GM B platform - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

GM B platform

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search

The B platform, or B-body, was General Motors' full-size rear-wheel drive automobile platform. It was closely related to the Cadillac D-body and was used for coupés, sedans, and station wagons.

As a body designation, B-body production began in 1961, when General Motors restyled and redesigned all of its standard-sized and luxury cars - the first time in GM's history that such had been accomplished in the same year. From the late 1940s until 1960, GM used three different designations for various bodyshells/platforms including the A-body for Chevrolets and Pontiacs, B-body for Oldsmobile 88s and the smaller Buicks, and C-body for the Oldsmobile 98, larger Buicks and all Cadillacs (except the Fleetwood 75, which was a D body). For the 1961 model year, the previous A and B bodies became the new B Body that lasted until 1976. The A-body designation would be resurrected by GM in 1964 for a new series of intermediate-sized cars including the Chevrolet Chevelle, Pontiac Tempest, Oldsmobile Cutlass and Buick Skylark.

The GM B-body had at least 5 major re-engineering and restyling efforts, in 1961, 1965, 1971, 1977, and 1991; along with interim styling changes in 1961, 1969 and 1980 that included new sheetmetal and revised rooflines. The platform was downsized in length by approximately 10 inches in 1977 and reduced in weight by an average of 800 pounds. The last B-cars rolled off the line in 1996, leaving only arch-rival Ford producing large rear wheel drive sedans. Today, however, the situation looks to reverse, with Ford switching to front wheel drive for most cars and GM reintroducing rear wheel drive with their new Sigma platform. Chrysler has also reintroduced rear wheel drive with their new LX platform.

Most B-body cars used suspensions utilizing coil springs both front and rear, including all B-body cars from 1961 to 1970 and again from 1977 to 1996. Exceptions include the 1959-60 Oldsmobile 88 and 98, and the 1971-76 station wagons from all four GM divisions, both of which used coil springs in front and multi-leaf springs in the rear. All B-body cars since 1965 have used perimeter frames with side rails, along with the 1961-64 B-body Pontiacs and Oldsmobiles. The 1958-60 Buicks used a ladder-type frame while an X-frame without side rails was used on 1958-60 Pontiacs and 1959-60 Oldsmobiles, 1958-64 Chevrolets and 1961-64 Buicks.

The B-body was the last platform design to have the gasoline tank filler port behind the license plate. Exceptions included all station wagons, as well as all 1961-64 cars - which had the tank filler in the rear fender on the driver's side.

Most B-body cars were replaced by H-bodies.

Sedans built on the B platform include:

Coupe-only offerings include:

Station wagons include:


ONZ: Izrael najpierw ewakuował Palestyńczyków, a potem ich ostrzelał
Przynajmniej 30 Palestyńczyków zginęło w Strefie Gazy w ostrzale domu, do którego zostali wcześniej ewakuowani przez izraelskich żołnierzy - wynika z raportu ONZ.
"Nie myślałem, że minister się tak prostytuuje"
Posłanka PiS Grażyna Gęsicka, wzywając rząd do odpowiedzialności za niewykorzystanie funduszy unijnych manipuluje opinią publiczną - ocenił w TVN24 poseł PO Janusz Palikot.
Wypadek na drodze Wrocław-Legnica
Jedna osoba została ranna w wyniku wypadku, do którego doszło w piątek wieczorem niedaleko miejscowości Mazurowice (Dolnośląskie). Droga krajowa nr 94 Wrocław - Legnica została całkowicie zablokowana.
Omar Faris: Niech Izrael opuści nasze ziemie
- Niech Izrael opuści nasze ziemie, a gwarantujemy, że ani jedna rakieta nie spadnie na ich ziemie - mówił przewodniczący Palestyńskiej Koalicji na rzecz Prawa do Powrotu Omar Faris, gość CZATerii w INTERIA.PL.
Juszczenko: Konflikt gazowy był zaplanowany
Ukraina pozwoli rosyjskim obserwatorom na wjazd na jej terytorium w celu nadzorowania tranzytu rosyjskiego gazu do Europy - poinformował prezydent Ukrainy Wiktor Juszczenko po spotkaniu z czeskim premierem Mirkiem Topolankiem w Kijowie.
906 niezarejestrowana strona wymiana linkow brak hosta 906