What is everyone's favorite G body model and why ?
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I always had a thing for the GN's and the first gbody I added power to was my 81' Regal since the GN's were way out of my price range.
On the other hand I always thought the Monte SS looked more Badass but was basically a sheep in wolf's clothing but I figured I could remedy that on my own.
On the other hand I always thought the Monte SS looked more Badass but was basically a sheep in wolf's clothing but I figured I could remedy that on my own.
Favorite G-Body, eh?
As for exterior looks, well, that won't be too difficult for me: the '84+ Regal easily wins. (This is all the fault of the GN, of course. I remember in high school when I'd be out cruising around on weekend nights and I'd pull into the local Buick dealership just so I could walk their lot and lust over the then-new '86 and '87 GNs. I've wanted one ever since then, and I've still never owned one... and I probably never will.) I like the '84+ Regal's "rounded off" nose much more than the more pointy '81-'83 design, and I also prefer the "segmented" tail lights that debuted in '84 as well. The biggest downside to the Regal, as we all know, is the horrid instrument panel design. Yes, I know they were generally marketing the Regal to doctors and such... but why couldn't GM be bothered to offer a full set of gauges in this car like they did with the other three??? (Yes, I know about the GNX... but we are talking about the 'normal' models here.)
As far as the Monte Carlo goes, the NASCAR nose on the SS looks fantastic. If the '84+ Regal didn't exist, that would be my favorite exterior design. In non-SS form, though, I don't really care for the Monte--the nose is just too flat for my tastes. However, I'd still rank it higher than the pre-'84 Regal since the Monte at least offered a full gauge package. For similar reasons, I've never really cared much for the El Camino, though I certainly respect those as far as their utility is concerned.
The '81+ Cutlass looks absolutely fine. I think the Euro headlights add the final touch that really 'cleans up' the nose, but even with the usual quad headlights they look fine to me.
I always felt the Grand Prix was the ugly duckling of the family. (Ironic, I know, considering what I now own.) The flat nose with the overly-prominent chrome grille was just too... garish for me. Strangely enough, the Pontiac is the only one where I prefer the pre-facelift look; I love the parking lights between the headlights that you didn't get on any other G-body. On the plus side, the GP has far and away the best dashboard design to me! All those nifty little circular holes for each gauge just look fantastic. For this reason, I'd have to put the GP above the regular Monte Carlo overall.
In summary, here is my list of favorite G-Bodies in order:
1. '84+ Regal (especially the GN)
2. '83+ Monte Carlo SS
3. '81+ Cutlass
4. '78-'80 Grand Prix
5. '81+ Grand Prix
6. (tie) non-SS '81+ Monte Carlo & '78-'80 Cutlass
7. '81-'83 Regal (as mentioned, I don't care for the protruding grille)
8. '78-'80 Regal (this grille protrudes even more)
9. '78-'80 Monte Carlo (definitely not a fan of the forward-slanted front fenders)
(Yes, I realize I left the LeMans, Grand Am, Malibu, and Century off the list. Sorry.)
As for exterior looks, well, that won't be too difficult for me: the '84+ Regal easily wins. (This is all the fault of the GN, of course. I remember in high school when I'd be out cruising around on weekend nights and I'd pull into the local Buick dealership just so I could walk their lot and lust over the then-new '86 and '87 GNs. I've wanted one ever since then, and I've still never owned one... and I probably never will.) I like the '84+ Regal's "rounded off" nose much more than the more pointy '81-'83 design, and I also prefer the "segmented" tail lights that debuted in '84 as well. The biggest downside to the Regal, as we all know, is the horrid instrument panel design. Yes, I know they were generally marketing the Regal to doctors and such... but why couldn't GM be bothered to offer a full set of gauges in this car like they did with the other three??? (Yes, I know about the GNX... but we are talking about the 'normal' models here.)
As far as the Monte Carlo goes, the NASCAR nose on the SS looks fantastic. If the '84+ Regal didn't exist, that would be my favorite exterior design. In non-SS form, though, I don't really care for the Monte--the nose is just too flat for my tastes. However, I'd still rank it higher than the pre-'84 Regal since the Monte at least offered a full gauge package. For similar reasons, I've never really cared much for the El Camino, though I certainly respect those as far as their utility is concerned.
The '81+ Cutlass looks absolutely fine. I think the Euro headlights add the final touch that really 'cleans up' the nose, but even with the usual quad headlights they look fine to me.
I always felt the Grand Prix was the ugly duckling of the family. (Ironic, I know, considering what I now own.) The flat nose with the overly-prominent chrome grille was just too... garish for me. Strangely enough, the Pontiac is the only one where I prefer the pre-facelift look; I love the parking lights between the headlights that you didn't get on any other G-body. On the plus side, the GP has far and away the best dashboard design to me! All those nifty little circular holes for each gauge just look fantastic. For this reason, I'd have to put the GP above the regular Monte Carlo overall.
In summary, here is my list of favorite G-Bodies in order:
1. '84+ Regal (especially the GN)
2. '83+ Monte Carlo SS
3. '81+ Cutlass
4. '78-'80 Grand Prix
5. '81+ Grand Prix
6. (tie) non-SS '81+ Monte Carlo & '78-'80 Cutlass
7. '81-'83 Regal (as mentioned, I don't care for the protruding grille)
8. '78-'80 Regal (this grille protrudes even more)
9. '78-'80 Monte Carlo (definitely not a fan of the forward-slanted front fenders)
(Yes, I realize I left the LeMans, Grand Am, Malibu, and Century off the list. Sorry.)
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I've owned four 87 Grand Nationals and a BUNCH of SS Monte Carlos. So I guess I'd say those two are my favorite BUT I'm pretty fond of my 78 aero Salon with a 4 speed manual. I have been hunting for a rough 83/84 HO 442 to build too. If I were rich and had a favorite A/G body collection, I'd own an 82 Grand National pace car, 87 GNX, 87/88 Monte SS, 78 442 aero, and 78 or 9 turbo Century aero.
Don't get me wrong, I love my El Camino......But I have always lusted after a GNX. I could die a happy man with one of those in my garage.
I've always tripped people out cause I tend to have a "could care less" attitude about gns lol. Prolly because where I lived growing up they were everywhere. Heck at my high school there were 4 gns(3 were t top) and a turbo t type. And then at my vo tech there was a guy with yet another turbo t type. I myself had an 89 turbo ta
For me, it was always the Malibu. I drove Chevelle SSs my whole young life, and the redesigned for 78 Malibu was so close in size, profile, and feel to the 64/65 it just seemed to be a natural after the Colonnade cars. Growing up in farm country in the rust belt, it wasn't easy to buy nice examples of the musclecars I loved, so newer was easier to find..
Monte SS caught my eye, couldn't swing a new one, and they have gotten pretty expensive for nice ones today.
My uncle who had a Honduras maroon 62 Impala SS in high school (i was about 10 years younger than him) traded up to a green 68 GTO, then a 75 Grand Am, then a 79 or so Grand Am, so i liked the G/A as well.
The Olds and Buicks were always driven by older people where I grew up, usually with vinyl tops and wire wheels, so i never really thought much of them until my buddy who worked at the Buick dealer showed up with a GN in 84. By then I was off into other brands, I later (late 90s) worked for a guy that had an 86 GN, I didn't really get what all the hoopla was about...maybe his was just a slug, i don't know.
What I can say is that I can respect the effort that goes into anybody's ride, it sure isn't easy to buy a nice clean example of whatever version you love these days.
Monte SS caught my eye, couldn't swing a new one, and they have gotten pretty expensive for nice ones today.
My uncle who had a Honduras maroon 62 Impala SS in high school (i was about 10 years younger than him) traded up to a green 68 GTO, then a 75 Grand Am, then a 79 or so Grand Am, so i liked the G/A as well.
The Olds and Buicks were always driven by older people where I grew up, usually with vinyl tops and wire wheels, so i never really thought much of them until my buddy who worked at the Buick dealer showed up with a GN in 84. By then I was off into other brands, I later (late 90s) worked for a guy that had an 86 GN, I didn't really get what all the hoopla was about...maybe his was just a slug, i don't know.
What I can say is that I can respect the effort that goes into anybody's ride, it sure isn't easy to buy a nice clean example of whatever version you love these days.
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