I have ?s about 1981 body styles
same but different
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,966
From: Central Missouri
I remember something about this, but details allude me. Basically, the older A body chassis designation become the newer-future B body chassis and thus the G was born about this time in the books. So there was spot in time that GM books and literature seemed conflicted. at least in my memory. Two other things come to mind in this time frame. The 81-82 time had lock up torque converters pre- overdrive era and metric and imperial fasteners could be found in the same car.
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 2,555
Nutshell:
78-81 Cutlass, Malibu, Monte, GP, Regal, etc., are A-bodies, technically. Then from 82-88 they renamed them G-bodies because the A-body got redesignated. Essentially the same, with the exception of more metric integration starting in '82. It's not correct, but most people equate the Late-A/G body era as one in the same, such as 78-88. Except for those G-bodies that didn't make it after 87.
There's some quirks along the way, but essentially this covers it 99%.
78-81 Cutlass, Malibu, Monte, GP, Regal, etc., are A-bodies, technically. Then from 82-88 they renamed them G-bodies because the A-body got redesignated. Essentially the same, with the exception of more metric integration starting in '82. It's not correct, but most people equate the Late-A/G body era as one in the same, such as 78-88. Except for those G-bodies that didn't make it after 87.
There's some quirks along the way, but essentially this covers it 99%.
Olds Fever
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 4,526
From: New York (Upstate)
Nutshell:
78-81 Cutlass, Malibu, Monte, GP, Regal, etc., are A-bodies, technically. Then from 82-88 they renamed them G-bodies because the A-body got redesignated. Essentially the same, with the exception of more metric integration starting in '82. It's not correct, but most people equate the Late-A/G body era as one in the same, such as 78-88. Except for those G-bodies that didn't make it after 87.
There's some quirks along the way, but essentially this covers it 99%.
78-81 Cutlass, Malibu, Monte, GP, Regal, etc., are A-bodies, technically. Then from 82-88 they renamed them G-bodies because the A-body got redesignated. Essentially the same, with the exception of more metric integration starting in '82. It's not correct, but most people equate the Late-A/G body era as one in the same, such as 78-88. Except for those G-bodies that didn't make it after 87.
There's some quirks along the way, but essentially this covers it 99%.
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