As I write about cars every day for The ClassicCars.com Journal, I learn many new things. Occasionally, I will learn something I never noticed before, or maybe correct something that I thought I knew. Here’s a list of several that have occurred over the past several months.
Note the rectangular inserts in the grille of this 1970 Barracuda Gran Coupe — that feature was included in the A46 package for the standard Barracuda.
1970 Plymouth Barracuda
Buried within the options for the 1970 Plymouth Barracuda was code A46 Exterior Trim Package available for the “BH” Barracuda and not the “BS” ‘Cuda or “BP” Gran Coupe. It consisted of wheel lip moldings, Deluxe wheel covers, grille surround molding and rear surround molding — the latter two only available in this group and not separately. In the pony car world (pioneered by the Mustang and perhaps famously exploited by the Camaro), it was typical to have trim packages to jazz up a particular vehicle.
Image courtesy of www.hamtramck-historical.com
I had no idea what the grille surround molding was, but I could infer the rear surround molding was the same that surrounded the rear taillight panel, though there were several that were determined by Barracuda model and other trim options. In this case, the A46 package included the Gran Coupe’s three-piece surround.
Note the chrome perimeter trim around the tail panel of this 1970 Barracuda Gran Coupe — that was part of the A46 package for the standard Barracuda.
But the molding for the grille? Yup — the same molding that was used on Gran Coupes and AAR’Cudas! If this seems foreign to you too, it stands to reason because approximately 322 Barracuda hardtops and convertibles were built for the U.S. market with this package.
1970 Chevrolet El Camino
The El Camino is the light-duty pickup truck version of the Chevelle, right? A utility sedan or coupe utility, if you will? Take one Chevelle station wagon, do some chopping and violà — instant ute!
For 1970, they were restyled with a freshlook that today (and already for a long time) many feel is the best-looking of the model’s existence.
One aspect of these cars that I didn’t realize is that the El Camino and wagon didn’t share the same fenders as the regular Chevelle. Ever notice those flares over the wheels? The El Camino and wagon are both more slab-sided. Now it seems so obvious — and I bet obvious to many Chevy fans — but it wasn’t obvious to me.
1991 Oldsmobile 98
For 1991, Chevrolet introduced the redesigned Caprice, the first all-new Caprice since 1977. At the same time, it was joined by the Buick Roadmaster and Oldsmobile 98, with the and Cadillac Fleetwood appearing for 1993. All save the Cadillac also had their respective station wagon version.
1991 Oldsmobile 98
At least that has been my perspective since 1991. Yet while reading a recent story by contributor Tyson Hugie, it made me question everything I had known about the 1991 Oldsmobile 98 as he called it a front-wheel-drive car. Wasn’t it rear-wheel-drive like the Caprice and Fleetwood? Didn’t they all have slightly awkward rear fenders?
1993 Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser
Apparently not. The 98 continued to be based on the FWD C-body platform that had been downsized for 1985, while the Caprice, Roadmaster, and Fleetwood were on the RWD B-body platform … well, kinda. Remember those huge station wagons? The Custom Cruiser was a B-body. I always associated that model with the 98 (rightly or wrongly — let’s assume the former), so it’s interesting to note that the 98 sedan was on one platform and the wagon was on another.
