2-barrel V8. Options included a 350 4-barrel V8 of 175 hp and a 454 4-barrel V8 rated at 245 hp. Hardened engine valve seats and hydraulic camshafts made these engines reliable for many miles, and allowed them to accept the increasingly popular unleaded regular gasoline
Gasoline
Gasoline , or petrol , is a toxic, translucent, petroleum-derived liquid that is primarily used as a fuel in internal combustion engines. It consists mostly of organic compounds obtained by the fractional distillation of petroleum, enhanced with a variety of additives. Some gasolines also contain...
. 3 speed manual transmission
Manual transmission
A manual transmission, also known as a manual gearbox or standard transmission is a type of transmission used in motor vehicle applications...
was standard; 4 speed manual and Turbo Hydra-Matic 3 speed automatic were optional. Crossflow radiators and coolant reservoirs that prevented air from entering the system prevented overheating.
Reviews
Speed and Supercar magazine said in a June 1973 "Street Test": "Chevy gets it right on." "Enough is plenty, that's how we feel about the ('73) 350 Laguna. "...We couldn't pass up the opportunity to tell you what a groovy all around car it is even if it can't smoke the quarter-mile run in 13 seconds. And what car in '73 can." "It's not overpowering but it's enough - and so comfortable that the editor bought the car." "The Laguna is the type of car you want to own for fast, comfortable transportation in quiet luxury."Motor Trend
Motor Trend
Motor Trend is an American automobile magazine. It first appeared in September 1949, issued by Petersen Publishing Company in Los Angeles, and bearing the tag line "The Magazine for a Motoring World". Petersen Publishing was sold to British publisher EMAP in 1998, who sold the former Petersen...
- 1973 Buyers Guide said: "Chevrolet is fielding an all-new intermediate Chevelle series at a time when competitive lines from Ford and Chrysler
Chrysler
Chrysler Group LLC is a multinational automaker headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, USA. Chrysler was first organized as the Chrysler Corporation in 1925....
are one or more years old...when you look at what the stylists have done with what we used to call the pillar coupe, you might want to rush out and buy some stock in General Motors."
Motor Trend said: "The Grand Am and the Laguna are large "small" cars. Nimble, quick and responsive."
"The cleanly styled Laguna has a lot to recommend it. The car has a very tight feeling, a by-product of the heavily ribbed underbody and double paneled roof. Strongly in the Laguna's favor is the integrated, body-colored urethane bumper-front end. It's a lot better looking out-front than the big bumper approach."
Car and Driver
Car and Driver
Car and Driver is an American automotive enthusiast magazine. Its total circulation is 1.31 million. It is owned by Hearst Magazines, who purchased prior owner Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S. in 2011...
said: "Directional stability
Directional stability
Directional stability is stability of a moving body or vehicle about an axis which is perpendicular to its direction of motion. Stability of a vehicle concerns itself with the tendency of a vehicle to return to its original direction in relation to the oncoming medium when disturbed away from...
is so strong on the highway that the Laguna seems locked on some guidance-beam radiated from your destination."
"The Laguna's urethane nose cap allows the front end to be flat and free of gaps in this day of jutting bumpers; its block-cut fenders are chauvinistically masculine and no sheet metal is wasted cloaking its tires from view...so the Laguna looks like it could bowl over most of the cars on the road.
1974–1976 Laguna Type S-3
For 1974, the Laguna was renamed Laguna Type S-3 and offered only as the Colonnade Coupe. It retained the urethane front end from '73 with a revised grille and new parking lamps, augmented at the rear by new taillights. A federally-mandated 5 mi/h chrome rear bumper replaced the body-colored steel 2.5 mi/h version from '73. Standard equipment included a console, a vinyl roof, opera-type vertical rear quarter windows which could be covered with horizontal ribs for a few dollars extra; body side striping, Laguna S3 badging, as well as firmer shocks/springs, a front stabilizer bar, and fat HR70x15 radial tires on Rally wheels. Front occupants rode in swivel bucket seats, and the driver faced a six-dial instrument cluster and a 4-spoke, sport steering wheel. The '74 Laguna S-3 had replaced the discontinued "SS" as the sporty/performance option on the Chevelle. Production totaled 15,792 cars, with prices starting at $3,723 - but with plenty of options to send the bottom line past $5,000. Engine offerings included a standard 145 hp 350 two-barrel V8, with optional powerplants including a 150 hp 400 two-barrel V8, 180 hp 400 four-barrel V8 and 230 hp 454 four-barrel V8, except in California where a 155 hp 350 four-barrel V8 was standard and the 400 and 454 engines were optional. Turbo Hydra-matic transmission was standard with a four-speed manual available only with the 454 engine.The 1975 Laguna S-3 was introduced mid-year in January 1975. This time, it wore a rakishly slanted, urethane-covered aero-style nose designed for NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
and louvered opera windows. The Colonnade designation was dropped. The vinyl half-roof, swiveling Strato-bucket front seats with center console, as well as the four-spoke sport steering were no longer standard S-3 equipment, and were made optional in mid-74 to reduce the car's base price. The 454 engine option was available for the first half of the model year after which the 400 engine became the top engine. The 49-states engine line-up was - the standard 145-horsepower 350 two-barrel V8, the optional 180-horsepower 400 four-barrel V8, and the 215-horsepower 454 four-barrel V8. In California, a 155-horsepower 350 four-barrel V8 was standard and the 180-horsepower 400 four-barrel V8 was the only engine option. All 1975 models included the newly introduced catalytic converter
Catalytic converter
A catalytic converter is a device used to convert toxic exhaust emissions from an internal combustion engine into non-toxic substances. Inside a catalytic converter, a catalyst stimulates a chemical reaction in which noxious byproducts of combustion are converted to less toxic substances by dint...
. The Turbo Hydra-matic 3-speed automatic was the only transmission offered as manual transmissions were discontinued. Options included an Econominder gauge package, affirming again that the age of muscle cars was long gone.
In its third and final season, the 1976 Laguna Type S-3 again featured a sloped, body-color urethane front end and quarter-window louvers, but with new rear styling and horizontal taillights shared with other Chevelles. Lagunas shared their round-gauge instrument panel with the personal-luxury Monte Carlo
Chevrolet Monte Carlo
The Chevrolet Monte Carlo was an American-made two-door coupe introduced for model year 1970, and manufactured over six generations through model year 2007. It was marketed as a personal-luxury coupe through most of its history, with the last model version being classified as a full-sized coupe...
; Malibu models made do with a more conventional dashboard and a linear-readout speedometer. The standard engine was a new 140-horsepower 305 2-barrel V8. Optional engines included the 145-horsepower 350 two-barrel V8 and 180-horsepower 400 four-barrel V8. Aero styling had helped make the Laguna popular with NASCAR drivers, but tough good looks weren't enough to lure muscle car prospects into showrooms after V-8 engines had lost their vigor. It was greatly outsold by the Malibu Classic coupe and the Monte Carlo. Production of the Laguna edged up to 9,100 cars as the base price went to $4,621.
NASCAR
The third generation Chevelle was an extensively used body style in NASCAR competition from 1973 to 1977. The Chevelle Laguna in particular was extremely successful allowing Cale Yarborough to win 34 races and earn the first two of three consecutive Winston Cup championships. Considered a limited edition model by NASCAR, the Laguna S-3 was ineligible for competition following the 1977 season.Motor Trend said in 1973: "While neither Chevrolet or Pontiac
Pontiac
Pontiac was an automobile brand that was established in 1926 as a companion make for General Motors' Oakland. Quickly overtaking its parent in popularity, it supplanted the Oakland brand entirely by 1933 and, for most of its life, became a companion make for Chevrolet. Pontiac was sold in the...
are back in racing, the new crop intermediates out of GM's styling studios are curiously aerodynamic. They are also curiously competing on the NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
circuit tracks, and selling as fast as they can be hauled to the dealerships."
Highlights
Third generation Chevelle NASCAR Winston Cup highlights:March 25, 1973: Southeastern 500-Cale Yarborough, back in NASCAR's fold after a two-year exile in USAC Indy Cars, drives Junior Johnson
Junior Johnson
Robert Glenn Johnson, Jr. , better known as Junior Johnson, is a retired moonshiner in the rural South who became one of the early superstars of NASCAR in the 1950s and 1960s. He won 50 NASCAR races in his career before retiring in 1966...
's #11 Chevrolet Chevelle to an overwhelming victory in the Southeastern 500 at Bristol. Yarborough leads all 500 laps.
July 8, 1973: Volunteer 500-Points leader Benny Parsons
Benny Parsons
Benjamin Stewart Parsons was an American NASCAR driver, and later an announcer/analyst on TBS, ESPN, NBC and TNT...
drives his unsponsored Chevelle to an impressive win in the Volunteer 500 at Bristol International Speedway. Parsons finishes seven laps ahead of runner-up L.D. Ottinger.
September 23, 1973: Wilkes 400-Bobby Allison
Bobby Allison
Robert Arthur Allison is a former NASCAR Winston Cup driver and was named one of NASCAR's 50 greatest drivers. His two sons, Clifford Allison and Davey Allison followed him into racing, and both died within a year of each other....
runs down Richard Petty
Richard Petty
Richard Lee Petty is a former NASCAR driver who raced in the Strictly Stock/Grand National Era and the NASCAR Winston Cup Series...
on the final lap to win the Wilkes 400 at North Wilkesboro Speedway. It is Allison's second win of the season in his #12 Chevelle.
October 21, 1973: American 500-Benny Parsons pits for repairs after an early crash. The help of several teams allow him to get back into the race and finish 28th. Parsons and his Chevelle hold on to win the NASCAR Winston Cup Grand National championship. Parsons took the points lead with a third-place finish at Talladega Speedway in early May and never gave up the lead. He held off a late rally by Cale Yarborough to win by only 67.15 points.
July 14, 1974: Volunteer 500-Cale Yarborough muscles his way around Buddy Baker
Buddy Baker
Elzie Wylie Baker, Jr. , nicknamed "Leadfoot" or more famously Buddy, is a former American NASCAR racecar driver.-Early life:...
on the final lap and squeezes out a narrow win in Bristol's Volunteer 500. It is the seventh win of the season for Yarborough and his #11 Chevelle.
February 16, 1975: Daytona 500-Benny Parsons takes the lead three laps from the finish and wins the Daytona 500
Daytona 500
The Daytona 500 is a -long NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held annually at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is one of four restrictor plate races on the Cup schedule....
when leader David Pearson spins on the backstretch
Backstretch
The Backstretch is the area in a horse racetrack where horses are stabled and the training and daily work of maintaining the horses occurs. In many race tracks it will be found directly across the track from the grandstands and may also be called "the other side of the track."-Description:A...
. Parsons Chevelle comes from the 32nd starting position to claim the upset win and the biggest victory of his career.
May 10, 1975: Music City USA 420-Darrell Waltrip
Darrell Waltrip
Darrell Lee Waltrip is a 3-time NASCAR Cup Series champion , 3-time runner-up , winner of the 1989 Daytona 500 and 5-time winner of the prestigeous Coca-Cola 600 ,...
racks up his first career NASCAR Winston Cup Grand National victory in his #17 Laguna with a two-lap triumph in the Music City USA 420 at his hometown Nashville Speedway. Benny Parsons comes home second in his Chevelle.
August 1976: Cale Yarborough drove his #11 Junior Johnson/Holly Farms Chevelle to the 1976 NASCAR Winston Cup Grand National championship. Yarborough won nine races along the way to the first of three consecutive titles. He finished last in the Daytona 500, but assumed command of the points chase in August. Yarborough beat Richard Petty by 195 points.
February 20, 1977: Daytona 500-Cale Yarborough Chevelle pulls away from Benny Parsons Chevelle in the final laps to win in his second Daytona 500. Cale Yarborough was running at the finish in all 30 NASCAR Winston Cup races as he dominated the 1977 season to wrap up his second consecutive title. Yarborough won nine races in 30 starts in his #11 Chevelle and finished 386 points ahead of runner-up Richard Petty.
Wins
Third generation Chevelle NASCAR Winston Cup 1st place victories:Date Track Race Winner Car Speed (73-77 seasons)
- 3/25/73 Bristol, TNBristol Motor SpeedwayBristol Motor Speedway, formerly known as Bristol International Raceway and Bristol Raceway is a NASCAR short track venue located in Bristol, Tennessee. Constructed in 1960, it held its first NASCAR race on July 30, 1961...
Cale Yarborough Chevrolet 88.952 - 5/12/73 Nashville, TNNashville SuperspeedwayNashville Superspeedway is a motor racing complex located in Gladeville, Tennessee , United States, about 30 miles southeast of Nashville. On August 2, 2011, it was announced that Nashville Superspeedway will not host any NASCAR events in 2012. It is a concrete oval track 1 1/3 miles in...
Cale Yarborough Chevrolet 98.419 - 6/17/73 Riverside, CA Bobby Allison Chevrolet 100.215
- 7/08/73 Bristol, TN Benny Parsons Chevrolet 91.342
- 9/03/73 Darlington, SCDarlington RacewayDarlington Raceway is a race track built for NASCAR racing located near Darlington, South Carolina. It is nicknamed the "Lady in Black" and "The Track Too Tough to Tame" by many NASCAR fans and drivers and advertised as "A NASCAR Tradition"...
Cale Yarborough Chevrolet 134.033 - 9/23/73 North Wilkesboro, NC Bobby Allison Chevrolet 95.130
- 10/07/73 Charlotte, NCCharlotte Motor SpeedwayCharlotte Motor Speedway is a motorsports complex located in Concord, North Carolina, United States 13 miles from Charlotte, North Carolina. The complex features a quad oval track that hosts NASCAR racing including the prestigious Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day weekend and the Sprint All-Star Race...
Cale Yarborough Chevrolet 145.240
- 1/20/74 Riverside, CA Cale Yarborough Chevrolet 101.140
- 2/24/74 Richmond, VARichmond International RacewayRichmond International Raceway is a 3/4-mile , D-shaped, asphalt race track located just outside Richmond, Virginia in Henrico County. It hosts the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and Nationwide Series...
Bobby Allison Chevrolet 80.095 - 3/17/74 Bristol, TN Cale Yarborough Chevrolet 64.533
- 3/24/74 Atlanta, GAAtlanta Motor SpeedwayAtlanta Motor Speedway is a track just outside Hampton, Georgia, twenty miles south of Atlanta. It is a quad-oval track with a seating capacity of over 125,000. It opened in 1960 as a standard oval. In 1994, 46 condominiums were built over the northeastern side of the track...
Cale Yarborough Chevrolet 136.910 - 4/28/74 Martinsville, VAMartinsville SpeedwayMartinsville Speedway is an International Speedway Corporation-owned NASCAR stock car racing track located in Henry County, near Ridgeway, Virginia, just to the south of Martinsville. At in length, it is the shortest track in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The track was also one of the first paved...
Cale Yarborough Chevrolet 70.427 - 5/19/74 Dover, DEDover International SpeedwayDover International Speedway is a NASCAR-sanctioned race track located in Dover, Delaware, owned by, and serving as the corporate headquarters of, Dover Motorsports, Inc. It is co-located with a harness racing track, Dover Downs, and shares the complex with Dover Downs Hotel & Casino...
Cale Yarborough Chevrolet 115.057 - 6/09/74 Riverside, CA Cale Yarborough Chevrolet 102.489
- 7/14/74 Bristol, TN Cale Yarborough Chevrolet 75.430
- 7/20/74 Nashville, TN Cale Yarborough Chevrolet 76.368
- 9/02/74 Darlington, SC Cale Yarborough Chevrolet 111.075
- 9/22/74 North Wilkesboro, NC Cale Yarborough Chevrolet 80.782
- 9/29/74 Martinsville, VA Earl RossEarl RossEarl Ross is a Canadian race car driver who competed in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series from 1973 to 1976 driving the Carling Red Cap #52...
Chevrolet 66.232
- 2/16/75 Daytona Beach, FLDaytona International SpeedwayDaytona International Speedway is a race track in Daytona Beach, Florida, United States. Since opening in 1959, it has been the home of the Daytona 500, one of the most prestigious races in NASCAR. In addition to NASCAR, the track also hosts races of ARCA, AMA Superbike, Grand-Am and Motocross...
Benny Parsons Chevrolet 153.649 - 3/02/75 Rockingham, NC Cale Yarborough Chevrolet 117.588
- 5/10/75 Nashville, TN Darrell Waltrip Chevrolet 94.107
- 7/20/75 Nashville, TN Cale Yarborough Chevrolet 89.792
- 10/12/75 Richmond, VA Darrell Waltrip Chevrolet 81.886
- 10/19/75 Rockingham, NC Cale Yarborough Chevrolet 120.129
- 3/14/76 Bristol, TN Cale Yarborough Chevrolet 87.377
- 4/04/76 North Wilkesboro, NC Cale Yarborough Chevrolet 96.858
- 4/25/76 Martinsville, VA Darrell Waltrip Chevrolet 71.759
- 5/08/76 Nashville, TN Cale Yarborough Chevrolet 84.512
- 5/16/76 Dover, DE Benny Parsons Chevrolet 115.436
- 7/04/76 Daytona Beach, FL Cale Yarborough Chevrolet 160.966
- 7/17/76 Nashville, TN Benny Parsons Chevrolet 86.908
- 8/02/76 Bristol, TN Cale Yarborough Chevrolet 99.175
- 9/12/76 Richmond, VA Cale Yarborough Chevrolet 77.993
- 9/19/76 Dover, DE Cale Yarborough Chevrolet 115.740
- 9/26/76 Martinsville, VA Cale Yarborough Chevrolet 75.370
- 10/03/76 North Wilkesboro, NC Cale Yarborough Chevrolet 96.380
- 10/10/76 Charlotte, NC Donnie AllisonDonnie AllisonDunkiny "Donnie" Allison is a former driver on the NASCAR Grand National/Winston Cup circuit, who won ten times during his racing career, which spanned the 1960s, 1970s and early 1980s. He was part of the "Alabama Gang," and is the brother of 1983 champion Bobby Allison and uncle of Davey Allison...
Chevrolet 141.226
- 2/20/77 Daytona Beach, FL Cale Yarborough Chevrolet 153.218
- 2/27/77 Richmond, VA Cale Yarborough Chevrolet 73.084
- 3/27/77 North Wilkesboro, NC Cale Yarborough Chevrolet 88.950
- 4/17/77 Bristol, TN Cale Yarborough Chevrolet 100.989
- 4/24/77 Martinsville, VA Cale Yarborough Chevrolet 77.405
- 5/07/77 Nashville, TN Benny Parsons Chevrolet 87.490
- 5/15/77 Dover, DE Cale Yarborough Chevrolet 123.327
- 6/19/77 Brooklyn, MIMichigan International SpeedwayMichigan International Speedway is a two-mile moderate-banked D-shaped superspeedway located off U.S. Highway 12 on more than in Brooklyn, in the scenic Irish Hills area of southeastern Michigan. The track is used primarily for NASCAR events. It is sometimes known as a "sister track" to Texas...
Cale Yarborough Chevrolet 135.033 - 7/31/77 Pocono, PA Benny Parsons Chevrolet 128.379
- 8/07/77 Talladega, ALTalladega SuperspeedwayTalladega Superspeedway is a motorsports complex located north of Talladega, Alabama, United States. It is located on the former Anniston Air Force Base just outside the small city of Lincoln. It was constructed by International Speedway Corporation, a business controlled by the France Family, in...
Donnie Allison Chevrolet 162.524 - 8/28/77 Bristol, TN Cale Yarborough Chevrolet 79.726
- 9/18/77 Dover, DE Benny Parsons Chevrolet 114.708
- 9/25/77 Martinsville, VA Cale Yarborough Chevrolet 73.447
- 10/09/77 Charlotte, NC Benny Parsons Chevrolet 142.780
- 10/23/77 Rockingham, NC Donnie Allison Chevrolet 113.584
See also
- Chevrolet ChevelleChevrolet ChevelleThe Chevrolet Chevelle is a mid-sized automobile produced by the Chevrolet division of General Motors in three generations for the 1964 through 1977 model years. Part of the GM A-Body platform, the Chevelle was one of Chevrolet's most successful nameplates. Body styles include coupes, sedans,...
- Chevrolet MalibuChevrolet MalibuMalibus and all other Chevelles were completely restyled for 1968 with semi-fastback rooflines on two-door hardtops and wheelbases split to on two-door models and 118 for four-door sedans and station wagons. Engine offerings included a new V8 rated at that replaced the V8 that had served as the...
- GM A platform (RWD)GM A platform (RWD)The General Motors A platform was a rear wheel drive automobile platform designation used from at least 1939 up until 1981...
- Mid-size car: The United States