I was not at all a likely candidate to buy a GM Colonnade-mobile in their time. I was 19 when they came out, and had just been given a ’63 Corvair Monza four door by my brother, who was leaving the country, and was already becoming pretty anti-GM; well, anti_Big Three, actually. But I was pretty blown away when these came out; I did not see this design direction coming, especially the four door sedan, which I rather liked for its airiness. As to the “foreign intrigue”, I’m still looking for that. About as all-American as it gets.
Frankly, I was a bit confused by the regular semi-fastback coupes; I had a hard time seeing how they made sense. And the formal coupes were way too…broughamy for me. So it would have to be a sedan, and although I also rather like the first year Cutlass Salon, the over-the-top Grand Am wins out for sheer visual impact. It’s only a question as to whether it would be a ’74, as pictured here, or the ’73.
The ’73’s front end is a bit cleaner, but what’s that got to do with the brash GA? Of course it would be loaded up with the 455 and every HD option available, as well as comfort and convenience feature. It’s not every day someone hands you a blank check made out to “Colonnade”.
’76 Cutlass S 4 door, Creme with Buckskin top and vinyl seats, body color sport mirrors, Super Stock wheels, 350 V8, just like the one my mother bought in 1976. Lots of memories in that car and I never got to drive it…it got traded in in 1981 right before I started driving.
Which colonnade would I take home? It would have to be a four door as they’re more balanced designs then the coupes. And it would have to be early model, before the purity of the design was mucked up by the bumper regs. So make it a 1973 for me.
If limited to that year’s selection, I think I’d go with either a Grand Am with a 455, or a Cutlass Salon with with the Olds 350, just like the one the admirably acquitted itself in the C&D comparison test with the M-B 450SE.
For me, there is no question. My favorite Colonnade hands down is the 1977 Pontiac Can Am. I love the 70s muscle car look (wild color graphics), and the Can Am wears it very well.
my second choice would be the 1976/1977 Oldsmobile 442. The aero nose, the lower body 442 graphics, just like this in white/gold combo. (I’m a sucker for a hurst color scheme)
I seem to recall from your COAL series that one of your Mustangs was done up custom in that color combo, Brian.
1976 Cultass Supreme with a 455. Triple back.
Seems nobody remembers the ’73 Chevelle wagon was the only Malibu EVER to offer the SS package on a wagon. I think I’d like the 454SS with a 4-speed.
The Swiss embassy in Uruguay had a ’74 Regal sedan, dark metallic blue. It had all kind of options, as it was a representation car and very luxurious for our market. When it was sold two years later, 10 year old me did my best to get my Dad to buy it…to no avail. Too expensive. Instead we went to take a look at a ’75 bare bones Malibu. 6 automatic. I don’t remember if it had any power accesory. No Swiss ambassador car, but an American embassy staff car. Dad decided it was too much money anyway. IIt had only 11.000 km on it!
It’s still around. Most of it is bondo, and in place of the 6 there is some kind of 4 cylinder Diesel contraption, with a manual transmission and a shift lever that must be about 3 feet long.
1977 Cutlass S with 442 package and 403.
Or, 1973 Century Gran Sport, with 455 Stage I, having 270 net hp.
Pontiac’s 455SD had 290-310 net hp rating, so Buick was close.
Realistically, for daily driving, a 76-77 Cutlass Supreme coupe, with Olds 350.
The Buick 455 Stage 1 engine was always quite under-rated in the numbers quoted.
“… regular semi-fastback coupes” made no sense.
They were penned during the height of muscle car mania, late 60’s, meant to continue from the ’68-’72 coupes. Would have been brought out in fall 1971, but got delayed one year from a UAW strike. For ’73 MY, added 5 mph bumpers and smog equipment. So, they were not as popular as the formal roof coupes, which were the sweet spot.
Prototype pics of “1972 Colonnades”, with plain bumpers, have been shown in Collectible Automobile, and posted here. Also, early sketches screamed “go-go 60’s”.
The success of ’69 Grand Prix changed mid sized market from ‘kid’s sporty car’ to mainstream America’s PLC.
I’m sure most/many of us know that these cars, even the 4 door versions, were very inefficient “people movers”.
“Strictly Stylish” was these car’s motto.Those relegated to the back seat had better be small and thin! And as for trunk capacity…well…the less said the better.
Properly optioned, these colonnades could be a true “Driver’s Car”, among the best ever produced by GM.
If you needed an efficient, mid sized people mover a 4 door Plymouth Satellite was a much better choice.
“Properly optioned, these colonnades could be a true “Driver’s Car”, among the best ever produced by GM.”
I agree. I hooned the bejabbers out of Mom’s 74 LuxLeMans when I was a high school kid. The only things holding it back from greatness were the lack of power from the 2 bbl 350 and the bias belted tires. The front and rear sway bars made it corner really flat and the front discs hauled it down repeatedly, even one time when I had smoke coming out of the wheels. The variable ratio power steering was really fast and tight as well. It was far and away the best driving big car I had ever driven up to that time.
I must admit to caressing and lightly squeezing the “nose” of every Grand Am I saw.
🙂
My friend and I did that at the 1974 Harrisburg Auto Show. We were 11 years old, and the two cars that stick out in my mind from that show are the Pontiac Grand Am and Ford Mustang II.
1976 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme.
Dark Red with white vinyl roof.
I’m not a fan of the Colonnades, but their extreme popularity in 1975-1976 is probably best exemplified by the Olds Cutlass, America’s most popular vehicle those years.
There were lots of Pontiacs in my neighborhood and I never care for the melting rear end. Especially the 1973s which had a pair of horizontal rectangular tail lights collapsing across the big bumpers. It just doesn’t work. The upright front end with the sloping rear end – not good.
Late to the mostly lively discourse, but I’d order myself a Verdant Green 1973 Grand Prix SJ with 455, white top, white bucket seat interior and every option available including the moonroof.
My #2 would be a ’73 Gran Sport 455/S1 in the same color combo with automatic floor shift.
My #3 would be a ’73 442 in the same color combo with W30/4-speed
My #4 would be a 76 Cutlass Supreme Brougham with 455..and any color outside would work so long as the interior is either green or blue. Power moonroof please.
While I own a 4 door 77 Malibu Classic, I’d be all over a 73 Chevelle SS wagon with 454 and 4 speed, and all the options. Or a Laguna wagon/sedan.
I had a 74 Malibu 4-door, 350-2v and automatic. I called it the Flexible Flyer because of the lack of rigidity in the chassis. One of the most boring cars I ever owned. It was fairly reliable except that on cool, damp mornings, it would absolutely refuse to start. I owned it from about 1984 through 88. I also had a 70 Malibu coupe with a 307 and THM, that was much faster and handled better. Also, it was a far more interesting car. The 74 was a great example of the Malaise Era.
Easy. The 1973 Baldwin Motion Phase 3 Chevelle SS.
I’ve had my ’76 Monte Carlo for 19 (wow!) years, and I still love it. I’ve owned two other Colonnades, a ’77 Grand Prix LJ and a ’76 Cutlass Supreme Brougham coupe. Of the two I definitely preferred the drama of the Grand Prix. If I could have another now to go alongside the Monte Carlo, I think I would go for a sedan or a wagon. I’m leaning toward a Cutlass Salon (any year, but loaded) or a ’74 Luxury LeMans. This is a tough choice!
Fully loaded with every option in the book 1974 Chevy Monte Carlo.
Also a fully loaded 1973 Chevy Laguna sedan or wagon with 454 of course.
Was not a fan of Oldsmobile styling up to the mid ’60’s and also not a fan of most Collonades, but there is a reason the Cutlass Supreme Coupe of this era was such a big seller. It just looks “right”. So, I pick a ’73 Cutlass Supreme 2dr in Zodiac Blue, fully loaded with 4-4-2 package, 350-4v, four speed and limited slip.