The history behind these cars is what I like. These cars kind of symbolize the beginning of the end of "old GM" IMO. The 80s were some dark days for GM with the American auto industry falling into decline. From 78-88 when GM was making these cars, GM (and the other American manufacturers) were just building whatever cars they could barely slap together based on decades old design and engineering. They poorly tried to adapt smog equipment and computers to their old engines, which only served to choke their power outputs to death. Instead of building cars people wanted to buy, GM built what was familiar and cheap to build. Quality and innovation went out the window. Then the imports came in with way higher gas mileage and similar power outputs from smaller engines and cars that were much better quality than what Detroit was offering. GM signed their own death certificate by refusing to innovate. These cars were sort of a missed opportunity for GM, I think. Instead of sticking with RWD, body-on-frame cars with wheezy V8s and V6s, GM could've built a higher quality, unibody FWD midsize to really complete with Honda and Toyota, and saved themselves from their bankruptcy before it happened. They eventually did build FWD midsize cars with the A Body Cutlass Cieras and the W Body Regals, but by then it was kinda too late.
But oh well, in the end it all worked out because GM is still alive, and building better cars now than they have in 40 years, and now we all have cool RWD body on frame cars that easily accept any engine you throw at them.
