Tomorrow marks the 100-year anniversary of General Motors. It also marks a 6am reveal of the Chevy Volt at the RenCen (we have got to talk to the postman). Anyhow, one whole century is a whole lot of cars. Like, a whole Hell of a lot of cars. In fact, I’m starting to realize the ludicrous scope of this QOTD as I type it. With so much history (and much of it so good), even just picking my favorite decade is difficult. A few cars jump to mind. Cadillacs from the 1950s. Corvettes from the 1960s. Oh jeeze, a 1965 Pontiac GTO, right? But wait– what about a 1970 Judge? And we can’t forget the Corvair, now can we? And now my mind is filled with thoughts of the 1986 Buick GNX. Definitely the best GM car ever. Except for the new CTS-V and ZR1. And I might even like the C4 ZR1 best of all. This is a tough one. My first car was a 1985 Pontiac Parisienne Safari Sation Wagon. It was set up for towing, so instead of the standard 140 hp 305, it had a 400 from a Chevy truck with an unspecified amount of power. It also (supposedly) had truck brakes and a truck transmission. Well, the “Lieberwagon” did make it to 283k some miles before turning itself into a seven-cylinder. And before it did, I once took eleven humans and a drum set from Sonoma County to Sacramento then back. So, that’s my favorite GM car. Yours?
Find Reviews by Make:
Read all comments
In terms of emotional value a ’96 Chevy Lumina wins for me, it belonged to my late grandfather and it was definitely something he really liked and took care of; in the unique way only the retired do.
GNX was 1987. I vote for that. Or maybe 1967 L88 Vette. There were really a lot of nice GM cars. Hopefully they will stick around to make some more.
I have had many GM cars but my favorite by far was my Candy Apple Red 1971 Cadillac Sedan de Ville. It had a 472 cubic inch V8 1.6 inch whitewalls and a white leather interior. It was my first car and I drove it to high school (Class of 1997, so it was a 26 year old classic at the time) It was really attention getting, very reliable, and quick. In my opinion the 71 was the cleanest version of that generation. The later models got fussier and fussier as the seventies wore on, the bumpers on the 73’s are just awful for instance. I would love to buy another nice example for my small car collection soon.
edit: small collection of LARGE cars ;-) which features a 1979 Lincoln right now.
Growing up around cars, I had many favorites, but when I look back I’d have to say that my personal favorites were the 1984-1988 Cutlass Supremes. I remember when I was nine my family was looking for a new car and we stopped at an Olds dealer and the salesman showed us a new ’85 that had just come off the truck. I was hooked, but we ended up with a new ’85 Skylark (which went on to become my first car). There was just something about those Cutlasses that made people sit up and take notice. My dad did end up buying a slightly used ’86 Supreme Brougham in 1987. I think that car single handedly earned me a few cool points at my middle school when I was dropped off in it. It was also my inspiration for buying my 1987 Supreme Brougham many years later.
Man I love Oldsmobiles!!!
Very, very tough. My dads 73 Pontiac Bonneville has a lot of fond memories for me. My mom bought a Fiat 124 sedan about the same time. The Pontiac would barely fit in out garage, my father said one day “if Fiat made a car this size, it’d have room for ten people”. That thing was a cruiser though.
C2 Corvettes, always loved that shape. C4 ZR-1 is a good choice. I had a 87 v-6 Fiero that I subsequently turbocharged, loved that car – got t-boned by a jerk drinking coffee. 70 Camaro, good looking car unfortunately became an icon of mulletville.
I am a diehard Mopar man, but the 1948 Cadillac Sedanette is my vote. Those Caddies from postwar to the mid 60s are just incredible.
This:
http://www.conceptcarz.com/view/photo/213802,9163,0,0/1953-Buick-Series-70-Skylark_Photo.aspx
Heah come ‘de Juuudge.
No question about it. One should never accelerate a Judge from rest without spinning the tires. Orange, please.
I’m torn between the Buick Grand National and the GMC Syclone/Typhoon. What I like best about these cars is that the owners almost never change the outside appearance when they start working on them. That’s what made them so dangerous on the street. You think you’re going up against something that’s bone sock, next thing you know it’s blowing your doors off with it’s unholy screaming turbo.
“Go fast with class.” Words to live by.
I have a soft spot for A-cars – notably, the Pontiac 6000STE or a 1986 Buick Century T-Type.
A 1988 Pontiac Fiero would be fun to have, or a rare and wacky Euro Spec 1992-1995 Pontiac TransPort with a Quad 4 and 5speed manual. Seriously – it exists.
Buick Roadmaster station wagon
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f9/1950_Buick_Roadmaster_Estate_Wagon.jpg
GMC Syclone Or corvair monza
I have a soft-spot for the pre-Epsilon Saab 900/9-3, mostly because I own one and, no matter how much it pisses me off at repair time, it’s a wonderful balance of sporty, economical and practical. Open the trunk on one of these: it’s unreal how much space there is.
Second would be the Fiero. If–big if–you got one that didn’t have issues, it performed brilliantly without being as costly to buy as the MR2. In fact, because it was expected to be a flakey bastard it was always very, very cheap to buy.
I vote for the GMT 400 series trucks produced from 1988 up into the 2000 year model for certain applications before giving way to the GMT 800.
Growing up in my family, we had one of almost every incarnation of this series from hordes of pickups, a Suburban, Tahoe, and full-sized Blazer and I’ve always been partial to the trucks’ quality and comfort.
It’s between a 1960 Buick Lesabre and a 1962 Pontiac Catalina 421.
I loved the two GM cars I owned….1991 Olds 88 Royal Brougham with the ‘FE3’ suspension package & my 1991 Buick Riviera. My Dad has always been a GM man….and as long as they stay in business….always will be.
66 Olds Cutlass 442 followed by the classic looking 79 Olds Cutlass Brougham(which my grandparents still have next to their 540i), and the first-gen Aurora.
The last real Impala
Hmmm, it would have to be a close race between my T-Top Trans Am with the 5.0 litre V8 and my C5 Corvette convertible.
The Firebird could not stand up to the Vette on any day of the week, but it was my first sports(ish) car. I loved the glass T-Tops and the Alpine radio/tape deck I put in it.
The Vette was the better car, of course, and as such would get my vote as “favorite GM car.” But I do have good memories of the T/A (before all of the trouble), day trips with my girlfriend, her long blonde hair blowing in the wind…
Eventually, the top of the sail panel (where the seat belt anchored at the roof) began to rust out, and the girl left me. Hmmmm, I wonder if the two might be related….
When I was in high school, it was a 1970 Chevelle SS454 LS6 with the Muncie “Rocker Crusher” 4 speed.
Now, with two kids and a wife, it is probably the G8 for affordable entertainment and the CTS if I had more money. Lottery GM car(s)? CTS-V plus a new ZR1…
Any late sixties, early seventies, big block A body.
While I haven’t owned or regularly driven many GM models, for me personally my ’58 Chevy Apache Fleetside truck is my favorite GM car. I grew up going on camping trips with my grandfather in the old “Buckin’ Bronco” (58 vintage truck suspension), and it has unsurpassed sentimental value. I also like the exterior design. I consider it probably the second best looking truck ever, behind the trucks that GM put out just after WWII with the vertical bar grills. I won’t even argue that my favorite is the best GM vehicle; it’s just my favorite.
2004 Buick Gran Sport Supercharged.
Or a 1999 Saturn SL1.
Try to find either one of these cars used. People never get rid of these cars for good reason.
My friend had a Pontiac Le Mans 2-door hatchback. Seven of his older brothers drove this thing before he got his hands on it. It suffered 4 accidents and required various gallons of fluids be stored by the case in the back, but I’ll be damned if it survived eight teenaged boys.
The Chevy Corvair is my favorite, especially the late model Corsas.
is none of the above a valid vote?
The one GM vehicle I purchased and currently own. The 06 GTO!
http://www.caroftheday.org/category/gto/
If I was to go back in time, I really dug the GNX’s and Cyclones.
Jonny,
You still haven’t written up your story “Draggin’ in the Lieberwagen”. It has been so long since it was promised…so long.
This is like asking which was my favorite dentist appointment! But seriously, folks. The pickups – I’ve had 2; a 1982 and a 2004. They aren’t great, but they’re no worse than anybody else’s, and might be a bit better.
And those Cadillac V-16’s WERE cool, weren’t they!
So many to choose from: Vega, Chevette, Escalade, Kingswood, Belvedere, Citation, Cimmaron, Oldsmobile Diesels, Allante, the Screaming Chickens of the 70s, anything with a V8-6-4 engine, that plastic-nosed Grand-Am, the Fiero, Reatta, or any Hummer for that matter.
Oh… you said “favorite”… sorry, nothing from GM in that list.
–chuck
Not a car guy but they do build one of the very best trucks around..’07 GMC 2500HD LBZ Duramax/Allison
I do like the G6 coupe. Or a 67 Nova with a ZL1. And ” ROCK CRUSHER.”
Belvedere? Dodge?
The -59 Cadillac is the quintessential GM car. I’d take one anyday. The four-door flat top is especially stunning.
I saw an actual GNX in Atlantic City last weekend, it was pretty sweet in that nobody else knew it was a great car except me kinda way. Still, I’d have to go with a ’57 Vette or ’65 GTO.
I like the new CTS – its well executed.
The ’69 Camaro Z/28 gets the nod for me.
As a kid (70’s/80’s), I always wanted a ’57 Bel Air. Still wouldn’t mind having one. I doubt anyone who actually had one in the 50’s would agree, and I’m sure it drives like a boat and handles like a mattress, but what an awesome symbol of postwar technoutopian Americana and US pre-Sputnik industrial power.
Oh, and a ’63 Sting Ray with intact split window. and a ’57 Corvette. Only the impractical icons of mid-century power for me.
I sure would like to have my ’65 Corvair 140 again.
My first was a white 1992 Chevy S10 Blazer, 2 door. She leaked antifreeze in the cab (sometimes puddles of it on the floorboards), made something like 15 MPG on a good day, rear tires bald as could be, and the only gauge that worked was the speedometer. I loved that thing though, so that probably wins my vote.
That or a ’67 Stingray ‘Vette. Probably the ‘Vette.
My first car, a 1957 Buick Roadmaster. When Buicks really were masters of the road.
I recently re-read “On the Road”. The episode in which our heros take a ?’48 Cadillac through several states, doing around 100 mph, is impressive and reminds one of the time in which GM made world-besting cars. Did Cadillac ever refer to that book in advertisements, or were they just too parochial? I’d like to drive that car and see how good it really is.
Another car I’d like to check out is the Corvair — a good friend who owned two and was heartbroken by Nader’s polemics said it drove like a dream.
The GM cars that I drove were not so good. My dad had a ’72 Opel Rekord, supposedly a fine European car, but it wheezed and vibrated and smelled funny. No traction in the winter and no stability on the autobahn, and even I when I borrowed it as a 17-year old I didn’t find it likeable. The 200/8 Benz he had after that was a world better, as were the various Peugeot 504s he owned later on — way more sophisticated. On a trip in the U.S., I bought a decrepit Chevy Nova which had a nice-sounding six and a decent-feeling suspension set-up, but things kept on falling off or breaking apart. I was young and stupid so soon later, back in Germany, I bought my own Opel Rekord, a fantastic-looking, bright red, coupeish three-door station wagon. I had both clumsy and good sex in the back of that car but the Rekord itself was an odd old car. It never felt right; everything that should have been tight was rubbery, and everything that is supposed to feel smooth was stiff. I was glad when I got rid of it. Since then, I have rented numerous Opels but have always felt disappointed (both at the rental desk as well as behind the wheel).
My first car ever…..67 Chevy II 327 4 speed.
Only through God’s grace am I still alive to talk about it.
I took my first cross country trip to my Uncles ranch in Montana from Ontario with 2 buddies at 18 years old. It was in my 1965 Chevy Impala SS Convertible. Still everytime I see one of those for sale I try to figure out how to convince the wife that a second mortgage would be a good investment.
I still think they look like they are moving even when sitting still.
Had a 78 Chevrolet Caprice Station Wagon nearly identical to the car pictured. The family loved it. Wanted an 84 Buick Riviera but couldn’t swing it financially, so next was an excellent 84 Buick LeSabre Limited Coupe. Liked it so much I hung onto it longer than usual. The next GM, a dustbuster minivan, was a rolling horror story. Always wanted to finish up with a Caddy but now viewed GM ownership as sadomasochism without the bonus orgasm. Went Japanese and never looked back.
For me its the 1949 Cadillac Coupe, then the 65 Pontiac Tempest, then the Grand National, and well a corvair with the back seat removed and a small block chevy in its place.
63 Split Window.
This truly is an impossible question for a die-hard like me… hell it’s impossible for most manufacturers, just moreso for GM.
My first car was a ’72 Monte Carlo with a mild 350/350 combo. It was a POS but I loved it, and I plan to restore/modify a better one one of these days. So I’d have to say that’s my first choice. The styling even today is just stunning–like a Chevelle if it was designed by Italians.
Also high on my list are 94-96 Caprice Wagons and 9C1 Police Caprices, as well as the 94-96 Impala SS.
’96 LT4 Corvette, ’66 L76 Nova, ’67 Chevelle SS, ’66 Olds 4-4-2 W-30, ’64 GTO 389 Tri-Power, and ’64 El Camino all rate high on my list too though. And a Corvair Monza Spyder… and a ’69 427 Corvette… See? Impossible to answer. Love ’em all.
Boat Tail Buick Riviera. Stupid, sexy and… slow.
From personal driving experience, the 1978 Olds Delta-88 diesel is my favorite GM vehicle, and no I am not kidding!
The best part is pulling into the gas station and the guy from the booth runs out shouting “That’s the diesel pump sir!” and I reply, “It’s okay, my car runs GREAT on this stuff!”
GM made many stunning vehicles that I wouldn’t mind having in my garage, mostly from the late 50’s to mid-60’s: any finned Cadillac, certain Buicks, Corvette (1958 please), 1960-66 fullsize Pontiacs, 1966-67 Olds Toronado.
I had a babysitter in 1989 (I was 8 at the time)that had a 1985 Pontiac Parisienne Safari Sation Wagon with that huge engine and tow package (and I think a rear facing third seat). It was an ugly green, but it was a huge car, and I remember she said it ran very well. She decided to get rid of it around 1990 because the car was stolen numerous times, and damaged by the theives. Also, she was worried it would become unreliable soon, since it had alot of miles on it.
She traded it in on a much smaller, brand new Dodge K-Car station wagon. What a POS that was, it was always at the dealer with problems. I don’t recal the big Pontiac ever having any problems.
Corvair. Second generation one in Monza trim with the optional four carb engine.
For me it has to be a Tri-Five Chevy. My first car at age 16 was a ten year old ’56 Bel Air 2 door post with the small block and 3 on the tree with o/d. No ps or pb. I still get emotional when I see a nice one. I admire the purity of the 55s, don’t much care for the 57s, and would love to find a nice ’56 Bel Air Sport Sedan, root beer and cream, with all the goodies.
1965 GTO with tri-power carboration.
My Dad’s ’53 Buick Special 2-door hardtop. Black as night, enough chrome to dazzle the blind, glorious red-vinyl-and-cloth interior and whitewalls that were deserving of the name. His last bachelor car. Sold in late ’63, it made way for two Volvo Amazon wagons (one totalled when barely a year old). Between that car and my ’03 CTS, I’ve owned and driven no other GM cars.
My favorite current GM cars? I’d happily buy any new CTS, Corvette (my sister has an ’06 C6 coupe with the 6-speed) or Silverado depending on my needs or wants. But there’s a special place reserved for the ’09 CTS-V. I really *want* this car in a way that I have not felt for a long time.
I’ve had a few, but there are two that stick out in my mind.
A 1972 Olds Cutlass 442 with a 350/TH350 combo that was just so much better (faster) than any other of that style GM A body of that time. I don’t know what the previous owner did to it, but it ran like a beast. I could pass everything but a gas station…
When my (then-future) wife and I met, she owned a 1977 Oldsmobile Delta 88 Holiday coupe she bought on her own. The reason why I note that is because she could not have purchased a better example of that slab sided vixen if she had tried. 350 (Chevy)/TH350, posi rear end, FE3 suspension, the bigger tires and the Holiday trim was very nice (buckets with 8-track four speaker system!). Maybe the 403 would have been a better choice, but the SBC350 treated us great. I still would like to have one like that today…
Currently… the new CTS wagon and the G8.
From the Past… 1984 Buick Century. It was my grandmother’s car and I grew up in it. I have fond memories. I especially liked when the B and U fell off the rear facia and it was an ICK Century.
Farago, you beat me to it….but I cannot tell if you are being sincere, or facetious, about the boat-tail Riv?…….IMHO the boat tail Rivs of 71-73 were absolute automotive beauty….yes, they were slow, in anything but a straight line, but they were automotive sculpture, pure American.
IMHO, this SCREAMS to be a top 10 list, not a single QOTD…..I know it is currently fashionable to bash GM (deservedly so, for many reasons)but in their day they were the quintessential USA company, and their cars were the embodiment of all of America’s hopes, dreams and aspirations.
So, in hopes of sparking TTAC to create the B&B list of TOP 10 GM cars, here’s my early submission.
10. ’63 Coupe De Ville
9. ’72 Malibu SS Cowl Induction
8. ’55 BelAir
7. ’72 Monte Carlo…back in the day these things were as ubiquitous as Accords are now….they sold somthing like a quarter of a million of these a year when gas was a quarter….it was DeLorean borrowing a Mercedes suspension for a (then) mid-sized GM product….
6. ’78 ‘Vette (pace car silver, please)
5. ’64 Impala 409(yes, I know it’s a gangsta rap cliche, but those cars were bullet proof and fast)
4. ’68 Corvair Monza Coupe
3. ’72 Buick Riviera
2. ’71 Olds Cutlass Supreme 4-4-2
1. ’67 ‘Vette Convertible, White on Red with a White interior, 327, 300hp. (the 427’s were too front heavy, ran too hot and had serious brake issues, but the 327 was the sex)
I know my list contradicts my first paragraph by putting the 442 and the 67 vette ahead of the Riv, but the list is when I really put some thought into it…..other than the 1983 Cutlass Supreme Coupe and the recent Vette’s and the G8, GM hasn’t made a vehicle I’d consider in their top 10 since the mid-1970’s…..that’s when they jumped the shark IMHO…..
Gosh… we really need pictures enabled in the comments for these types of QOTD’s.
How else can you all understand the splendor of an old Trans Am with a T-top and a big blue piece of metal in the engine bay? Or a Corvette Sting Ray? Or a Corvette Stingray? (See the subtlety).
After I flunked the physical to get into the Army in 1967 (peak of Vietnam buildup) I bought a 1965 Impala SS sport coupe. It was maroon with black vinyl buckets, 283 powerglide. It had very clean lines and really looked good with reverse chrome wheels and red line tires. I have many fond memories of that car. I just saw a 65 Impala SS convertible here in Nashville last week that was in outstanding condition, it still looked good.
A blue 2001 Camaro SS I used to own.
Given how long GM has been around, that’s a lot of choices. I guess as far as my favorite GM is concerned, it would probably have to be an old classic-type car.
I guess for the money I would have to say the 1960 Pontiac Ventura coupe. 389 tri-powered, sleek, big car. You could stash a Honda Fit in the trunk, and as far as safety in the modern car world, the other guy you hit is the Ventura’s crumple-zone. Those things are made out of real metal! What’s amazing about that car is got around 25 on the freeway with a 3-on-the-tree. Something people forget about the halcyon days of leaded gas was you could run >10:1 compression, right off the showroom. Made a difference…
My Dad’s 95 Buick Skylark. I still think it was a looker, it got consistently great mileage, and although the interior wasn’t great, it was RED..
I miss red interiors.
Hard to answer, honestly. I’ve always had a soft spot for the V6 Z24s. I just like the way they look. I actually own an ’84 Citation and like it, which may or may not say something about my taste level. I’ll like it better when I finally get the 3.8L in it. I don’t own one, but I always liked Fieros.
As for cars I don’t own, I get chills when I see a well-maintained ’67 Camaro.
I am a fan of the early fiberglass vette’s. Also, the old convertible Jimmy’s.
Nadar can shove it try a
Mid 60’s Corvair Monza Spyder turbo charged
Nobody could understand why GM wasn’t so proud of the 1966 chevy II 327, 350 HP, 2500 pounds and pulled wheelies with the help of slicks.
Lost my license, my buddy rolled his lost his friend. A car you needed to know how to drive right out of the dealers for $2700 when a vette cost $5500. The vette, 427 hemi, GTO, 442 all, 428 mustang lost by a car in the quarter.
Either my old man’s 1960 Buick LeSabre or Broderick Crawford’s 1955 Buick Century from “Highway Patrol.”
I’m officially putting my vote on a 1959 Cadillac convertible. I had a chance to view one up close at the Cadillac LaSalle Club Regional Meet a few weeks back…simply stunning. The chrome, the huge tailfins – beautiful.
I liked my 1990 Corsica. It ran fine, got me to work and I faced my fear of dark places. My favorite though, Umm…….I dunno, I have driven many GM cars. I like the Malibu, Vette, CTS, SRX and Astra. I dunno….I wanna drive one.
Favorites:
– ’49 Cadillac. In its day, it was one of the most advanced production cars in the world, and it still looks damn good.
– ’59 Cadillac Eldorado Seville. The apogee of all fifties styling cues.
– ’65 Buick Riviera. Bill Mitchell’s finest hour.
– ’65-’66 Corvair Monza and Corsa. A friend of mine has a ’66 Monza; a very nice car. Ed Cole said in the mid-70s that if GM still had the Corvair, they would have sold every one they could build.
– ’67-’68 Cadillac Eldorado. Bill Mitchell’s second-finest hour. For my money, the ’67 (the purest expression) is the best-looking American car of the sixties, and better looking than the Olds Toronado, which shared its drivetrain.
– ’67-’69 Camaro Z/28. One of the most bald-faced homologation specials ever created by a company that denied being in racing.
– ’69 Corvette Stingray 427. The very definition of “over the top.”
Honorable mention: 1963 Pontiac Grand Prix; 1941 Buick Century; 1965 Corvette Sting Ray fuelie.
The 87 GNX was good, as were the 86-87 Grand Nationals, but my pick is still a toss between the 87 Regal ‘T’ (I bought one new) and a 70 Chevelle SS Convertible. I had my choice between a GN and a T, and decided I wanted mine in white with a bench seat, ruling out the GN. Luckily I was able to blow away a stock GNX with a $1.50 spring on the wastegate.
1955 Chevrolet 150/210 with the V8.
Clean, simple, and light. The best car they ever made, and it blazed a trail for GM’s success for decades.
I DEMAND a 3.0L OHV alluminum V8, and I want it in something the size of a Cobalt. They should be shrinking the LS series, not making it slightly larger.
GM needs another 55 Chevy, I think a small V8 would give them a bit of an edge against the Camry/Accord.
edit- Or they could just chop the 6L in half.. I wonder what a 90 degree V4 would be like? It would probably sound like a boat motor though….
My favourite? The 1985-88 Chevrolet Nova (and its successors), primarily because it wasn’t a GM car at all beneath the dashboard. I had an ’87 for my first car. Great vehicle, overall, except that it absolute ate mufflers for some reason. Running that thing at 75 mph (speedo stopped at 85), with a 3-speed auto, sounded like a sewing machine — powered by its own nuclear reactor — copulating with a dentist’s drill.
Any vintage Sting Ray works for me :-)
1956 Corvette
1965 Riviera
1969 Riviera
1969 Camaro
1974 Laguna S3
1978 Pontiac Grand Am
1979 Chevy Monza Spyder with the 350 V8 motor.
1985 and up Pontiac Fieros
1986 and up Oldsmobile Aurora
I think it’s sadly telling that there the raw count of favourites absolutely craters after on or around 1979.
In fact, if you exclude the GNX, there’s like, what, three people in this thread who liked cars from the eighties (and I count for one) and perhaps two from the nineties (again, I count for one).
My 70 1/2 Camaro. The speedo went to 145 mph and I buried it more than once during some late night cruising. It barely beat out my 2001 Grad Prix GTP which despite all the problems I have had with it I still love it’s looks and performance.
GM has never meant much to me, which is why I will not miss them very much when they go down. But my favorite GM car is by question the Oldsmobile Aurora. It is a stunning example of what this company can build if they throw out the beancounting haphazard attempts at starting trends, and just goes all out and makes a great car.
I had a ’75 Monte Carlo Landau. That thing was a boat, but damn she could maneuver very well through side streets. Only owned it from ’91 to ’93, but got some compliments from a few old timers about that car. Not a bad set of wheels for it’s era. Unfortunately, GM hasn’t built anything to be proud of since that bygone era, in my opinion. But I have some damn good memories of that car. Just a fun set of wheels to drive.
Not withstanding my Golf TDI, my wife’s Jetta TDI, our old Dodge pickup yard truck and the ’68 VW Fastback in my garage, I come from a GM family (my dad is a GM retiree) so we’ve had our share of GM’s bread and butter cars in my lifetime.
I know I’m going to get a lot of long stares here, but I’ve always had a soft spot for the Vega. Our family had two; first a ’73 we bought new and later a ’75 we picked up used. Both estate Kammbacks (i.e, wagons with the woodgrain). They did all the things Vegas did… that is burn oil and rust out. Regardless, the ’73 was the first car I remembered as a kid (that and the Step Van my dad sold Snap-on Tools from).
Suburban, it doesn’t matter what year but the newest one is really nice
1971-72 Chevy truck is the best looking GM vehicle ever.
1953 Buick Special convertible. My father had one. Beautiful car, which I barely remember. But I do recall bits of it – when he had it, I was at eye-level to the portholes in the fender. I remember the expanse of chrome on the grille, again at eye level. He loved it, even though the convertible top jammed all the time.
Looking at them today, I’d have one now if I could afford it. Even more beautiful today.
I liked my 96′ Olds Ciera. There was NOTHING desirable about that car. After getting the keys from my dad and about a week of driving it. I learned to enjoy that boaty feeling and acclerating to 60 in about 16 seconds. That was also the first car where I learned firsthand what “brakefade” truly was; Almost went off the road. Damn I dont care what people say, those door mounted seatbelts did not feel safe.
AH memories :)
My fave is the first and only GM vehicle I’ve ever owned…a Chevy Epica (I’m in Canada). It’s still sold outside NA with an updated body and refreshed interior.
I was considering a new ’06 Impala; but the Epica had way more content, leather interior, sunroof, auto A/C etc. for at least $12K less than a similarly optioned Impala. Great looking interior, very smooth engine (Epica has a 2.5 liter straight six, very smooth). The Epica impressed me by feeling like a Lexus at a Chevy price. The Impala feels like…well, an Impala.
Yeah, it’s not “really” a Chevy, since it’s built by GMDAT in South Korea. But this is the future of Chevy for a lot of product.
My next car? Likely a 2010 Buick Allure/LaCrosse, if it’s anywhere as good looking as the pics. Or maybe a new Impala if GM updates it, at least with a 6-speed auto.
1961 Impala 409 ‘bubbletop’ in light blue, i.e., the car The Beach Boys sang about.
57 Chevy rag then a 62,66,and 69 Pontiac rag.72
Impala rag and the 88 Caprice.
2009 CTS
1990’s EV-1 (quite the sport car machine)
And there were so many other great GM cars going back into the last 100 years….
-Mc
64 Impala
66 Olds Vista cruiser
59 Coupe de Ville
47 GMC pick up
39 Buick coupe
any post war sedanette
I’d definetly say my favorite car is the 1985 Chevrolet Celebrity.
Not for its performance, nor its looks,[it might of looked good in its day], but it has served my family well, and it still runs today. i use it for my daily communte to work.
we’ve had it since 87 and i can tell you, not much cars can go through so much and still drive like she does.
I call her the Empress, my wife calls it a piece of junk, but i inherited it from my parents at 19 when they got a new car, and never parted with it. for one reason it was the first car i drove. i went joyriding with it at 12 for the first time (kids dont try this at home) had my first accident at 17, 1 year shy of a drivers license.
the second reason being that if i were to sell it now no one is willing to pay more than 200 bucks for it. so i keep it as my mule.
she serves me well,
but the ultimate GM car i believe is a C3 Corvette T Top. [I hope the Empress gets me home today]
Sorry, I’m only 26…nothing from my lifetime to comment on!
Wait, are we counting rebadged Opels? I’m looking at an Astra right now that I think will change my life.
In all seriousness, I had a 1996 S-10 4WD Blazer – the last of the REAL midsize SUVs, before they became the vehicle of choice for karate and ballet class – in which I frequently took my friends mudding, knocked down trees, harassed wildlife, and engaged in otherwise obnoxious behavior when gas was $2.21 a gallon.
I still check out Blazers in parking lots…but I try not to do it in front of my xB.
I can’t pick one favorite GM car; there are many that I like. Here are a few:
Any full-size GM car (B or C body), especially ones from the ’60’s and ’70’s-Impala/Caprice, LeSabre/Electra, Bonneville, 98 Regency, etc. I particularly like the downsized ’77-’79 cars and of those, the 2-door Caprice/Impala is my favorite. I had a 1979 Caprice Landau coupe years ago.
1990-91 Buick LeSabre. These cars and I go back a long way. When I was in high school driver’s ed in 1990, the driver’s ed car was a new LeSabre. In 1995, I bought my own 1990 LeSabre and had it for nearly 10 years. It was one of the best cars I’ve ever owned. In 2002, I bought another LeSabre (a ’91), and it was just as good as the ’90 was. I just traded it in last Friday (it had seen better days), but I already miss it dearly. Someday, I want to buy a nice 2-door ’90-’91 LeSabre. I will forever have a soft spot for these cars. Come to think of it, I can pick just one favorite. This would be it.
I’ve always liked the 1978-newer A/G body Regal, Grand Prix, Monte Carlo and especially the Cutlass Supreme. Great looking cars. When Olds dropped that Cutlass and brought out the totally different front wheel drive Cutlass for ’88, it was a travesty…the ’88 model was one of the first nails in Oldsmobile’s coffin.
1984-88 Pontiac Fiero…neat car that had a lot of potential.
Too many more to list, but I can say that almost none of their current line-up appeals to me except for the Corvette, which is just freakin’ awesome. That, and the Buick Lucerne, which I rather like.
Chevelle SS 454
Late 90s Impala SS
69 Camaro
2001 Pontiac Firebird Formula
2007 Chevy Corvette ZO6
GMC Syclone
psarhjinian:
I think you’re seeing less than there is–I’ve seen quite a few late 70s thru early 90s listed here. My list was, as usual, woefully incomplete in this sort of thing, I’d be happy to include many. The problem is that GM never had a knock-out mid-size family sedan in the 80s and 90s to compete with Camrys and Accords…
86-90 Formula 350 Firebird, 86-90 Z28/IROC, pretty much any 78-88 G-Body as long as it had a V8 or turbo V6… The Fiero got good toward the end… The 454SS pickup was underpowered, but still a great ride… Syclone/Typhoon… the early TBI 4.3 S10s and Blazers you simply could not kill.
1)My present ’02 Aztek.
2)The ’55 Buick Century I learned to drive in.
3)I prefer the Bill Mitchell-cleaned-up 1960 versions of Harley Earl’s ’59s–any make, any model.
4)The last series of Corvair.
1966 Olds Toronado.
It looked great, and past all the BS of advertising and magazines, there were the General Motors Engineering Journals to read at the library of the Engineering College I was attending. Three full issues are devoted to this car. The engineering was covered in detail. We’re not talking wussy puff sheet articles here, folks. Over 20 real essays on the design. I wanted to go work for them, I was so impressed, and still am. I have copies.
I don’t think any other car company in the world at that time could have come up with the resources and the sheer effort it took to engineer this car, and I mean nobody, not even Mercedes Benz. It even had the first modern ventilation system, wind tunnel checked for hundreds of variations. Not much was left to chance, not even brake cooling, also wind tunnel checked.
Therein does lie the one flaw of this incredible vehicle. No disc brakes. The US car industry just refused to use them, ‘cuz they were furrin.
Second choice, 1977 Impala, the only reasonably modern body on frame vehicle produced (except for recent trucks). Amazingly good in snow for a rear drive vehicle and to this day makes the Ford Panther chassis seem pathetic, 31 freaking years later.
The rest? Blah.
09 Corvette ZR-1.
Why settle for less than 638 hp?
I don’t know why, but for some reason I thought this was a list of GM cars you actually owned.
If it’s just GM cars in general, my list would be incredibly long, and from all eras. (although I’ve owned and loved other makes and models, too.)
In fact, I would have a very hard time just keeping it down to 10. That said, I will stick with the two that I posted earlier, as I did own them and grew to love them.
My family is full of GM cars. I can’t argue too loudly they are too much trouble b/c I have loved other makes that were more trouble….
GMs I love: mid-60’s Corvettes, Corvairs, anything older than ~1960.
GMs I’ve owned (briefly) and loved: 1949 Chevy pickup. What a deathtrap though. Truck was in good condition but the gas tank was inside the cab! I’d have another truck like that but would relocate the tank under the truck bed! Oh, and seatbelts!!!
1949 Chevy pickup. What a deathtrap though. Truck was in good condition but the gas tank was inside the cab! I’d have another truck like that but would relocate the tank under the truck bed! Oh, and seatbelts!!!
That’s part of the appeal. :-) I still don’t have seat belts, and the tank is still in the cab behind the seat. I know many owners of these old trucks replace the engine with a 350 and a 350th transmission as well as move the gas tank under the bed between the frame rails and install a Mustang II front end. All good ideas, but not for me. I don’t complain about it though as it keeps these wonderfull old trucks on the road. Nothing better looking than an early Chevy/GM truck with the small bed in red with black fenders and chrome grill. Absolutely gorgeous. Oh, and that straight six “stovebolt” engine was the best engine at that time. It was a work horse. For photos of great pre-72 GM/Chevy trucks, hop over to Stovebolt.com.
After refreshing my memory, I’d like to amend my comment. The pre-1940 GM/Chevy trucks are much better looking than the mid to late 40’s. Much cleaner and simpler lines.
When I turned 16, my family had a ’77 Cutlass Supreme, a ’74 Blazer and a ’65 El Camino – the “new” car was 7 years old at the time, but man did I love driving all of those.
I didn’t see any mention of my fave car that I owned back in ’73: 1969 Grand Prix; Dark Green Metallic.
Long hood, short rear deck – hella cool “cockpit” interior. Went like stink with the 400 CID V8, handled well enough for the day, stopped well. Topped out @ 140MPH, got 20MPG on the highway (when the speed limit was 55, heh)
But my beauty had the infamous nylon coated timing gear that pulled a disappearing act – right into the oil pan.
That was an expensive repair.
I think it was the only car that I didn’t wreck back in my “crazy days”. :-)
First would be 63 Vette based on initial and lasting impression. Pedaled my bike to the dealer when it was introduced and spent an hour sitting in the drivers seat intoxicated by it’s newness and design. To young to drive but…..
Second would be the 65 Impala SS that I bought used in 1970 and drove happily for years with nothing but a few oil and tire changes. Beautiful car!
Lumbergh21: 1949 Chevy pickup. What a deathtrap though. That’s part of the appeal. :-) I still don’t have seat belts, and the tank is still in the cab behind the seat. I know many owners of these old trucks replace the engine with a 350 and a 350th transmission as well as move the gas tank under the bed between the frame rails and install a Mustang II front end. All good ideas, but not for me. I don’t complain about it though as it keeps these wonderfull old trucks on the road.
You sir, have good taste. Dad built a hot rod ’49 Chevy truck. Nice to look at but useless. Too pretty to do much with. I’d keep mine stock except that gas tank issue. Keep the cap on the side of the cab. Put the tank under the back of the bed. I drove mine daily for a while in 1999 or so. Six volt electrics are fun in the winter. Vacuum wipers are fun in traffic. There there was the worn king pins. Wish I still had that truck.
I like the old cars but I prefer some basic safety too. Dual circuit brakes. My Mustang lost it’s single circuit brakes twice. First car too. Seatbelts are welcomed. Some decent fuel system safety. Everything else can stay stock.
If I was “going all out” I’d add a two piece steering column for collision safety and make it look original. I’d add a good vacuum wiper motor for more wiper action on hills. Lastly I’d improve the lighting a little. Just so the other cars might notice me. I see them just fine even with those dim lights.
Many:
1981 Caprice, 305 V8… my father had one. Excellent car.
1989 Caprice
1996 Caprice with 9C1 police package
1972 Chevelle SS-454
1970 Olds 442
1969 GTO, The Judge
1969 Camaro
1978 Trans-Am
1992 Firebird Formula
1992 Firebird Firehawk
4th Gen F-body, both brands.
Corvette: C2; C3; C4; C6… don’t liked the C5 too much. Of those, C4 ZR-1, C6 Z06, C3 Split Window and Fuelie, C3… 74 style on
Cadillac CTS, both gens, if V-version better.
1996 Chevy Tahoe
2007 Chevy Tahoe
1988-1998 C-K Pickup. I love the style of these trucks.
2007+ Chevy Silverado
1970-1972 Camaro
1974 Firebird… ummm Super Duty 455 =)
1996 Impala SS
1987 Buick GNX, also Grand National
1987 Chevy Monte Carlo Aerocoupe, don’t remember if there was an SS version
1959 Cadillac Eldorado (convertible)
The original Oldsmobile Toronado
The Riv Mr. Farago mentioned
1987 Chevy Chevette (as sold in Venezuela) I learned to drive in one of those.
The bubbletop Impala mentioned above with the 409
1973 Chevelle Malibu
1990-1992 Isuzu Impulse (I own 2), maybe not fully GM car but under that umbrella.
Puff that was too many.
Sure, I qualify as a GM fan =)