[jadigen]

i'd love to have another 78 lemans but looking around this thing caught my eye.


sounds like a kid owns it.. going to need an engine.. i haven't seen it in person yet. he is down to $1300 which i think is still too much. i'm thinking like $500-$800 but what do you guys think?

what body is it considered? do they make anything to make this style handle in the corners?

thanks for the help..

Perfect for a v8 swap. The body is clean not all rotted out. Will need paint and motor needs work. The car runs drives stops

[Chief of the 60's]

Hmmmm........

Looks to me like it is a perfect turbo LS swap with a Grand Prix front end swap body.

[Lee]

Yep, that is a G-body.

I just missed out on one a few years ago. It had a nice paint job, already had a 455 in it, and I could have had it for about $5,000.

[jadigen]

thyanks guys.. i may just have to go look at it..

[694.1]

What is the diff between that & an A body?

[jadigen]

good question.. i'd like to know also

[newmexguy]

Given its' location, yes the body does seem very good at first glance. I would investigate the rear frame rails for sure!! Remember rear bumpers falling off those cars in the late 80's! while still living in New England.
Technically, G bodies mean 82 to 88 RWD mid size cars. The A designation was "stolen" by GM as they wanted the "A" designation for the new at the time (Fall '81) FWD mid size cars - Chevrolet Celebrity, Pontiac 6000, Buick Century, etc. These new A cars were sold as '82 models. For simplicity, though, all 78 - 88 RWD mid size cars are known as G bodies. Today, though, all restoration interest is geared towards the G bodies, while the later (82 - 89) A bodies have near zero interest.

[chicagoland]

"What is the diff between that [G] & an A body?

GM simply changed the code name for the RWD A body to G for 1982-88 model years. 'A' was then used for FWD mid size cars, 6000, Celebrity, etc.
For the aftermarket, 1978-81 RWD A bodies are under the G body family.

Many online owners clubs, such as "Classic G body garage" on Facebook and You Tube.

[gtospieg]

As far as making that wagon handle...all the suspension upgrades that fit other G bodies(Malibu, Monte, Regal, Cutlass) will work.

[jadigen]

Originally Posted by gtospieg

As far as making that wagon handle...all the suspension upgrades that fit other G bodies(Malibu, Monte, Regal, Cutlass) will work.

nice.. so say something like the hotchkis (or something similar) system will work on it then?

[jadigen]

so something like this fits?

http://www.hotchkis.net/product/tvs-...k=&yr=&md=&sm=

[gtospieg]

If it says it will fit "G body" 78-88 it should fit...cool wagon

[jadigen]

interesting.. i'll have to email the kid and see if i can go see it.

[chicagoland]

GM didn't "steal" the A body name, when they already own it.

Originally, the FWD A body was supposed to completely replace the RWD A, due to the gas crisis era. But, once gas prices didn't go to $5 a gallon in 80's cash, cooler heads prevailed and kept RWD longer.

[iowapub]

I'm guessing this is a Canadian Bonneville. It has the Grand Lemans belt moulding.

Front ends that fit are Lemans, Grand Lemans, Grand Am and Malibu.
Also, any drive train will easily fit

[chicagoland]

Mid size Bonneville was sold from 1982-87, in the USA, and not just Canada. Built on G body, successor to RWD A body.

This car looks like it used to have woodgrain plastic paneling.

[iowapub]

This is what I was refering to.
From Wiki:
The Bonneville normally didn't have the Grand Lemans/Grand Am side moulding.


This "new" Bonneville amounted to little more than the existing LeMans with revised front and rear fascia designed to mimic the departed Pontiac B-body. In Canada, this model continued to use the Grand LeMans name through 1983, after which it was badged as a Bonneville.