Chevrolet · 1972–1976

Chevrolet Chevelle Laguna

The Chevrolet Chevelle Laguna is a mid-sized automobile produced by Chevrolet for the 1973 through 1976 model years. Part of the GM A-Body platform, the 1973 Laguna series included coupes, sedans and station wagons. It was the top-line Chevelle series that year positioned above the Malibu. For 1974 through 1976 the car was produced as a one-model Laguna S-3 coupe, the new-for-1974 Malibu Classic series taking the top-luxury series position. All Lagunas sported urethane front-ends which easily distinguished them from other Chevelles. NASCAR driver Cale Yarborough earned the first two of his three consecutive Winston Cup championships piloting a Chevelle Laguna.

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

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History

=== Overview === The 1973–1976 Chevelle Lagunas accounted for 108,815 of nearly 1.7 million third generation Chevelle sales. Production included 42,941 1973 Laguna coupes, and 38,790 1974–1976 Laguna Type S-3 coupes, making them relatively rare cars in today's collector market. Chevrolet honored California beach resorts again by naming the top 1973 Chevelle series "Laguna" with the Malibu taking the middle spot while the base series was called simply "Deluxe". Laguna models featured specific front and rear styling including a body-colored urethane front end concealing the new 5 mph bumper system. On minor impact the urethane nose cone, backed up by shock-absorbing cylinders, deflected and rebounded; Laguna models also featured a specific diecast chrome grille with bowtie emblem, a body-colored (steel) rear bumper, front and rear bumper rub strips, bright roof drip moldings, bright wheel-opening moldings, chrome taillight bezels, full wheel covers, and Laguna fender nameplates. Laguna interiors were more lavish than the Malibu in pattern cloth and vinyl or optional breathable all-vinyl upholstery, distinctive door trim with map pockets, deep-twist carpeting, woodgrain vinyl accents, and Laguna nameplates. The 1973 Chevelle Laguna "Colonnade" hardtop featured a semi-fastback roofline with styled "B" pillars, frameless door glass and distinctive rear quarter glass on two-door coupes. New side windows with styled center pillars were featured on four-door sedan models. The new-design B pillars were structurally strong enough to contribute to occupant safety in a roll-over type accident. GM had anticipated federal roll-over safety standards for January 1974 that did not materialize. The unusually thin windshield pillars contributed to the much-improved visibility over the p

NASCAR

The third generation Chevelle was an extensively used body style in NASCAR competition from 1973 to 1977. The Chevelle Laguna S-3 in particular was extremely successful. Its sloped nose, small rear quarter windows and "fastback-style" rear glass gave it an aero advantage over other GM body styles at NASCAR's fastest tracks. Junior Johnson's team, with driver Cale Yarborough, won 34 races and earned the first two of three consecutive Winston Cup championships. Considered a limited edition "aero" model by NASCAR, the Laguna S-3 was made ineligible for competition following the 1977 season. The Laguna was so fast that NASCAR required the cars be fitted with 'restrictor plates' to effectively slow them down when no other cars had this requirement. Motor Trend said in 1973: "While neither Chevrolet or Pontiac are back in racing, the new crop intermediates out of GM's styling studios are curiously aerodynamic. They are also curiously competing on the NASCAR circuit tracks, and selling as fast as they can be hauled to the dealerships." Highlights. Third generation Chevelle NASCAR Winston Cup highlights: March 25, 1973: Southeastern 500-Cale Yarborough, back in NASCAR's fold after a two-year exile in USAC Indy Cars, drives Junior Johnson's No. 11 Chevrolet Chevelle to an overwhelming victory in the Southeastern 500 at Bristol. Yarborough leads all 500 laps. July 8, 1973: Volunteer 500-Points leader Benny Parsons drives his unsponsored Chevelle to an impressive win in the Volunteer 500 at Bristol International Speedway. Parsons finishes seven laps ahead of runner-up L.D. Ottinger. September 23, 1973: Wilkes 400-Bobby Allison runs down Richard Petty on the final lap to win the Wilkes 400 at North Wilkesboro Speedway. It was Allison's second win of the season in his No. 12 Chevell

Sections adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0); text is shortened. Read the full article for the complete history and citations.

Specifications

name: Chevrolet Chevelle Laguna
Manufacturer: Chevrolet (General Motors)
Assembly: Arlington, Texas, United States, Atlanta, Georgia, United States, Baltimore, Maryland, United States, Flint, Michigan, United States, Framingham, Massachusetts, United States, Fremont, California, United States, Kansas City, Kansas, United States, Van Nuys, California, United States, Oshawa, Ontario, Canada, Sainte-Thérèse, Quebec, Canada
Model years: 1973–1976
Production: 1972–1976
Engine: 305 CID small-block V8 (1976), 350 CID small-block V8, 400 CID small-block V8 (1974–76), 454 CID big-block V8 (1973–75)
Transmission: 3-speed manual, 4-speed manual, 3-speed auto
Wheelbase: 112 in (2845 mm) coupe, 116 in (2997 mm) sedan/wagon
Related: Chevrolet Monte Carlo, Pontiac Le Mans, Pontiac Grand Am, Pontiac Grand Prix, Buick Century, Buick Regal, Oldsmobile Cutlass
Body style: 2-door coupe, 4-door sedan (1973), 4-door station wagon (1973)

Specification summary from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Check the linked sources for citations.

More photos

Sources

Wikidata — https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5094385CC0 1.0 · retrieved 2026-10-01
Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Chevelle_LagunaCC BY-SA 4.0 · Text © Wikipedia contributors; revision 1352580104 · retrieved 2026-10-01
Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1974Laguna.JPGCC BY-SA 3.0 · Photo: Simon M. Canasi · retrieved 2026-10-01
Car Model Index — https://models.autoculturesociety.com/Compiled record. Sources that do not permit reuse are not copied; this index is credited instead.