Chevrolet Chevelle Laguna

Chevrolet Chevelle Laguna
1974 Chevrolet Chevelle Laguna Type S-3 Colonnade Hardtop Coupe
Overview
Manufacturer	Chevrolet (General Motors)
Production	1972–1976
Model years	1973–1976
Assembly	Arlington, Texas, United States Atlanta, Georgia, United States Baltimore, Maryland, United States Flint, Michigan, United States Framingham, Massachusetts, United States Fremont, California, United States Kansas City, Kansas, United States Van Nuys, California, United States Oshawa, Ontario, Canada Sainte-Thérèse, Quebec, Canada
Body and chassis
Body style	2-door coupe 4-door sedan (1973) 4-door station wagon (1973)
Related	Chevrolet Monte Carlo Pontiac Le Mans, Pontiac Grand Am, Pontiac Grand Prix, Buick Century, Buick Regal, Oldsmobile Cutlass
Powertrain
Engine	305 CID small-block V8 (1976) 350 CID small-block V8 400 CID small-block V8 (1974–76) 454 CID big-block V8 (1973–75)
Transmission	3-speed manual 4-speed manual 3-speed auto
Dimensions
Wheelbase	112 in (2845 mm) coupe 116 in (2997 mm) sedan/wagon

The Chevrolet Chevelle Laguna is a mid-sized automobile produced by Chevrolet for the 1973 through 1976 model years. Part of the GM A-Body platform, the 1973 Laguna series included coupes, sedans and station wagons. It was the top-line Chevelle series that year positioned above the Malibu. For 1974 through 1976 the car was produced as a one-model Laguna S-3 coupe, the new-for-1974 Malibu Classic series taking the top-luxury series position. All Lagunas sported urethane front-ends which easily distinguished them from other Chevelles. NASCAR driver Cale Yarborough earned the first two of three consecutive Winston Cup championships piloting a Chevelle Laguna.

Conceived in optimism but born late, the 1973–1976 Chevelle Lagunas accounted for 108,815 of nearly 1.7 million third generation Chevelle sales. Production included 42,941 1973 Laguna Coupes, and 38,790 1974–1976 Laguna Type S-3 Coupes, making them relatively rare cars in today's collector market.

Chevrolet honored California beach resorts once again by naming the top 1973 Chevelle series Laguna with the Malibu taking the middle spot while the base series was called simply Deluxe. Laguna models featured specific front and rear styling including a body-colored urethane front end concealing the new 5 mph bumper system. On minor impact the urethane nose cone, backed up by shock- absorbing cylinders, deflects and rebounds; Laguna models also featured a specific diecast chrome grille with bowtie emblem, a body-colored (steel) rear bumper, front and rear bumper rub strips, bright roof drip moldings, bright wheel opening moldings, chrome taillight bezels, full wheel covers, and Laguna fender nameplates. Laguna interiors were more lavish than the Malibu in pattern cloth and vinyl or optional breathable all-vinyl upholstery, distinctive door trim with map pockets, deep-twist carpeting, woodgrain vinyl accents, and Laguna nameplates.

The 1973 Chevelle Laguna "Colonnade Hardtop" featured a semi-fastback roofline with styled "B" pillars, frameless door glass and distinctive rear quarter glass on 2-door coupes. New side windows with styled center pillars were featured on 4-door sedan models. The new design "B" pillars were structurally strong enough to contribute to occupant safety of a roll-over type accident. GM had anticipated Federal roll-over safety standards for January 1974 that ironically didn't materialize. The unusually thin windshield pillars contributed to the much improved visibility over the previous generation Chevelles. Two Laguna station wagons were introduced, including a Laguna Estate. The wagons, available in 6 or 9 passenger seating, featured a counterbalanced liftgate which allowed for easy entry and loading up to 85 cubic feet (2.4 m³).