Body Types?

Father Time · 09-11-2007, 10:47 AM

I hope this makes sense but here goes. W hat designates a body style such as an A.-body, G-body,
F=body, and so on in a GM car

Father Time · 09-11-2007, 04:19 PM

Either it did not make any sense or nobody knows the answer?

SSDiv6 · 09-11-2007, 05:39 PM

If you are talking about the body designations, the W stands for:

1988 to 2007 - FWD

Buick Century
Buick LaCrosse
Buick Regal
Chevrolet Impala
Chevrolet Lumina
Chevrolet Monte Carlo
Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme
Oldsmobile Intrigue
Pontiac Grand Prix

Father Time · 09-11-2007, 09:21 PM

Thanks D6. What about a 1966 Bel=Air is that considered an A=Body.
Anybody?

Mackie Family Racing · 09-11-2007, 10:29 PM

Our engineering project management groups have always given names to the various body/chassis architectures we develop globally... used to be all letter designations... now they are all numbers... e.g., the new full-size pickups and utilities are all part of the 900 program... to my knowledge, and I've been around the company for 28 years, there's nothing more scientific to it than that... Novosel -- do you know anything better than that??

Scott Mackie
Regional General Manager, Northeast
General Motors
S/C, S/G 1808

Ken Haase · 09-12-2007, 12:59 PM

Eddie, it's been over 20 years since I worked in a GM parts dept., but if memory serves, this is the way I remember it:

B body= Full size, ie. Impalas, Olds 98's, LeSabre's, Bonnevilles, etc.

F body= Camaro's and Firebird's

X body= Nova, Apollo, Omega, Ventura

H body= Vega, Astre, Starfire, Skyhawk

A body= Starting in '64 Chevelle, Tempest, Cutlass, Skylark. In other words all GM intermediate size.

I think the first year for Celebrities etc. was 1981 and they assumed the "A" designation I believe. That was when the intermediates were changed to "G" designation. Pissed off most parts guys as I recall. So, if you have an '80 Malibu, it's an A body. But, if you have an '81, it's a G body.

Just to keep it interesting, they added the "T" bodies, Chevettes and other pieces of crap, about the same time. This is probably all outdated information now,LOL. Hope this is what you were looking for.

Father Time · 09-12-2007, 01:59 PM

Thanks Ken that pretty much answers my question. When looking in the parts book it just gives letter designations for the model the parts fit and I didn't know what I was looking for.

Tim Kish · 09-13-2007, 12:08 PM

Working with Powertrain - the engine codes I think come from a random letter/number generator!!

Jack McCarthy · 09-13-2007, 02:29 PM

the 66 impala wagon is a B body... B stands for BARGE

jack

09-11-2007, 10:47 AM	#1
Father Time Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Laurens,s.c Posts: 73 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Body Types? I hope this makes sense but here goes. W hat designates a body style such as an A.-body, G-body, F=body, and so on in a GM car __________________ Eddie Wilson Father Time GOOD OL' MR. WILSON

09-11-2007, 04:19 PM	#2
Father Time Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Laurens,s.c Posts: 73 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Body Types? Either it did not make any sense or nobody knows the answer? __________________ Eddie Wilson Father Time GOOD OL' MR. WILSON

09-11-2007, 05:39 PM	#3
SSDiv6 VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Glendale, Arizona Posts: 3,041 Likes: 712 Liked 1,572 Times in 580 Posts	Re: Body Types? If you are talking about the body designations, the W stands for: 1988 to 2007 - FWD Buick Century Buick LaCrosse Buick Regal Chevrolet Impala Chevrolet Lumina Chevrolet Monte Carlo Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Oldsmobile Intrigue Pontiac Grand Prix

09-11-2007, 09:21 PM	#4
Father Time Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Laurens,s.c Posts: 73 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Body Types? Thanks D6. What about a 1966 Bel=Air is that considered an A=Body. Anybody? __________________ Eddie Wilson Father Time GOOD OL' MR. WILSON

09-11-2007, 10:29 PM	#5
Mackie Family Racing Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Milford, MI Posts: 179 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Body Types? Our engineering project management groups have always given names to the various body/chassis architectures we develop globally... used to be all letter designations... now they are all numbers... e.g., the new full-size pickups and utilities are all part of the 900 program... to my knowledge, and I've been around the company for 28 years, there's nothing more scientific to it than that... Novosel -- do you know anything better than that?? Scott Mackie Regional General Manager, Northeast General Motors S/C, S/G 1808

09-12-2007, 12:59 PM	#6
Ken Haase Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 233 Likes: 0 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Body Types? Eddie, it's been over 20 years since I worked in a GM parts dept., but if memory serves, this is the way I remember it: B body= Full size, ie. Impalas, Olds 98's, LeSabre's, Bonnevilles, etc. F body= Camaro's and Firebird's X body= Nova, Apollo, Omega, Ventura H body= Vega, Astre, Starfire, Skyhawk A body= Starting in '64 Chevelle, Tempest, Cutlass, Skylark. In other words all GM intermediate size. I think the first year for Celebrities etc. was 1981 and they assumed the "A" designation I believe. That was when the intermediates were changed to "G" designation. Pissed off most parts guys as I recall. So, if you have an '80 Malibu, it's an A body. But, if you have an '81, it's a G body. Just to keep it interesting, they added the "T" bodies, Chevettes and other pieces of crap, about the same time. This is probably all outdated information now,LOL. Hope this is what you were looking for.

09-12-2007, 01:59 PM	#7
Father Time Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Laurens,s.c Posts: 73 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Body Types? Thanks Ken that pretty much answers my question. When looking in the parts book it just gives letter designations for the model the parts fit and I didn't know what I was looking for. __________________ Eddie Wilson Father Time GOOD OL' MR. WILSON

09-13-2007, 12:08 PM	#8
Tim Kish Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Kalamazoo, MI Posts: 281 Likes: 2 Liked 11 Times in 4 Posts	Re: Body Types? Working with Powertrain - the engine codes I think come from a random letter/number generator!! __________________ Tim Kish 3032 SS/GS

09-13-2007, 02:29 PM	#9
Jack McCarthy VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: lyndon ky. ... louisville area Posts: 1,318 Likes: 28 Liked 457 Times in 113 Posts	Re: Body Types? the 66 impala wagon is a B body... B stands for BARGE jack __________________ Jack McCarthy 3609 STK "the Captain"