Chevelle, GTO, 442, GS - The ABC's of GM "A" Bodies - Muscle Car Of The Week Episode
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 26 ส.ค. 2024
- Chevelle, GTO, 442, GS - The ABC's of GM "A" Bodies - Muscle Car Of The Week Episode #357
GIANT "A" BODY PLAYLIST: • GM A Body Muscle Cars
What is an “A” Body?
There are lots of terms thrown around in the Muscle Car world, but people often refer to a particular car by the name of the platform on which it was built. Today, we’re taking a look at the GM “A” body platform and the Muscle Cars they became.
Auto manufacturers use different letter codes to name car platforms, especially when the platform is going to be shared across several brands. In this case, the “A” body we’re referring to is the midsize car platform that debuted in 1964. This was a new chassis design, with a full perimeter frame, independent “A” arm front suspension, and a triangulated 4-link rear coil-spring suspension design for good traction, comfort, and performance.
Much of the platform’s underpinnings were to be shared among the different brands, like the chassis, suspension, brakes, steering, electrical systems, and window glass. However, the exterior styling and interior designs are unique to each GM brand that offered the cars. This strategy allowed for an efficient way to share the manufacturing costs, but still deliver distinctive cars for each brand.
“A” body cars were built by Chevrolet, Pontiac, Oldsmobile, and Buick. The models included:
Chevrolet Malibu / Chevelle, with special versions being the El Camino and eventually the Monte Carlo
Pontiac Lemans, Tempest, GTO
Oldsmobile Cutlass / 442
Buick Skylark / GS
The vast majority of these cars were family sedans and station wagons, in both 2 and 4 door configurations. But the time was right for a performance versions as well, and Pontiac paved the way in 1964.
The 1964 Pontiac GTO is considered by many to be the first muscle car, using a definition that a muscle car is a midsize 2-door family car with the largest, most powerful engine available and a performance driveline and suspension package. The ‘64 GTO was stuffed with an available 348 HP 389 V-8 and a 4-speed transmission, and was marketed to performance-hungry kids looking to have a hot rod without having to build one.
Oldsmobile scrambled to turn their police package into the 4-4-2, with a 4-barrel carb, 4 on the floor shifter, and dual exhausts, and initially even offered it in a 4 door! (ad with cops)
The ‘65 Chevrolet Malibu SS396 was an amazing car, with a performance package known as RPO Z16. This bought you a the 11:1 compression L37, 375hp 396 V8 hooked to a Muncie 4-speed. The rear was a heavy-duty 12-bolt from the full-size cars with oversized brakes, and the front featured stiffer suspension and quicker steering. Interior goodies like bucket seats, dash tachometer, and a multiplex stereo made them more fun to drive.
Also new for ‘65 was the Buick Gran Sport, a hopped-up Skylark featuring the 325 HP 400-cube nailhead V8… they called it a Howitzer with windshield wipers. (BUICK AD 6) They offered great torque and handling, but a luxurious Buick experience to go with it. Each year the performance A-bodies got hotter as the horsepower wars were on.
The “A” body platform was revised for 1968, with a slightly shorter wheelbase and a more rounded overall style, but the underpinnings remained similar. By 1970, the Muscle Car was peaking, and the A-bodies were in top form.
Pontiac’s GTO could be had with the Ram Air IV, a high-revving 400-cube V8 cranking out 370 HP through round-port heads and high-lift camshaft. A new 455 HO V8 was next. GTO and Judge styling were wild, but needed to stay competitive with other Muscle Cars on the market. The ‘70 Olds 442 W30 boasted a 365 HP 455 V8 capable of 500 ft. lbs of torque. The 1970 Buick GS and GSX pushed the torque rating to the max at 510 ft. lbs. from the Stage 1 455 V8, but the king of A bodies was the 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS with the LS-6 V8, carrying a factory rating of 11.25:1 compression and 450 HP!
We’ve only scratched the surface of performance A-bodies, but I’ve always found it interesting that with a little creativity and good old fashioned hot-rodding, a plain-jane 2-door family sedan could be turned into a fire-breathing dragstrip terror if you chose the right parts. We’re certainly glad GM allowed Chevy, Pontiac, Olds, and Buick to do just that. And although they might share some DNA underneath, each of these are unique with extremely loyal followings.
We’ve featured all of these top-dog A-body Muscle Cars from in-depth on Muscle Car Of The Week from The Brothers Collection, and invite you to take a pass through our channel to see ‘em all. Which is your favorite?
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Most of the "A" listers of GM muscle cars were the A bodies. When I hear the words muscle car I think GTO and Chevelle. So many beautiful machines. 👍👍🇺🇸
I do too, two of the best..
one of my favorite cars is the 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS
You got the 1970 Buick GSX Stage 1
Very nice! I had forgotten there was a 4 door 442.
The 1970 Chevelle 454 is my favorite of all these best car GM ever produced.
I second that..number one as that I am a 70' model too and it was like no other before or after.
Mine too! I would love to have one. My Top 3 are chevelle 454, 73 trans am with the 455 super duty and a gto judge in Orbit Orange.
There are moreLS6 Chevelles on the road in 2020, than made in 1969 and '70 of that car... !! There, I said it!
@@Formulabruce Were no LS6 Engines built in 69, 1970 was the first year for a 454 in a Chevelle, 69 and earlier had 396 Big Blocks.
BUICK, the Unsung Hero!
Very true.
Shhhhh, let's keep it that way and we will be able to buy one for less
The Hemi Killer !!!
I'm a Pontiac man. Family always owned them.
L37? I never knew the Z16 Malibu SS had a unique engine, I always thought it was another L78. A great episode for the future would be a breakdown of all those versions of the 396 - L35, L34, L37, L78, and LS3.
I love GM A bodies, especially the revised 1968+ ones.
Absolutely. Nothing sexier.
The Olds 442 is my favorite GM Muscle car.. I like the Buick GS too...
1964-1967 Oldsmobile "A" body line up was the f-85 and Cutlass which could be Ordered with the 442 option package. Wasn't until 1968 that the 442 became its own model.
Great show as always especially great entertainment in these unusual times we all live in. Thank's Guys!!!!!
Ya, its unusual the government is destroying our country
Clearly the Fonz was ahead of his time with his catch phrase of agreement to these tire frying treasures! Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!! Body that is!!!
Wouldn't a four door 442 be called a 4442?
4-Sure!!
You're 2 funny !
Think that stood for 4 barrel 4 speed / posi traction.....yes I get the extra 4
@@ikejennings1154 😉
Which is my favorite? .....All of them!!!!!! Man I miss those days!!
What a great episode. No silly brake-torque launches here!
It’s hard to pick a favorite out of so many awesome cars. Thanks for sharing them! Long live the muscle cars! 💪🏻👍🏻👍🏻🇺🇸
Nothing like a good slo' mo' burnout to end the show!
love all the old cars
Great video! I have the 1970 Chevelle. Now I need one of each of the other brands.
The Buick stage 1 was the king, not the ls6
So true. But I'd still rather have the chevelle
So True, the Hemi Killer !!!
When I think muscle car, I think of the A-body. It really was the quintessential muscle car look no matter which GM division used it.
But you're wrong Kev, the 70 buick GS stage 1 was king. Imho lol.
1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS....my favourite muscle car...
This channel is great keep it coming !!!
Buick GS baby!!
Chevelle is the King of the “A” bodies. But that Buick GSX is my Dream.
Excellent episode! Enjoyed it.
Kevin, nice!
I love the history and timeline of the A body all the while seeing great images of the cars.
Thank you for all the great videos! :)
Was the 1969-1972 Pontiac Grand Prix an A Body? It had lines similar to the Chevy Monte Carlo you mentioned. Just curious.
Good question. It was on the scene 1 year before MC with all the muscle car engines and transmissions.
Yes it was a A body.
It did have a stretched wheelbase, as the Monte did, but was built on the A body chassis.
Richard Berry look up Grand Prix SJ. 428ci 4 speed.
I have a 70 Monte factory BB-4spd. I know it's not considered to be a muscle car, but it's rare & cool in my book.
i have a Muscle Car calendar for this year and for the month of May, i got an orange Pontiac GTO, it's really cool and it's cool knowing that the car on my calendar is A-body platform, didn't know that before now :-)
That Malibu wagon looks great. Will there ever be a 'Muscle Wagon' featured on this channel?
Pontiac made some from the Lemans wagon, with a GTO nose and big engine options.
@@Formulabruce I know there was also a Chevelle sport wagon in the mid-60s with an available 327 4barrel and 4 speed. Someone posted an old TV commercial for it somewhere on TH-cam.
Great video, very informative..especially to us Ford guys lol.
Thumbs up!
I'm FORD through and through but i Love the Buick GS 455 Stage 1 The Power and especially the Torque was incredible. Comparing the looks of the Chevelle, GTO, 442, and the GS Stage 1, i really like the looks of the Buick, especially the Front Nose, it's just so mean looking. With the Buick you get the 510 Ft Lbs of Tire Frying Torque, plus all the creature comforts of a Luxury Model. Like i said I'm FORD for life but i do like some GM Cars, 69-72 Nova, 70-73 Camaro, and the 70-72 Buick GS,GSX, and even the Skylark. If i were to own the Nova or Camaro first thing would be to Swap in a built 351 Cleveland, or a Built 429-460 based Stroker. If i were to own the Buick, the 455 would stay put. Incredible engines, just wish the Block was a little stronger. Buick engineers did there homework when they designed that Potent Beast. AKA The Hemi Killer !!!
I've always been fond of the A body. It's also nice to see or compare each Division's iteration of them, too. I think Olds did the best on the interiors though.
Easily the best looking cars of all time. They are the best example of what a muscle car should be.
had a 66 GTO put on Holley 750
double pump, isky high lift cam, hooker headers, would cherp the tires when idling in a parking lot, had it just over 2 years got beat one time by 427 66 Chevelle( not stock either) and i raced Vettes, a 440 six pack Charger and many others in the bay area back in the early 70,s 11.5/ 11.8 1/4 mile on pump premium and 60 sires tires
Chevelle and GSX is the must beautfull and the best of this class of chevys
GSX hp. as advertised, seems on the low side.
It must be totally different configuration than the 454.
@@Johnnycdrums Factory rated at 360 hp 510 Ft Lbs Torque. I agree the hp is probably on the Low side, probably for insurance reasons, like most of the Muscle Cars did. Buick 455 Stage 1 was a Torque Monster. I'd rather have the Torque of the Buick instead of the hp of the 454 LS6 especially in these heavy weight cars. Buick Stage 1 aka The Hemi Killer !!!
Another great video.
Nice cars love it
nice,although of the lettered bodies,i prefer the E-body.
I'm just here waiting for the Ford and Mopar guys to show up.
We're here!!😀
Here.
FORD guy here. But i Love the Buick 455 Stage 1 Torque Monster.
I'm a MOPAR guy but GMs A-bodies rocked
Once again you make me miss my first car, a 1970 Olds Cutlass SX!
Shit, mine was a 77 Olds Omega SX, Originally had a 305 Chevy, but was swapped out for a mildly built 350 Chevy. Metallic Blue with a Silver Stripe along the bottom with the letters SX behind the Front wheels. Car ran decent, especially on Highway with it's 2.56 Gears in the 10-bolt, Non Posi, would burn 1 Tire for almost eighth of a mile.
Those SS 396 65' Malibu's were a beast!
Chrysler B Body next? 👀
If you are doing Performance A Boidies you will have to do another video on duster, dart, barracuda, scamp, demon and regular valients, volarie road runner( yeah right) aspens. I think this was the longest running abody line and had muscle icons to underpowered granny cars, but we were still creating the lesser cars into sleepers with tried and true muscle formula from the 1960s in high school in the late 80s and into the 1990s
Mopar Don't go far.
Great Kevin, as always. Love the A- Bodies
0 to 60 times would be in the high 4's or low 5's for these beasts back then with slicks and low gearing!Great video!
You are dreaming most of these cars would be ate by a 1987 mustang gt with the 302 h/o with 225 hp or an 88 I-rock with 235hp 350 and neither of those cars were under 6 seconds to 0-60 no way those older cars would touch those cars, fuck i own a 2011 Chrysler 300c AWD with the 5.7 and it weighs over 4300lbs and the best I can get is 5.9 seconds to 0 to 60 and 101 mph in the quarter and I guarantee you I would walk over those cars, I love the late 60s and early 70's muscle but they would be destroyed stock for stock, none of them got under 6 seconds to 60 mph, regardless of what the old muscle car magazines stated at the time, I owned a new 87 mustang lx 5 sp and I blew the doors off 70 trans ams , Camaros and the like, bigblocks or other wise.
@@ThePauliebuck The 5.0 HO in your Mustang would eat up an 88 IROC with the 48 cubic inch advantage. FORD POWER !!!
Had my 86 Mustang since 1994, the 86,s were the slowest of the 5.0 HO Engines. Mine has seen a 69 351 Windsor, 72 351 Cleveland, about 10 Years Ago swapped in a 521 Stroked 460 BBF. Had this Car for years, will always have it and will always be FORD Powered. No LS under my Hood.
Love this channel! When I see a thumbs down to an episode I just don’t understand!
How the heck did you decide back then what musclecar to buy? I like them all Ford, Mopar, GM, AMC. Were the Monte Carlo and Grand Prix also A bodies?
Give me the GSX stage 1 which never happen but maybe, just maybe a 66 2 door Malibu could be my SS tribute toy.
The narrator forgot to mention the Acadian Beaumont
Maybe i'm slow or maybe I missed it, but what exactly makes a A body a A body? Thanks
What happened to the monte Carlos ?
YES, YES, YES and YES!!!!!!!!!!!
You missed the Pontiac gran prix as an A body variant similar to the Monte Carlo.
4:34 “By 1970, the muscle car was peaking”... change to read “By 1970, the muscle car had peaked”.
In Power, but Not in design.
I believe in both power and design 1970 was the last year...insurance, unleadeded gas, emissions standards...Car makers had there hands tied after 1970
Malibu baby.!!!
You left out the F85
wish I had a time-machine.
Y e o w wow man 😜😍😘😘😘 🚗💨💥 G M 400 - 4 n 400 turbo hydramatic trans n 3:23 or 42 rear end what do have anyone ?!?! An ass whipping machine. Shazam go out n get one 🤑. Pricy
They say Mopar or no car..we say GM screw the rest of them!
Now modern dayers see those cars there they are muscle raw power cars not this computer generated noise u guys think u hot today and look at those cars u dont see beer can metal and plastic on those cars and they all had there own style had a 67 442 in high school and when I stomped in that thing u knew I was coming when those secondaires on that rochester opened up I'm sorry but the junk they make today are nothing noise and no power and performance especially that new vette they totally ruined that car it's such a shame