Chevy Laguna S3Classic carMuscle carOld Car

Rare 1976 Chevy Laguna S3 “Slant-Nose” Surfaces In Orlando!

The Chevy Laguna S3 was made for four years, between 1973 and 1976, and was built on GM’s colonnade-style A-body intermediate chassis, a platform that spawned upwards of 10 million vehicles across GM’s Chevrolet, Buick, Oldsmobile, and Pontiac brands. Although it is in the same lineage as the vaunted Chevelle, the Chevy Laguna has fallen on deaf ears by virtue of having been born in the wrong decade—smack-dab in the middle of the Malaise era. Nevertheless, as GM’s volume platform, it was important to win in NASCAR, and here’s where things get interesting.

Chevy Laguna S3: The “Other” Aero NASCAR Warrior

To an entire generation of enthusiasts, the aero-warriors from Mopar and Ford—the Dodge Daytona, Mercury Cyclone Spoiler, Plymouth Superbird, and Ford Torino Talladega—are the ultimate collector cars. But for a slightly later generation, it is Chevy that reigned terror on the NASCAR competition, winning the manufacturer’s cup 8 out of 9 years between 1972 and 1980—twice with the slant-nosed Laguna S3, in 1976 and 1977.

In that time, the Chevy Laguna was so dominant in NASCAR that it was prevented from competing by a restrictor-plate requirement for the carburetor, something that wasn’t required of any other make or model of car.

Like we said, some 10 million colonnade A-bodies were built between 1973 and 1977, but only 16,888 aero-nosed Chevy Lagunas were built (7,788 in 1975 and 9,100 in 1976), making them exceedingly rare today. Chevy wanted to win in NASCAR and headed to the wind tunnel to create the Laguna’s new air-splitting, downforce-inspiring fascia. Combined with a sleek wind-cheating greenhouse, the Laguna regularly set records and won races, putting a huge target on Chevrolet’s back.

At the end of the 1977 season, NASCAR had had enough and slapped the restrictor plate on the Laguna for the 1978 season. No matter; Chevy still won the manufacturer’s cup in 1978, running a Monte Carlo instead. As a footnote, GM did an end-run on NASCAR by running the Oldsmobile Cutlass 4-4-2 and Cutlass S, which garnered 11 NASCAR wins in 1978—thanks to a similar aero-sculpted nose of its own.

1976 Chevy Laguna S3 Customization

You’ll note the fender and rear-deck call-outs heralding “Cale Yarborough Special,” but even though he was dominant in the Laguna during 1976 with 9 wins, there was no Cale Yarborough Special in 1976. (The Cale Yarborough Special was a 1969 Mercury Cyclone Spoiler II and the decal design from that car was reproduced for this Laguna.) The call-out, though not legit, is certainly appropriate, given Yarborough’s racing history in the Laguna S3. The owner has also frenched-in some fender air-extractors from a same-year Pontiac Firebird Trans Am, an appropriate and well-integrated “hack” that has been done so well, it looks factory.

The rear spoiler is intriguing as none came with the Laguna from the factory. The 1977 Pontiac Can Am (another GM colonnade A-body) did have a spoiler, but this isn’t it. We don’t know what this spoiler is from, but it looks perfect on the car, and like the car’s other mods it’s well-integrated visually. The staggered 18-/20-inch BBS wheels are heroic. They’re perfectly sized on this big A-body, and proper massaging to the ride height has these wheels owning those bulging fender flares perfectly.

All sheetmetal is original except for the quarter panels, which are frequently rotted on these cars and represent a significant cost to replace on the seller’s part. We like that the federally-mandated 5-mph rear bumper has been de-uglified by narrowing it, and the body gap has been likewise narrowed. The original silver paint has been replaced with a 1970-vintage Frost Green Metallic in basecoat/clearcoat, a stunning and flattering color on this car.

1976 Chevy Laguna S3 Performance Upgrades

This 1976 Laguna has been treated to some significant performance upgrades. The original small-block V-8 has been replaced with a mild 1974-vintage 454ci big-block sporting Holley Sniper fuel injection and a mild performance camshaft. (No big-block was offered in the Laguna for 1976). We estimate the power on this engine as-equipped at around 350-400 hp. This powerplant is mated to a shift-kitted Turbo 350 three-speed automatic—it’s not a four-speed even though the photos make it appear otherwise. (Makes sure to check out the remaining photos in the gallery.) The rearend is a stock 10-bolt with 3.05 gearing and an Eaton posi differential on air shocks. Wilwood four-piston disc brakes at all corners bring stopping power into the 21st century. For some wonderful and strange reason, the owner has retained the original four-speed shift lever, console, and pedals—probably because they’re so rare—and we’re guessing the automatic trans was scored with the big-block.

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