1973-77 GM "A" bodies- Get 'em while you can!!!

Everyone wants the 1968-72 bodystyle of the Chevelle, LeMans / GTO, Cutlass / 442, and Buick Skylark. Even the base models are getting grossly overpriced. If you want a viable GM musclecar for a low price it might behoove you to consider the 73-77 models. Popular Hot Rodding did a 1975 Chevelle Laguna in Nascar style that's immensely popular with readers. These cars are great buys because their still underpriced, they have body-on-frame construction, front disc brakes, tough 8.5 inch rear ends, and their engine bays will swallow any small or big-block GM ever made including the monster 720 hp 572. Some are better buys than others-but there all screamin deals and make a good base for a hotrod. Here's how I'd rank them. # 1. 1969-76 Pontiac Gran Prix. This is a no-brainer for one reason-while all the others have 350 V8's as their standard engines, the GP walked tall. The mighty 400 Pontiac was standard all years, and a fair number of 1970-76 models have 455s!  Ditto for the 1973-75 Grand Am-400 power standard with the 455 optional. # 2. 1973-77 LeMans- While a lot of these have 350 cubes under the hood, there are quite a few out there with 400s. There are a million ways to build power into a Pontiac V8, and any suspension or brake upgrades that fit a Chevelle will fit these cars. # 3. 1973-77 Chevelle / Monte Carlo. These cars were the scourge of NASCAR in the late '70's. Most have the ubuiqitous 350 Chevy for power, and you can't ask for a better base for a street machine than that. Some 1973-75 models had 454 cubes, but they are going to be higher-priced. On the upside, swapping in a big-block is easy.  # 4. 1973-77 Olds Cutlass. These were the best-selling American car in the mid-'70's, so you should be able to find one pretty easy, and they were usually bought by older people, so they won't be as abused as your average Chevelle or Monte Carlo. Cutlasses usually had upgraded interiors compared to the Chevys and Pontiacs, and there is a ton of speed equipment out there for a 350 Olds. Some 73-76 models had 455s, and some 77 models had 403s. Or you could cross-breed. Who cares if you stuff a snarling 500 inch Rat motor into a 75 Cutlass?  Models with the 442 package will be pricier, but will have F41 sport suspension, swivel buckets, and are more likely to have a 403 or 455 instead of a 350.  # 5. 1973-77 Regals and Centurys are usually more luxurious and better maintained than the others because they were bought by older people originally. I rank them last because while the Buick 455 was available until 1976-most models had the 350. And of the "other" 350s-i.e.-non Chevrolet-the Buick is the weakest one-their not only not as powerful as the Olds and Pontiac engines in stock trim-there isn't nearly as much speed equipment available-Edelbrock doesn't even offer a Performer Manifold for a 350 Buick. ( They do for the 400-430-455s ). Like I said-there's alway cross-breeding no one is going to storm your house with torches if you put a 455 Pontiac or a 454 Chevy into a '77 Regal.  All of these cars offer tremendous bang for the buck. Mastermind